Page 62 of Leah

It was.

Moments later we approached the road we used to cross that cut into the nature reserve. He parked along the side of the road, and we stepped out. I ogled his shiny car before saying, “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to leave this unattended. It’s sticking out like a sore thumb, and if anyone dodgy passes by, they might take a crack at it.”

“It’s just a rental,” he replied on a shrug. “If anyone fucks with it, I’ll pay up. I’m not going to bitch about money when we’re doing something like this together. For once, let’s let whatever happens, happen.”

I smiled at him. “Alright.”

I grabbed my bag in case it did get broken into. There was no way I was going to leave my wallet with all the money I had in the world in it. He stopped beside me, and we stared thoughtfully into the bush.

“I didn’t expect this,” he whispered, his expression tightening.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He looked back at me, his eyes warming as he took me in. “You’re here, Leah.”

My heart jumped as I tried to smile softly at him. Truth was, I wanted to cry because…here we were, the two us, and the world had fallen away.

When he offered me his hand, I stared at it for a beat, and then I took it.

*

Together, we walked back into the forest, out of the sunshine and under the shade of the large thick trees. It was different, but familiar all at once. I recognized the massive tree I used to hide behind when I stalked Carter in here, and when the creek came into view, I squeezed his hand excitedly.

“This is pretty cool,” I told him.

“Just like old times.”

I dropped my bag beside the fallen tree I used to sit on and watched the water move slowly over the rocks. It looked amazingly refreshing in the heat. As if reading my mind, Carter kicked off his shoes and socks and I did the same. Letting go of his hand, we slowly neared the edge of the creek, until the cool water ran over our feet inch by inch.

It felt good.

A nice break from the heat.

“Fuck, this is nice,” he said, glancing up and along the large trees bordering the creek. “I don’t get this level of quiet anymore.”

“Me neither,” I replied in a low voice. “Although, I imagine it’s worse for you. All those people.”

“Somany people,” he acknowledged, twisting his lips. “It’d be nice to move back out here one day. You know, away from the noise, from the city and the crowd. Just have a nice little plot ofland, overlooking the mountains maybe, and a solid little house. No more interviews, no more cameras, just quiet and peace.”

I stared at him as he spoke. Yet again, he’d opened up a side of him he’d never shown me before. He didn’t seem guarded, or worried. He genuinely looked at peace, and it made me smile sadly. We’d have to go back eventually. Back to all that noise he loathed.

I wished we could freeze time, so that nothing existed outside of us.

“Maybe one day,” I told him wistfully. “When you’re done with being a rock star.”

He looked at me then, his want apparent when he responded gravely, “I can do it now. I can leave it all behind. Do you want that?”

I didn’t answer for a moment.

I looked down at the water as it moved past me, and I swallowed nervously. “You’re an amazing singer.”

“I don’t care.”

“You make people happy when you sing.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does,” I argued, shooting him a knowing glance. “Iwatchedyou sing, Carter.”

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