Page 21 of Save Me

We continue walking, silent for several minutes, and eventually his shoulders relax. As if by unspoken agreement we keep the rest of our conversation to lighter topics, and by the time we make it back to the cabin we’re both hungry and tired. I make a quick lunch of sandwiches and chips, which we eat on the porch, then I suggest a nap. Ash grins and steps closer, so I point a finger at him and give him my best stern glare. “Only a nap. No funny business.”

He pouts, but I can tell he’s not used to so much activity and is still worn out from yesterday’s events. But he is who he is, and that means he can’t just give in. There is the requisite dramatic sigh before he nods acceptance. “Fine. Only a nap. But you’re no fun.”

When he turns toward the stairs, I grab his hand and pull him to the door. “This way.” The concern on his face almost makes me laugh. I really have no idea what he’s anticipating, except that it’s something he’d rather not do. I take pity on him. “Have you ever slept in a hammock?”

He looks at me warily. “No.”

“Well, we’re about to change that.” I guide him off the porch and into a shady spot near the right side of the lake where a large hammock is strung between two trees. He eyes the setup dubiously. “Come on. It’ll be fine.” It takes some additional coaxing and then a bit of maneuvering, but eventually we’re cuddled together in the fabric cocoon, rocking gently back and forth. “So, what do you think?”

He doesn’t answer me immediately, like he’s actually considering his response. “It is cozy, bugs can’t get to us, and best of all, gravity is mashing us together. I suppose it’s acceptable.”

I laugh. We’re practically nose to nose and I’m very tempted to kiss him. But fooling around in a hammock seems no more workable or safe than fooling around on a porch swing was, so I control my impulse. Ash grins and tentatively scooches down my body until he’s low enough to tuck his head under my chin and wrap his arms around me. It’s intimate and comforting. I close my eyes, comb my fingers through his long silky hair, and enjoy the soft tickle as the strands glide against my skin. It’s not long before the gentle rocking of the hammock and birds singing through the trees lull us both to sleep.

7

Ash

I slip into a clean black and white floral print shirt and button the front, leaving it untucked over my jeans. I have two more days of clean clothes and then I’m not sure what I’ll do. I suppose I could borrow some of Jamie’s things, but there’s no way I’m washing my clothes in the lake. I’ve never done anything like that before, and I certainly don’t plan to start now. Not that doing laundry is beneath me. I have a small washer and dryer in my apartment that I use regularly. It’s more the idea of my clothes smelling like lake water. Just the thought makes me shudder. I pull on my Docs and lace them up, then head downstairs to help with dinner.

Jamie’s in the kitchen and looks over when I enter. “Just in time. We’re having spaghetti. Remember how we made the meat sauce?”

He must be joking. Right? It may have been over a year ago, but the recipe will forever be burned into my mind, as will the memory of Jamie’s lips pressed gently against my temple and the delicious scent of the citrusy cologne he was wearing. My stomach does a little flip, and my face gets warm. “I remember.”

It must be apparent, because a soft pink blooms on Jamie’s cheeks as well. “Good, because you’re making it.” He hands me a glass of red wine and leans in to kiss my cheek. “You look incredible.” As he pulls back and gives me a very thorough once-over, I smirk and put one hand on my hip, thrusting it out in a cocky pose. He laughs and his eyes sparkle. “There you go.” He gestures to the counter where there appears to be everything I’ll need to make the sauce. “The ground beef is in the cooler.”

“And what are you doing while I’m laboring over a hot stove?” I inhale the wine’s bouquet and smile at the notes of intense red fruit. “The Sangiovese.” I take a sip and close my eyes, savoring the silky texture and ripe tannins. “Jamie, you spoil me.”

Strong arms slip around my waist, and I open my eyes to his sweet smile. “Not as much as I’d like.” His lips are soft and incredibly tender against mine, and kissing him is something I will always want more of. It’s not his technique, though I do thoroughly enjoy the way he kisses me. It’s something more than physical, like he puts himself into each kiss, giving me a part of him every time. I realize with a pang that I won’t have this for long and kissing anyone else after will never compare. I push the thought away and concentrate on being here now and enjoying what time we do have. Jamie gives me a quick squeeze. “I’ll be outside. But don’t come out.”

“Too late. I did that years ago.”

Jamie scowls and points a finger at me, though he’s fighting a smile. “I’m serious. And no peeking through the window!” I turn to the window above the sink and find the blinds are tightly closed. “I’m serious, Ash.”

I hold up my hands in surrender. “Alright. I’m banished to the kitchen to sweat over dinner while you gallivant off into the night to do whatever it is you’re doing out there.” I’m intrigued by the mystery and grateful to have something else to think about.

“Good. I’ll be back soon. And don’t worry, it’s a good surprise. If you need me just shout out the door.” After a quick peck on the lips, he’s gone. Curiosity tempts me, but I resist. I love good surprises. Instead, I focus on the sauce, reviewing the ingredients, then take a deep breath. I’ve made this dish so many times I could probably do it in my sleep. It’s my go-to meal when I’m lonely and need comfort food. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to succeed at it tonight. Other than the wood-burning beast we’re calling a stove. I set down my wine, roll up my sleeves, and begin with the onion. I was unsuccessful the first few times I tried making this sauce. Initially, I had difficulty regulating the temperature, and burned the onions or garlic, hence my wariness about the wood stove, which is more like a gas range on steroids. There really isn’t any way to control the heat in that monster. But initial failures aside, I did eventually get the hang of cooking this, and now I’m fairly confident Jamie will be impressed. I hope.

I take my time, working my way through each ingredient, watching and stirring the sauce frequently, until it’s finished. Whenever it seems like it might be getting too hot, I move the pan to a spot on the stovetop where the heat is lower, and it won’t burn. Jamie pops in and out a few times. He’s radiating excitement, but he’s still being very secretive. It’s adorable, so I leave him to his project, though I’m dying to know what’s going on.

Cooking the pasta is much easier since overheating water isn’t a concern. When it comes to a boil, I toss in the spaghetti noodles and begin to set the table just as Jamie comes back in. “Oh, no, you don’t need to do that.”

I glance at him and put the plates back. “Oh? Are we dining directly from the pot this evening?” What does he have planned?

“Nope. Is everything done here? It smells amazing.” He peeks under the lid at the sauce and smiles, inhaling the aroma. “I think you’ve been practicing.”

I shrug, trying not to show how much it means that he’s noticed. “Perhaps a bit. But I have to have a few secrets, otherwise I would lose all my mystery.” I grin and kiss his cheek.

He rolls his eyes and makes a non-committal sound. “Are you ready for your surprise?” I nod eagerly, bursting with curiosity and excitement. “Okay, close your eyes.” I quickly comply, and he takes my hand, leading me out the back door. The first thing I notice is smooth jazz softly playing, and I wonder where it’s coming from. “Careful.” He guides me across the porch, maneuvering me around the swing, and stopping us before we get to the steps. The heat of his body behind me and his warm breath on my cheek starts to give me other thoughts. “Alright. You can open your eyes now.”

I do as instructed, and gasp. It’s like we’ve stepped out of the cabin and into faerie. Tiny twinkle lights and brass lanterns are strung in the low branches of the closest trees, reflecting off the lake and illuminating the area with a soft, otherworldly glow. At the base of the biggest tree is a cozy nest of colorful blankets and pillows with a nearby low-burning fire. Jamie takes my hand and leads me from the porch down a brass torch-lined path to a canopy set up near the lake. It’s one of those prefabricated ones that people use for garage sales and graduation parties, but it’s draped in filmy gauze and tiny lights, creating an ethereal atmosphere. My heart is beating hard and my mouth is hanging open, but I’m far too overwhelmed with feelings to care that I probably look like a codfish. Tears prick the backs of my eyes as Jamie pulls one of the gauze panels aside and I’m presented with the most romantic dinner setting I’ve ever seen. Two gauze-draped chairs and a white linen-covered table are set beautifully for dinner, complete with candles and an ivy centerpiece. Soft music drifts over the lake and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful setting if I tried. I am in awe. “Jamie.”

He steps behind me and slides his hands around my waist. “Do you like it?”

It takes me a minute to gather what words I can. “Jamie, it’s beautiful.” I lean back against him and absorb the scene as if it were one of the paintings in my gallery. There are so many little details that he thought of, and the effort that he expended to create this is overwhelming. “No one has ever done anything like this for me. Not ever.” I turn in his arms and kiss him softly. “Thank you.” His eyes are shining and the smile he gives me is both relieved and pleased. I glance over my shoulder again and laugh in amazement. “I can’t believe you did all this.” I point at the centerpiece. “That had better not be poison ivy.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “It’s not. And I wanted to do something special for you. You deserve to be treated nicely, Ash.” No one but Oliver has ever said that to me. As far as I’m aware, no one else has ever thought it. “Come on. Sit down and I’ll bring out the food.” Jamie leads me into the tent, then pulls out my chair for me. He pours wine into two fresh glasses, then leans down to kiss me softly. “Be right back.”

I watch him jog across the yard and disappear into the growing darkness, which only reinforces the other-worldliness of the setting. I sip my wine, still marveling at how quickly Jamie pulled all of this together. And where did he get all this stuff?

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