Page 28 of Perfect Tragedy
When we pull up to the old covered bridge that leads in and out of town, I smile. I love that bridge and I love that he knows it. There’s two in town. This one, and another on private property. Kids all over town sneak onto the property and it has become a make out spot - almost like a rite of passage it seems. The story behind the bridge is rather romantic, a man named Henry Davis built it for his wife as a way for her to cross the river to the forest on their property so she could explore the forest she loved. He later proposed there and it’s a meaningful monument in town now. If Blake took me there I’d probably have a heart attack. Cue the dramatics again.
“Come on,” Blake looks at me with a smile.
I’ve barely got the door open and Blake is helping me out of the car. I take a few steps in the direction he steers me but when my heels sink into the grass I stumble.
“Well we can’t have that. Here, hold this.” He gives me the bag of food along with both drinks to balance and then carefully picks me up, cradling me in his arms.
“I could have just taken my shoes off,” I laugh.
He just smiles and carries me to a grassy area near the bridge and sets me down.
“Sorry I don’t have a blanket or anything.”
“It’s fine.”
“Oh wait,” he takes his jacket off and spreads it on the ground.
“What if it gets grass stains or something?”
“It’s fine,” he shrugs.
I take a seat and immediately take my shoes off and put my toes in the grass. I catch a smile on Blake’s face out of the corner of my eye when he sits next to me.
He takes the package of food and digs out my burger handing it to me.
Unwrapping it carefully, I take a huge bite and moan my happiness making Blake laugh.
“Sorry,” I mumble with my mouth full. “Hungry.”
He responds by taking a big bite of his own and we eat in companionable silence. The road is quiet, no one busy coming in and out of town tonight I guess.
“Mmm, hits the spot,” I tell him after another bite. His eyes drop to my mouth watching me chew before he looks away and clears his throat, and runs his hand through his hair. He reaches into the bag and pulls out fries and holds them to me in silent question. I grab a few.
“How’s Mandy?” I ask about his sister realizing I haven’t inquired for a while at how she’s doing. I don’t see her around much.
“Good. Loving beauty school. I had to tell her no, that I didn’t want my hair dyed bleach blonde last week.” I giggle. “She’s hoping to snag a job at Serenity,” he says talking about the salon in town. “But she also talks about ditching this town, so I’m not sure what she’ll do to be honest.”
“That’s cool,” I nod and take another bite.
“Yeah.”
“How’s your mom?” I ask.
He grimaces, “Uh, let’s talk about something else?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m sorry.”
He nods.
“I can’t believe it’s almost the end of the school year,” I say.
“You’ll be a senior next year. Big man, or should I say woman, on campus.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m just excited for volleyball season again.”
“Have you looked at any of the colleges already sending you letters?”
Shrugging, I admit, “A few.”
