Page 58 of The Disasters of Dating
“Don’t worry. This is only the beginning.” I open the brochure with the trail map and point to the red dotted line. “We’re going to hike this way to Lake Solitude.”
He stares down at it. “That looks long.”
I shake my head. “It’s only a couple of miles at the most. I think it will only take forty-five minutes or so to get to the lake. We can eat our picnic there. Then, depending on the time, we can either walk around the lake or head back.”
He nods. “Okay.” He reaches for the backpack. “Let me take that. You don’t need to carry our dinner.”
“I’m okay, really,” I say, but he takes it anyway. As he slides his arms through, I notice how his chest tightens. Smediums suit him very well.
He clears his throat, and I jerk my eyes up. Myface heats as I realize I’m staring at his chest. I would slap a guy for doing that to me. But Keaton grins and waves his arm in front of him. “Shall we?”
I nod and start walking.
“Can I look at the map?” he asks.
I hand it over to him, but he isn’t looking at the map. He’s reading the little historical information on the other side of the page. He looks up. “Who’s Brigham Young? I think I’ve heard the name before, but I don’t remember why.”
I put my hands behind my back as we follow the well-trodden path through the trees. A breeze cools my skin. “How much do you know about the settling of Utah?”
He grimaces. “Not much.”
I give him a side eye. “And you call yourself a citizen of the great state of Utah.” My head shakes, and I use my best teacher voice. “It’s disgraceful. That’s what it is.”
He lifts his hands in front of him. “Okay, you win. I’m a visitor.”
I give him a little hip bump and smile. “Then let me educate you so when you do become a citizen, you know your stuff.”
As we walk, I tell him about Utah’s history and some of the oddities found within the state (our strange affinity for fry sauce and Jell-o, just to name a few). I don’t think they’re that odd, but people coming from outside the state do. The trail isn’t too strenuous, even though it’s taking us higher up the mountain. But we have to watch where we walk because of all the tree roots poking up through the dirt.
Our history lesson lasts until we reach Lake Solitude. It’s about half the size of Silver Lake. We walk to the far side and find a couple of flattish rocks to sit on as we eat.
“I’m impressed with your knowledge of the history.” Keaton slides the backpack off his shoulders and hands it over to me.
“Don’t you know the history of New Hampshire? I mean, you guys have colonial and revolutionary history. That’s super cool.” I pull out some hand sanitizing wipes and hand one to him.
“Yeah, I guess. But we learn our history with both state history and American history. If we don’t get it by then, we’re probably a lost cause.” He settles onto the rock next to me. “You seem to know a lot about history. And not just Utah’s.”
I swallow. “Yeah, my dad was a history teacher before he became a principal. We used to talk about history and politics around the dinner table. It wasn’t my favorite when I was little. But as I’ve gotten older, I love history. Utah’s, American, even world history. It’s fascinating.”
He tips his head to the side. “Then why are you getting a business degree? Why not get a history degree and teach like your dad?”
I stiffen slightly and shrug. “I don’t like other people’s children. You know? I think I’ll love my own. But strangers’ kids? Meh. I can take them or leave them.” I look away because he’s looking at me like I’ve sprouted feathers. “Teaching isn’t my thing.”
He grins. “Marking up merchandise a ridiculous amount is more your thing?”
I laugh. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“I think you’re wrong, by the way.” He leans back. “Teaching is your thing. But you can do whatever you want. I just wanted you to know that you’d be a great teacher.”
I lick my lips. “Thanks.”
He claps his hands together. “Now, what’s for dinner?”
I pull out a sandwich-sized food storage container and hand it over to him. “BLTs and chips. I hope that’s okay.”
His eyes widen. “That sounds delicious. I’m starving!” He pulls off the lid and takes out half his sandwich. He lifts it to his mouth but pauses. “Sorry. I’m acting like a total caveman. I can wait for you to get your food out.”
“It’s fine, really. Start eating. Mine is right here.” I wave my container in the air to prove I’ll be eating momentarily. We’re both silent as we eat our sandwiches. Finally, Keaton brushes his hands on his shorts and looks out over the lake. “It’s so quiet here. Who’d ever guess that Salt Lake is just down the hill?”
