Chapter 34
Liz stares at the small, grassy field leading to the lake the waterfall flows into. The whole grove is surrounded by a small mountain range, giant pine trees kept concealed. The field is teeming with wildflowers in full bloom.
Riley parks the truck and walks around to the other side, opening the door and helping Liz climb down.
He grabs the food and leads her over to the field, sitting in the plush grass he pulls his mask off, tossing it to the side.
He starts pulling food out of the bag and setting it in front of where Liz now sits.
She takes in the breathtaking grove, swearing he pulled it right out of a fantasy novel, when her eyes land on him.
Liz sucks in a sharp breath, forgetting just how stunning he is without his mask.
She looks down at the food in front of her and thinks back to all the times he’s done this.
In all the months she’s been with them, she has only served herself food a handful of times.
Liz looks over at him, lounging in the grass, butterflies taking over her stomach as she thinks back on how much he has done and continues to do for her.
“Stop looking at me like that, princess,” he says, his eyes meeting hers.
“Like what?” she asks, smiling sweetly.
“Like you’re starting to like me. Like I’m not the asshole who dragged you into this shitty situation.”
Liz just looks at him, unsure of why he continues to blame himself for the situation she got thrust into.
“I do like you… I mean, you’re an ass, but you’re also really sweet, and we have fun… sometimes,” she says playfully. “You’re going to make a great boyfriend when I finally get you to take your mask off long enough to meet someone,” she says, stuffing fries into her mouth.
“What makes you think I want to meet someone?”
“No one wants to be alone forever, not even you,” she says, eyeing him as he thinks about what she’s saying.
“I never said I did, but if I’m going to be with someone, it’s going to be someone who doesn’t give a fuck about it.
Whoever I end up with is going to understand why I wear it, and who knows, they might even think it’s sexy,” he says, winking at her.
“Who knows, maybe that person will stumble into my life and make me feel whole again, make me feel like I can live life without it, then I’ll decide if I keep it or not. ”
He lays back in the grass, tucking his hands behind his head. Liz sits there, not sure what she can say after that.
They stay silent, listening to the sounds of the waterfall gently crashing into the lake, picking at the grass and tiny flowers around her, basking in the feel of it between her fingers. Never again will she take something as simple as sitting in the grass for granted.
“Is the lake deep enough to swim in?” Liz finally asks, curiosity getting the better of her.
“Don’t know, I’ve never been in it.”
Liz crawls over to where he is lounging and kneels next to him laying her head and arms on his chest. He looks up at her, a mix of shock and joy that she’s comfortable enough to lay on him like that.
She has come so far since that day in the cell.
He can’t help but stare at the beautiful woman before him.
Her eyes narrow on him, wondering what he could be thinking.
“I’m going to jump off the waterfall,” she says abruptly.
Liz goes to push herself off Riley, but his strong arms are around her before she can stand, pulling her into his body. She doesn’t try to fight it, just letting him pull her further onto his chest. Perfectly happy to stay close to him all day.
“No you’re not, we have no idea how deep that lake is.”
She lets out a little huff, looking down, practically straddling him.
She wiggles her body as much as she can in his grip, moving her thighs up onto his and kicking her feet in the air above them.
Their faces are mere inches apart. Riley reaches up with one hand, his other wrapped firmly around her, and tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
His hand lingers on her face, so she rests her cheek against it, and ever so slowly pulls her face to his, again giving her time to stop him.
He’s close enough to feel her nose against his, her soft pink lips just out of reach when a loud ring blasts from his pocket.
Liz throws her head back and laughs, rolling off of him and onto her back.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Riley says, reaching for his phone, pressing the ignore button on the screen. He takes a minute to look through his messages before standing, extending his hand. He pulls her into his chest and wraps his arms around her.
“We have to go home, don’t we?” Liz asks into his chest.
He leans down and places a kiss on top of her head, smiling because she called it home. “Yeah, we need to go home, love”