“If you say so,” I mumble. Any time I’ve talked to Jake when he’s with his friends, that guy is always loud and annoying. I don’t know how Jake can stand to be friends with him sometimes.
Another chuckle comes from the driver’s side. A small grin crosses my face. It feels good to hear him laugh and see that small spark of humor light up his eyes. Especially after how sullen and lost he sounded yesterday.
Looking out the front window I see flicks of orange and yellow, rising up to meet the sky. As we get closer to the bonfire I hear country music filling the otherwise quiet air. I roll the window down to listen. It’s not the new music they blast on the radio claiming to be country. No, this country has meaning. You can feel their emotions and thoughts through the lyrics, from a generation that’s not our own. A generation that no doubt faced the problems we do but felt them on a level of maturity that we aren’t capable of yet.
Jake pulls through a gate that I didn’t even see. He must come out here a lot to know exactly where it is. There’s a small group of people gathered around a large fire, hands grasping cans and bottles. They seem completely at ease, like this is a regular occurrence for them.
We park the truck and Jake comes around the front to open the door for me. It’s something you don’t see very often anymore. One thing I doubt I’ll ever get used to is getting out of his truck. I still don’t understand why he wanted it so high off the ground. He says it’s so he can go mudding, whatever the hell that is, and it keeps him from getting stuck. Jake grabs my hand so that I can jump down without losing my footing.
Walking up to his group of friends, I grip his hand a little tighter. I may have lied a little bit about being nervous. I’m out of my element here. Any time we’ve seen each other he’s come to me, in the city, where I’m comfortable.
Out here…there’s nothing but a star filled sky. We definitely don’t have this in Dallas since it’s obscured by all the bright lights of the buildings. I tilt my head back reveling in the fact that I’m a small part of this great big universe. Wondering if I look like a small shining speck from above just as they appear from below.
My foot hits something while I’m staring at the sky, and I pitch forward almost dragging Jake down with me. But he grabs me before I hit the ground. I peer up into the darkness, trying to see if anyone saw me. The look of shock splayed on everyone’s face is a good indicator they did.
Of course, that would be my introduction to his friends. The clutzy girl that trips over something while holding on to her boyfriend. Wait…when did I start referring to Jake as my boyfriend? We’ve never said anything about being an item, but I’ve been exclusively seeing him. I can’t do the whole date a few people at once to see if you click thing. It’s exhausting and I spent so little time with my dates that I couldn’t find anything of substance with them.
Then I swore off dating to work on my career…until Jake. The annoying fool worked his way under my skin and into my heart.
“Do you think they saw me?” I whisper. He knows damn well they did.
“Don’t worry,” he shrugs. “I’ve had to almost carry most of these guys to their beds at one time. They won’t make a big deal about it.”
I wish what he had said was true. As soon as we join his friends, one them says, “That was quite some fall, not graceful at all.” He puts his fingers to his chin. “I’d give it a five.”
“Randall, can you not mess with her before you’ve been properly introduced,” Jake comes to my rescue.
Ah, Randall. The probability of him getting junk punched tonight has just increased, significantly. The rest of the group tries to hide their laughter. Not because what Randall said, but because they can see the daggers I’m shooting at him with my eyes.
Jake pulls me closer to him, arm thrown over my shoulder. “Everyone, this is Charleigh. And, Charleigh, this is everyone.”
“That has got to be the worst introduction known to existence,” Marshall yells out. He’s not wrong.
He starts pointing at each individual person. “You obviously know me,” he winks. But he continues, “You’ve met Randall, that is Dylan, and the lovely lady accompanying him to the bonfire this fine evening is Rachel.”
Rachel waves excitedly. “It’s so nice to have another girl in this sausage fest. You have no idea how annoying these guys can get when they are together.”
I glance toward Randall. “Oh, I think I do.”
Rachel opens an ice chest, motioning me to grab whatever I want. I’m not a huge fan of getting shit-face drunk, so I grab a bottle of water that’s been shoved to the bottom. The water is frigid compared to the heat of the night, and I quickly pull my hand out, wiping the excess water on my jeans.
I stand next to Jake, joining in the conversations if I have something to add. Otherwise, I just listen to the stories from their high school days.
* * *
I’m notsure why I was so nervous about coming tonight. They brought me in the fold like I had been a part of the group for years, especially Rachel. She treated me like we’ve always been the best of friends. Even Randall isn’t so bad. But if anyone asks, I’ll take that little tidbit to the grave.
Everyone else has already gone home, but I wasn’t ready to leave yet. There’s just something about the peace and quiet in the middle of this empty field. It’s relaxing and gives you time to reflect on your life.
We’re lying on a blanket he put down in the bed of his truck. We’re cuddled together, my head on his chest, his arm wrapped around me, pulling me close. There are things Jake and I need to talk about, but not tonight. Right now, I just want to bask in this moment of content. Slow country music drifts through the speakers from the truck. Between that and the crickets chirping, I fall asleep in the arms of the guy I’m falling for under the twinkling lights of the night sky.
Seventeen
Jake
Wakingup next to Charleigh snuggled against my chest is definitely something I could get used to. I should have woken her up to take her home last night, but I didn’t. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, and I didn’t want to interrupt that. I pulled the blanket over her and fell asleep to her measured breaths under the starlight.
I’ve never slept so soundly. I look down at her, still sleeping, and run my fingers through her hair. I’m starting to see how quickly you can fall for someone, or at least start to fall for them. I would do anything for her. Hell, she could even be my forever.