Free Find Wonder In All Things by Karen M. Cox

all about.
    “I put some beer in a cooler and brought some blankets for us to sit on.”
    “Where’d you get beer?”
    “Dad’s stash.”
    “Won’t he miss it?”
    “I’ll just give him some money and tell him I sold it. He’ll never know the difference.”
    They drove in silence for a good twenty minutes.
    “How far away is this place?”
    “We’re almost there.”
    She pulled the truck into a path that led off the one-lane road and into a grove of trees. Without a word, she put the truck in park, turned it off and got out. He watched her walk to the back and pull out a knapsack and a cooler.
    “How about a little help here?”
    He got out and took the cooler from her hand.
    “What’s in there?’ He pointed at the bag she was holding.
    “Blankets and . . . things.” She turned on a flashlight and began walking.
    He followed her into the brush, breaking twigs and ducking under branches as they went. “Are you sure you know where you’re going? This looks like something straight out of a horror movie. I’m expecting Freddy Kruger or Jason to join our outing any time now.”
    She laughed. “Yes, Buckeye, I know where I’m going. Just wait for it. It’s right over . . . ”
    They stepped through the last row of trees and brush and into the moonlight.
    “Here.”
    James was speechless for a second. It was beautiful, idyllic — even romantic. Grass gave way to soft, silt-like sand, and several feet beyond that, the dark water lapped in quiet waves against the shore. He could see the marina lights twinkling across the lake, and a million stars of every degree of brightness littered the sky. The moon lent a soft shimmering light that reflected off the water.
    “Amazing spot, sweetheart. How did you ever find it?”
    “Exploring on my own last summer.”
    She dug a blanket out of the canvas duffle and spread it out over the grass. As she sat, her shoes came off and she lined them up beside the blanket. She hooked her long arms around her bent knees and laid her chin on them.
    Setting the cooler down, James dropped down beside her and kicked off his own shoes. He pulled out two beers, opened one for Laurel and kept the other for himself.
    “Good ole’ Budweiser,” he sighed.
    She tilted her bottle up and took several swallows all at once, while he looked on in surprise. He had seen Laurel drink a beer before, but he’d yet to see her guzzle one. She lowered her drink and turned to face him.
    “James?”
    “Mm-hmm?” he said, taking a swig.
    “I want you to make love with me tonight.”
    He sputtered and somehow managed to swallow the beer in his mouth before he spit it out.
    “What?”
    She looked across the lake away from him. “Please, don’t make me say it again.” Her voice was softer now and less sure. He put his drink down, took hers from her, and grasped both of her hands in his. He looked in her eyes, and saw love and sincerity — and apprehension — in them.
    “You don’t have to do this because I’m leaving tomorrow.”
    “I’m not doing this because you’re leaving . . . well, not entirely because you’re leaving.”
    “You don’t seem too sure about it.” He slid over beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and leaning his head against hers. “I want to . . . ” he whispered, kissing her ear. “God knows I want to.” He felt her shiver against him. “But you don’t have to do this to ‘keep’ me or whatever stupid thing girls think about guys.” He turned her face to his. “I love you, Laurel. I’ve never said that to any other girl — never wanted to say it. You are what I love, and nothing that happens or doesn’t happen tonight will change that one way or the other.”
    “And that’s why I want to, and why I want it to be with you.”
    Well, hell . . . Who was he to argue with that? She obviously knew what she wanted, and it wasn’t like he had a problem with it. “Laurel . . . ” he whispered, before his lips met hers in a sweet, devouring