Lord, please watch over my boy.Please keep him safe, guide him to make good choices, and bring him home to me safe.God, please.In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
I open my eyes just in time to see the bus pull away.Thomas waves at me, his bright smile beaming.I wave back, and as soon as I see nothing but tail lights, I wipe my wet cheeks and turn toward Garrison.He’s seated on the short brick fence in front of the school, with an understanding smile on his face.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to intrude, but I also knew this was going to be hard.Friends are there for each other, right?”
I laugh, appreciating his playful tone more than I’d like to admit.“Yes.That is true.And thanks, if you weren’t here, I’d probably be sitting on the curb, rocking and bawling my eyes out.”
Garrison flashes me a smile.“Glad I can be of service.”His expression softens.“Are you okay?”
“Not really,” I reply.It doesn’t help that my night was riddled with nightmares, thanks to the way I’d opened up to the man in front of me.I’d gotten hardly any sleep then said goodbye to the one constant in my life.
It might only be a week, but it feels like forever.
“Then come with me.”
I arch a brow.“And where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he replies with a smile.“Come on.Don’t you trust me?”
More than I should.Even though the voice in my head is screaming that I’m about to enter uncharted waters, trying to be friends with a man like Garrison Holt, I take that first step anyway.
After driving for nearly twenty minutes, Garrison guides his truck off the main road and onto a dirt side road.My heart jumps in my chest, not out of fear but out of anticipation for what’s to come.He hasn’t given anything away, but with each mile we drive, I find the excitement building.
With the sun just beginning to creep over the horizon, the world has a glow to it.Rays of color paint the sky, and as always with a sunrise, I sit in awe of the world God created for us.
The pain of letting Thomas get on that bus has eased just enough, thanks to the distraction and the fact that he’s already texted me half a dozen times, thanking me and telling me he was already having so much fun.
We round a corner, and an olive-green truck comes into view.Three brightly colored kayaks are resting beside it, a man standing in front of them.I recognize Sawyer instantly, and my excitement turns into pure delight.
How did Garrison know kayaking is on my bucket list?
I’ve never told anyone.
Garrison parks the truck and turns to me.“You up for an adventure, Katelyn Ellis?”
His grin ignites another wave of attraction in me, and I can’t help but smile back.“Absolutely.”
We sit there a moment too long, our gazes holding, until Sawyer knocks on Garrison’s window.With a laugh, Garrison opens his door and climbs out.
“Oh good, I thought you drove out here to just sit in your truck.”Sawyer turns to me.“Hey, Pepper.”
I snort at the nickname.“Hey, Sawyer.”
“You ever been kayaking before?”he asks.
“I can safely say I have not,” I reply.
“Really?”Garrison questions, seemingly surprised at my confession.
“Really.I never had the chance before Thomas, and—well—after, I just didn’t have the time.”
Garrison’s expression darkens a bit in understanding.There’s not a lot of time for adventure when you’re a single mom.
“Look at that!We got a newbie with us!”Sawyer exclaims.“I tried to get Anastasia out here today, but she’s a party pooper.Come on, let’s get you in a life jacket, then let’s get on the water.”
As he walks away, we follow.Sawyer offers us each a life jacket, then slips into his.I’ve just finished buckling mine in the front when Garrison turns to me.
“Good?”he asks.