“Time to hit the stand, sweetheart!” he said with a wink.
I jumped up and started to clean up our picnic. After I was done, I hopped up into the Jeep and sat there, waiting for him. I turned, and he was just standing there, staring at me.
“What?”
“Babe, the stand is right there. ”
He pointed to a giant deer stand that I hadn’t even noticed was there.
“Holy shit, you want me to climb up that?” I just looked at him.
He smiled and nodded.
“How high is that, Layton?”
“It’s just ten feet, Whit, that’s all. ”
“Ten feet! Layton, I’m afraid of heights!”
He walked up to me and grabbed my hand. He led me over toward the stand. The whole way there, he rubbed his thumb up and down along my index finger, and the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy. I wasn’t sure if it was from the idea of being that high or the fact that he was holding my hand or a combination of both.
After he got me to climb up, I got settled into a seat. He sat down and then reached into his back pocket.
“Here—now, the outfit is complete. ” He put a camouflage hat on me.
When I laughed and pulled it down, my hand brushed against his. The look in his eyes told me he felt the same thing I felt every time we touched.
I sat there for a good forty minutes, perfectly still, and it was killing me.
Come on, you stupid bucks! I see you every damn night in my front yard. Where in the hell are you?
Layton reached over and put his hand on my leg. I looked down to see I was swinging my legs.
Shit!
After another fifteen minutes went by, he slowly turned and looked at me. I peeked up at him, and he laughed.
“Jesus, Whit…stop humming!” he whispered.
“Oh shit, am I?”
“Yeah, you are. ”
I smiled. “Sorry, I thought I was being quiet. ”
With his finger, he pulled my chin to look me in the eyes. “Honey, stop sniffling, too. ”
“But my nose is running. ”
“Let it run,” he whispered.
“Eww, gross, Layton. I’m not letting my nose run. ” I shuddered at the thought and turned away from him. I quickly wiped my nose and prayed it would stop running.
Why in the hell is it running in the middle of July anyway?
I glanced over at his watch.
Yes! It’s almost been two hours, and I haven’t asked to get down yet.