Thanks for that, Rebecca!

Todd is leaving tomorrow to meet with the Penn State and Boston College coaches. Both schools have given him verbal offers, and Penn State offered him a position with the baseball team, too. His family is celebrating Christmas in Boston, and then he’s heading straight up to Mt. Craymore for the senior ski trip. I’m sad he’s leaving, but it’s not like I would get to see him over break anyway, since I’m on lockdown.

I have never been more grateful for school, as this is the only time I get to see him. After the night of the fight, people at school now know the truth, so it’s made things a little easier. Regardless, we are still cautious because both of our parents know a lot of the teachers and word could easily get back to them.

I have no idea what Ryan said to RTS and Casey, and he has no idea I know. Whatever it was, it convinced them to keep our secret, and I love him for it. He must have some major dirt on them both, but I figure what I don’t know can’t hurt me.

As I approach the truck, knowing this is the last time we will be alone for a while, my heart reacts by slamming against my chest. This has become our routine: Mark hands off his keys in the morning, Todd and I have lunch to ourselves without any parental concerns, and the rest is history.

“Well, hello there,” I say as my eyes land on his. He gives me his crooked smile, and I swear I’m going to drop right here on the pavement of the SL.

“It took you long enough,” he says with raised eyebrows.

“Well, I’m here now.” I step closer to him and wind my finger through the belt loop of his jeans.

“I love seeing you in my jacket,” he says as his lips meet mine, and he runs his hand over the letters on his letterman jacket.

“Me, too.” I step up on my tiptoes to return his kiss. His lips still feel like home, every time.

“Let’s go.” He opens the passenger side door for me.

We almost always go to our field, and we try to park in a more inconspicuous place than the first time. I don’t know if Mark’s mom has seen the truck since, but thankfully, she hasn’t stopped again. Today, though, Todd drives right past the field. I have no idea where we are going, and we have to be back for classes soon.

Todd notices me tense up as we pass our field, so he places his hand on my knee and gives me a quick, reassuring smile. “Relax.”

“But we both need to be back soon.” I glance at our field in the side mirror as it gets smaller and smaller in the distance.

“Why?” he asks with a chuckle.

“Because we are already in enough trouble. And if we get caught together … I don’t even want to think about it, actually.”

“What can they really do? They already made us break up, and we see how well that worked.” He squeezes my knee on those words.

“So we’re not going back?” I ask, half scared and half excited to hear his answer.

“No, we’re going back.” He laughs then shakes his head. “I mean, I have some money saved, but not enough to live on.” His eyes slide over to lock with mine. “But I would love to do that if we could, you know—just you and me, together.” He entwines his fingers with mine while his other hand grips the steering wheel. I know I have said this before, but seeing Todd driving a truck is almost as good as seeing him play the guitar.

We drive like this for a while until he unlocks his fingers from mine to turn the truck onto a dirt road I have never seen before.

I glance up at him with questioning panic, but then, as I take him in, all of my nerves melt away. I trust him with my life, even if he is taking me on a deserted, dirt road.

The truck’s tires retaliate against the unpaved road, and we bounce up and down on the leather bench seat. We both start to laugh as we’re enveloped by a dirt cloud spilling around the truck from the dust being kicked up by the tires. With wide, open fields on either side of us, you can’t see a house or person anywhere. I have grown up here my entire life and never knew this road existed.

Everything is so crowded where we live. There are so many people. Here, though, it’s like we are in the middle of nowhere, yet it’s so close.

We drive through a small group of trees, and then, right in front of us, the trees open up to a small lake. It’s gorgeous, reminding me of a painting or a postcard it’s so pristine. The sunlight is bouncing off the water’s surface, creating what looks like golden, diamond droplets.

“Wow,” is the only word I can come up with.

He turns his lips up into a smile that is almost as beautiful as this place.

“Where are we?” I ask.

“Well, we call it the opening,” he tells me as we get out of the truck and walk toward the water’s edge. “A few guys discovered it years ago, and each year, they pass it on to a select group of seniors. That’s how we keep it a secret. Only a handful of people know about it. That’s also how we stay off the cop’s radar when we have parties here. Technically, I’m breaking every rule there is by bringing you here.”

“I love it.” I smile up at him. “And I won’t tell anyone.”

“Oh, I know you won’t.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in closer to him. “Hang on. Stay right there.” He runs back to the truck, jumps into the driver’s seat, and turns it around so the truck bed is now facing the small, glistening lake.

“Come on,” he calls out once he’s settled in the back of the truck.

Blankets are laid out already, making me wonder if Mark keeps it like this all the time. Then I think of what that means and what Mark might be doing back here with God knows who, and I quickly push that thought out of my head as I climb up into the truck bed.

Todd is lying back and resting on his elbows. I love every single thing about him: the way his shirt falls onto his chest and outlines his lean muscular body; the way his perfectly messy hair hangs low, almost in his eyes yet never masking their beauty; how peaceful and relaxed he is in this moment; and the smile in his eyes whenever they land on me.

He pats the blankets next to him. “Come here.” Then he hands me a homemade PB&J in a sandwich baggie. “Your usual.”

“This place is incredible.” I lean in to kiss him. “I feel bad; I don’t ever have any special places to share with you.”

His eyes study me for a second before he leans his forehead down so it rests against mine. “Any time I’m with you is special,” he says as he cradles my face in his hands while his thumbs gently stroke my cheeks. “I brought you here today because I have something to tell you.”

“That’s never good,” I joke and smile up at him.

The smile he gives me sets whatever part of my gut that started to twist at ease. “Did Shane say anything?”

“Huh?” Okay, now I’m confused. Shane? Does he know about Shane and Johnny?

“I thought maybe he might have said something. Joe’s Pizza invited the Sour Lollipops to perform there on Friday nights, and now that the football season is almost over, we can do it. It’s like two hundred fifty a gig.” He leans closer to me. “So that can go directly into our runaway fund.” His smile lands on my lips.

“I like it,” I say, returning his kiss, cherishing the feeling of his lips against mine. They are so soft. Losing the joking tone, I run a hand down his chest. “That’s really incredible. I’m so proud of you guys.”

“There’s something else.” His tone turns more serious, and my hand freezes.

When our eyes lock, his smile is gone. I know this look.

“What?” I try to control my pounding heart, but it’s not listening to my head.

He runs his finger down my jeans as if he’s tracing every fiber. “I’m not telling anyone else this. Not anyone.” His finger continues to trace invisible pictures on my thigh, his eyes focused on only that. I wish he would look up so I can read his expression. “This summer, I mentioned to the Penn coach that I was interested in music and theater as possible majors, and he made a phone call to the head of the theater department.”