Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)

“I don’t watch football either! I’m not going to lie, I love the Thunder. I haven’t been to one of the games, but it’s on my bucket list.”

“We’ll have to go some time.”

I don’t know what to say to that. The Thunder just finished playoffs, which means they don’t play again until next season. That means he’s considering us dating for a while.

“Have you ever kayaked?” Tate asks before taking another bite of his food.

“Oh, I’d love to kayak. It looks like so much fun. Do you kayak?”

“Kayaking is a passion of mine. I keep a storage unit off base where I keep my outdoor gear. I have a couple of kayaks, I’d love to take you out some time. In Oregon we have some of the most dangerous, but gorgeous areas to kayak. The media call us extreme kayakers because we’re all crazy who kayak at Eagle Creek. It is also a beautiful place to go hiking. Being outside is my favorite place to be. At least, it was up until I met you, and now you’re my favorite.”

“Tate that was probably the cheesiest line I’ve ever heard.” My napkin almost falls off my lap and I lean over to catch it before it hits the floor. After folding it up, I set it next to my plate.

We both laugh for a minute before saying anything else.

“It was cheesy wasn’t it? I realized it as soon as it fell out of my mouth. Would you like dessert?”

Yup, you’ll do. “No, I’m saving room for popcorn at the movies.”

The waiter comes over and asks if we want anything else. A part of me is sad because I know that for two hours, I won’t be able hear more about his fascinating life. For two hours, I’ll be stuck in my head waiting to say goodnight to him. To feel his lips against mine again.

We drove separately to the theater so my car wouldn’t look abandoned at the restaurant.

“Holland?”

“Tate?”

“Would you like to take a drive around Draper Lake?”

There is a God! “I’d love to, unless you plan on taking me out there and killing me.”

“No, I plan on you being around for a while, no homicidal tendencies here.”

We’re holding hands as we walk out of the theater. Everything feels normal, and my life is anything but normal.

Draper has a lot of trails that take you through the woods that lead to make-out sites. On Friday and Saturday nights, there are parties with bonfires and music and a lot of drinking. Andy and I had our fair share of fun at Draper. One time she was so stinking drunk, I had to carry her inside her house and up the stairs without her parents finding out. My back hurt for a week. Andy felt so bad, she bought me a day at the spa.

“You were deep in thought, whatever it was, it has put the cutest grin on your face.” Tate opens the passenger door of his big black truck. He has a cherry smelling air freshener somewhere in the truck. Probably one of those little cans that go under the car seat.

“I was thinking about my best friend.” What do you call your best friend who’s dead? Ex-best-friend? Dead best friend? No one told me a title to give Andy.

“I assume you had a memorable time at the lake.”

“Something like that.”

His truck is so tall, he had a chrome step added to each side. Most of the vehicles I’ve been in have leather interior, his isn’t leather. The material is plush feeling and solid black. When he turned on the headlights, his control panel lit up with red lights. Everything is glossy and black. I picture Tate riding along with his guitar in the passenger seat and a cowboy hat on his head. Yum, cowboy. I shake my head to rid it of sexy thoughts of Tate.

Once we make the turn towards the lake, the housing editions and trailer parks disappear. They’re replaced with trees flanking each side of the street.

“This road reminds me of the drive towards my farm back home. I like to drive out here at night when I can’t see the red dirt. This place inspires me, I’ve written a few songs sitting out here. I’m going to turn into the woods, trust me, I’m not going to hurt your or anything. It leads down to the water.”

“Cool, I’ve been to a few spots for parties in the past. Good thing we’re in your truck.”

The truck turns left onto a dirt road. There’s a few puddles from the rain we had last night and Tate drives right through them. He lived on a farm, he isn’t afraid of a little dirt. I’m not dressed to walk if the truck gets stuck. Tate comes to a stop and switches a button that says 4wd, I guess that means four wheel drive.

“You ready?”

“For?”

“It looks like we’ll have a couple of puddles to go through up ahead, it might get a little bumpy.”

My boobs are going to hate me for agreeing to this. “Sounds fun. Please don’t get stuck, these shoes are terrible for walking through the woods.”

“Don’t worry, but hang on! If we get stuck, I’ll hike through the woods with you on my shoulders. Deal?”

Is it wrong to wish to be stuck now?

He cranks up Radiohead and we drive much faster than a sane person would. As we bounce around, I’m holding onto the oh shit bar as if my life depended on it. After every death defying bump, we laugh so hard my ribs hurt. Without warning, the road smooths out and we’re at a little beachy area.

The wind is uncommonly still for Oklahoma, giving the lake the opportunity to be a perfect mirror for the full moon. Tate comes around and opens my door and lifts me out of the truck. Our bodies briefly graze each other, but the feeling is singing the touch into my memory. Tate turns back to the truck and from the back seat area he pulls out his guitar. He hands it to me to hold.

“If you’ll step over here, I’m going to back the truck up so we can sit on the tailgate and look out at the lake.”

He must have impeccable sight, he backs the truck up just close enough that I have a place to stand before he lifts me onto the tailgate.

We sit side by side, not too far from each other, but not so close we’re touching. Both of us just stare out onto the lake. I’m not sure how much time passes before he picks up his guitar and starts playing a haunting song.

“That was beautiful, what was it?” I ask without turning to face him.

“I wrote it a few weeks ago, I haven’t worked out the lyrics yet. They’ll come to me though. Do you like Johnny Cash?”

“Funny you should ask, my favorite movie is, Walk the Line. I’d never heard any of his songs until I saw the movie. Do you know Hurt?”

“I do, will you sing it with me? It’s a dark song, is that the type of music you like?” Tate bumps his shoulder into mine and a spark of familiarity resonates through me. His touch reminds me what it’s like to have someone around who likes you for you.

“Your ears might bleed if you hear me sing. I like all kinds of songs but that one is so heartfelt it speaks to me.”

“Yeah, it is heartfelt. He lived a rocky life.”

“I don’t know if I can sing out here.”

“Too bad you have those shoes on, that road is pretty rough to walk on,” Tate teases.

“You wouldn’t!” I giggle.

“Please sing with me. The tone in your talking voice is graceful and I’m guessing your singing voice is amazing.” Tate pats my leg and the feeling washes over me again. “Please.”

“You’re so rotten! I’ll sing, but if the windows of your truck shatter, I’m not paying for them.”

As he plays, my heart swells up with admiration. He’s perfect in almost every way. If he weren’t in the Air Force, I’d love for my dad to meet him.