"Isn't it getting kind of cool out for that?"
"There's a blanket in my truck."
She swung a narrow-eyed glare my way, and I held up a hand.
"It's not what you think! I stuck in there the other day thinking I'd take you on a picnic if the weather didn't get too cool or rainy."
"Are you sure you're not seeing someone else?"
It took me a minute to realize she was kidding. I tickled her, kissed her neck, and then wrapped my arms around her. She was the most precious thing in my life, and I couldn't imagine spending a day without her by my side. We hadn't talked more about the future, but I knew we would be soon. Maybe even today. Lookout Point was a great place to ask her the most important question I'd ever asked anyone in my life.
After lunch, the rest of the day flew by. Hadley was waiting at her locker when I walked up. Taking her bag from her, I walked her out to my truck and helped her inside. Once I'd stashed our bags in the backseat and climbed behind the wheel, I headed for Lookout Point and tried to still my racing heart. This wasn't going to be just another day; this was going to be the day that decided whether or not Hadley was part of my future.
The Point was an isolated area off the Cumberland River, and the main make-out area for our small community. The fact Hadley had never been there thrilled me. It was something we should share, even though I'd been there with other girls. Now I wished I hadn't. If I'd have known that one day Hadley would be mine, I never would have dated all those girls-especially Alicia.
I parked the truck, grabbed the blanket out of the backseat, and then spread it in the bed. I put my hands on Hadley's waist and lifted her into the back then followed her in. As I laid down, I pulled her against my side and cuddled her close. Dappled sunshine filtered through the trees overhead as a cool breeze blew over us. Hadley shivered next to me, and I flipped the edge of the blanket over her.
"Thank you for bringing me out here," she said.
"Hadley, where do you see us a few years from now?"
She snuggled closer and played with the front of my shirt. "I don't know. I'm struggling with school because it's so hard to read the words or notes on the page that I doubt I'll go to college. Without a college degree, it isn't like I'll ever have a great job. I mean, if I could do something creative that would be different, but my only talent is playing the flute."
"But you see us together, right?"
"I'd like to think we'll still be together. But what if you get tired of me, Tyler? I'm not the same girl you started dating. Eventually, it's going to get tiresome that I don't see things very well. The doctor said there's a chance my eyes will continue to worsen until I can't see at all. Apparently, I ingested a lot of the poison."
"Baby, you know I don't care about any of that. I still see the same vibrant, sweet girl that kissed me in the hall that morning. When I look into our future, I see you going with me to college and us renting a small apartment, and then when I graduate, I see you planning our wedding."
She giggled. "A wedding?"
Digging in my pocket, I pulled out the small jewelry box and clutched it in my fist. "Hadley, there's something I need to ask you."
I looked into her eyes and brought the box up for her inspection. When I popped the lid open, her eyes widened in surprise and her jaw dropped. She looked from the white gold ring to me and back again.
"Tyler … what? I … Are you for real?"
"Hadley, I told you I loved you, and I meant it then just as much as I do now. Would you consider wearing this ring until we've known each other well enough for me to exchange it for an engagement ring?"
Tears gathered in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. "A promise ring?"
"Yeah, Hads. It's a promise ring. Because I promise to always love you, and one day I want us to join our lives together, at some point in the future after college and jobs. I know a lot could happen between now and then, but I want you to know how much you mean to me."
She rose up and placed her hands on either side of my face before kissing me. Her lips and tongue teased and tormented me as I waited for her answer. Or was the kiss her answer? When she stopped kissing me, it took a minute for our racing heart to calm, and then I pulled the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger. She started crying again and threw her arms around me.
"I love you, Hadley."
"I love you too, Tyler." She kissed me again, softly this time, and then pulled away. "Make love to me?"
My heart nearly lurched out of my chest. "What?"
A smile played around the corners of her lips. "You heard me."
"Hadley, I … "
Before I could utter another word, she'd pulled her shirt off and tossed it aside. She was beautiful and everything I'd ever wanted. In that moment, I made a decision to give her whatever she wanted, and to make sure I became the type of man who would deserve someone like her. As the dappled sunlight surrounded us, I made love to her, showing her just how much I loved and cherished her. It was the most magical moment of my life, and I knew nothing would ever compare to it.
Chapter Nine
Hadley
I'd been back at school for over a month and things had been going … well, I wouldn't say they were great. I could barely read my textbooks and music. Tyler came over every day after school to help me with my homework, but I felt like I was being unfair to him. He should have been out with his friends and going to parties, not stuck at home helping his nearly blind girlfriend figure out her assignments. The ring on my finger felt heavier and heavier as each day passed. Had I been wrong to accept it? Was I ruining Tyler's life by staying with him? I felt selfish.
"Are you staring at me?" I asked Amber.
"Maybe."
"Whatever you're thinking, you can say … you don't have sit there and hold it in."
"All right. Why have you been pushing Tyler away?"
I snorted. "I haven't been pushing him away. He's at my house every day. If you hadn't promised to help me with my homework today, he'd be here right now."
"Hadley, no one can deny that he helps you, but you've been distant with him lately. You hardly hold hands with him in the halls anymore, and I can't remember the last time I saw you kiss him at lunch. What's going on with you?"
I stared down at table. "I just think maybe he'd be better off without me."
"Why would you think that?" Amber asked softly. "Can't you tell he's crazy about you?"
"What kind of future can I offer Tyler? He has two scholarship offers, and he's going to turn down both of them because he feels like he needs to take care of me. I don't want to be a responsibility to someone, Amber. I can't go grocery shopping by myself; I can't drive, and once this year is over, I don't think I'll be playing the flute anymore either. At least, not in an academic way. I'll still play for me, because it's something I love to do, but reading the music is just too damn hard."
"Why do you think he feels you're a responsibility?"
"He brings me home every afternoon and we do homework; he stays for dinner, and then goes home. I can't remember the last time he asked me out on a date, or invited me to a party. I'm sure he doesn't mean to, but he treats me differently now. It's like he's afraid I'll break, or that I won't be able to make it outside of school or this house."
"Have you told him how you feel?" Amber asked.
"No. He says he loves me, and I believe him, but maybe he shouldn't. If he didn't love me, then he wouldn't feel obligated to sit around the house with me. He'd go hang out with his friends and have fun."
"Maybe he thinks hanging out with you is fun."
Tears gathered in my eyes. "Did you know that the day he gave me this promise ring we made love? It was my first time, but he made it magical. And he hasn't touched me since. Not once has he asked to take me to the Point, or anywhere we might be completely alone. He feels sorry for me, and I'm sure he regrets ever giving me this ring."
"Hadley … "
"Just forget it. One day he'll wake up and realize what a mistake I am." Tears slipped down my cheeks.
I heard a noise behind me and stiffened. Had someone been listening to our conversation? I hastily wiped away my tears.
"Amber, would you excuse us?"
Tyler! Had he heard everything I'd said? Was this the moment he broke up with me and went back to his regular life? A life where he didn't have a handicapped girlfriend.
A chair scraped against the floor and I watched as he took a seat next to me.
"How long have you felt that way?" he asked. "How long have you doubted my feelings for you?"
"Tyler, I … "