I can’t eat that. I need to make an excuse. Say I’ve already eaten my dinner or something. I can’t face eating in front of him.
Austin jumped in and immediately frowned at my weird behavior. “You okay?”
I brushed back my hair and tried to hide my anxiety. “Sure. Just curious where we’re going. And, erm… I’m afraid I’ve already eaten.”
I pointed to the bag of barbeque in the back.
Austin shrugged. “No problem. Picked it up because I haven’t, and it’s a bit of a drive to where we’re going. I’ll eat your share too. Don’t worry.”
I sighed quietly and tried to relax as we pulled out of the campus. “So where are we going?”
“Out of town,” was all he said.
Switching on the radio, Austin turned it to my favorite rock station. Marianas Trench’s “Ever After” began blasting through the speakers. “I love this song,” I murmured as I stared out the window, watching the world go by.
“Me too. Nice to meet someone who appreciates real music, not that hillbilly shit I can’t get the fuck away from ’round these parts.”
Butterflies swirled in my stomach, and I couldn’t help but smile. I had no idea how sitting here with Austin Carillo, after everything that had happened over the last few weeks, felt… right.
Chapter Twelve
Lexi
An hour later, and seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Austin pulled the truck to stop at a river and hopped out. “We’re here, Pix.”
I scoured our surroundings outside of the window and frowned. I had no idea where ‘here’ was. There was nothing ‘here.’
Austin appeared at my door, and taking my hand, pulled me out of the truck and led me to its bed. He went to put his hands on my waist to lift me up, but I immediately jumped back and Austin startled in surprise. I shrugged and said, “I can climb up myself.”
If he was questioning my strange reaction, he never let it show.
As I stood in the bed of the truck, I saw a blanket already spread out and, when I turned to sit down, I couldn’t help but gasp.
The truck rocked as Austin jumped up with me and he ran his hand through his hair almost in nerves as he stood beside me, staring at the view that had me so entranced.
“Austin… the moon. Why’s it so big?” I whispered in awe.
The orange-hued moon seemed impossibly large, so impossibly close. So close that I could almost touch it; it’s hazy reflection spanning the entire width of the river before us as it sat happily on the horizon. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s a Supermoon. The moon’s at its closest orbit to the Earth tonight. It’s size and closeness is an illusion to us here on Earth.”
“How?”
“When the moon’s that low on the horizon, it appears huge to us, but it’s no bigger than what we see every other night.” Austin pointed to moon before us and I couldn’t help but blink up at him surprise.
“Is this why we’ve come so far outta town. So we could see it in this setting?”
Austin fidgeted in embarrassment and nodded his head in one curt movement. “Supermoons don’t happen often and to really appreciate it, you need to get away from city and all the light pollution.” He then gestured to the stars above. A sky so full of diamonds that it didn’t seem like there was any room for the plain ol’ dark night sky. Every part was packed full of stars. I’d never seen anything like it.
“Austin… It’s beautiful. I… I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s like a dream.”
Feeling his intense stare on me, I immediately looked down, blushing. Austin cleared his throat and took a seat on the blanket, opening his large bag of barbeque.
I joined him on the blanket and wrapped my arms around my legs. Taking a huge steak, Austin leaned back against the side of the truck and met my eyes. I couldn’t help but smile.
“What?” Austin asked warily.
“I would never have thought you would be into all this.” I gestured to the sky. “Astronomy. Supermoons, stars.”
Austin seemed embarrassed and shrugged. Nothing more said in response.
“You sure you don’t want any of this?” Austin held out the large bag of food and I shook my head. Austin tossed the bag to the side, sucked the juices of his fingers and tipped his head up to enjoy the view. I did the same.
“How’s your momma?”
Austin’s breathing hitched for a moment, but then replied, “Still in hospital. But I saw her today and she’s feeling a little better.”
“I’m sorry that she’s so sick, Austin. Sometimes life’s just not fair.”
Austin dipped his head to look my way and asked, “Yeah? And how do you know life ain’t fair, Pix?”
Every muscle tensed at his question. I tried to relax, but I could tell by Austin’s inquisitive expression that he’d caught onto my apprehension. “I just do, Austin. What you see on the surface isn’t always the reality.”
There was an awkward pregnant pause, then Austin said, “You’re preaching to the converted, Pix.”