#Chapter 65: Listen Closer

Asher drove us out of town. Relaxed, I sunk down into the comfortable leather seat. The windows were opened a crack, enough for some cool air to brush over my face, chilling away any lingering warmth I felt from my embarrassment in Asher’s presence. In the background, he’d turned the radio up, some soothing music with a light beat. Before long, I found myself drifting off into a calm sleep. I woke up as the car came to a halt. With only trees out my window, I didn’t recognize where we were. “We have to walk from here,” Asher said, undoing his seatbelt. “It’s not far.” After rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I followed him around the car and up a dirt path through the forest. The trees were pine, and smelled like Asher. Asher held out his hand for me and I took it. He guided me over a fallen log and up a steeper section of the path, until we emerged at a clearing. No, a cliff with a fenced-off edge. A scenic overlook. Beneath was a lake sparkling in the afternoon light. “Over