Chapter Twenty-Six

Ipace back and forth in front of the mirror. I tap my phone screen. 11:58. I have two minutes to decide if I really want to go through with this. I'm definitely curious as to what this is all about, but equally nervous. At this point it's more than just butterflies in my stomach. It's a whole circus having a party.

I quickly scroll through my phone and click Willow's name. She answers after the first ring.

"No, absolutely not. You're going. I don't even want to hear it," Willow instantly begins scolding me without even saying hello.

"Willow, just listen . . ." I start, but Willow cuts me off.

"No, we've been through this. Hours of this actually. You need to go, for both of your sake's. Figure out what all of this is. What he's thinking. You always do this to yourself. For once, try to shut off that brain of yours and live in the moment. Plus, you look too damn hot to stay home by yourself watching a movie and eating your weight in pizza." I can hear the smile in Willow's voice.

"Ugh . . . fine, you're right. You're right!"

"Video chat me for one final look."

I click the video button, set my phone on the vanity, and do a little spin.

"Perfect." She grins at me. "Go get him!"

I pause. "Well, I'm still not sure that's what this is or if I even want that."

Willow just winks at me. I go to say something else, but a text flashes across my screen.

Your carriage is waiting for you outside, Cinderella.

I smile as I close his text.

"See, look at that smile," Willow says.

I jump. I completely forgot she was still there. "Byeee!" I click the phone off, do one more scan in the mirror, and head out the door.

"We're going here?" I ask leaning forward to get a better view.

The water in front of us spans as far as I can see. The moon overhead is full and bright tonight causing the surface of the water to sparkle like diamonds. It's breathtaking.

Archer gives me a mischievous smile. "Yeah, we are."

He quickly gets out of the car and runs to my side, opening the door for me. "Milady," he says as he holds out his hand and bows.

I hesitate for only a second before reaching and taking his hand. He guides me out of the car but instead of pulling his hand away from mine when my feet hit the ground, he grabs my hand tighter. A cool breeze hits me, sending goosebumps up my arms.

"It's a little chi . . ." I start, but before I can even finish my sentence, he has a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.

"Don't worry, there'll be heat when we get to our spot."

I nod my head at him as if that makes sense, even though I have no idea what the plan is. He starts to guide me down the beach. The sand squishes beneath my feet and I can't help but giggle.

"What?" Archer asks, smiling at me.

"Nothing," I answer as I quickly put my head down.

He continues to walk us down the beach while I just keep staring around us in awe. I don't think the night can be more perfect. I've never been on the beach at night when it's cold. You wouldn't think it would be this whimsical, but for some reason, it is. Almost like it's forbidden and we shouldn't be here.

All of a sudden, Archer stops walking and my head snaps up to what's in front of us. My mouth drops in awe. There is a blanket in the sand with a spread of food and drinks in the middle. Right in front of that is a small fire. The glow of the fire against the backdrop of the waves and the moon is magical.

"Archer," I pause, "this is amazing." I look up at him and smile.

"Yes, you are," he says back in a whisper. For a second, I almost ask him what he said because there's no way I heard him correctly, but I think better of it and instead let him lead me to the picnic set up on the beach.

We sit down on the blanket and without hesitation, Archer leans over and makes sure that my blanket is still tightly wrapped around me.

"Are you warm enough?" he asks. He raises his arm towards me but then hesitates and brings it down to his lap.

"Yeah, I'm good," I say as I smile at him and look down at the food in front of us. "This all looks great. How did you get all of this here?"

"My little secret," he winks. "Now, let's eat. I'm starving."

"This was all literally perfect." I turn back towards Archer who's leaning back on the blanket, his weight on his hands.

He doesn't say anything. He just smiles at me and then looks out to the water.

I honestly couldn't have asked for a better night. I don't think anyone has ever put this much time and effort into making me feel special. I want to say that to him, but I don't know how. If Willow was here, she'd say it's because I was afraid to.

There is something that's really been on my mind the whole night though.

"Arch?" I ask hesitantly.

"Yeah?" His eyes are back on me.

"This all looks like something out of a painting. It's magical. But, um, why did we come to the beach at night and not during the day like most people?" I'm afraid I'm going to ruin the whole night with this and sound ungrateful, but it's been nagging at me.

Archer just shrugs. "You don't do the sun, right? I mean you never seem to stay outside very long when it's sunny or if you do, you're always spraying on sunscreen or putting on a hat or looking for shade." He looks at me as if waiting for confirmation.

I nod at him. "Yeah, right." He looks back at the water again, but I keep my eyes on his face. My stomach drops a bit thinking he must know something even though there's no way he does. There's no one who would've told him. That just means he's that observant? That he cares enough about me to pay that much attention?

Without thinking, I slide myself closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder, looking out to the water with him. He freezes for a second and then shifts his weight, wrapping his arm around me.

We sit for awhile in silence like this. It feels so comfortable and safe. Like anything could happen right now, and it would all end up okay because I'm here with him. I close my eyes for a second and just breathe it all in.

I feel something cold hit my nose. For a second, I think it's just the breeze or a phantom feeling, but then I feel another one on my cheek and then my lip. I open my eyes and see small snowflakes falling from the sky. The kind of snow that looks like glitter and makes you feel like you're in a snow globe.

"Snow on the beach," I whisper. "It's so weird."

Archer turns his head towards me. He hooks his finger under my chin and lifts my gaze up to his. "But beautiful," he says as he lowers his head and his lips meet mine.