CHAPTER SEVEN: BLOSSOMING
I left the office early on Friday after a week of, as Olider advised, keeping my head down and my chin up. Frankly, I'd been spending most of my time daydreaming and planning out my weekend with Blythe, anyway. For the upcoming issue, I'd been given a couple of dinky little pieces on local music and business, which was the sort of work they had me doing when I first started, so I wasn't giving it as much effort as I would've back then. Instead, I was thinking about evenings, when Blythe would call me on the phone and talk my ear off while I drove home. Going up to hers wasn't practical on a daily basis, so we spent hours and hours on the phone together.
When I pulled up outside of Blythe's, she was waiting for me in the driveway, wearing a simple white tank top and jeans, holding a black duffel bag. Blythe was one of those people who could make the simplest outfit so sexy and classy. I'd only seen her in sweaters and suits, so this was a charming change of pace. Her toned arms were gorgeous on full display. She wrapped me up in them when I got out of the car and practically skipped toward her. Like we were in some teen romcom, she lifted me slightly off the ground, spun me around, and kissed me passionately.
"It feels so good to just kiss you," Blythe said, her whole face glowing. Then she actually got a look at me and took a step back. I'd worn a powder blue sundress, but it admittedly would fit in better at the club than a Sunday morning service. The shirred bust held up and outlined my large breasts and I knew they looked good. It was the exact right length to be flirty, my ass visible if I bent over, and it was flowy enough to risk that actually happening if a breeze picked up just right. I rolled my eyes as she dramatically looked me up and down, gestured for me to do a spin, and said, "Holy shit, you look hot."
"I don't get to dress cute very often; I figured this was a good occasion."
"Let's create lots more 'occasions' so I can see every single cute outfit you have."
I laughed and gave her one more quick kiss.
She shouldered her bag as we walked back to the car to start on our journey.
"Meanwhile, I'm absolutely freezing."
"You won't be once we're there." I laughed as I put her duffel into the trunk and we got settled in the car. "I know you've been up in the mountains for a hell of a long time, but to the rest of the world, it's the end of Spring and once we go south a little ways, you'll wish we were wearing even less."
She gave me a wink. "I always wish you were wearing even less."
The journey from the cold, mountainous terrain to the warm, blossoming valleys below was like traveling between seasons. As we descended, the air grew warmer, and the landscape transformed before our eyes. Gone were the patches of lingering snow, replaced instead by vibrant greenery and bursts of colorful flowers in full bloom.
Rolling down the windows, we let the fresh, fragrant air fill the car, carrying with it the sweet scent of spring. The sun beat down on us, warming our skin and lifting our spirits as we left the chill of the mountains behind. Soon, the temperature rose to the point where we shed our jackets, reveling in the newfound warmth as we drove on.
As we approached our destination, the scenery became even more enchanting. The road wound its way through lush valleys and alongside babbling brooks, leading us to a secluded lake surrounded by rows of pink cherry trees and white willows in full bloom. Even though I'd spent most of Wednesday scouring Google images for the perfect spot, I was still thrilled to find that it was in full bloom like I'd hoped.
I parked the car nearby and turned to Blythe. "We have to do a little bit of a walk first, but I packed us a picnic."
Blythe laughed gently. "Really? A picnic? Damn, you really are cute."
"I try."
"No, no you don't."
I grabbed the picnic basket from the trunk, which I'd hidden away behind my other bags for the weekend so she wouldn't notice. And we made our way down to the water's edge, the soft grass beneath our feet mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves overhead. Finding a secluded spot beneath a canopy of cherry blossoms felt like stumbling upon a hidden oasis. The delicate pink petals danced in the gentle breeze, creating a magical atmosphere that enveloped us as we spread out a soft, floral-patterned blanket on the lush grass below. The dappled sunlight filtered through the branches above, freckling our faces and bodies.
Blythe opened up the basket of food and, once again, chuckled at me, affectionate but teasing. "You really went all out here, huh?"
"This is our first real meal together and our first real date."
She was right, though. I'd gone a little wild at the local market. Freshly baked baguettes, an assortment of artisanal cheeses and cured meats, plump strawberries, juicy slices of watermelon, and perfectly ripe grapes. Underneath, a bottle of pale pink rose, close to the blossoms overhead. I poured one for each of us into plastic champagne flutes