Careless and Reckless — Chapter 53

I'm sitting in Wyatt's car, the midnight blue Tesla this time, and lightly tapping my fingers on my thigh in anticipation about where we're going. Like last time, he won't tell me no matter how much I pout and huff, typical.

Although my mind had been screaming at me to go over the top and dress fancy, I had a sneaking suspicion that an airy dress wouldn't be a good idea, besides I've never been one for dresses anyway. So, instead, I'm wearing a lacy black top and light washed blue jeans that are ripped at the knees, along with my favourite pair of black ankle boots; oh and let's not forget the leather jacket covering my otherwise bare shoulders — nice but not over the top.

Wyatt is dressed in a similar fashion, donning a nice shirt and some dark skinny jeans along with his signature black leather jacket, nothing too fancy but on him it looks mouthwatering — I swear this boy could make a bin bag look sexy.

His hair is roughly pushed back as though by accident but I have a feeling he styled it, no one's hair looks that good messy without effort. I watch as he concentrates on the road ahead of him, his electric blue eyes sparkling due to the lampposts illuminating the dark roads.

He catches me staring out of the corner of his eyes and his lips twitch into a smirk. "Like what you see, green eyes?" Wyatt teases.

"Maybe I do," I reply, winking. It's not often I outwardly compliment Wyatt because it would be weird if I randomly told him just how attractive he was every time I saw him but it felt right this time. His eyes seem to light up slightly at my words and I can't help the smile that takes over my features, loving how I seem to have an effect on him.

"Not driving like a maniac today," I note, realising he's actually driving at a leisurely pace for once.

He shrugs nonchalantly. "We've got all the time in the world, green eyes, no need to rush."

A peaceful silence consumes the car after that and after another half hour or so Wyatt finally brings it to a stop. It's quite dark by the time we arrive so I can't see much. We appear to be in a forest, lush green trees as well as leafy brown ones surrounding us.

I follow Wyatt as he turns to the right and starts walking, latching his fingers around my hand, so I match his pace. Something about this place feels strikingly familiar but I can't place it and my mind swirls in a frenzy as I wrack my brain for answers. Alas, nothing — fucking hell, this is going to bug me so much.

Dry leaves crunch beneath our feet as we walk, the chill of the night air biting at out exposed flesh but it doesn't bother me because the heat radiating off Wyatt's hand interlocked with mine is enough to blanket me in warmth.

After what feels like a lifetime — I'm not kidding, my feet feel like they're throbbing from walking that far in heels — Wyatt leads us down a hill near a cliff ledge and memories start rushing back to me.

I've been here before.

This is where Wyatt took me cliff diving, our first ever outing together. Instead of making us jump this time though, he leads us down to the bottom using a steep winding dirt path, that mesmerising lake reflecting the moonlight in ripples waiting for us to reach it.

"I can't believe you brought us back here," I say with a light laugh as we walk, reminiscing in the memories.

Wyatt shrugs, a lazy grin on his face. "I was hoping that you'd recognise this place. I thought it'd be a nice spot for our first official date."

Date. The word rolls off his tongue so smoothly and perfectly it sends shivers down my spine. "So this is a date then?" I tease, a knowing smirk on my face that I learned from Wyatt himself.

He rolls his eyes playfully at me as we reach the end of the path. "I thought snogging you the other day made it pretty clear that I like you, green eyes."

I can feel the thumps of my heart beat in my chest quicken in pace at his words. "Well, I just might like you too, Wyatt," I smile as he leads us towards a stunning cherry blossom tree with a picnic blanket and basket laid out beneath it. I can see him smile broadly at my words from the corner of my eye and that only makes me smile harder, overjoyed that he feels the same.

"You really planned all of this?" I ask softly, staring in awe at the beautiful setting and the thought behind this date; he put so much effort into this. He actually thought back to the first time we went out together, remembered how much I loved this place and had to come here earlier to set up the picnic. My heart swells in my chest at the gesture as we sit down and I can't seem to wipe my already prominent smile from my face.

He shrugs, reaching into the woven basket. "It's nothing really," he dismisses. "But for you, green eyes, I'd do anything."

A light pink dusts my cheeks but I'm hoping it's not visible in the darkness.

"So tell me," I say after a while of light conversation, biting into a chocolate covered strawberry. "What brought on the sudden change of heart about your feelings towards me?"

Wyatt seems slightly taken aback by my probing question, stopping his inspection of the toffee apple he was about to bite into. "There was never a change of heart, green eyes," he says after a long pause, clearly he's thinking over what he's about to say carefully.

"Something about you has captivated me since we first met. I can't really describe it but I feel drawn to you if that makes sense. I don't think I realised how much I cared until I lost you. Those three months where you disappeared with — River," he grits out the name, his jaw clenching. I reach to hold his hand, rubbing comforting circles with the pad of my thumb until he calms down.

"Sorry — anyway, I think it took losing you to realise how much you mean to me. And then, I lost you again because you were being a reckless idiot," he says, glaring playfully at me and I just roll my eyes, waiting for him to continue. "That happening got me thinking about how unpredictable and short life is. I don't know what's going to happen next year or even tomorrow for that matter but I do know that I want to spend it with you, Aurora."

The use of my actual name shocks me. He never uses it but I definitely love the way it sounds coming from him, his voice annunciating each syllable in a deep rumble.

He scratches the back of his neck, casting his eyes downward, something I've noticed he does when he's nervous. "What I'm trying to say is," he starts, bringing his striking blue eyes back upward to meet mine. "Aurora, will you be my girlfriend?"

I can't help the grin that takes over my features as I process his words, not needing even a second to think of a reply. "Yes," I smile. "I'll be your girlfriend, Wyatt."

The grin on his face matches mine as he leans over towards me and places his lips on mine in a soft kiss. "You've just made me the happiest guy in the world, green eyes."

My face scrunches up a little as we both pull away. "That's pretty corny, especially for the supposed 'bad boy'," I state, still smiling nonetheless.

He rolls his eyes playfully at me, something I think he's picked up from being around me too much. "Well, I think once in a while this 'bad boy'," he mocks, grinning, gesturing to himself. "Can be cheesy but only for you."

"Only for me, eh?" I tease, lifting my head up to peck him on the lips quickly.

Before I can pull away, Wyatt circles his arms around my waist, pulling me closer and onto his lap so I'm straddling him. "You're pretty bold, aren't you?" I state as we both pull away for air.

He smirks knowingly at me, his hands running down my arms, making my leather jacket fall from my shoulders. I shiver at the slight breeze and Wyatt's fingers move to the back of my shoulder blade, delicately running down the tattoo that lies there.

"I've been meaning to ask you," he says, looking at the artwork in thought. "Are your dad and sister the reason you chose this particular tattoo?"

My mind thinks back to when I got this tattoo with Wyatt whilst I was still underage and I chuckle lightly at the memory.

"Yeah, I never wanted to forget, you know? I kind of got it as a tribute to them," I say, smiling sadly at the thought of my family that are no longer with me. I'd thought about it a lot, getting a reminder of them both and nothing seemed more appropriate than a motorcycle, our families greatest passion despite it causing so much heartache.

He stares into my eyes for a few moments, my hand encased tightly in his own. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he says softly, undoing the top few buttons of his shirt. My eyes widen in surprise but before I can ask him what on earth he's doing I spot a tattoo on his chest, right above his heart.

"This was the first tattoo I ever got, to remind me of my family. Even though I haven't got the closest relationship with all of them they still mean the world to me," he tells me, letting me trace the ink with my fingers.

It's a crown, I guess because he's Wyatt King. "You know, that's pretty corny as well. You're more sappy than I thought, King," I tease lightly, easing the heavy atmosphere.

He scoffs at this. "There's so much more you don't know about me, green eyes."

"Is there?" I challenge with a raised brow and he nods. "Then I guess you'll have to show me," I say and he grins, bringing his soft lips to meet mine. We both smile into the kiss, my arms locked around his neck and his tangled in my hair.

"Only if you show me too."

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