Hey my lovely readers!!

I absolutely love love love this chapter and I hope you do too!!

Love hearing your feedback! And I'm always open to new ideas!

Keep reading and voting!

Happy reading!

Eagle_Eye_13 xx

_______________________________

Chapter Six

Picnic

It was about eleven o'clock when we decided to leave the beach. We walked hand in hand to his jeep and he opened the passenger side door for me. He walked back over to his side and turned the key in the ignition.

When we pulled into my driveway Chris turned to me.

"I had fun tonight Nicole" he smiled.

"I did too" I returned his sweet smile.

He motioned for me to stay put as he climbed out of his seat and made his way toward my side of the truck.

He took my right hand in his and placed his other hand on my left hip. I then felt myself being lifted out of the seat and spun around.

I screamed and laughed as he spun me around time after time.

He set me back into the hard asphalt and gave me a heartfelt kiss goodnight.

I started to walk back to the front door as he began to pull out of the driveway. I stood at the front door with my eyes on his truck until he waved and was out of sight.

I opened the front door and stepped inside my warm house. I closed the door and leaned back unable to get the smile off of my face.

"Someone looks happy!" mum said as she appeared from the kitchen.

"Yeah" I sighed with the smile growing bigger with the thought of everything that happened tonight.

I stood up from the door, locked it, and started up the stairs.

Mum came up to my room about half an hour later.

"Spill" she smiled.

I smiled and laughed at her, then I told her everything about Chris. From his dreamy eyes, to his tours in the military.

"He sounds like a great guy" she smiled.

"He is mum" I grinned cheesily.

She walked out of my room and called,

"If he hurts you, I'm gonna whoop his ass into next year!!"

I laughed at the thought of my mum attempting to beat Chris up.

"ok mum!" I laughed "Whatever you say"

She was so protective of me and I honestly loved it. Plus, I was her only child. How could she not be so protective of me?

Then I heard my phone ring. It was Chris.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey baby doll" I heard his sweet southern drawl reply.

"Miss me already?"

"Of course"

"But we saw each other less than an hour ago"

"I know. It felt like forever"

"You're lying"

"Why would you say that?"

"I don't know! No one has ever missed me so much so quickly I guess" I laughed.

"Whatever" he chuckled.

We talked for hours until my phone unexpectedly died. I plugged it in and texted Chris what had happened, but fell asleep before I got an answer.

I dreamt of Chris that night. I dreamt that he had returned to the army and was involved in an explosion. He was in critical condition and it wasn't likely he was going to make it.

I woke the next morning with a start. The covers had been thrown from my bed and I was clutching a pillow that was soaked in my tears. I was sweaty and cold at the same time.

I loved getting to know Chris and I loved spending time with him, but the more time went on, the more I feared that I would crumble when he left in September.

I decided to try and shake it off with a shower.

The next two weeks were spent with Chris because Lena and Kara were both on vacation with their families. I loved spending so much time with Chris, but I missed my best friends.

Today, Chris and I were going on our sixth date. He wouldn't tell me where we were going. He just said to dress casually.

I threw on a pair of denim shorts and a flowy tank top that showed off a little bit of my belly. Chris was going to come pick me up in about fifteen minutes and I was all ready so I decided to see what was on TV.

I turned on the TV and the first show that caught my attention was Say Yes to the Dress on TLC. I loved seeing all of the women find their dream dresses and seeing them live their happily ever after.

Whenever I saw them trying on dresses, all I could think of was me wearing my dream dress and meeting Chris at the alter.

How was I so hung up on him? I've known him for less than a month and I am already picturing myself marrying him? What's wrong with me?

Everything just felt so right when I was with him. He made my life seem complete. Like he was the missing puzzle piece that I didn't even know I was missing.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. I switched off the TV and grabbed my purse.

I opened the door to a very handsome looking Chris in a pair of cargo shorts and a Hollister shirt that showed off his muscular arms. His hair was messy, but in a good way. He always managed to look stunning.

"Will you tell me where we are going now?" I asked while he walked me to my side of the jeep.

"Nope. It's a surprise"

"Fine"

We drove for about ten minutes before he told me to close my eyes.

I was a little bit hesitant at first but I trusted him so I closed my eyes.

"Are you going to take me into the forest so you can murder me?" I asked playfully.

He laughed hysterically. "Now why would I do that baby doll?"

"I don't know. There's some crazy people out there nowadays" I chuckled.

"Well I'm not crazy. Keep your eyes closed"

"Alright alright. Are we almost there at least?"

"Yeah its just up here. Calm down"

"Fine fine jeez" I laughed.

I felt the jeep pull to a stop and Chris got out and threw me over his shoulder so I couldn't see where we were going. But he still made me close my eyes.

He set me down and held me still before telling me I could open my eyes.

"Wow" I breathed.

There was a picnic set up on a hill overlooking a valley. And the sun was just beginning to set.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" he said.

"You did good Garrett" I chuckled as I turned around to give him a big hug.

He held me tight against his chest and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"You missed" I said playfully.

He smiled and placed a kiss on my lips.

I grabbed his hand and walked us over to the red and white blanket with a picnic basket sitting on top of it.

We sat together and talked while eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and watching the sunset.

When I finished eating I leaned my back up against his chest and he wrapped his strong arms around me. He rocked me back and forth until I slowly started to fall asleep in his arms just as the sun had set.

I woke up with Chris still holding me and I saw that he had fallen asleep as well.

He looked like an angel when he slept. I placed a soft kiss on his lips in an attempt to wake him up. I saw his eyes slowly flutter open before a smile spread across his face.

It was about ten o'clock and I texted mum telling her that I was with Chris and I will be home soon. I put my phone back in my purse and snuggled back with Chris.

He began rubbing circles on my back before he spoke.

"Nicole"

"Yeah?"

"You know how I have to go back to the army in September right?"

"Mhm"

"Well I'm not so sure about going anymore"

"What? Why not?"

"I think I'd miss you too much" he smirked.

I playfully slapped his arm. "Well I think you should go and finish up your last tour."

"But that's nine months away from you"

"I know. But we can get through it. We can Skype and write letters" I offered.

"Oh alright." he said "but you have to stay in the house. I don't want any boys starin you up"

I laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

"No guys are gonna look at me hon"

"I've already seen tons checking you out. Even while were walking together."

"Well if I was a guy, and I saw a girl walking with you, I'm pretty sure I would steer clear" I laughed.

"Nicole"

"Yeah baby"

"I love you"

It took me a second to register what he had just said until I responded.

"I love you too"

He kissed me softly and it felt like there was nothing else on this earth that was more important to me than him.

We pulled away after a minute or two and I snuggled back into his chest and fell asleep once again feeling safer than ever.