Finding Us (Finding #1)(25)
Author: Megan Smith

Rex groans, “I should have said something but I was waiting for Knox to fix it.”

“It’s fine Rex.”

Rex storms over to me and grabs me by the shoulders and turns me to face him. “I hate that ‘I’m fine’ shit Jas. Summer says that bullshit and it’s like girl code for you’re an ass**le.”

I try to hold back the laughter that is bubbling up but I can’t help it. “I see that Summer is training you well.”

Rex chuckles and hugs me to his chest. I wrap my arms around him. “Love ya Jas.”

“Right back at you.”

Rex kisses the top of my head. “I’ll see you later. Summer is waiting for me downstairs.”

“See ya later.”

Later that afternoon, Knox and I are on our way to wherever it is he is taking me. He hasn’t given me any clues, I’ve tried to be sneaky about the way I ask questions to see if I can get it out of him but he gives nothing away. I settle into Knox’s car and reach for the radio to find something good to listen to. Finally, finding something nice and slow, I sit back and enjoy the ride.

I must have dozed off on the short ride over because Knox runs his fingers up and down my arm to wake me. “Jasmine,”

I stretch my arms above my head as far as I can go since we’re still in the car. “Sorry, guess I was a little tired.”

“You sure you’re up for this? I can take you back and let you take a nap.”

I shake my head and reach for the door handle, “No, I’m good. Let’s go.”

When I slip out of the car, Knox waits at the back of the car for me. We walk down the aisle of the parking lot and Knox slyly slips his pinky finger around mine. A sign comes into focus the closer we get, Brookgreen Gardens. The sign is surrounded by boldly colored flowers and just past the sign is a horse sculpture in the middle of a pond.

“So this isn’t a typical place to take someone on a date but I thought you would like it.” Knox swallows hard. “It’s beautiful and it’s something completely different from the city life that you are used to.”

I smile, “Sounds nice. Lead the way Mr. Romeo.”

Knox chuckles and bumps his shoulder against mine. We walk up to the ticket counter and Knox pays the entry fee for the both of us. We continue down a walkway to a gift shop. We glance around for a few minutes and then proceed outside. Knox and I spend a few hours walking around to each section to find lush landscape, stunning foliage, magnificent sculptures, and delightful water fountains and bigger than life oak tree trees. This is something you can’t put into words; you just have to experience it. There is so much history here in these gardens.

As we wander around Knox snakes up behind me and covers my eyes with his hands.

“What are you doing?” I say as I stop walking, not wanting to trip.

“This is one of the reasons why I wanted to bring you here. Once we get inside I’ll remove my hands but I want to see your face when I do.” Knox kisses my ear. “We are going to take about another twenty or so steps and then stop. I need you to keep your eyes closed when I open the door though okay?”

“Okay.” I say as I try to contain the excitement of what he’s so eager to show me.

Walking while someone is covering your eyes from behind is no easy task. I feel like I tripped and stumbled the whole way. I knew I wouldn’t fall because Knox would never let that happen.

“Last step, I’m going to move my hands now. No peeking.”

I hold my hands up in surrender and wait further instructions from Knox.

“Take two steps and then take a step up.”

I comply and when I go to step up Knox reaches for my hand and helps me so I don’t trip. I hear him shuffling around me, “Stop here.”

My hands begin to sweat so I wipe them on my skirt. The smell of sweet nectar and summer flowers invade my senses. It’s warm, like the sun is shining down on me, and I hear a waterfall off in the distance.

“Open your eyes, Jas.”

My eyes take a second to adjust to the lights but when they do I’m in awe of the beautiful scene before me. Its paradise filled with all types of tropical plants but that’s not what caught my attention. It’s the hundreds of butterflies fluttering around the entire place.

“Wow.” I spin around. “I’ve never been to anything like this before in my life.”

“I thought you would like it here. Every time I see the wings on your back it makes me think of this place.” I glance in Knox’s direction and see a smile creep across his handsome face.

I want to take the time and get to the bottom of Knox. He’s so complicated to me right now. I want to know what’s eating at him and what he’s battling nearly every minute of every day. He has built these walls so high around his heart it’s hard to get close to him. It’s like everyone he knows is kept in different compartments of his heart. Some have a shorter wall to catapult over than the others.

I take a step closer to a cute little butterfly, all purple but with a hint of blue and outlined in black, it’s perched on a flower near my left leg. I move as slow as possible because I don’t want it to fly away but I just want to get a little closer. As I’m mid-step the butterfly starts flapping her wings and takes off. I watch as she flutters away and lands on a tree just a few feet away. She joins about fifty other butterflies that look like just her. This is an image I want to capture on my phone and save as my background. I reach into my purse to retrieve my phone but I spot Knox in the corner of my eye and see he’s taking pictures already.

I smile at him. I love that he thought of taking pictures so that I could enjoy the scene more around me.

Knox shrugs his shoulder, “I couldn’t help it. You should see the ones I got.”

I can’t wait to see all that he’s taken. I follow the path a little ways down to a bench that is right in front of a cascading waterfall that flows down to a pool of water filled with lily pads. A few butterflies are perched on the pads, drinking the water. Knox takes a seat next to me after an older couple walk past.

Neither of us talks for a while. I’m captivated by the whole scene that surrounds us. Brightly colored flowers, tall trees with vines wrapped around them and all the different kinds and colors of the flowers. Some are darker, red, black, deep purple while others are lightly colored like yellow, white, orange, pink, and blue.

Knox reaches over and pushes the braid that’s lying over my shoulder to my back and leans over to kiss my exposed shoulder. My eyes close and I want to wrap our time up here in a jar and carry it with me everywhere I go. Everything in this moment is perfect. I’m happy and content which hasn’t happened in some time. I’m always so guarded around everyone except Summer. The reason behind my wing tattoos is because when I finally decided to get out from under Mom and Dad I wanted to find my wings and be my own person. I wanted to grow, change and find my way in life.