The Falling of Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

sure is.”
    He hops out of the car, and she can hear him doing something in the trunk. She sits patiently with her hands folded in her lap as he opens the door for her. In his arm, he has a large paper bag with Ocean View Grocers written on the side.
    “Hungry?” he asks, smiling.
    Grace takes his hand, and he helps her out of the car. They walk to the gazebo in the middle of the park. It is what every small town gazebo situated in the middle of a park should look like. It is white with rich green bushes and flowerbeds placed decoratively around it.
    Ian sets the grocery bag down on the bench that is positioned at the back of the gazebo and motions for Grace to take a seat. Grace’s nerves awaken in her stomach as she looks into his piercing blue eyes.
    “I’m sorry I couldn’t take you to dinner, but I hope you like what I brought.”
    Ian takes his seat and pulls items from the grocery bag. First, he pulls out paper towels, lays one in front of Grace on the bench, and then he pulls out two sodas.
    “I noticed you drinking this kind at lunch the other day,” he says, as he places a soda in front of Grace.
    “It’s my favorite,” she says, shyly.
    He pulls out a bunch of green grapes that make Grace’s mouth water. Lastly, he pulls out two sub sandwiches.
    “This looks perfect, Ian!” Grace says, with a giant grin spreading across her face.

 
 
 
    They eat together with barely a word passing between them. They have been having lunch together for a couple of weeks now, and they never seem to have a problem chatting, yet now on their first date she is unable to speak a word to the handsome boy that sits before her as she picks at her food.
    “I thought you were hungry?” he asks, with a smile.
    She is so nervous that she can see her hands shaking.
    He places his hand on her free one. “I’m not one of those guys that will judge you if you scarf down your food, Grace. Don’t be shy. Scarf away!”
    Grace takes a deep breath. Never before in her life has she been so nervous on a date. She looks into Ian’s glinting blue eyes and he returns her gaze giving her the warmest, comforting smile. No longer feeling insecure to eat in front of him, she takes a giant bite of her sub sandwich.
    “Now that is more like it!” he says, laughing.
    Finally, she is more relaxed, which she can tell makes Ian feel more confident. The conversation between the two is unstoppable from that moment on.

 
 
 
    Ian walks Grace to the passenger side of his car and once again helps her in. He puts their garbage in a trashcan that is in the parking lot, then crawls into the car with her.
    “Do you mind music?”
    Grace looks at him, shakes her head, and smirks. Ian reaches for his stereo, turns it on and loud rock music blares from the speakers. He quickly turns the volume down. “Sorry,” he says, appearing embarrassed.
    “As if I don’t blast my music, too,” Grace says, as she reaches for the knob and turns the volume back up.
    The two sit speechless, enjoying the music as they drive through thickly wooded forest roads. Ian pulls off onto a dirt road that she does not recognize. He pulls his car right up to the shore and shifts it into park. The night sky is full of stars and the crescent moon reflects off the dark lake water. Grace sighs as she looks up at the sky from the car window.
    “It’s just so beautiful!” she says, amazed at all the stars in the sky.
    “Do you want to get out?”
    Grace wrinkles her nose and puckers her lips as she shakes her head.
    Ian laughs. “Are you afraid?”
    “Well, I hate bugs, Ian.”
    “I’ll protect you. I promise,” he says, before he crawls out of the car.
    With hesitation, Grace takes Ian’s hand as he helps her out of the car once more. She notices that he has left the headlights of the car on, illuminating the shore. Chirping crickets, cicada hisses, and the sounds of the lake water as it laps against the rock near the shore, fill the night air.
    Ian reaches