Page 50 of A Country Kind Of Love

“Nope, just observing the view.” That wasn’t a lie. “What’sin the bag?”

Cleo takes her by the hand. “I’ll show you.”

They take the steps down to the field. The lights illuminate the pitch; there is no hiding. It is the world’s worst stealth mission. Cleo removes a blanket from the bag and lays it out on the grass. She places the pizzas on top.

“Did you plan this whole thing?” Peyton sits downbeside Cleo.

“I may have.”She smirks.

“How? Are you about to tell me you always keep a blanket in that bin just in case you happen to take a girl on a crazy illegalpizza date?”

“What makes you think it’s illegal?”Cleo laughs.

“You made me scale a fence.”

“That was just for fun.” Cleo opens the first pizza box. Peyton observes the perfectly burnt mozzarella. It’s enough to make hermouth water.

“Oh. So, we’re not getting arrested?”

“No.” Cleo chuckles. “My friends brother plays for the team, so I’ve been keeping this one in my back pocket for a while.”

“Well, I am relieved.”

“That you’re not getting arrested?”

“Yes.” Peyton laughs. “This is really sweet.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Cleo leans forwards to place a soft kiss on Peyton’s lips. It’s slow and intimate. She adjusts her head, so their foreheads lean against each other. Peyton’s breath quickens; she inhales Cleo’s smell. Damn, she smells good; maybe she can figure out a way to bottle her smell up without it being creepy. She never thought in her wildest dreams that kissing someone would feel the way it does when she kisses Cleo. There may be a cocktail of chemicals waltzing around her body that are responsible for the way she feels, but even the slightest peck from Cleo lights up the pleasure centres of her brain.

“So...” Peyton licks her lips; she savours the taste of Cleo. “What pizzas do wehave here?”

Cleo rubs her hands together excitedly. “Well, in box number one, we have one of the best pizzas ever made—Italian sausage, mozzarella, onion, and peppers.”

Peyton nods with approval. “Okay, good choice.”

“In box number two, we have chicken, pepperoni, and fresh garlic.”

“I love pepperoni and garlic, so that’s a winner.”

“And finally in box number three we have a treat for the vegetarians—red pepper pesto, onion, mozzarella, and shiitakemushrooms.”

“Why are the mushrooms shit?” Peyton questions.

Cleo laughs so hard her eyes glaze over. Peyton is left confused.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Shiitake... it’s a type of mushroom,” Cleopoints out.

“Oh.” Peyton blushes. “That’s not embarrassing at all.”

Cleo hands Peyton a napkin. She chooses the biggest slice. It’s barely warm now, but it doesn’t matter; cold pizza is her favourite.

“Mmm, wow.” The taste is an explosion of goodness in her mouth.

The conversation comes to a halt whilst Peyton stuffs her face with enough carbohydrates to last the week. Box number two is her favourite. Luckily for her, box one is Cleo’s, so she doesn’t have to fight her off.

“I remembered what I was going to tell you earlier.” Cleo chews. “You know the gig tonight? Well, I played the chorus to the song you wrote, and the crowd absolutely loved it.”