by Claire Adams
We split when it was time to do our tests. After grabbing lunch off campus with Tiffany after, I drove home.
I thought about what I would cook that night, but scrapped that plan immediately. Takeout, under a blanket, watching television sounded like the only real way that today would end. Maybe I'd get some wine to celebrate a semester well spent. Why not. Tonight I'd go to bed knowing that I had nothing that I had to do tomorrow.
I had missed that feeling. I loved feeling the accomplishment I would feel when I did something well for school, but the relief at being free for the next few weeks was trumping that at the moment. I passed by the store and bought a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers because now I wouldn't be so stressed out that I forgot to water them and went home. I took my time, taking the stairs up to my apartment.
I wasn't sure what I was looking at when I saw it. I slowed down, trying to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was. It was different from the last two I had found. This one was a gift box, pink with a bow on it, similar to the one that he had given my necklace to me in. I mean, if it was him who had left it behind at all. I didn't know that. I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but my mind couldn't help connecting the dots for me as I ripped the lid from it.
Inside was a single sheet of plain paper, with writing on one side. I stopped because I needed to slow down. I was getting ahead of myself. Confirming what I already thought was true was both harrowing and exciting.
Was it really? Of course it was, who the hell else would leave something like that for me on my doorstep? He had done it before and if this was him again...
I stopped myself and took a deep breath. I picked the note out of the box, reading the neat, black print.
The usual spot. Noon tomorrow. See you there.
My heart thudded in my chest. It was his handwriting. It was the same message as the notes he had sent me this way in the past. I knew what it was asking me, but why? How? He was supposed to be in Miami. I vaguely remembered myself yelling at him to leave me alone because I was done with us. I wanted my old life back. What a joke. He thought so, too.
I read it again, my heart thumping. Tomorrow at noon. Tomorrow at noon something would happen. Whatever it was, I was excited.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Roman
I looked down at the spread. Suddenly, sandwiches seemed too easy. I hadn't made them, I had bought them. Sun dried tomato, pickle, and Swiss cheese. Her favorite. Was it enough? Was a picnic too casual? I thought I'd go with something thoughtful instead of direct, like asking her to dinner. We could be alone here, and this was our spot. It was lower stakes, too, in case she was nervous and didn't want to go on an actual dinner date.
I was a little sad, remembering the last time I had tried to get her to do this with me. It had worked in the end, after about a week of false starts. It wasn't noon yet. It was a few minutes to twelve, so she technically had time. All I wanted was for her to show up. If she didn't then I didn't know whether I could commit to waiting for her to come around like the last time. I was on a much tighter schedule these days.
I hadn't told her anything in the note, but she'd know what to expect. Right? She was a smart girl. I took the brownies out of the basket and looked out along the boundary of the trees. A couple dog walkers in the distance. Some people with kids. Nobody that looked like Veronica. Yet.
I was hopeful. I felt like, the way we left things, we both wanted to make it right. The next time I looked at my phone, it was officially 12:03. I'd give her... I didn't know how much time to give her before she was late. I stood, making sure everything looked okay, walking around the blanket.
Maybe I should have gotten wine? Would she have liked that? Why was I so nervous? This was Veronica. The girl I had been in love with for almost the last four years. I knew her, and what she liked. I knew what I felt about her and I was pretty sure about what she felt about me too. I just needed this to be perfect. We needed to talk about some things. If today went well, everything would change.
A sound behind me made me look over my shoulder. She was wearing shorts and a white tank top. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. Our eyes met and then I was moving. Then she was. And then, I was holding her. My arms were around her so tight I might have been crushing her, but I didn't want to let go.
I lifted her into my arms, feeling her legs wrap around my waist. It was like this rush of relief getting my arms back around her. I kissed her, and she opened up to me. I sucked her tongue into my mouth and tasted her. I groaned, squeezing her tighter. I couldn't have predicted what could have happened when I saw her, but this reaction was about as good as I could have asked for.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw the box last night," she said, pulling away.
"I was nervous that you wouldn't come," I confided, lowering her to the ground.
"This might be the only chance I have to come clean," she said. "I pushed you away and I shouldn't have done it, Roman. It was your choice to make and-"
"Babe, slow down," I told her. "Come sit." I took her hand and led her to the blanket. I sat and she sat next to me.
"I need to apologize to you," she said. "I shouldn't have said those things, pushed you away like that. Tiffany told me about your talks with the team and I couldn't... I didn't want you to lose the opportunity because of me."
"I know," I said gently.
"How?"
"Tiff talked to me." She shook her head.
"You need to tell that sister of yours to mind her own business," she said smiling.
"You let your meddling best friend know that, too," I shot back. "Honestly? I'm glad she told me. I'm glad she set us up on that blind date when I got back from Afghanistan."
"I am, too," she said. "I'm sorry, for breaking up with you. I didn't mean it. Any of it. I didn't miss what I had when you were gone. Being with you was better."
"I did the same thing. I shouldn't have dumped you the way I did. I only did it because I wanted to protect you."
"I did it so you'd be happy. I love you, and I didn't want you getting stuck trying to move your career forward when a chance was looking you in the face."
"I love you, too. I guess doing some things because you love the person doesn't change the fact that it'll hurt them."
"Aren't you supposed to let someone go if you love them? Something like that? And if they're yours, they'll come back?" she asked. I leaned back on my elbows.
"There wasn't a good enough reason for us to let each other go. Not the first time. Not the second one, either."
"We found each other again eventually, right?"
"Yeah. But we didn't need the time apart in the first place." She sighed. The food was sitting there, but I wasn't hungry anymore. I didn't think she was, either. She leaned on one of her arms, looking down at me, touching my face.
"I'm still happy to see you," she said. "God. I could hardly even sleep last night wondering what would happen today. How are you even here?"
"I took a plane, babe."
"No," she said, pushing me playfully. "I mean how. Did you get permission? Did you have to leave the team?"
"I didn't. Training camp doesn't start officially until Monday, so no, if you're worried, I'm not breaking any rules by being here."
"Monday? So you're just here for the weekend?" she asked. Her hand ran through my hair.
"Just a short trip this time."
"That's too bad," she said. She touched my hair again. "I feel like it's been such a long time since I saw you."
"You missed me?" I asked, smirking.
"Yes, I missed you. I know how much you love to hear me admit it. It's going to suck seeing you leave again."
"Then come with me." She scoffed.
"I can't do that."
"Why not. The semester just wrapped, right?"
"Right, but you're going to be training. When would I even see you?"
"I'd come home every night."
"Home? What do you want me to do? Come live with you?" she ask
ed jokingly.
"Yeah," I said seriously. "You should."
"Roman. Stop."
"Stop what?"
"You know what. It's like three weeks before I have classes again."
"I do know that," I said, taking her hand. "That's why I've been making some calls. There's a college about fifteen minutes away from my place in Miami. I've been talking to them. Asking about admissions and transfers." She looked at me quizzically.
"You're going back to school?" she said carefully.
"No. It’s a little late in the admission cycle, but since you would be transferring with the bulk of your credits already fulfilled, they said there wouldn't be a problem with you joining the psychology program this fall." Her mouth fell open.
"What?" she croaked.
"I wasn't going to ask you to give up your degree to be with me. I'm serious about you moving in, Veronica. I want to be with you. Come to Miami with me tomorrow night."
She launched into my lap, kissing me. Her hands cupped my face. I held her by the waist, pulling her into me. She was laughing with tears streaming down her cheeks. I couldn't make out what she was saying through it all.
"I can't believe this is happening," she said, looking at me.
"Believe it, babe."
"I can't believe you'd do this for me."
"I did it for us. I love you, Veronica."
"I love you, Roman," she said. I wiped a tear that was making its way down her face.
"Will you come?" I asked. She nodded, smiling at me. Her arms went around my neck as we kissed. She was straddling my lap. I put my hands on her thighs, touching her for the first time in weeks. Her skin was so soft. I grabbed her hips and pulled her into me.
"I missed you so much," she whispered. I ran my hands over her shorts, up under her top so I was touching her bare skin. My body flared, feeling her on top of me. I was irritated there were clothes between us at all. I loved her, but I wouldn't lie and say all I wanted was to hug her and eat sandwiches together.
"I haven't been with anyone since our last time together," I said, looking at her.
"I haven't, either."
I wrapped my arm around her waist, holding onto her so I could lower her to the blanket. She squinted up at me, the sun in her eyes. I kissed her again, getting between her legs. I felt everything, and I felt it all at the same time.
There were a million more romantic ways I could have planned this. I had seen people wandering around earlier. We had never been found here before, but I wanted her to be comfortable. I broke the kiss, stroking her cheek. I pressed my erection into her thigh.
"I can't wait, Veronica," I said.
"Then don't."
Chapter Thirty-Six
Veronica
I closed my eyes as he kissed my neck. His body was between my legs, and he was holding his weight on his arms above me. He just did things to me, I couldn't explain it. I hadn't forgotten this, but that feeling I got when we would touch? I had missed that. I had missed this.
I lost a hand in his hair as he kissed down my chest, tugging the top of my shirt down to press a kiss on my cleavage. I giggled, feeling his stubble on my breast. He looked up at me with a smirk. He pulled down the cup of my bra and sucked my nipple into his mouth. I moaned softly. He teased me with his tongue before giving the other nipple the same treatment.
He pushed my top up and planted his lips on my stomach, kissing gown over my navel to the top of my shorts. I quivered, feeling him on the sensitive skin there. I watched silently as he undid the button on my shorts and looked up at me. I raised my hips immediately to let him undress me. The shorts came off, followed by my panties. My head fell back on the blanket as he kissed my inner thighs, sucking, using his teeth. I was already wet, on edge – waiting for that perfect moment when his tongue probed my wet lower lips and he gave me what I wanted.
I whispered his name, feeling his breath on my lips. His fingers gently parted me. I moaned as his tongue found my clit. Two fingers slowly pushed past my opening, filling me. I held my breath feeling him thrust his fingers in and out, slowly twisting them and sucking steadily on my clit.
I wanted to sink into the ground and push up into him at the same time. We had been in this position too many times to count, but I needed him now. I wanted this to overcome what I had done and what he had done, replace it with what was real between us.
The sun was warming my face, but Roman was causing the heat in my core, pooling and pulsing deep within me. He moved his fingers faster without me having to ask him, like he could sense that I was close, just knew what I needed. Just like the first time we slept together this summer – he just knew. He had my body memorized, every one of my moves and sounds. He knew just where to touch me. He kept his rhythm on my clit strong and steady, driving me wild with his fingers. I moaned, trying not to be loud. I ran my hand through his hair feeling myself mount.
My back bowed as I shuddered. He didn't stop. He licked me, thrusting faster with his fingers, making me cry out. I tried to close my legs, pushing him away. He pushed my legs apart instead, moving back up my body. He kissed my neck and jaw as his fingers still moved slowly in and out of me. I felt dazed, feeling him kiss me. His hand disappeared for a second, replaced quickly by his cock.
I reached down and wrapped my hand around his tip. My pussy dripped like he was already inside me. He groaned slightly as I cupped his sac and ran my hand up and down his length. Lining him up with my entrance, he thrust forward, slowly. I closed my eyes, feeling my lips stretch around him. The friction was delicious. I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling his weight on top of me as he made measured and deliberate movements. Moans fought their way out of my throat with his every thrust. His lips were on my neck, my jaw, kissing me.
"Don't stop," I whispered desperately. I was unraveling. His deep, steady thrusts were pushing me closer and closer to the edge. I gripped a handful of his t-shirt, wishing he was naked. Neither of us were, but I didn't think I could feel closer to him than I already did.
Deep inside me, he made me feel beautiful and loved. I was never scared being this vulnerable with him. I felt powerful. Everything that had happened this past summer flew through my mind. All the pain and uncertainty, the joy, the laughs, to finally this: the promises for the future. The house in Miami. Years together after being apart.
Tears sprung to my eyes. I squeezed them shut, wrapping tighter around Roman. His hand wrapped around one of my legs, pushing it up close to my body so I opened wider for him. He sunk deeper, stroking hard and steady. I shuddered, feeling my walls quiver around him. He felt so good. He felt so right.
"Look at me," he growled. I did. I couldn't stop my tears then. His eyes were deep, liquid blue, like the deepest, most dangerous part of the ocean. His hand touched my face, cupping my cheek, not stopping his steady thrusts between my legs.
I choked on my words as my orgasm hit. It ripped through me, potent euphoria. I shuddered and convulsed, grabbing onto whatever part of him I could grab onto. I felt him speed up, slam into me harder and harder till he groaned, coming explosively. I wanted to say that I loved him but I didn't think that I had to. I could feel it flowing out of him. He kissed me, hard and deep as our bodies slowed and he finally stopped.
For a second, I just let myself lay there. I waited for my breath to normalize and my heart to stop pounding. I waited till the euphoric spike subsided before getting up and sliding my clothes back on. Dressed, I slid back into Roman's embrace, resting my head on his chest. I felt him rub lazy circles on my back.
"What's it like?" I asked.
"What?"
"Miami. What's it like living there?"
"Hot. A lot of people. Kinda noisy."
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah, it's different, but it's a good change. I think you'd like it, too."
"Really?"
"The beach is hardly ten minutes away. You'll be able to see the water from the apartment."
"Does your place look anything like your o
ld one here?" I asked. He laughed. I felt it rumble in his chest.
"No. It's going to be full of your stuff," he said. He pulled me on top of him so my legs fell on either side of his body. "Would that be a deal-breaker?"
"No, you'd just have to agree to leave the decorating to me."
"Don't get mad," he said.
"Why? What did you do?"
"I let another woman handle my decorating. Rachel. She works with the team, basically helping new players find places in the city."
"You want me to move into a house that another woman decorated?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She did a really good job," he said, teasing me.
"If she did a good job by your standards, I'm worried." I yelped, suddenly hitting the blanket. He had flipped us over. He leaned over me, holding himself up on his arms.
"Looks like you'll have your work cut out for you," he said.
I couldn't picture the place he was staying, but part of me didn't care. It sounded nice. He was selling the hell out of it, so maybe I would get there and be pleasantly surprised, but it didn't really matter, I realized. We'd be together. Wherever and whatever this place was, we'd be together, so it wouldn't matter what it looked like, who decorated it, how far it was from the beach.
"How soon do we leave?"
"You’re ready?"
"I'll go anywhere with you," I said. He kissed me softly.
"How about we have lunch first?" he asked. Oh. Oh, right, there was food. I had totally forgotten the reason we were even here. Well, talking about stuff and reconciling was the real reason we were here, but it was a picnic, and I hadn't eaten yet. He shifted off of me and handed me a sandwich.
"How were your tests?" he asked me. It was two hours before we left. Then we went back to my place, and he helped me start packing.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Roman
Six in the fucking morning. Training camp started every day at half past six in the morning. I was used to getting up before then anyway, but something told me this was going to end up feeling like boot camp. I wasn't preparing for warfare again, but I wasn’t about to kid myself that this was about to be easy.
