We didn’t talk much as he gently dragged me farther through the trees. I was too busy wondering if he had even more planned. I didn’t know if I could handle more. How had I ever questioned this guy’s thoughtfulness? He couldn’t fake this. I smiled to myself. Finally, my karma was repaying the debt of all my past shitty dates. I loved that he kept me in mind; it seemed like he thought of me even before he did himself.
“Will.”
He turned and looked at me expectantly. We walked side by side, still hand in hand as I decided how I wanted to convey what I was thinking to him.
“We’re here,” he said.
I looked forward. A green wall towered over us. “What is it?”
“Look closer.”
Upon getting closer to the wall, I saw that it was a series of vines that hung over an entrance. I reached my hand out and pushed them aside. They were heavier than expected, but they moved. I glanced back, and he nodded. Ducking under the thick vines, I continued through an opening and into a clearing. My mouth fell open.
The clearing was a medium-sized room, but there was no ceiling in sight. The walls were the same color as the vines that acted as a door, but every few feet there was a faint glowing coming from beneath the foliage. I spun around, my eyes following the vines and embedded glow as they wound up to the nonexistent ceiling. There the sky was dark and full of stars.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Our secret.” He grinned mischievously. “Well, our secret, and whoever else has found it.” He waved that fact away dismissively.
“I have no words.” I put my hand on my heart, hoping that the thoughtfulness, the sweetness, and just the overall desire I had for this human didn’t make it burst. I was right to worry about anything more from him being too much. I couldn’t pick my mouth off the ground. After spinning several times, I became dizzy. Will appeared before me, and I slipped into his arms, burying my head against his chest. I closed my eyes, willing myself to get my balance back so I could stare into his irresistible eyes. His hand rested on my head and began to comb through my hair.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to run out of goose bumps,” I muttered into his shirt.
“What?”
I lifted my head. “I said, I’m going to run out of goose bumps.”
He laughed softly. “I told you the forest was magical. Do you think I set this up?”
After tonight I’d believe any forest-related story he told me.
His hand left my hair, and he brought both to cup my face. Our eyes locked, and I put my hands on his torso to brace myself as my legs melted away for the umpteenth time that day.
“I love it when our eyes meet,” he said. “It doesn’t happen enough.”
“Well, when it does, we become very unproductive,” I teased.
He nodded. “It’s like nothing else exists.” He looked up thoughtfully. “Maybe we shouldn’t do that in here, then. It’d be a shame to ignore all the trees’ hard work setting this up because I can’t stop looking at these beautiful eyes of yours.”
Briefly glancing at the wall again, I nodded. His hands fell to my waist again.
“When I’m with you I just have the most irresistible urge to tell you the cheesiest things I can think of,” he said.
“When I’m with you, cheesy is the last way I’d describe them,” I said.
We stood there in silence. I closed my eyes, enjoying his strong hands on my waist and his thumbs creating small circles where they rested. I opened them when I remembered I was trying to spit out something before we reached this clearing.
“Hey, Will,” I said. “I won’t pretend to know the intricacies of your last year, but I believe in you. I don’t know if that’s something you want or need. But as your roommate, current hugger, and future lover, I’m all in to helping you get to day three hundred and sixty-six and beyond.”
Will’s lips came together in a smile that appeared he was trying to resist. His eyes slowly glossed over, and we just stood there. Stuck in a time-stop that was not fueled by desire, but a connection that I know I hadn’t felt before.
“I mean it, Will.” I wiped a budding tear from his cheek before retreating back into his chest. He held me against his chest, and I just listened to his heartbeat.
“I hope you don’t have homework or anything,” he said from above me.
“I think I do,” I said into his shirt, forgetting that he couldn’t hear me. I pulled away and repeated myself. “Oh well,” I added.
I was about to lay my head on his chest once more (it was so inviting) when he moved almost imperceptibly toward me. I focused, and sure enough, his head was coming toward me. My eyes went wide, and my relaxed state of being suddenly went haywire. I couldn’t meet his gaze and I had to swallow, as all moisture in my mouth went to my hands in the form of sweat. My stomach did an extended flip and I almost backed away on instinct.
He maintained a focused look as he descended to meet my lips, and all I could do was scream internally. My eyes were drawn to his lips, our breathing the only audible sound. His eyes closed, and mine shortly followed. His hands tightened around my waist, and his lips finally touched mine. That one instant felt like a million as our lips converged, and that same fire struck me. That same lightning joined in. It began at my lips and raced through my body. His lips were soft, contrasting with his hard body that he pulled me into. A soft moan escaped his throat, and I stood on my toes to get as much of him as I could.
“Wait!” He backed up, eyes wide. “Did you say future lover?!”
“It’s about time you said something. I said that, like, five minutes ago.”
He grabbed my hips again and pulled me in for another strong kiss.
Will
“Well, it’s about damn time,” Chris said as we emerged from under the trees.
“Don’t listen to her,” Daichi said. “We were fine. How’d it go on your end?”
All I did was smile.
The four of us hopped back into the truck, and we began the drive home. Chris and Kristen sat in the back of the truck. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for their conversation. In the front, Daichi was giving me the “tell me everything” eyes. I obliged.
I told him of our walk through the forest, our collision to the ground, and the kissing in the clearing. Retelling it had me feeling like I was sitting on a cloud, rather than the grungy seat of our ice cream truck.
“But, did you do it?”
“In the woods?” I gave him a glare. “No. An angel such as her deserves better.” I grinned.
“Oh, man, eww. You would think I’d be used to your mush by now.”
“I’m just getting started.”
Daichi dropped Kristen and me off after what seemed like a quick drive. I lost track of time talking and thinking about her. We stood on the porch as I played with the lock.
“So, you going to get that homework done?” I asked as the door opened.
“What homework?”
Once we were in inside, I pushed the door shut and rested my hands on her waist; a feeling I was starting to become familiar with. I leaned down to kiss her. I had missed her lips on the drive home.
“Oh, that homework!” She turned her head to the side so I kissed her cheek.
She giggled as I groaned. I picked her up and pushed her against the landing wall. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I kissed her neck. I made my way down to her collarbone before I withdrew. “For that, I should throw you to the spiders.” I placed her down. “But actually, if you have homework to do, I won’t distract you from it.”
“I appreciate it, but I actually don’t want to do it.”
“You’ll do it, or you get no more kisses from me,” I said, already halfway down the stairs to my room.
Kristen
I watched him jog down the stairs, wanting nothing more than to follow him, but, I didn’t want to risk not getting any kisses, so I trudged my way to the living room and pulled out my assignment. I couldn’t
even remember what it was about. I checked my planner—edits on a paper. That would require focus, something that was in short supply these days. I settled onto the couch, opened up my computer, and turned my attention to my assignment.
I soon found myself in a cycle of unproductiveness. I’d look at the edits and get through a few, but then I’d be distracted by the thoughts of Will’s lips, or the memory of being held so close to him. That only led to me hurrying to skip half of the corrections that asked for elaboration. I raced to fix only the most essential of typos before I fell into daydreaming again. I’d be done faster if I could avoid thoughts of Will and be with the actual man himself. But no, even the words on the page reminded me of him though it was a paper for Criminal Justice 101.
Halfway through the paper, I found myself comparing Will to all the guys of my past once again. None of my relationships had ever started like this. Nothing this wonderful could devolve into what I had with those guys, right? Even with looking through rose-colored glasses, no memory could compare to tonight. The amount of effort he put into it was incredible. My heart raced just thinking about it. This was really happening.
As I forced myself to type out corrections, I noticed my fingers slip off the keys. My hands were a bit clammy. Anticipating going down to see Will was starting to affect me.
I resolved to give myself ten more minutes of fruitlessly typing away before I’d go downstairs. Maybe five. That was a good compromise. Five minutes, and then I could go kiss Will again. Kissing never hurt anyone. Except if it led me to knocking down the wall around my heart. I could afford to be slightly more vulnerable in front of him. That wouldn’t be the end of the world. He had put all that effort into thinking of me, the least I could do was repay the effort. Going completely all in would be terrifying, but I could afford to open the door a crack. Three minutes after making my five-minute pledge, I closed my laptop and hurried down the stairs.
Will
I was lying in bed, thinking about the whirlwind of a day I’d just had. I might have underestimated her. In the forest, she made me feel things I hadn’t experienced before with a girl. I’d have to wait to see if that was an exception or the norm, but for the first time in a long time I was excited. I loved seeing the excitement reflected in her eyes too.
This might be too good to be true, but I’d try to enjoy it while I could. I’d make it my purpose to see those eyes light up as often as possible.
I heard the steps outside my room creak, and felt my face light up. She turned into my room and stopped.
“I can’t see anything.”
“I’ll have to take advantage before your eyes become adjusted to the dark then.” I rolled to the side of the bed and sat on the edge, pulling her to me.
“Am I going to get any sleep tonight?”
“Yes,” I said. “It’ll just be in my arms.”
“I like that.” She kissed me.
I ran my hands over her back while our tongues met briefly for the first time. When we broke apart, I rolled back into bed, taking her with me.
She crawled over and straddled me, much like when we fell in the woods. I reached up and ran my thumb over her lips. I had been too long without her lips. If she had gotten the hint, she ignored it. She smirked as she wiggled her hips over me. Even with the covers separating us, I knew . . . well, at that moment I knew nothing. My mind went blank, and my hands went to her hips. My eyes closed, and I enjoyed the feeling of her twisting on top of me; her waist underneath my hands, the feeling of her pelvis on mine. Even two layers of clothing and a cover couldn’t kill my enjoyment of this moment.
She surprised me when I felt her lips on mine. I grabbed the back of her head and kissed her back. Before I knew it, I had turned and flipped her to her back, kissing her mouth, her neck, and anything else I could get my lips on. If her happiness was a drug, then I had no idea what to call this. Whatever it was, it was ten times more powerful—I was addicted to Kristen. I lifted my head and grinned.
“God, you’re amazing.” I rolled off of her and adjusted the covers so that they covered both of us. “Good night.”
“Oh, you jerk,” she said as she pulled me back to her.
I could worry about dying, PISP attacks, and heartbreak tomorrow. Tonight I had all that I needed.
Twenty-One
Will
The next morning, Daichi pulled my favorite truck up to the curb outside my house. He leaned out the window and asked, “So?”
I rolled my eyes and walked around to the passenger seat. “So nosy,” I said as I climbed in. We both knew I wanted to verbally vomit about her, though. “Before you ask—no we didn’t. We fell asleep in each other’s arms after a million delightful kisses. I told you, she’s an angel, and I don’t think heavenly beings have sex.”
Looking at me like I was crazy, he shifted the truck into drive, and we were off for another work day. “I’m pretty sure angels do have sex, Will. How else do you make more angels?”
“I don’t know.” I threw my hands into the air. “All I know is she’s perfect.”
“I know the feeling,” he nodded, eyes on the road.
“How do I know if it’ll last?”
He was silent for a moment. “You know, that’s an interesting question. But you can’t think of it like that. If you wonder when the roller coaster is going to be over then you won’t enjoy the ride.”
“I don’t like roller coasters.”
“I can tell,” he said. “How about this one? If you worry about how much longer you have on a massage, then you won’t enjoy the massage.”
“Well, if the massage has potential to end in a broken heart, I’d rather not go there.”
Daichi pulled up to a red light and turned to me. “You will see this gosh darn massage through until the end, and you will like it!”
“If I must,” I said before cracking a smile. I didn’t think it was as simple as forgetting about the potential pain and enjoying the relationship while it lasted, but I would do my best. Damn this internal scarring.
“You’re only worrying so frantically like this because you really like her. I’m guessing the whole date went well? You did have a wonderful chauffeur.”
“It went well,” I said. All the events of last night flashed through my head.
“That’s it?” he asked.
I wasn’t a superstitious guy, but I was always hesitant to share when something was going well. I felt like every time I did, it came crashing down shortly after. So I was hesitant to rave to my best friend about Kristen, although I wanted nothing more than to sing her praises.
I flipped through my phone and found the note I was looking for:
Don’t get attached (be ready for the detach).
After countless times of being burned, with the girl being able to leave so easily, I had written that. I remember the day.
What was wrong with me? I had a perfect girl into me. She had given me no indication otherwise and had provided me with everything I could have possibly asked for in the past few days. But here I sat, unable to prevent worrying about the sky falling in, worrying over a thunderstorm when the sky was a clear blue.
I’d try to enjoy the beautiful sky while I could. Even when it rains, I’ll have memories of that sky. I wish I didn’t spend my time on the roller coaster or during the massage worrying about the end, but I couldn’t help it. In another life, with a more rational brain, I might have been able to avoid that. I would just have to do the best with what I was given. Ignore the little signs that I think are calling for impending doom. I’d do my best to keep the beautiful angel interested in me and keep our time together as beautiful as yesterday. I didn’t know when it would rain, but I wouldn’t carry an umbrella around now. Despite the coming rainstorm, I couldn’t wait for tonight.
“Why are you taking a half day?” Daichi asked.
I forgot I had told him I was taking the afternoon off. “Oh, she asked me to go to a court case.”
His head whipped to look at me.
“Hers?”
“Oh, no, no.” I chuckled. “She’s taking Criminal Justice 101. It’s a requirement. She asked me to come. I imagine it won’t be the most exciting thing.”
“You scared me, there.” He turned the truck off the road and into the familiar parking lot. “I don’t want you dating any criminals, now.”
Kristen
“Oh, how kind of you,” I said, letting my hand fall onto Will’s bicep as he held the courthouse door open.
“You’re embarrassing,” he said, the joy on his face betraying his true thoughts. “No wonder Chris doesn’t like going out in public with you.”
“I’ll have you know Chris loves me very much,” I responded.
We walked to the directory in the lobby. I pulled the paper with the courtroom number out of my pocket. “Okay, so two-B . . .”
“Here.” He pointed on the map.
“Is hand-holding allowed in courthouses?” I asked. With Will, I wanted to make sure I made a concerted effort. For that, I’d have to show him my interest.
“I don’t know. You’re the criminal justice student. But I’m willing to risk it,” he said. His hand snaked its way into mine as we made our way to the courtroom.
We entered the room and took a seat near the back. A case was already going on when we arrived, so I pretended to listen for a few minutes before turning to look at Will. His brows were furrowed and his eyes narrowed. “Enjoying yourself?” I whispered into his ear.
He snapped out of his courtroom-induced trance and smiled at me. “Just trying to figure out what’s going on. What if you need help on your homework?”
“Then I guess I’ll have to come to you,” I said. I took out some paper to take a few notes; I could at least try to pay attention. But I probably ended up sending more notes to Will than writing notes on the case.
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