by t. h. snyder
“Don’t worry Bud, I promise I won’t make us late. I just need to finish a few things and then we can go.”
“Chloe love, do you need any help in there?” Derrick asks.
“Please Derrick let the poor girl get herself ready.” Rose says holding onto Derrick’s shoulder.
“Mom, I haven’t seen my girl in weeks. I need to take advantage of all the time I have with her.”
“It’s okay Rose. I missed him too. He can come help me apply my makeup if he wants.” I say with a giggle.
“Yes! Thanks Angel, let’s do this.” Derrick says clasping his hands together.
Derrick is such a dork, he’ll do just about anything to get some alone time with me.
After much trial and error with the supporting hands and lips of Derrick, I’m able to apply and reapply my lipstick only five times before leaving my bathroom. Finally we’re able to make our way back to his parents and not be late meeting my family for breakfast.
Breakfast with the Taylor and Peters families is a good time as always. It’s great having all of us in one room. I can only imagine how things will be when we gather like this with a family of our own. Chloe and I’ve been talking about marriage since before we left for college so it really isn’t a question of if I’ll propose, it’s more like when.
After breakfast we make our way over to the college. Our families head into the stadium to take their seats and I go with Chloe to find a few of her friends who she’ll be sitting with for the ceremony.
I’ve met her roommates and friends during the times I came down to visit her in New York so I feel like part of their inner circle. Everyone seems to be excited about graduation and moving on with their careers, but I can tell Chloe is not one hundred percent into the conversation.
I rub my hand up and down the back of her graduation gown and give her a kiss on the cheek.
She turns to look at me with those big brown eyes and I see a hint of sadness.
“You okay love?” I ask pulling her into an embrace.
“Yeah, I’m good. I just wish I had things lined up like the girls do. Everyone else seems to have landed a permanent job with their internships or found something else. I’ve got nothing to move onto now that school is out and you’re going to law school in the fall. What do I have to look forward to Derrick?”
I look back into her eyes and a few tears spill out of those gorgeous browns.
“Don’t you worry about that stuff now Chloe. Today is your day and I sure as hell don’t want you upset when you walk across that stage. Your life will go on once you’re back in Boston. That’s the choice you made and I know you’ll find something. If you chose to stay in New York you’d be in a job already. Don’t doubt yourself Angel, you’re going to make things happen, I just know it.”
With that I kiss her on the lips and hear the ushers telling the class to go line up.
“Well it’s show time. I’ll see you in a few hours. Don’t trip when you cross the stage. I’d hate to have to run down there and make a scene to cover for you.”
Chloe giggles and wraps her arms around my neck.
“You’re amazing Derrick and I love you.”
“Love you too.”
The entire commencement ceremony passes by in a blur. There are a few hundred students walking today and I totally spaced out during the speakers. I’m too anxious to get back to Chloe’s empty apartment. She just needs to grab her last minute things and then we can head home to Boston. It’s all I’ve thought about over the past few weeks. Really, it’s all I’ve looked forward to, to get me through missing her when we weren’t together.
Her parents arranged for the moving truck to deliver Chloe’s things to her parents’ house Monday. This way we don’t have to rush back to Boston after the commencement. There were only a few larger pieces of furniture that they would need to pick up, but for the most part Chloe had all her valuable things in a few boxes we were able to fit into our cars.
Bryce and Teresa drove with Charlie back in their Expedition and my parents were planning to follow in the Range Rover. With two pretty big SUV’s there wasn’t too much little stuff for the movers to pick up.
Chloe decided she’d drive back home with me and my parents so that we could be together. I wasn’t going to argue with her since I too wanted the time to spend with her. By the time we hit the highway Chloe was nestled into my side and falling fast asleep.
I ran my fingers up and down her back to help her feel comfortable and within a few minutes she was fast asleep with a slight grin on her face.
If only she knew how glad I was that we had made it this far. The last four years were great, but still it was a struggle not to see her as much as I would’ve liked. Chloe is my world and I want to make her happy and feel safe with who we are and where our relationship is going.
I was a content man heading back home with his girl. A girl that one day would be my wife.
I rented a small townhouse in between Boston and Cambridge so that I’m close to school and Chloe. Since she hasn’t found a job yet, she felt it would be best to stay with her parents and make it a focus to sell herself to the local news stations. I know once she gets herself in the right frame of mind she’ll make it somewhere, it’s just going to be hard for a little while. The good thing is that we’ll be home in Boston together and I can support her as much as she needs.
It feels good to say go home to Boston, in fact I love knowing that I’ll be there with Chloe. Finally after four years we’ll be together without having to miss one another for more than a day. It’s almost as if I’m in a fucking dream. I never thought this day would come…now I never have to be apart from her again and we can start the future we’ve always talked about.
The past few weeks have been absolutely amazing. Having the summer to enjoy my family and friends was exactly what I needed after being away for four years. Now that graduation is past me and I’ve had a few months of fun in the sun, it’s time to find a job. When I came back from school I scouted a few places I’d like to work so my goal this week is to get my portfolio and resume together. But before I crack down on the job hunt I have one more day of relaxation. So I’m off to Derrick’s for one last fun day.
We decided to spend today on Derrick’s boat with our families. It’s the last day of summer for Derrick since he’s starting law school tomorrow. This will be a great way to bring an end to our summer-time bliss and prepare for the next few months ahead.
I chose to drive over to Derrick’s place on my own and meet my family over at the marina. This makes the most sense to me since I’ll be staying over at Derrick’s tonight, like I pretty much do every other night anyway.
Derrick has been up my ass asking me to move into his condo, but I’d rather wait till I know I can contribute somehow. I know he wants to take care of me and can handle the expenses, but still I’d feel better knowing we’re in it together.
When I arrive at Derrick’s condo he’s sitting at his desk in the living room with his Red Sox ball cap on backwards. He turns to face me and looks at me like he wants to attack.
He looks way too good to just be going sailing. I think I’d rather stay home all day and admire the man sitting in front of me.
“You have that look in your eye again Derrick. I don’t want to have to explain anymore bruises on my ass.” I tell him plopping down on his super comfy couch.
“Oh come on Angel that wasn’t my fault you fell off the bed and hurt your little ass. Maybe next time you’ll be more careful and won’t have to walk around funny cause your ass hurts.”
“Well if you wouldn’t have been tickling me like you were I wouldn’t have fallen off of your bed.”
“I beg to differ with you love. All I wanted was for you to say yes to move in with me. Since you continue to say no, I think it’s best that I torture you somehow.”
I start to giggle as I watch him cross the room to come stand in front of me by the couch.
“What’s so funny Chloe?” He
asks running his fingers through my waves and taking a seat next to me.
“Nothing is funny except for you and your persistence. I love you, you know that?”
“I do, so move in with me.”
“Oh god Derrick, I told you I would as soon as I find a job.”
Derrick pouts like a little kid that just lost his best friend. It’s time for a subject change, if nothing else he’ll be pouncing on me in no time.
“So are you ready for your first day of law school tomorrow?” I ask.
“Yep, I can’t believe I’m going back to school for another three years.” He says with a laugh.
“Well just think after those three years you’ll be a lawyer.”
“Yeah, right after I pass the bar exam in three years.” He says looking down at the ground.
“You will, I have faith in you and your smarts.” I say with a wink.
Derrick really is one of the smartest people I know and has accomplished so much in his life already. Becoming a lawyer has always been a dream of his since he was young. His Papa was a well known lawyer in the Boston area and after he passed away Derrick made it his mission to follow in Papa’s footsteps. I really do admire him for his goals and the way he goes about achieving everything he sets out to do. Sometimes he puts way too much pressure on himself, but now I’m here to support him through the next three years and I feel really good about that.
“You ready to hit the road and meet up with everyone at the marina.” I ask.
“Sure, let’s just load up the car and we’ll get going.” He replies still pouting.
“Hey don’t be a piss head today, Derrick. Everything will work out don’t stress about it okay. Today is supposed to be fun. Smile…for me?”
I turn to face him and wrap my arms around his neck. He still has a pout on his face and his beautiful baby blues look so sad. I touch my lips to his and give him a kiss that will hopefully snap him out of his mood. He returns the kiss sliding his tongue into my mouth and grabbing my ass. I giggle in his embrace and feel a grin spread across his handsome face.
“Now that’s much better.” I say pulling away to look at his smile.
“Well if you would kiss me like that all day and let me have my way, I’d never stop smiling.” He replies with a devilish smirk.
“You keep pushing pal and just wait and see what happens.”
“Oh Chloe, is that a promise?” He asks.
“You’ll just have to find out later tonight.” I say running my finger down his chest and grab the waistband of his shorts.
“Shit Chloe, you make me crazy. How am I supposed to drive and go meet our parents when you keep making my dick hard like this?”
“Think baseball love and let’s go.” I tell him while walking out the garage door to his car.
“You suck Chloe!” He shouts after me.
“Yes I do and if I recall you enjoy it when I do.” I giggle tossing the bags into his car.
Love.
It’s a simple four letter word that is easy to pass through the lips but hard to say it to a person…unless that person is Chloe Taylor. I love her more than any man has ever loved another woman and I feel so lost without her. She’s been my best friend for nearly my entire life. We’ve gone through some pretty crazy times as friends, but nothing has meant more to me than the past four years as her boyfriend. I love spending time with her whether it’s with our families, our friends or just hanging alone with her. She consumes me with her eyes, her fiery touch and the ways in which she loves me.
This summer has been fucktastic. Chloe and I have spent just about every day together and I couldn’t have asked for anything better, that’s unless she’d agree to move in with me. I’m not going to lie, I like playing house with her. I enjoy waking up with her body curled into mine. It’s better than I could ever have imagined, but she refuses to move in with me permanently until she finds a job. Believe me I get where she’s coming from, but I don’t see why she can’t move in and look for a job at the same time.
She makes me want to be a better man but at the same time bang my head against the wall till my eyes roll out. I just can’t get enough of her and when she has to go home I toss and turn all night without her…it just sucks. It really fucking blows.
I need to pry myself out of this funk before she gets here. If she sees me in a mood she’s going to exhaust herself trying to make me feel better. If she’d just listen to me and let me get my own way once in a while all this shit would be past us.
Today we’re taking the Taylor and Peters crew out on the sail boat for a day of peace and relaxation before I start back to school tomorrow. This is just what we need to close out the summer in style. A nice day, some good food and a few adult beverages…perfect.
The door opens and I can hear her footsteps and smell coffee.
I turn to see her standing there in a fitted Red Sox tee and tiny white shorts. Just looking at her has my heart pounding in my chest and my shorts feeling tighter around my dick. Damn this girl does things to me.
She comments about the look I’m giving her and I can only tease her back. I love the way my intensity effects her. We banter back in forth about the fact that she refuses to move in with me and it puts me back in a pissed off mood. If this girl would just let me get my own way and allow me to take care of her everything would just be perfect. But of course Chloe is a strong and independent woman, it’s one of the reasons I love her so much.
I manage to load the food and bags into the car with the massive hard on Chloe gave me. Too bad I have to wait till later tonight for her to help me release the pent up pressure of my now aching blue balls.
We pull into the marina just in time to meet up with our families. Everyone greets one another with hugs and then helps bring all the goods down to the boat. With assistance from Bryce and my dad we’re set to sail the lake in no time and the ladies prepare the spread of food to keep us going for the day. Once the sails are hoisted it’s time to kick back and relax.
I can hear the banter going on among the group and I have to laugh at the topics of conversation. Dad and Bryce are chatting up about the Red Sox making the playoffs and mom, Teresa, Charlie and Chloe are discussing the appropriate clothing Chloe should wear when she’s on TV. I shake my head at all of them and try to choose where I want to join in. Since the guys seem to be having an important conversation, I decide to break up the women’s chatter.
“So ladies are we having fun yet?” I ask sitting down next to Chloe.
I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her into my embrace. Kissing the top of her head I can smell her sweet mango shampoo and suddenly I’m fully relaxed.
“Yes honey of course we’re having a good time. Are you?” Mom asks me.
“Yup.” I reply stretching out my legs and leaning back against the side of the boat.
“This really is a beautiful day to be out on the lake. Thanks again for inviting us Derrick.” Teresa says.
“Chloe and I figured we might as well spend the last day of summer out here with all of you. Once classes start up and Chloe goes to work, I don’t know how much free time we’ll have to spend together as a family.”
Chloe turns and smiles at me as I rub my hand up and down her back. Looking at her my mind is at peace and I know that I’m the luckiest man in the world to be by her side. Everything has worked out for us. Through all of our struggles, between the stress of school and the distance we were apart, our relationship only grew to be stronger. The next few years will be just as good because Chloe will be there to help me get through the rough patches and I’ll be there to do the same for her.
The next stage of our lives is already paved out for us. Now all we have to do is put our best foot forward and make it happen. There’s no doubt in my mind that this woman and I are meant to be together and the day I graduate from law school is the day I’ll ask her to be mine forever.
Finally giving into Derricks need for me to live with him, I made the decision to move into hi
s condo after the holidays. Since I’ve been working for the local news agency, WZDH Channel 7, I figure it’s time to make our living arrangement more permanent. Besides, I’m practically living here anyway.
“Moving is absolute hell, well at least for me it is.” I complain to Char.
“Chloe, it really isn’t going to be that bad. More than half of your shit is already at Derrick’s condo.” She replies.
“Yeah, I know that. It still sucks having to pack up everything here at mom and dad’s house and then move it over there.”
“Then why not hire a mover?” She asks.
“Nah, I don’t have enough shit for that.”
“Ugh, you drive me crazy Chloe. What can I help you with while I’m here?”
Thankfully Char is the nicer sister out of the two of us and she helps me pack up my room in less than two hours. Now I just need Derrick to come over with his parent’s SUV so we can load it all up and get a move on. Moving is not one of my favorite things to do and although I don’t have a lot of stuff, I still feel like it’s taking forever.
“Look, see that wasn’t so bad now was it?” Char asks.
“For you maybe not, I just hate doing this stuff.”
“Well at least we’re done.”
I look up and see Derrick walking into my bedroom. He’s wearing an old Palmer High School tee-shirt and a pair of sweat pants that are riding low on his hips. Taking a mental picture of this man is a must. How can he look so good on the day we’re moving. He comes over to me and grabs my hands to pull me up off the floor.
“You look hot today.” He says.
Char lets out a loud laugh and walks out of the room shaking her head.
“Come on Derrick, I’m a mess and haven’t even showered today.”
“I don’t care. You still look cute in your sweats and your hair falling out of this pony tail.
Derrick grabs at my pony tail holder and pulls it from my hair.
I shake my hair loose and it falls into my face.
“That better?” I ask.