by Alexa Davis
I had a great idea – I just needed her to wake up first.
“Mmm, why are you waking me up?” she whined as she writhed under the sheets. “If you want me to get up, you shouldn’t have the most comfortable bed in the world. It’s so warm. I just want to lie here forever.”
“Okay,” I said in a sing song teasing tone of voice. “I guess then I’ll have to keep your surprise all to myself.”
That caused her eyes to snap open. She couldn’t resist. I laughed as she gave me a very curious look. “Surprise? On Boxing Day? What sort of surprise is that?”
“To make up for my lack of present yesterday. I feel like an asshole about that.”
She pushed herself into a sitting position and brushed her hair over her face. The sight of her locks brushing against her milky skin that was flushed from the heat of the bed had me licking my lips in anticipation. Maybe I needed to forget all about my plan and get that day in bed with Lindsey instead. Or maybe I needed to just do both.
“I wish you wouldn’t feel bad. I didn’t get the gift for that.” She fiddled with the bracelet that hadn’t left her wrist since the first moment I brought it for her. “I just wanted to do something nice for you.”
I leaned down and kissed her gently, relishing the strawberry taste of her lips in the morning. Her plump soft mouth was too much for words. “Well then, let’s think of this as me doing something nice for you. You act like I’ve done so much for you, but you’ve done a lot for me. You’ve put up with some serious crap from my family, and you’ve dealt with it with grace and poise – much more than I ever have before.”
She smiled against my mouth and kissed me some more. It was challenging for me to reel it in when she made me feel so many things all at once, but I had to try. “So what is the surprise? Do I get to find out?”
I tried to pull back but she had her hand possessively around the back of my neck. “Well, you have to get dressed first or you’ll never find out, will you?” I said teasingly. “I know you want to lie in bed all day, but if you do, you’ll never know all the awesome ideas I’ve had.”
She didn’t move, not at first. She remained where she was and pulled me back to her. “I do want to find out,” she breathed against my mouth. “But first I want to spend some serious one on one time with you. Do we have time for that?”
She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me which made me groan loudly. It was difficult enough to be around her while she looked so damn good. Now she was making it utterly impossible.
“Do we have time?” I mused while my mouth moved into hers. “I guess we’ll have to see about that.”
My cock stood to attention in my pants – I couldn’t hold back for even a second later. I smirked and gave in. We had time. Even if we didn’t, I would have made time. How could I resist this naked body that was just crying out for me? She was just so damn sexy, it was almost unbearable. I didn’t think I would ever get tired of this body of hers.
Of course I wouldn’t because I was falling rapidly in love.
***
“I cannot believe this,” Lindsey exclaimed as she glanced down at the view beneath us. “This is amazing. I can’t believe how long I’ve lived in New York, and I haven’t ever been up the Empire State Building before.”
She leaned over the edge to see the view beneath her, gasping as excitably as a child. I didn’t think my plan would have this much of a reaction. I just wanted to take Lindsey out to some silly touristy stuff for the day, I didn’t think she would love it so much. It was turning out to be the perfect day.
“I can’t believe you haven’t done this before, either,” I chuckled. “Mind you, I haven’t been for a while. I used to all the time when I was younger, but… I guess you just stop doing the things that are right there on your doorstep.”
“I guess so.”
She looked wistfully off into the distance as she got lost in her thoughts. I wasn’t sure how, but from the expression on her face I could just tell that she was thinking about her parents. I wanted to pry, needing to know more about her life and how she’d lost them, but I couldn’t. It was killing me to be so patient, but I knew that was what Lindsey needed of me. I didn’t always like sharing my feelings either, so I had to understand.
Instead, I stood behind her and wrapped my arms around her, inhaling the wonderful scent that flew off her hair. It was fruity, citrusy, lovely. So very her. There was a big part of me that wanted to share my loving feelings with her at that moment, but I didn’t think I was ready. When I said the L word for the very first time, I needed it to be right. I absolutely had to be certain.
“Are you cold?” I asked while pressing some kisses up against her neck. “It is pretty freezing up here. I probably should have thought about that before I made any plans.”
“No, it’s perfect.” She turned around and smiled up at me. Her cold, slightly pink nose brushed against my cheek, which instantly caused my head to dip towards hers. “Thank you so much for all of this.”
“This isn’t all of it,” I told her seriously. “I also thought we could go shopping so you could choose your own gift…”
“But I don’t want a gift,” she insisted fiercely, but I wasn’t going to take that from her. I’d allowed her to get me a present even though I didn’t really think that she could afford it – Even with the money I’d given her to pay her rent. I’d let her because she wanted to, now it was time for her to return the favor.
“I want to get you a gift, and I won’t take no for an answer.” I left her with no room to argue against me. “Then I’m going to take you to dinner. I want to do all the things I could have done for you yesterday if the whole world didn’t shut down for Christmas Day.”
“Actually...” She stepped back but her fingers remained looped through mine. “Speaking from someone who has spent a lot of Christmas Days alone, I know there are some places open. Maybe not to sort of places that you are used to shopping in, but there are shops out there.”
“Alright, alright, you’ve put me in my place again.” I rolled my eyes in an over dramatic fashion. “Let’s just go shall we? Before you embarrass me even more.”
“Sure, sure, whatever you want.”
But we didn’t leave right away, neither of us wanted to leave. Standing at the top of the Empire State Building in each other’s arms, it was like our own little bubble that neither of us wanted to burst. As we stood there, I thought how it didn’t matter how we met, it wasn’t an issue that things were a little complicated around us, being with Lindsey was the easiest thing in the world. It was just like breathing.
I think I do love her, I thought to myself. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I do, but I won’t say it yet. Not until I think she wants to hear it.
***
“I can’t believe how much stuff you bought.” Lindsey shook her head at me. “It’s obscene. I told you to stop it. I only agreed to one thing.”
“I know, but I couldn’t help it. You looked so good in everything.”
“You made me try it all on!”
Lindsey only stopped arguing with me when the waiter got to our table. I could tell she felt ridiculous surrounded by all those bags, but I honestly didn’t care. She deserved it all and she really did look good. I had a fun time too watching her try on all different things, mostly because of the way that her face lit up when she liked something. Those were the items that I brought for her.
“Can we have some champagne, please?” I asked happily. “Your most expensive bottle.”
“Are you celebrating, Sir?” the waiter asked as he wrote my order down.
“Yes,” I replied while smiling at Lindsey. I wasn’t sure what we were celebrating exactly. Maybe it was being together, maybe it was surviving my family, maybe it was me finally falling in love with someone, but I wanted to celebrate it in style. Lindsey deserved it. “Maybe you better make that two.”
“And, what would you like to eat?”
“Steak, please, I’ve heard you have a go
od reputation for your meat.”
“Ooh that sounds nice,” Lindsey agreed with me. “I’ll have the same.”
In a way, this would be a little bit like a second Christmas dinner for us both. Not a traditional one, and not in a traditional way, but I wanted to extend the celebration that little bit longer. After all the years missing out on a proper Christmas, Lindsey deserved it.
“So what are we celebrating?” She leaned in closer to ask as soon as we were alone. “Something special that I don’t know anything about?”
“Just me and you,” I said with a serene smile. “I’m just happy, that’s all.”
We clinked our glasses together despite the fact that there wasn’t anything in them yet and laughed. I didn’t know it would be this easy to fall for someone. I wasn’t sure how challenging I assumed it would be, but I never thought it would be like this.
Max was going to have a lot to say once he heard about this!
“I’m happy, too. This has been one of the best days of my life. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed living in the city quite so much. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see much of the city after two bottles of expensive champagne.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I’ll carry you home. It isn’t far to my place, anyway. I’ll just sling you over my shoulder and carry you that way. You won’t be too embarrassed, will you?”
“Hmm…maybe.” She paused thoughtfully. “Maybe I’ll just have to be sensible.”
At that moment the drinks came over so we could cheers for real, only this time I didn’t do it. I remained still and watched as Lindsey took a giant sip of hers. I never really thought about money before, not really, it was just something I had that sustained me while I did what I really wanted to, and that was volunteer at the orphanage. But seeing Lindsey and knowing what she’d been through, it made me want to do more. I just wasn’t sure what yet.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lindsey
Saturday
“Oh my goodness, that was such a wonderful day!” I exclaimed as I collapsed onto Adam’s couch. “Totally worth getting out of bed for.”
“I’m glad because it was a challenge to do so,” Adam teased as he sat next to me. “For a while there, I didn’t think I was going to be able to. Think what would have happened if I hadn’t, you’d have missed out on all that new stuff.”
It was hard for me to accept the gifts to be honest, I wasn’t sure that I totally wanted to. I hadn’t ever been treated by anyone in such a way before, and it was a bit overwhelming. My folks never had much money, although they left me a fair sum to get myself started, so I didn’t get loads from them, then I hadn’t ever gotten a boyfriend that wanted to flash the cash for me. It made me a little uncomfortable, but since Adam insisted and I knew that he could afford to, I wasn’t sure what choice I had.
What will Denise think when she sees all of this? I thought to myself. Will she be impressed? Will it make her come round to the idea of Adam more or will it continue to put her off?
I hated that we’d fought over him, even if things were okay now. I didn’t like that she didn’t trust me and my decisions. Our friendship could survive that much, but I still would have preferred it if it wasn’t like that.
“So, what do you want to do now?” Adam turned his body to face me. The smile on his face caused an adorable crinkle around his eyes. “You wanna watch a movie?”
“I do, actually.” I was a little buzzed from the champagne…more than a little, actually. I’d definitely gone overboard, despite my promise not to. It left anything else off the table, but I was more than happy to just have some time with Adam. It was his company that I liked the best. “That sounds awesome, what were you thinking?”
Adam stood up and wandered over to his DVD collection. As he reeled off the titles of a selection of action films that I hadn’t ever heard of, I realized that it didn’t matter what we watched. All I really wanted to do was curl up in his arms. I just needed him to hold me for a while.
“Yeah, that Samurai one sounds good,” I insisted. “Put that on.”
“Really?” Adam gave me a curious look. “That’s one of my favorites.”
“Good, then stick it on!”
As the movie came to life on the screen, I tucked myself under Adam’s arms. We were definitely together now, I knew we hadn’t had a conversation about it, but that was surely where we were? We spent most of our time together; we always acted like we were together.
God, I hoped that this was real. I hoped that I wasn’t tumbling into the abyss without a life raft, just as Denise told me that I would. I didn’t want her to be proven right because she would look at me with pity as I fell apart under the knowledge that I was naïve and a fool. It didn’t feel like that was happening, but I couldn’t be totally sure…
“I didn’t know you liked this sort of film?”
“I don’t,” I admitted. “I mean, I don’t know. I haven’t ever seen one like this before. I just thought it sounded interesting that’s all.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat…”
As Adam explained the plot to me, my eyes fell closed. I couldn’t stop myself from drifting, it was the alcohol that was to blame, not the movie… honestly. Plus I was tired from a long day of walking. At least that was the excuse I was giving myself. With Adam’s arm wrapped around me, I had enough warmth to send me off to sleep. I would just rest for now and then wake up a little later to see the end of the movie. Easy.
***
The moment I saw my parents’ faces staring back at me, I knew that I was dreaming. That probably should have freaked me out a bit, but it didn’t. I was just so happy to see their faces again. I dreamt of them a lot in the beginning, but they were always more like nightmares. This was the first time I’d ever seen them as I slept and it had been pleasant.
“Mom? Dad?”
As I tried to lean forward to touch them, something held me back. I glanced down to see that it was a seat belt pinning me in place. That was frustrating, but since I could feel the car engine rumbling beneath us I knew it was the smart thing to do.
“Yes, sweetie?” Mom turned to me with a smile. She didn’t look like she knew she was dead, she seemed like she saw me all the time. I didn’t want to burst her bubble by letting her know. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is… It’s fine. I just wanted to let you know that I love you. Both of you.”
Mom reached back to hold my hands. I took them willingly, but I couldn’t actually feel her. I wondered if that was because my brain had forgotten what it was like to touch her. I hated that, it just wasn’t fair.
“We love you, too,” she said softly. Her thumb traced my finger but still I felt nothing. “And we love Adam, as well. You’re lucky to have him.”
My eyes welled up. “You know Adam?” I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be in a normal situation to actually be able to introduce them. Would she like him? What would my dad think? Would they be proud of me and who I’d become? I certainly hoped so.
“Of course, Adam is lovely. He’s a very nice boy and treats you well.”
“Yeah,” Dad agreed. “He’s nice. You shouldn’t worry about what anyone else thinks. If you like him, you should just be happy about that.”
I nodded slowly, drinking in the wisdom. It was something that I knew all along, but hearing it from a voice that I trusted well made it that much easier to accept. Maybe that was why my brain concocted this dream for me.
“You have done very well for yourself, as well,” Mom continued. “The way that you stand up for yourself and what you believe in. It’s admirable.”
The tears that welled behind my eyes streamed rapidly down my cheeks. “It isn’t always easy, Mom,” I admitted. “Sometimes I don’t think I’m doing the right thing.”
“What’s that?” Dad’s panicked voice got my attention. It reminded me of something, a sensation that I didn’t ever want to feel again. My heartrate kicked up a notch, I had to sw
allow the panic that sat in the back of my throat, I tried to work out why I remembered all of this. “What’s that? Is that something?”
Is that something? Why did those words fill me with so much dread? Why did I know that they meant something, even if I wasn’t sure what? I racked my brain desperately, trying to work it out. There was a loud ticking sound above me, reminding me that time was running out. If I didn’t figure it out soon it would be too late.
“Oh my God.” Suddenly I screamed, a bellowing sound that came from the pit of my stomach. I knew what those words meant, I knew what came next – I’d been here once before.
It was the crash. The white lights would come soon, the loud crashing sound, the glass smashing, then the world would turn upside down over and over again until I wasn’t even sure I was on the planet again.
Then once I woke up everything would be different.
“Dad, no, pump the brakes.” The fact that this was a dream no longer mattered. I just didn’t want the crash to happen again. “Dad, stop it. Stop it now.”
“Lindsey?” he replied questioningly as if he hadn’t really heard my warning at all. “Lindsey? Lindsey?”
I didn’t have time to explain, I only had time to scream some more, so that was exactly what I did…
“Lindsey?”
My screaming woke me up, and as my eyes snapped open I realized that I was in Adam’s arms. Despite the fact that I wasn’t experiencing the car accident again, the sheer terror that came with it still coursed through my brains. I couldn’t save them, again I couldn’t save them for a second time, but this time felt so much worse.
“No, no, no,” I sobbed, turning my head into Adam’s chest. “No.”
“Shh, shh, shh.” He had every right to demand to know what was going on with me, but he didn’t ask. He just enveloped me in a hug and held me close to him so I felt protected. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. I’m here, whatever you need.”