Definitely Memorable

by Cara Roman

  "Yeah, go ahead and start it love, I'll be along when I can remember how me legs work." He said with a little laugh. Looking down at him, a sheen of sweat glistening on his skin, hair mussed from her hands, and satisfied ocean eyes her heart stuttered.

  "OK, Nolan." She said, wanting to say so much else, but knowing she shouldn't. She walked into the bathroom pulling her bra the rest of the way off. Caitlyn was halfway through shaving when Nolan walked in. She watched through the steam as he took care of the condom before opening the glass door. He stepped right up into the water, closing his eyes and letting it run over his head. She watched him wishing she could take a picture of him right at this moment. He turned around and slicked his hair back off his face with one hand, and reached for his shampoo with the other. Watching him do something so ordinary had her picturing what it would be like to have him with her always. Shaking her head, she shoved that thought deep, deep down, and locked it away.

  Not wanting to ruin the whole day breaking her own heart she asked. "Wanna go with me to the Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park today?"

  "I haven't been there since I was young. Lots of people there." He said as he rinsed his hair.

  "Yeah, especially with the sun out today." She said.

  "Hope you brought yer sunnies." He joked.

  "Sunnies?" She tossed over her shoulder at him as she wrapped herself in a towel.

  "Sunglasses, you silly American of mine." He said kissing her shoulder, his hair dripping down onto her. She laughed at him as she walked to the counter. He stood there, a towel slung low on his hips watching her go through the motions of her routine. She walked out to get dressed leaving him the counter to do his thing.

  Excited for the day ahead she pulled a teal sundress out of the closet. Putting on the strapless bra she brought, she slipped the dress over her head and smoothed it into place. It went to just above her knees, so she could move around comfortably in it, and there were spaghetti straps that crossed each other on her back. Deciding that she would leave her hair down for added protection from the sun's rays she slipped her feet into the leather sandals she brought.

  Nolan walked out of the bathroom and stopped. "Jesus, love. I've seen ye without a stitch of clothing on and yet ye keep managing to get more beautiful every time I look at ye."

  Without thinking she walked over and laid her lips softly on his. "Thank you." She breathed against his mouth before she walked back into the bathroom. Slathering sunscreen all over her shoulders, and putting her makeup on there was a silly love-struck grin plastered across her face the whole time. She added the little gold hoop earrings, thinking she was happy Nolan hadn't shaved. His scruff was approaching actual beard level now, and she hoped he left it the rest of their time together. He was dressed in a heather gray t-shirt, and khaki shorts, and was stepping into white sneakers when she walked back out. She tossed the bottle of sunscreen into a slouchy brown bag that matched her sandals, and carried it over to where her other purse was sitting on the desk. Caitlyn transferred over all of the contents to the new bag, including the pair of sunglasses she hadn't needed yet so far this vacation.

  "Wanna walk, or shall I drive milady?" Nolan asked as she grabbed the denim jacket and they walked out of the room.

  "How far is it, good sir?" She tossed back joking with him.

  "About 3 kilometers I'd say." He pushed the button for the lobby once they were inside the elevator.

  "Hhhhmmm. We're going to be walking all around the zoo too. Might be a good idea to drive." She answered.

  "Less time for yer lovely shoulders to get fried in the sun too." He winked at her putting a navy ball cap on his head, his sunglasses already tucked into the neck of his shirt.

  They spent the whole day wandering around the gigantic 69 acre zoo. Caitlyn took pictures of every single animal to send home to her boys. The history of the place fascinated her too. First opening in 1831, it was one of the oldest, and most popular zoos in the entire world. She talked Nolan into posing with her for a few selfies, her favorite one being the one where he unexpectedly kissed her cheek. The smile in her eyes was genuine and they looked so good together. They got dinner at one of the cafe's inside the zoo, and ate at a little outdoor table while he had her cracking up telling her all about when he came there as a kid.

  Nolan asked her as they left the zoo if she wanted to head back to the hotel, but the sun was still shining in the sky and she didn't want to miss a moment. "I'd really like to see the Ha'penny Bridge Nol." She said shortening his name without even thinking about it.

  He looked over at her from his spot in the drivers seat with a goofy grin on his face. "Alright baby." He said in a soft voice with that grin still on his face.

  Caitlyn took that as an encouraging sign he liked the nickname she had accidentally called him and smiled herself. Nolan parked the rover and she pulled on her denim jacket as they got out to wander the Temple Bar area and make their way slowly over to the bridge. Watching all the people bustling around Caitlyn told him about how she sometimes liked to people watch and make up scenarios. She told him about the day in the shopping center, thinking it had been so long ago, but it had only been a few days. They had only spent a short time together, but it felt like she had always known him, he was taking up space so perfectly in her life.

  By the time they made their way onto the white painted cast iron pedestrian bridge the last rays of the sun were blazing fire across the sky. Caitlyn pushed her glasses up into her hair as they stood in the center leaning against the rails, his arm around her watching the sun sink down over the horizon. Nolan leaned in and kissed Caitlyn, so lost in each other they didn't notice as the bridge's lights came blazing to life all around them.

  Chapter 11

  The room was still blanketed in darkness when Nolan woke Caitlyn. "C'mon love, the day is waiting for us." He said brushing her wild red curls softly away from her face.

  "Nolan, its still dark out." She mumbled sleepily.

  "It won't be when we get there. Unless yer not wanting an adventure, that is." He said nuzzling in and tickling her neck with his still growing beard scruff.

  "Where are we going?" She asked sitting up, excitement chasing the last vestiges of sleep away.

  "Not tellin' ye." He said climbing out of the bed.

  "Well how will I know what to wear?" She asked sounding confused.

  "Dress for walking about outside. Bring yer umbrella, this is Ireland after all." He said pulling out clothes from the dresser.

  Caitlyn stretched her arms out, arching her back thinking through what clothes she brought. Climbing out of the warm bed she padded across the soft carpet to the closet gathering what she figured she needed, and walked into the bathroom. "If you want me to go adventuring with you at the ass crack of dawn after making love to me half the night I'm gonna need coffee." She called out, hearing Nolan's laughing response as she closed the bathroom door.

  Washing her face she looked at the state of her hair. Nolan liked to run his hands through it when he was buried inside of her, between that and rolling enthusiastically around in the bed made it an absolute mess. A lion would be jealous of the size of her mane today. Not feeling up to washing it she tossed it up in a tortoise shell clip and hopped in the shower to quickly wash her body. Drying off she shrugged into her favorite pair of jeans, so well loved they looked like she had a go at them with some sandpaper in spots. People paid good money to buy jeans this distressed. After pulling on the mint green v-neck t-shirt she brushed her teeth and swiped a coat of mascara on, but said to hell with the rest of her makeup. Walking back out into the room she pulled on her converse sneakers and grabbed a navy zip front hooded sweatshirt out of the closet. Turning she presented herself to him, "I'm ready if you are."

  "C'mon my grumpy love, lets get some coffee in ye." He said handing her purse to her and kissing her cheek. Instead of leaving the lobby immediately he turned them to the restaurant and picked up the large to-go cups he must have called down and ordered while she was i
n the bathroom. Thinking that was an incredibly thoughtful gesture she smiled gratefully at him she took a slow sip of the beautiful, life giving elixir.

  Quirking her eyebrow up at him she said, "Its absolutely perfect."

  "I pay close attention, remember love." He said giving her a cheeky wink. He wasn't joking with that statement. Once he figured out she liked something he used that to his full advantage, usually with completely devastating accuracy. Shaking her head with a smile on her face she drank some more coffee as they walked outside to the car.

  "Maybe I should be paying for some of your gasoline, you're carting me around and all. She said when they were pulling away from the hotel. "This thing probably guzzles it."

  He sent her a completely male, insulted expression. "Yer not paying for the petrol in me car Caitlyn."

  Thinking about it she realized he had paid for every single meal they had eaten together. "I just don't know that its fair of me, I'm the one who planned on paying for this vacation. You kind of stumbled into it."

  "Way I was raised, a man pays for his woman when he takes her out on a date. I'd be filling the tank anyway, so that's neither here nor there." He said with a shake of his head.

  "Just don't try and pay my hotel bill, and we'll call it even then." She said laying her hand on top of where his was resting between them on the center console. Understanding all about male pride thanks to being outnumbered by them at home she wisely let it go. There weren't that many cars on the road at this ungodly hour of the morning, so he didn't have to fight traffic as they left the city. Caitlyn tried to pay attention to the road signs as they passed to figure out where it was they were heading, but gave up about twenty minutes into the ride because she was enjoying it too much. "Nol, got any music?" She asked him.

  He smiled with a little insecure half laugh, "I dunno, whatcha want?"

  "Something that you like."

  "Oooo, good one. A persons taste in music tells ye a hell of a lot about them." He answered. Letting go of her hand he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "This is me driving playlist." He said turning the volume up, having synced it with the Bluetooth in his car. The first song playing was Take It Easy by The Eagles. He glanced over at her to gauge her reaction, but she was smiling her head already bopping along to the beat.

  "I love this song. Everyone loves Hotel California, but this one is my absolute favorite by them." He let out the breath he must have been holding in with a soft whoosh, and started singing quietly along. He had a nice voice, and thankfully he knew all the words. Nothing was more annoying that someone who sang along but didn't actually know the words, so they just made random noises. It wasn't long before she was joining in, her voice mingling softly with his. Caitlyn knew she wouldn't wow anyone with her voice, but she could carry a tune easily enough.

  Nolan looked over at her as the song was ending, a strange look in his eyes, and a giant grin on his face "Love, ye suit me right down to da fuckin' ground." The next song up was Bruce Springsteen's Dancing In The Dark, and grinning from ear to ear she figured this ride might end up being the best idea ever.

  They stopped at a cafe in a small village outside of Athlone after the sun was up to have some breakfast. They had been driving for awhile at this point and it was nice to get out in the fresh air. Sitting in at the table in the early morning sunshine Caitlyn couldn't help but stare at Nolan. His brunette hair shone in the light, shot through with tones varying from light gold to deep bronze. He was a man always comfortable in his own skin, and that ease seemed to radiate off him. The memories she was making, and experiences she was racking up with him didn't seem like they would even be possible with another man. She found herself wondering what had made him so self possessed and sure of who he was already at only twenty five. Maybe he was one of those rare people who always knew exactly who they were, and what they were meant to do with their lives? After all, she had always loved books, and that love had thrown her naturally into writing them.

  "Want to wander about, or are ye keen to find out where I'm taking ye?" Nolan asked as they finished up their breakfast.

  Looking around her thinking she would be happy absolutely anywhere in this lovely country, as long as she was next to him she stood up with a smile. "Lets go."

  "OK, me lady is mad up for it." He laughed hooking his arm around her as they walked back to his rover.

  He asked her about the boys back in the car, and she told him all about her sons staring with varying degrees of awe at the scenery rolling past the windows. Nolan was surprised to learn that they played soccer instead of American football, telling her about how he had played all through out school while he was growing up. She asked him if he had ever been to the states, and he said he had done a fair bit of traveling here and there including some in the states. She told him all about the last author signing event she went to, and how much fun that had been. After the day spent sitting behind a table meeting a bunch of her readers they had all gone out for drinks and partied the night away. Caitlyn pulled her phone out and showed him pictures of the boys. Wyatt all serious sitting behind the wheel ready for drivers training, Mason grinning at her covered in mud after the last soccer game of the season. No matter how many pictures she showed him he never looked bored.

  Completely distracted by the pictures, and stories behind them, when the rover turned into a car park Caitlyn looked around and realized where it was he had brought her. "Nolan! Oh my God! Do you know where we are?" She exclaimed, her voice squeaking with all of her excitement.

  "I sure as hell hope so, as I drove us here after all." He said pulling her into a quick laughing kiss. Caitlyn jumped out of the car before Nolan had a chance to come around and open her door. Closing her eyes a moment she took in a big breath of the sea air, tasting the salt. When she finally opened her eyes Nolan was holding out her jacket, the happiness etched clearly on his face. The wind coming off the Atlantic ocean was a bit cooler here. She pulled on the jacket, her nerves practically humming with all the excitement coursing through her veins. Nolan put on a gray jacket over the black shirt he was wearing, and added the navy ball cap he wore to the zoo yesterday. Hand in hand they walked away from the car.

  The Cliffs of Moher are without a doubt one of the most photographed locations in all of Ireland for a good reason. Millions of years old, rising some five hundred feet above the crashing waves below, there was a thrumming power running underneath her feet. Imagining all the people who had walked this exact path over the rugged ground since the dawn of time had her hand shaking within Nolan's grip. Seeming to understand she wasn't scared, just moved beyond words he rubbed his thumb knowingly across her knuckles. Blocking out the sound of people talking around her Caitlyn focused on the sound of the sea birds calling out to each other in the air, waves thundering as the met they solid rock face, grass rustling in the breeze, the rest just faded away. Looking out across the beauty in front of her she could barely breathe.

  It was a clear day, and you could see for miles out to sea. Glancing over at Nolan she found him staring at her, not at the stunning vista spread before them. "Even if I live to be a hundred and five I'll never forget this moment. You standing there with strands of yer beautiful hair dancing in the breeze, and eyes shining like the midday sky. Jesus, Caitlyn." He leaned down and kissed her, the emotions crashing back and forth between them. He held her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking her cheeks and she knew what he was telling her with his eyes. Laying her head on his chest she took a moment soaking it in.

  An older couple, their hair long since gone to white walked up to them, no doubt having witnessed their passionate kiss. The man turned to Nolan and asked. "Would you like me to take a picture of you and your girl, son?"

  "I'd be a sight grateful for that." He said pulling his phone out and unlocking it before handing it over to the man. Nolan reached up and snatched the hat off his head, pulling Caitlyn up close to him, wrapping his arms tight around her.

  The nice man backed away a few feet before
pointing the phone at them. Looking over at his wife she nodded her head and said, "cheese!" He walked the phone back to them as Nolan put the cap back on his head and took it.

  "Thank you, shall we take one of you guys?" Caitlyn asked. The woman handed Caitlyn a digital camera and took a minute posing with her husband. Giving them the countdown she always used with her sons she said, "1,2,3 cheese!" Checking the screen to make sure it turned out she smiled and walked it back over to the nice couple. They thanked her walking away talking about what a nice young couple they were.

  The two of them wandered around for hours, Caitlyn taking pictures of every single thing. At least a dozen of the view out over the sea, more of the cliffs themselves. She managed to snap a couple of Nolan while he was unawares. She liked those ones the best, when he was completely natural. She got a few silly faced selfies with him, but her favorite was the one with him standing behind her, his head tipped down against hers. They both had giant grins on their faces, and the water glittered prettily out behind them.

  When they left Nolan made a bit of a detour and drove them into Limerick. He showed her the gloriously medieval St. Mary's Cathedral, and they ate a simple dinner of fish and chips while walking along the legendary river Shannon as the sun went slowly down. "Today was perfect Nol, thank you so much." She told him once they were back in his rover heading east towards Dublin.

  "I didn't want ye to miss out on the cliffs. I'm sure they were on yer plans before I happened along." He said bringing their joined hands to his mouth and kissing her knuckles.

  "My list was a mile long, I never would have gotten to see everything on it and still had time to breathe. I've loved everything I've seen here, but if I spent the rest of my stay up in that hotel room with you I would have no regrets." She said with all honesty.

  "That's mental, that. But I'm glad to here it." He said to her in the dark car. They turned the music on lower this time, until it was just soft noise playing in the background. The day felt so big that neither of them said much, lost happily inside of themselves for most of the two hour drive back.