“Let’s go!” I giggle in his ear.
He carries me out of the stands and toward the parking lot, as if I weigh nothing. I am holding on to his bag for him so that his arms can be looped around my legs, helping shoulder my weight.
We make it out to his truck and he sets me down on the ground, then grabs his bag from me and tosses it in the bed of the truck.
“You ready for the party tonight?”
“Of course! Wouldn’t miss it after the win you guys pulled off.”
Lauren
Now
“I’d forgotten all about that night,” Sam tells me, laughing at how animated I got retelling him all about it.
“God, to be in high school again. When our biggest worry was what we were going to do on the weekend, and who was dating who.”
“As much fun as we had back then, I wouldn’t go back and change it. I truly believe that what we’ve been through helps pave the way to where we are today. Even the heartache and pain that we’ve endured is important to our journeys,” he tells me.
“I remember we stayed up all night that night, talking and celebrating the win. For whatever reason, it’s one of those moments that I always think about. I remember thinking and wishing so much that you’d kiss me that night.”
“I remember wanting to kiss you that night. It took a lot of self-control to keep my hands and lips off of you,” he says.
“I know I’m skipping ahead a few years here, but do you remember shortly after I introduced Brad to you, you started dating Kate?”
“Of course, she was the waitress at the pizza place the night you introduced him to Steven and me. She left her number on the back of my receipt and I was so pissed off that you were dating someone and had kept it from me for so long that I actually texted her. Why?”
“I knew before I started dating Brad that I loved you more than just as my best friend, but you’d never shown me any signs that you were interested in more. So rather than confront you with my feelings, I decided to take control and start dating. I thought that if you felt differently, you’d get pissed off and confront me before my relationship got serious. But then you didn’t do anything, and the next time I saw you, you were already dating Kate.
“Then things got serious between Brad and me, so I just kind of gave up hope that anything would ever happen between us. I did my best to focus on my relationship with Brad and not my feelings for you. Looking back, I realize now that the distance between us started then. But it was easy to not notice at the time, as you were busy with football and classes, and I was busy with my own classes and spending time with Brad.”
“It was a total dick move, but at first, I only texted Kate to try and make you jealous, and to try and take my mind off of lusting after you. I hid it somehow from Kate for the few months we dated, but she eventually figured things out and dumped my ass. After that, I did a lot of hate fucking the rest of my college years, as I couldn’t get over this pull to you. But by then, you’d been dating Brad for so long and I knew it was serious, so I started applying for jobs out of state and the rest is history.”
Sam reaches out his hand and pushes the lock of my hair that’s slipped from being tucked back out of my face, allowing his fingers to linger against my skin. The heat from his touch has my blood zinging to life. He sinks his hand into my hair and just stares into my eyes.
“I really want to kiss you, but I don’t think that’s a good idea yet,” he whispers.
“I feel the same way,” I murmur.
“Come here.” He tugs me closer to him as he adjusts how he’s sitting on the bed. He lies down, slipping his arm around me, and pulls me so I’m next to him, my head cradled in the crook of his arm. I slip my right arm across his chest, resting my hand over his heart.
We lie there in silence for a little bit. I shift my head to be partly on his chest as he slides his fingers through my hair. The steady thumping of his heartbeat and the soothing feeling of him playing with my hair has me closing my eyes as I fight off falling asleep.
“Tell me another memory,” I sleepily tell him.
He is quiet for a few moments, obviously thinking back to our childhood and to a memory that stands out to him.
“Do you remember the first time I got to go camping with your family?”
“Yes! We were, what, eleven or twelve?”
“Twelve, we’d just finished sixth grade.” He slips his hand down my side to rest on my hip, giving it a little squeeze.
Sam
12 years old
“Are you kids ready to go?” Mr. Kramer asks the three of us.
“Yep!” Lauren calls out to her dad.
“Then load up, make sure you’ve gone to the bathroom before we hit the road.”
The Kramers are headed out on their annual Memorial Day weekend camping trip and they invited me along this year. I’ve heard all about this trip, as they make it every year, and I’ve always wanted to go with them.
Steven heads to the driver’s side of the truck, getting in behind his dad’s seat, and Lauren and I head for the passenger side, where I open the door up and allow Ren to take the middle seat.
“You kids got all your stuff for the drive?” Mrs. Kramer asks as she climbs in the passenger seat.
“We’re all set,” Lauren answers her for the three of us.
“Are you excited, Sam?”
“Absolutely, Mrs. Kramer. Thank you again for inviting me to go with you guys this year.”
“We’re glad you could come along this year. I’m sure you kids will have a great time.”
A few hours later, we pull up to the campground. After Mr. Kramer gets the trailer parked in the spot correctly, we all get out and help get everything put together for our stay. We help unload our bikes and get the camping chairs all set up. Mrs. Kramer sends Steven and me out to collect some more firewood in the woods to use in the fire pit in the evenings. It only takes us about a half hour to collect a good amount of wood to use over the next few days, and if we happen to run out, we can always go out looking for more.
By the time we make it back with the wood, Lauren and her parents had finished up getting the campsite all set up and ready for us to have fun for the next few days.
“You kids ready to head down to the lake, maybe swim for a little while?” Mrs. Kramer asks.
“Yes!” We all cheer.
“Then head in and get changed, and we’ll head down to the lake for a few hours.”
The three of us take off for the camper and after getting changed, we hop on our bikes and ride down to the lake that’s part of the campground.
“Ren, I’ll race you to the end of the dock!” I call out to her when we reach the lake.
“You’re on!” she volleys back at me.
We both take off running and reach the end of the dock, just about dead even with each other. We both cannonball into the water at the same time, creating a large splash that’s made even bigger when Steven cannonballs into the water right after we do.
We all come up sputtering and laughing super hard, splashing each other as we play in the lake. We jump in countless times, swimming out and back from the small dock that’s been put up in the lake for swimmers.
Once out of the lake, exhausted and hungry, we head back to our campsite, where Mr. Kramer has started the fire in the fire pit and gotten the grate put on so that we can cook our meal.
“Why don’t you kids head inside and get changed before dinner,” Mrs. Kramer tells us.
Less than ten minutes later, changed and feeling refreshed, we head back out and sit around the fire.
“Here are some roasting skewers for you to use, and the hot dogs are on a plate over there,” Mr. Kramer tells us, handing each of us a skewer as we exit the camper. “I’ll get the burgers on the fire shortly, if you’d like one, as well.”
“We also have s’mores stuff for after dinner!” Mrs. Kramer tells us excitedly.
We head over to the fire pit, each of us choosing to roast a hot
dog for now, as we’re all starving after all the time we spent playing in the lake.
As the sun goes down and the stars come out, the excitement of getting to be out here with my two best friends, experiencing this with them after hearing about this trip each year, bubbles up inside of me.
“I was thinking we could go for a bike ride in the morning, if that sounds like a good plan to the three of you,” Mrs. Kramer says to us as we relax around the fire.
“Sounds like fun!” I reply to her.
“Then you guys can either find something around the campsite to do, or we can go back down to the lake for the afternoon.”
The rest of the weekend went about the same as our first night and was one of the best weekends of my life in my twelve short years. Being an only child, going camping with my parents was nowhere near as fun as it was getting to go with my two best friends.
Sam
Present
“That was the first of many fun camping weekends! It only got better once my parents finally bought a camper of our own and our families started going together on a more frequent basis.”
“It was a fun trip, I’d almost forgotten about it. And it makes me realize how long it’s been since I’ve been out camping. I used to love it so much, but probably haven’t been in years.”
“We should go sometime this summer! I’m sure we could use one of the campers or could find a place with cabins for rent. Get away and into the woods for a few days together?” I suggest.
“Maybe,” she replies on a yawn.
“For now, I think it’s time to call it a night and go to sleep.”
“Okay.” Lauren sighs as her body relaxes even more into me. I just lie there, my eyes closed, but I’m still wide awake. I have Lauren in my arms, curled around my body in a position I never dreamed I would ever get to hold her in, so I’m in no rush to change it or miss any of it.
I’m not sure what’s in store for us in the future, and as much as I hope this is just the beginning of us cuddling like this, each and every night, I have to take things slow. She did just walk away from her own damn wedding. It feels like it was such a long time ago, but in reality, it was only hours ago.
I don’t know how long I lay there, remembering everything that happened today; soaking in Lauren and this moment. I eventually drift off to sleep, content, at least for now, simply to have this woman in my arms.
13
Lauren
I wake up suddenly, forgetting for a few moments where exactly I am. I have a warm body plastered against my back with an arm wrapped around my torso and a hand cupping my breast. A very pronounced erection is pressed against my back and I wiggle against it. After a groan falls from the lips of the man who I’m wrapped up in, I remember exactly where I am and that I’m not in a bed with my fiancé…err, ex-fiancé…I’m in a bed with Sam.
As I lie here, internally freaking the fuck out, all the memories from yesterday come flooding back. The weight of it all comes crushing down on me again and tears fill my eyes, but I’m able to blink them back and keep them from falling.
I finally squirm my way out of Sam’s grasp without waking him, and slip from the bed into the bathroom. After shutting the door, I flip on the light and I take one look in the mirror, shuddering at my appearance. My hair looks like a freaking rats’ nest, and I’m sure it’s not going to be pretty when I go to brush it out later. After going to the bathroom and washing my hands, I quickly brush my teeth and splash some cold water onto my face. As I’m finishing up, I hear a knock on the door and Sam’s gravelly voice on the other side.
“Everything okay, Ren?”
“Yes,” I tell him as I open the door. I take in his sleep rumpled look, a sliver of his obliques peeking out the side of his t-shirt, where it’s ridden up on the side. “Just going to the bathroom and brushing my teeth.”
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Yes, better than I expected.”
“Good,” he says, as I step out of the bathroom and brush past him. He slips an arm around my waist, pulling me against him and wrapping me in a hug.
“What did you want to do today?” he finally asks.
I let out a deep breath, taking a moment to think about everything I need to do today, and how my plans have drastically changed.
I was supposed to be leaving on a flight for my honeymoon.
I was supposed to be experiencing the best days of my life so far.
I was supposed to be sitting on a beach with the love of my life wrapped around me, as we watched the sun set over the water.
But I can’t dwell on what today was supposed to be. I have to pull up my big girl panties and move on with my life. I made the decision yesterday to walk away from Brad, and now I have to live with that choice. I don’t regret the decision, but I do regret letting it get to the point that it did. I should have told him sooner. I should have called it off before he was standing at the end of the aisle, waiting on me to walk to him.
I’m sure he’ll think I’m a bitch, and I’ll own that. But I really do believe that I did us both a favor by not allowing the wedding to go on.
“I should head back over to the farm and help with the teardown of everything. I’m going to figure out how to pay my parents back for everything.”
“Do you know what time the rental company is coming by to pick everything up?”
“I think around ten. I’d have to text my mom to verify. I wasn’t supposed to be here today, so I’m not exactly sure. After they pick everything up, I’m not sure what to do. I’m kinda still in a fog with everything.”
“Okay, well, how about this. You go take a shower and get ready. While you’re doing that, I’ll pick us up some coffee and breakfast. Then, I can take a quick shower and we’ll head to your grandparents’ house to help with the teardown. Once we’re done with that, let’s get away for a few days. We can drive to anywhere, hell, grab a last-minute flight and go somewhere fun or warm, and just get away. I think you could use a few days to decompress.”
I groan at the thought of getting away for a few days. It sounds like the perfect thing to do, and what the hell, all my other plans have changed for the week. I already have the time off, so I might as well enjoy it.
“Yes. Yes, to all of it,” I tell Sam before I can chicken out.
“Really?” he asks, the surprise filling his voice.
“Yes. I just need to get away for a few days. I told Brad that I would stop at our place to box my things up, so maybe we can do that this afternoon and leave tomorrow? I’ll text him first to make sure today is okay with him. Where should we go?”
“You pick. This getaway is all for you to relax and unwind. If you want to do that on a beach, then we’ll go to the beach. If you want to do that at a cabin in the woods, then we’ll head to the Smoky Mountains. You want to hit up New York City or Vegas, then we’ll make that happen,” Sam says, placing a kiss to my forehead.
The feel of his lips against me has my skin prickling and the blood pumping in my body. I know we need to take things slow, and I know Sam would never push me to do anything I didn’t feel okay with. I think that’s why I was so comfortable coming here with him last night. Why I feel comfortable enough to get away with him for a few days.
“Okay, let’s get moving. I’ll head out to grab us that coffee and breakfast, and you work on getting yourself ready to face the day.”
Before I let Sam go, I look up at him, our eyes connecting, and a silent conversation flows between the two of us.
I love you, I’ll wait for you. You’re it for me, his eyes tell me, while mine say, I love you. I always have, and I always will. Please be patient with me. Please stay by my side. I promise, one day, I’ll be yours forever, and you’ll be mine.
“Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you the last fifteen or so hours. Just promise me that you’ll be patient with me. I’m going to need time to figure out my life, and with that will come some decisions for the two of us to make togethe
r. I just can’t guarantee when that time will come. I don’t know if I’ll be ready to have those discussions in a few weeks, months, or maybe even a year. I think I’m going to need some time to just be me, figure out the new me.”
“I’ll be here when you’re ready.” He drops his forehead to mine. “I’ve waited for you for this long, I can wait a little more.”
“Okay, let’s get moving. I’ll send Brad a quick text before I jump in the shower to make sure he’s okay with today.”
We both step back from the embrace we’ve been in for the past few minutes. I grab my phone and shoot off a text as Sam slips on his flip flops and grabs his wallet and keys from the table, then heads out the door.
Lauren: Hey, sorry to bother you so early, but I was hoping to go to the condo this afternoon and start packing my stuff. I just wanted to give you a heads up.
I toss my phone on the bed, then stop at my overnight bag and grab some clean clothes to take into the bathroom with me.
I let the hot water wash over my skin, the heat from the water seeping into my body as it warms me up. I finally reach for the shampoo and get on with my shower, so I can possibly be dressed once Sam returns with our coffee and breakfast.
Just as I come out of the bathroom, Sam is walking back through the door, hands filled with a drink carrier and a bag full of greasy goodness for breakfast. I quickly reach out, grabbing the drinks from him.
“The one with the sticker over the opening is yours,” he tells me.
“Thank you, I owe you.” I quickly remove the sticker covering the opening on my cup and lift it to my lips. The aroma hits my nose and I inhale the coffee smell. I can instantly feel the calmness soaking into my body. I take a tentative sip, not wanting to burn my mouth, and once I know it isn’t going to scald me, I take a heftier drink. I can feel the jolt of adrenaline as the caffeine hits my system.
Marry Me (Lyrics and Love Book 1) Page 6