We ride to Tampa, and Angel’s excitement is contagious. She laughs and talks non-stop all the way to the restaurant. We have dinner at an Italian bistro near the concert where she has reserved a table for us. I lead her through the restaurant with my hand on the small of her back. Once we arrive at the table, I see two birthday balloons on the table next to a small beautifully wrapped gold gift. I pull her chair out for her and take the crutches from her and place them against a nearby wall.
I take the only seat across from her, and she is holding the gold gift with a smile that could melt my heart.
“What is this?”
“It’s for your birthday. Do you want to open it now or later?”
The server comes over and takes our drink order before I have a chance to answer Angel. When the server leaves, I look at Angel and she is shaking the gift in front of me.
“Now or later?”
I hold my hands out for the gold package, and Angel almost squirms in her seat with excitement.
“This is almost too pretty to open,” I say while examining the gift.
“Quit stalling and open it already,” she says while holding the camera out to snap pictures.
I open the gift and remove the lid. I just look inside the box without removing the items. The flash from the camera startles me, and Angel is grinning ear to ear at me.
The waitress comes over with our drinks, and I ask her to please take our picture after placing the lid back on the gift. I scoot as close to Angel as I can and ask the waitress to take several pictures of us. We pose, then we look at each other. I kiss her and then I whisper something in her ear.
We order our dinner quickly, and the waitress leaves.
I look back inside the box, and Angels says, “You don’t like it?”
“No, I do, I just don’t know what to say.”
“I thought I could wear them for you later. I also thought it would be a nice way to end your birthday.”
I look back inside the box, and I want to pick up the white lacey bra and panties that are tucked inside the lingerie box, but I don’t want anyone else to see them. I want to go home right now and have her wear them for me. I want this night to be over with so I can finally show her how much I love her and I can finally be with her.
“Or, I could put them on now,” she says bringing me from my thoughts. “After all I am going commando.” She raises a brow, and I almost lose it.
The waitress shows up with our food, and Angel smiles and thanks her. I just sit there. I can’t speak, and it hurts my dick to move.
“Well, Mr. Myles? What will it be? Should I go change or stay here wearing... well… very little?” she says once the waitress leaves our table.
“Miss Perez, I seem to be at a disadvantage here.”
“Oh, how so?”
“It seems I am screwed either way.”
“And what do you mean?” she says, leaning closer to me.
“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean,” I say, leaning closer to her so we are almost nose to nose. “You go commando and I am screwed, or you wear those sexy panties and I am also screwed.”
“Mmm, I do see your point, Mr. Myles. It can be a very hard decision.”
“Oh, you have no idea how hard it is, Miss Perez.”
I lean back in my seat, and Angel also leans back in hers. I raise my brow as I watch her slowly and meticulously cross her long legs. Her dress rises slightly higher on her thigh, making me smile. I rub my index finger across my bottom lip like I am waiting for a show.
“See something you like, Handsome?” she says, laughing.
Angel
I watch Mason eat quickly. He hasn’t said much since our dinner has arrived. I know my gift to him was extreme, but I had to do something. I have been sleeping with him in his bed for over a week and we have been dating for months and we have never done more than kiss. I know he wants to make sure I am healed and I am not suffering any psychological effects from Jim. I love Mason, and it drives me crazy not to be with him.
After dinner, I reach over the table and lift the box of lingerie.
He reaches over and grabs my hand and says, “Not yet, I’m still deciding on this.”
I sheepishly remove my hand and he doesn’t say anything else. He settles up the check and he taps his finger on the lingerie box several times before picking it up and standing. Mason walks over to me and pulls my chair out for me.
He whispers in my ear, “I think we’ll save these for later.” He winks at me before handing me my crutches.
“Don’t bend over and no raising your hands above your head,” he says as we walk out the door.
“May I put one foot on a chair to tie my shoes?” I laugh.
“You’re wearing boots, and I’ll be the only one tying your shoes.” He winks at me again, and I could melt.
We pull up to the concert parking lot, and Mason uses valet parking. He called ahead to get a wheelchair for me. I think it is because he doesn’t want anyone looking up my dress while walking up the stairs leading to the concert. Mason walks over to me. He is wearing his cowboy hat and boots, and he looks very sexy. He holds the door open for me and helps me into the wheelchair.
We show our passes and are granted access backstage. It is busy with everyone running here and there with lighting and musical equipment. We see a sign that says Meet and Greet so we head in that direction.
Shirts, hats, posters, and mugs are for sale, and some appetizers and drinks are laid out on a nearby table for everyone. Mason grabs two shirts and a hat for himself. The band members and the lead singer, Hillary, aren’t here yet, and the crowd is getting louder with anticipation of meeting the artists.
Once they arrive, we wait in line and make our way through the crowd. Each band member signs our shirts and Mason’s hat. Mason gets his picture taken with every band member and a few taken with the lead singer, Hillary. I lag behind and tell Hillary that today is Mason’s birthday and he is her biggest fan. I also add that he can bring down the house when he sings their hit song “Need You Now.”
I catch up to Mason, who is grinning like a child. “Thank you, this is the best birthday ever,” he says, kneeling down to look into my eyes.
“It’s not over yet,” I say, winking at him.
“Oh, I know that, I haven’t had dessert yet,” he says, winking back.
“You can’t say stuff like that to me,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.
“I haven’t had dessert and I’m hungry.”
“Mason!”
“Angel?” he laughs as he pushes me in the wheelchair to the front row of the stage. The atmosphere is energetic and contagious. Mason orders us a couple beers from a nearby beer stand. I want to stand up and Mason steadies me before folding up the wheelchair and leaning it against a nearby pole. I’m getting good with the crutches although Mason watches me closely.
The band plays and the crowd goes wild. The lead singer, Hillary, announces birthdays and I am shocked that Mason’s is included. I act like the cool girlfriend and pretend that I had it all planned. Mason smiles and waves to the band. We sway and sing along with the music. The camera catches Mason and me singing, and he leans in and kisses me.
Before the next song, Hillary announces that she would like her biggest fan to join her on stage and help her sing their hit song, “Need You Now.”
My heart starts to beat faster. Certainly it’s not Mason. All of her fans claim to be her biggest fan and they all know the lyrics to “Need You Now” surely.
“Mason Myles, are you in the audience?”
I start to scream and wave my hand in the air so they know he is here.
“Mason Myles, happy birthday, and get up here and sing your heart out with us.”
The camera locates Mason, and the crowd roars with excitement. Mason bends down and kisses me and whispers in my ear that he is going to get me for this. I laugh and wave him on. He climbs onto the stage, and Hillary asks for an extra microphone for Mason. Mason shakes h
is head and waves to the crowd. They roar even louder and chant for him to sing.
I put my phone on video and start recording. Because we are in the front row, I can see everything.
They bring Mason over the microphone, and he reluctantly takes it.
“Wow, aren’t you a good-looking cowboy!” Hillary says, and the crowd screams. “Calm down, ladies; this one is already taken.”
“How old are you today, Mason?”
Mason clears his throat and says, “Twenty-nine.”
“Well, happy 29th birthday,” and the crowd cheers again.
“Are you ready to sing?”
“I guess I am since I don’t have a choice.”
Everyone laughs, then the music starts to play and the lights start to flash. Mason is standing next to Hillary and he begins to tap his feet on the ground and tap his hands against his jeans to the music. Hillary starts to sing then Mason chimes in. His voice is soft and sounds great with Hillary’s. Mason has a solo and the crowd erupts with screams once again.
Once the song is over, the band members thank Mason and ask him if he would like to sing another song. Mason graciously declines, hugs Hillary, and waves goodbye to the crowd. He leaps off the stage and hugs me as they sing the last slow song for the night. We slow dance and laugh at the comments about Mason being on stage coming from the other bystanders.
Mason is carefree and seems his age for the first time. He is usually the in-control-M.D.-don’t-mess-with-me-or-my-girl, but tonight he is having fun with no worries. After the show we hang out until most of the crowd leaves. Mason doesn’t want to risk me being tumbled over in my crutches or in a wheelchair.
Mason pushes me in the wheelchair to the valet parking, the usher takes the wheelchair, and Mason hugs me and kisses me, telling me what a great time he had. When the valet pulls up, Mason tells him he has the rest. He helps me in the car but tells me to wait a minute. He gets into the backseat and returns with something bunched up in his hands. He looks around then bends down and puts my feet and cast through the panties before pulling them up to my knees. He laughs and swivels me into the car.
“Pull them up, Beauty, or we won’t make it home.”
Mason lingers outside the car, talking with the car attendants at the valet desk. He walks over to the car and winks at me before fastening his seatbelt.
“That was the best present I have ever gotten. Thank you so much,” he says, kissing my hand.
“You looked great up there, and you sounded awesome.”
“Oh yeah, about that. I have to think of a way to pay you back,” he says, smirking at me.
I laugh, and he kisses my hand again. Buckle up, Beauty.”
“I have no idea how you did that, but the whole day was so awesome. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just glad everything worked out.”
We talk all the way to the beach house. I play the video of him singing and he sings along laughing while holding my hand. Sometimes he acts like he is singing into a microphone and I crack up.
When we arrive at the beach house, Mason reaches in back of the seat for the lingerie box. He brings it in front of him and says, “You’ll be needing this later.” He climbs out of the car grinning ear to ear. I get butterflies in my stomach and become embarrassed all of a sudden.
He opens the door for me and starts to carry me into the house. I giggle and kick my feet in the air.
“Wait, I’ll need my crutches,” I say, laughing, and Mason backtracks to the car.
He stops and sets me down before opening the car door. I reach in and grab my crutches and he starts to carry me into the house.
When we finally get in the house, he sets me down carefully. He kisses me and lifts me up off the floor so we are eye to eye. I wrap my hands in his curly hair.
“You know I love you, right?” Mason says before he kisses me and walks us into the bedroom.
“Mmm, Mmm,” I mumble, kissing him back harder.
He carries us to the bedroom and gently lays me on the bed. He takes the mail and tosses it on the nightstand. Mason lies on top of me, careful to keep his weight off of me.
“You look so beautiful,” he says, kissing me once then rising up from me, “and I am so lucky to be here with you tonight,” he says, lowering himself and kissing me again.
“Mason, I have waited my whole life for you and I love you so much.”
“I love you, more,” he says, kissing me more passionately than before.
The doorbell rings, and Mason stands and tells me to stay put as he walks into the living room to answer the door.
He walks back into the bedroom with a somber look on his face. I sit up on my elbows and he tells me Sara, Brea, Vincent, and Donovan are here.
“Sara and Donovan were in a minor car accident and Donovan wants me to check Sara out. I’m sorry. I’ll try to hurry.”
“No, don’t be silly.”
“They didn’t think it was bad enough to go to the emergency room. I know we had plans.”
“Mason, our friends need you; they come first. There will be plenty of time for us later.”
“Us, I like the way that sounds.”
“Me, too.”
“Do you want to wear a pair of my sweats? I don’t think yours will fit over your cast.”
“Thank you, that would be nice.”
Mason walks into his walk-in closet and comes out with a pair of sweatpants for me. He helps me to sit up on the edge of the bed.
We are relieved to hear it was a minor accident and that no one received any serious injuries. They were hit from behind when someone failed to stop in time at a traffic light.
Mason grabs his medical bag and checks Sara and Donovan out one by one at the kitchen table. They both have suffered a few scratches and bruises: just a few minor injuries. We are all relieved to see they are all right. We have coffee while Brea has milk, and we eat what is left of Mason’s birthday cake.
Mason tells them about the concert, and I tell them about him being called on stage and singing. I replay the video on my phone and show them pictures.
Brea is getting so big; we are surprised to hear she is already 16 weeks pregnant. They could find out the sex of the baby next week, but they don’t want to know. They both agree the gender isn’t important as long as the baby is healthy. We all toast to a happy and healthy baby.
Sara and Donovan announce she will be moving in with him as soon as her lease is up. They have decided there is no sense in paying rent at two places when they occupy only one.
“I have to go to Ohio in three weeks to see my Mom, Dad, and my sisters. Sara and Angel, you guys should come with me. We’ll be gone for only four days,” Brea says.
“I’m hoping to have my cast off in two weeks. Are you closing the office while you’re gone?”
“We will, if you guys come with me. Sara, your Mom and Dad will love to see you. What do you say? I was planning on going Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and returning on Monday.”
Mason says, “I think a few days away will be good for you, assuming your cast comes off; otherwise, that long of a trip may be very uncomfortable. Are you going there to make wedding plans?”
“My Mom and sisters want to be included in the wedding plans, and it would be easier if I went there, instead of them all trying to come to us.
“I would love to. I need to see my family as well,” Sara says while looking at Donovan.
“Baby Girl, if that’s what you want, I think you should go,” Donovan says while walking over to Sara.
Brea starts to clap her hands and starts talking about a girls’ vacation. “We’ll start making plans on Monday at work,”
We all laugh at her excitement.
Mason and I walk everyone to the door, and Mason reminds Sara and Donovan to take Motrin for pain if needed. Everyone wishes Mason a happy birthday before leaving.
Mason closes the front door and locks it once they pull out of the driveway. He turns and looks at me and smiles.
/> “What are you smiling at?” I say with a smile just as big as his.
“Finally, some alone time with my girl,” he says, closing the short distance between us.
“Do you have something in mind?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Oh, Beauty, I have a lot of things in mind.” He lifts me up off the floor and carries me around the house turning off the lights.
“You know I can walk.”
“I know.”
“So why do you carry me?”
“Because I want to be close to you, and I want to feel you next to me.”
We walk into the bedroom and he lays me on the bed. “I’ll be right back, Beauty. Our night isn’t over yet. Do you want to go first?”
“No, I’ll wait.
Mason
I walk away from Angel lying on the bed and I have to look back at her. She is beautiful. Lying in bed wearing a tee shirt and my sweats. I can’t think of anything sexier than that — well, maybe the white lacy gift waiting for her to wear for me. I have wanted to make love to her for so long, to bury myself deep inside her and to be as close as two people can be. My dick throbs at the thought of finally being inside her, to finally be with her. I’m almost afraid of hurting her. I want to fuck the shit out of her, but I know she deserves to be made love to, nice and slow.
I do have a concern with her cast. I had every intention to wait until after her cast was off before we got intimate, then she gave me that lacy white lingerie set for my birthday — best present I ever got.
I shower quickly and brush my teeth before walking out into the bedroom. Angel is sound asleep on my side of the bed still fully clothed. I am disappointed, but I smile at her. I want to make love to her, but I am in no rush. She is not a one-night stand; she is the one I am going to spend the rest of my life with — of this I am certain.
I grab her quilt and lay it over her; she doesn’t stir. We have had an exceptionally long day. What a sweet girl to plan the concert for my birthday. The entire day was perfect. I change into a pair of pajama bottoms and climb in bed with her. As soon as I lie down next to her, she scoots close to me and wraps her small arms around me. This has been our sleeping position for the past week, and I have never slept better. We have never made love, and I have never seen her naked. She wears my tee shirt and panties to bed but that is as far as it goes. As odd as it is, I am fine with that. I have had sex in most relationships I have been in, and they have all ended badly. Angel is going to be the exception — my exception. I would be celibate forever as long as she was by my side.
Starting Over Trilogy Boxset Page 32