Last Heartbeat

by T. R. Lykins

  “Any other night I would. I am going on a real date tonight with Alexia,” I tell him.

  “What? I thought you just hooked up with girls to get what you wanted and didn’t get tied down to them. You never take them out on a date. She must be special to get you to go on a date.”

  “You are right. That use to be me until I met Alexia. I never took a girl on a date before. I don’t know, man. She is really special. So special that I even asked her to be my girlfriend. She even told me yes. To make it official, I’m taking her out to celebrate tonight.” I smile while saying these words. I know the guys think I am a player but I never was.

  “I can’t believe my ears! Phillip is off the market. That is good for the rest of us guys. Now we have no competition for the girls. I know one girl who will be mad at you, and I really wouldn’t want her mad at me. Megan is going furious with you and Alexia. She has been waiting for you to ask her out. She keeps coming to me and asking if I could get you to go out with her.”

  “I really don’t care about what Megan will do. She already tried to get in between Alexia and me, but it didn’t work out for her. I told her to leave us alone and not to even talk to either of us.”

  “Wow, Megan must have it bad for you or she is crazy. I believe she must be obsessed with you to keep at you the way she has over the past year. I wish you luck with your girl tonight. Hope you don’t mess it up with her either, being that she is your first girlfriend. Jacob and I will miss you at the game. Have a good time with her.”

  “I hope I don’t mess it up with her either, because I really like Alexia. She is different and special. I will keep her as long as she will have me. I plan on taking her somewhere nice and then we have to study. If you guys drink tonight, don’t drink and drive, okay?”

  “I won’t drink anything tonight because knowing Jacob he will be plastered by the time we get to the game. Don’t worry. I will be his driver. Have fun and talk to you tomorrow, Phillip.”

  “Bye, Tyler.” We hang up as I pull into my condo garage.

  I hurry to my condo so I can make reservations and straighten up around the condo. I have to make sure everything is perfect for my girl to stay with me. I check out my food and make sure I have everything she might need while she is here. I wonder if I should try to make her pancakes in the morning. I look to see if I have everything to make them, but I notice that I need a few things. I make a list of what I need and so I can stop at the store. Now time to get ready to pick up my girl.

  I shower and shave because I want to look nice tonight for Alexia. I put on my dress slacks and a button-up shirt. As I button up my shirt, I notice my scar and it reminds me of how really lucky I am to be here and how lucky I am to have Alexia in my life. No more guilt between us because she understands more about me than anyone. It seems we connected from the first day we met. I’m out the door quickly. I can’t wait to see her.

  I get to her dorm room and knock. I hope Alexia opens the door. If she does, I will grab her up in my arms and kiss her. The door opens, but it is Kristen and she is smiling up at me. Darn, no kiss yet. I smile back at Kristen. She starts off wanting to know if I’m here to take out her girl. I almost laugh at her. Her girl? Then she finishes by telling me not to hurt Alexia ever or she would hurt me. I tell her that I don’t ever plan on hurting Alexia.

  I look up from Kristen to see Alexia behind her, smiling at me. Wow! Breathe Phillip. I tell Alexia how beautiful she is. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on. I ask her if she needs a few minutes, but she says that she is ready now. As she gets her things together, Kristen whispers something in her ear that makes her smile. Before we leave, Kristen starts telling us to use protection and have fun. I look at Alexia and notice how flushed her face is. She is really embarrassed, and it is time to leave now.

  I grab her bag and we head out to the car. I open her door for her to get in. As she starts to enter the car, I brush her hair up off her neck and kiss her under her ear. She moans when I do this and I know that tonight is going to be hard. I want her with me more than anything. I close her door without further teasing and walk around to get in the car. I hope I don’t mess up our first date. All I want is to have our many firsts of anything together to be special - like our first date tonight.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Alexia

  When we get to the car, he opens the door just like a gentleman does. As I get in the car, he raises my hair and kisses my neck. This makes me I moan; I can’t help it. What in the world is he doing to me? He finally lets me get in and closes the door. This date is really going to be hard for me to keep my hands to myself off him if he keeps that up. I am already blazing inside from that kiss. He makes his way into the car and we are off.

  “Where are we going to eat?” I smile wide and bat my eyes at him, hoping my eyes will get an answer out of him.

  “I can’t tell you, my beautiful girl, and stop batting those big, beautiful eyes at me. Most of the time, eye batting would work. I am going to be strong and keep it a surprise because I don’t want to spoil a minute of our first date. I will try my best to make tonight special for you.” Phillip smirks at me like he has a big secret.

  “It already is special for me, so you can tell me now if you’d like to. It was special as soon as you told me I was beautiful.”

  He grabs my hand and kisses the palm of it. Kissing my palm makes me feel loved. I have only ever read about that happening to the girls in books when a guy loves her. I keep holding his hand as we drive. The place he is taking me too must be close to the beach because we are getting closer to the beach area.

  We arrive too the restaurant too quickly for me. Now I have to let go of his hand to get out of the car. I notice the restaurant and then instantly fall in love with this place. It looks like it used to be a house on the beach a long time ago and now it has been turned into a cozy restaurant on the beach. I hope we get a seat close to the window so I can look out at the ocean.

  Phillip grabs my hand as we walk into the restaurant. He goes up to the hostess and tells her that we have reservations. She looks up at Phillip and smiles really wide at him before saying that we should follow her. We do, but the looks she keeps giving him are upsetting me. I start to think that she better quit or I might have to tell her off.

  Wow. How did I become so jealous this fast? Maybe because he is mine now and no other girls can have him anymore.

  As we get to our table, Phillip lets go of my hand, so that he can pull my seat out for me to sit in. He smiles at me. “Have a seat my, beautiful girlfriend and look out the window.” I sit down and look up to see what he is talking about. What I see is the most spectacular view, and it takes my breath away. He must have asked for this table so that I can see this. The sun is glistening over the waves, and they sparkle like diamonds.

  I look back at Phillip, who is only looking at me. “Phillip, this is the best first date a girl could ever have and we are just getting started. I love this view, and this place is perfect. I haven’t even tried the food, but I believe it will be the best ever.”

  “I am here to provide you with best date ever, my beautiful girl. I have eaten here with my parents and my brother. The food has always been the best. You are the first person I have ever brought here. No girls or even my friends. This is another first for us. I requested this seat, because when I was little, I remembered how the sun setting over the ocean always looks like sparkling diamonds. To a little boy, I guess it was magical, but now with that smile and the brightness in your eyes, I will always remember your sparkle and not the ocean’s sparkle. Every time I see you I will remember this look on your face and see how magical you can be. I am officially under your spell and I like being under your spell. Let’s order and enjoy our evening together.” He reached over, grabbed my hand, and kissed my palm. Phillip kissing my palm here makes me blush, because his doing that feels so intimate.

  I gaze into his eyes and see a man who could be the one I could love forever. He has this
passion and absolute caring about him that I never want to let go. I smile at him and bring his hand to my lips to kiss his hand - the same as he did mine. We never take our eyes off each other the whole time we do this. Our waiter soon interrupts us to take our order. We order our food and take a minute to catch our breaths. I believe we both have been holding them in for a while.

  I decide that I need to know more about Phillip. He has told me some things about himself, but not enough. “You know, Phillip, we hardly know anything about each other. Let’s talk while we wait on our food. Tell me where are you from?”

  “That is a easy question. I’m from Cleveland, Ohio. It is easy flying from Cleveland to here, being that it has a direct flight. You were on the plane with me. Are you from Cleveland or did you drive to that airport?”

  “I am from Cleveland too. Wow. What a small world? All this time we have been talking and we were even on the plane together, but we didn’t even find this out. That should have been the first thing we had in common, but we keep doing everything backwards. I live in a suburb close to the city about twenty minutes away. Where in Cleveland are you from?”

  “I live in the city. It is easier for my parents to be closer to their jobs. We used to have a house when my brother was alive. I think they just missed him, so we moved to a condo in the city. They really work extra hard since he died and I think they do it because they haven’t accepted that he has died. I miss him too. I know he wouldn’t want them to be in pain because of what happen to him. Are you and your parents close?”

  “Yes, I’m very close to them. They stay by my side no matter what, and I can tell them anything. Maybe it is because I am an only child. They work hard too and they truly spoil me so much, but I’m not going to complain. They didn’t want me to drive from Cleveland to here by myself. They even had all my things and my car delivered. All I had to do is just pack my last bag and get on the plane we flew together on. See what you’re getting into with me?”

  “I don’t mind that you’re spoiled, and I will do my best to help them out by spoiling you while you’re here with me. What was high school like for you?”

  “High school was fine, and I had no problems until I was a sophomore. I had to take off for a year because of a viral infection that made me very sick. I had to skip a year. Then I went back and all the friends I had had moved on without me. I just kept to myself and studied extra hard so I could get into college. What about your high school days?” I change the subject quickly. Our first date isn’t going to be the day I tell him about my heart transplant. I don’t want to spoil it.

  “I was a popular guy who played football up to the car wreck that killed my brother and when I received his liver, I had to stop. I didn’t want to take any chances of getting hurt. At first, I was angry with everyone and blamed whoever came my way because I didn’t get what I really wanted. I really was being selfish at the time. All I really wanted was to play football for a college team, only now I am good with being an average guy. It was hard not being the popular football jock that everyone wanted me to be. Instead I went from popular to everyone feeling sympathy toward me. I was glad I was a senior or I really would have been a grouch. Did you ever play sports?”

  “No sports, but I wanted to be a cheerleader. Well, actually I was going to try out before I got sick. The week of the tryouts I found out I had a viral infection and wasn’t aloud to try out.” I need stop talking about my sickness; thank goodness the waiter brings our food. That was convenience for me. We thank our waiter, and I realize how hungry I am and dive right in. “This seafood is the most amazing seafood I have ever had.” I smile at Phillip and shove another bite into my mouth.

  He smiles back at me. “That is what my brother always said and I agree. What are your favorite things to do?”

  I grin and think about this. “Well, I am a book nerd mostly. I love going to the beach even when it is cold outside. The ocean seems to be always calling me, which it continually calms and relaxes me. I really don’t have much I like to do, except I love going to the movies. More so if I have read the book before the movie comes out. I like action-packed movies the best and I am always willing to try new ones. Walking on the beach is my favorite exercise. If you give me a beach chair and a book, that can be my favorite exercise. I guess, I really don’t do much and I bet that sounds boring to you.”

  “Sounds to me like we have to get you to try surfing because you love the ocean and beach. I can teach you sometime. I love to ride the waves. When I am out in the ocean it seems like the whole world is peaceful and that relaxes me. You at least have to try it once. You know tomorrow is Saturday and we don’t have classes. If you want to try it, we can go out. Have to try it soon before the water gets to cold in the fall. How about you let me teach you tomorrow?” he asked.

  “I don’t know if I can learn to surf. Maybe we need to let me think about doing that first. I am sure you’re a great teacher. However, I’m not too coordinated. If you want to surf tomorrow, I will be glad to sit on the beach and watch you. I would love to watch you surf.” I know I am not ready for him to see my ugly scar on my chest from my surgery. I can wear a one-piece bathing suit, and it usually covers it up. I smile at him and hope he doesn’t try to convince me to surf.

  “You wouldn’t mind to sit and watch me surf?”

  “No I wouldn’t mind at all. I would enjoy watching you and spending time on the beach. I think it will be a blast.” I smile and finish my food.

  “That is another date we are going to have tomorrow. We will hit the beach when we wake up in the morning. It is easy at the condo to just walk down to the beach and grab the condo’s cabana. Do you want dessert?”

  “No dessert for me. I am way too full on this food. Next time I will not eat as much so I can save room for dessert. You know the date isn’t over until you take me back to the dorm, so tomorrow at the beach will be a continuation of our first date. Looks like this date keeps on going. You may never top this first date though.” I look into his eyes and see that he seems to being enjoying our date. The waiter comes over and hands us the bill. “Do you want me to pay for my meal?” I think he will say no, but I wanted to ask to be polite.

  He looks at me to see if I am joking then shakes his head. “I asked you on a date and that means I will be paying. Every time I take you out, I expect you to except that I will be paying. Believe me, I will be taking you out a lot from now on, so expect to be spoiled and pampered.”

  “You don’t have to pay all the time. I should be able to pay from time to time. We are both still in college, and I don’t want to break you.”

  “You forgot that my parents gave me a large budget for food, and believe me I can’t eat that much by myself. You will not be breaking me, and I will enjoy feeding you. It gives me another way to be with you. I will take every moment you will let me have. Are you ready to go? We should head back and work on our assignment so we can spend all day tomorrow at the beach. What do you think? Is that a good plan for you? We could do something else if you want.” He gets up from his seat and pulls me up after him.

  “That sounds like a wonderful plan. One thing I would like to do before we go inside the condo is take a night stroll on the beach. I need to exercise because of all the food I just ate.” As we head out the door, Phillip keeps my hand in his.

  As we head out the door, Phillip keeps my hand in his. “Yes that does sound like a great plan. I like walking on the beach at night and I believe the moon will be out because the night is clear.”

  We walk to his car and head to Phillip’s place. This night has already been fabulous and I can’t wait for the rest of it.

  Chapter Twenty

  Phillip

  We head out to my car and I get a whiff of Alexia’s scent. Oh my, she smells like heaven, and I want to taste her skin before we leave. I open her car door but before she gets in I reach to pull her hair to the side. I bend down and kiss her neck to tease her. She moans. I know if I don’t hurry and get us to the restaur
ant we both will be in trouble.

  I picked a special place for us to eat at for our first date. I don’t know why I have never brought anyone else to this restaurant before. Maybe it’s because the last time I ate here it was with my parents and my brother before the accident. I grew up eating at this place, and I always thought it was magical when I was little. It used to be a house on the beach about forty years ago. When the owners passed away, the family didn’t want to live in it. When they sold it, the new owners turned it into a restaurant on the beach. I love sitting by the big windows overlooking the ocean. I made reservations so we can sit by the windows, and I know how much Alexia loves the ocean. I can’t wait until she sees this place and the view from the windows. This place brings back memories I sometimes forget. How my brother and I would always try to out do each other, even if we were just coloring a picture. I miss him and I know he would have been happy that I am bringing Alexia to our special restaurant.

  Just as we pull into the parking lot and park, I turn to see Alexia’s face and what I see is what I felt the first time I came here. Now I know why I haven’t brought anyone else to this place. It had to be the special girl I love and I know right now that she is the one.

  I grab her hand when we get out so we can hurry inside to get to our seats. I can’t wait to see her face light up when she sees the ocean from the giant windows. As soon as I tell the hostess my name, she takes us straight to our seat. Alexia hasn’t noticed the view and I point it out to her. She looks out the window and I see her eyes sparkle like I know the ocean is right now. I picked this time of day because the sunset is on the water right now. She knows how I felt the first time I came here. I can see it in her eyes.

  I don’t even take my eyes off her because of her beauty at this moment I want to always remember this day, our first date, with my first girlfriend, the one I’m in love with. Yes, I am in love with the most beautiful girl in the world and I can’t help myself. Look at her sitting across the table with those bright blue sparkling eyes and a face of an angel, how could I not be.