"Yep. Next month I'll go home, we'll cook, and then share memories. I think it will be good for all of us." I smile over at him and I see the happiness in his eyes. Probably the same happiness he can see in mine.
"I think so, too," Jake says, smiling back over at me.
"Do you want to come?" I blurt out. "I mean, for her birthday. You could meet my family and I could show you..." I stop after I notice his expression has dropped.
"Rachel..." he starts, before I interrupt him.
"Never mind. It's too soon for that. Right? It's too much. It's kind of morbid. Celebrating my dead mom on her birthday. You don't have to..." And now I'm rambling. I hope I didn't freak him out by inviting him to come with me for that dinner.
It's quiet for a moment as I look at my sandwich. The room feels still.
"Rachel," he says quietly getting my attention. I look up at him and what I see is something that warms my heart. He is looking at me with so much love and tenderness I want to cry. "What I was going to say, was that I would love to meet your family and celebrate something so special with you."
"Then what was with the freaked out face?" I ask quietly. "Don't feel like you have to come just because I invited you."
"I don't feel like I have to. I want to. And I wasn't freaked out. I was surprised. I didn't expect that at all. I love that you want me to meet your family. I love that you want me involved with your mom's birthday. I love you," he says leaning forward to give me a sweet kiss, before pulling away so our lips are just barely touching.
"I love you, too," I murmur against his lips. He moves in for another kiss, this one deeper and longer.
He pulls away after a minute and shakes his head. "If we keep that up, we'll never finish lunch. And I need my energy for what I have planned for you," he says smirking at me.
I smile back, giggling.
Jake. My Jake. My wonderful, loving, caring, Jake.
Who would have thought one night, one dance, one spark, would have grown into a beautiful relationship.
My heart it full.
My life is good.
My soul is complete.
With Jake.
Epilogue
One Month Later
Jake
Damn she is fucking beautiful. With her hair blowing in her face and her dress flying all around, laughing as she tries to hold it down. Rachel. The love of my fucking eternity.
"Jake! Stop laughing! I didn't realize it would be this windy or I would have worn shorts!" she yells over the wind.
It's evening at the beach, and Rachel and I have been here for the last few hours enjoying the beautiful weather. That is, until the sun started to set and wind picked up. Now she's just struggling to keep her dress from flying up and showing all the people here her panties.
She's taken me to beach that her and her mom used to go to on their special days together. I'm actually staying the whole weekend up at her dad's house. Meeting the family. That's a big step. I've never done that with any of the girls that I've been with. Then again, I didn't even know most of their last names at the time, and I can't recall their first names now.
But Rachel is different. She always has been. From the moment I saw her and I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. From the moment I talked to her and I couldn't get her voice out of my head. From the moment I touched her and I never wanted to stop. I knew she was different. I knew she would change my world. Be my world.
It just took me a while to fully admit it to myself.
"Seriously, Jake. The wind is crazy and I can't keep fighting with my dress. We've been here long enough. Plus, there is a little bit of a drive back to my dad's house," she says walking closer and grabbing my hand. But when she does, her dress flies up on one side and she screams before moving her hand back to holding it down.
"Come here, babe," I say, tugging her behind me and squatting down. "Climb on my back. I'll give you a ride."
"In public? How naughty," she jokes, with a sexy tone to her voice.
I chuckle, but I feel her words in the sudden tightness of my shorts.
She hops on my back, wrapping her legs around my sides and her arms around my shoulders. In this position her dress is stretched out enough that there is no extra fabric for the wind to blow.
"Comfortable back there?" I ask.
"Mmhmm," she says as she nuzzles into my neck, kissing me there lightly.
My truck is parked in the far back of the parking lot so there is a little bit of way to walk. Most people left before sunset since you can't have a bonfire at this particular beach, so the parking lot is nearly empty. We finally make it to the truck and she slides down from my back before leaning against the passenger door. "Let me open it for you," I say to her while reaching for the door.
Her smile turns seductive as she shakes her head slowly back and forth, biting her lip.
My smile grows at that look on her face as she reaches for my shirt and pulls me close to her for a kiss. And damn her kisses are fucking heaven.
I put my forearms on either side of her head and move my body into the kiss, pressing against her soft curves. Her hands slide up from my shoulders and into my hair, tugging lightly. She gives a soft moan into the kiss, sounding a little frustrated.
I pull back and brace my hands against the window to distance myself from her and look in her eyes. "What's up?" I ask her. I know she's horny, but I like it when she tells me what she wants.
She blushes and looks down for a second before pulling her gaze back to mine. "I had a plan for today. That's why I wore the dress. So it would be easier."
"Huh?" I'm a bit confused by what she said.
"I mean, I've done tons of new stuff with you... sexually, but you've not done anything new with me. So since you've never had sex on the beach, I wore this dress so we could... you know..." she says, her blush deepening. "But there were too many people here."
My smile is huge. My cock is hard. She wants to fuck me on the beach. I move in to kiss her again, this time my hands move to her ass as I lift her. She wraps her legs around me and I brace her back against the truck, grinding my erection into her. She moans pulling me closer, lost in our kiss.
After a moment, I pull away from her and look into her eyes. She looks so fucking horny right now and I want to give her what she wants. "You know, we are in a pretty secluded place right now. Far corner of the parking lot. These trees here give us some pretty good cover. I could fuck you right here, right now, like this," I say as I grind my cock into her pussy, "and no one would even know."
She glances around noticing our seclusion, the smile growing on her face.
"You up for it?" I ask her. I'm not afraid of sex in public, but I know that she is a little more reserved.
But before I can do or say anything else, she pulls me down and into a kiss while nodding her head yes. And that's all I need. I move one of my hands in between us and find her panties are soaked. I rub her clit over the fabric and she moans as I start to circle my finger. Slipping her panties to the side I slide two fingers into her easily, her pussy clenching around them. My thumb moves back to her clit and she starts to move her hips with my fingers as I hook them and rub her g-spot. She throws her head back and bites her lip as she moans through her orgasm, her muscles pulsing rhythmically.
After a minute, I pull my fingers from her and lick them clean as she watches, her eyes heavy with lust. She reaches down and releases my cock from my shorts, starting the stroke my length in her hand. And that is the fucking horrible moment that I remember that I don't have a fucking condom.
Shit.
Mother fucking shit.
"Rachel, I don't have a fucking condom. Keep stroking my cock like that though, it feels fucking incredible..." I say. If I can't fuck my gorgeous girlfriend on the beach, at least we can both get hand jobs.
I go to slide my fingers back inside her, hoping to give her another orgasm when she smiles and shakes her head. She takes her hand off of my cock and moves it
to touch her breast.
"I came prepared," she says before pulling a condom out of her bra.
I laugh. "I fucking love you," I say to her as she rips the package open with her teeth.
As soon a she finishes rolling it on, I move her panties to the side and slip inside her. She is so wet and warm and tight and... fuck. I start to pump into her, bracing one hand on the window of my car while the other stays on her ass to hold her up.
Each time I pull out of her, her breath catches. I know I'm hitting the right spot inside of her and she sure as fuck is doing it for me. Her muscles are clenching me as I move in and out of her. In. Out. In. Out.
It feels so fucking good that I can hardly think. I'm barely holding on as I feel my balls tighten.
I start moving faster, slamming into her harder as I feel her pussy start to pulse. She moans her release, moving her hips and pulling my hair. Then I let go, coming inside of her as I circle my hips, my head dropping as I groan into her neck.
Our breathing returns to normal. Our heart rates start to slow. We both start laughing and I look up into her eyes.
"I just had sex at the beach!" she says, looking surprised at herself. "Oh my god!" she says turning red.
I laugh harder at her reaction. "Hey! It was your idea! Don't go getting all shy on me now," I tease.
She leans down and kisses me. "I love you," she tells me.
"I love you too."
***
This weekend has been full of time spent with Rachel's family.
We played family games, we went out to lunch, and her dad even had a conversation with me about what my intentions are with his daughter. It was a regular old meet the family weekend. At least until today.
Rachel took me to meet her Mom this morning. We went to the cemetery and Rachel spent some time talking to her alone before I went over there. It was a little strange to sit there and talk to a grave for those few minutes, but maybe that's just because no one close to me has ever died before. If Grams or Gramps passed away, I think I would go and talk to them.
After we got back from the cemetery, Rachel's whole family went to the store together. I tagged along too. We bought all the ingredients needed to make vegetable lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. I guess that was her mom's favorite meal. When we got home, we cooked together and then ate together.
Her dad, Roger, told everyone the story of how they met at the coffee shop. I've heard the story once from Rachel, but hearing Roger tell it was a very different experience. You can see him reliving it as he tells it. He is physically here, but his mind is on the night that he met the love of his life. After he finished, I don't think there was a dry eye around the table.
Chad told a story about one of the field trips she had gone on with him when he was in elementary school. Monica told us all a story about the trip she took to Disneyland with her mom for her fifth birthday. Rachel told the story of her first kiss. Well, it was a story about when she told her mom about her first kiss.
Everyone laughs as they reminisce. And even though I didn't know her mom personally, I feel like I know her through these four people right here. They all love and miss her so much. I just wish I would have had the chance to meet her.
After dinner, Rachel and I have a surprised planned for everyone. Rachel thought it would be a nice tribute to her mom if we performed Landslide for the family. We were just going to do it in her living room, but I found a restaurant and bar near her dad's house that was having an open mic night.
When we get on stage, Rachel takes the mic and I grab my guitar and we perform the song that brought her parents together. Something about performing for her family, or performing with me, must help with the stage fright, because she is steady from beginning to end. We finish to a standing ovation, but when Rachel goes to leave the stage, I stay behind.
"What are you doing, Jake?" she asks as I move my stool in front of her mic.
"I've got a surprise for you," I say with a small smile on my face. She looks confused, so I tell her to go sit with her family and that I'll be down after I perform one more song.
"Okay..." she responds, walking down to the table in the front to sit with her family.
"Hi, everyone. I’ve got one more song for you tonight, but it's an original. This is for you, Rachel. I'm finally done fine tuning." I strum the guitar and start to play the song that I wrote for her before I could even call her mine. She's heard the music before, but not the lyrics.
You look at me
Like you can't see
The wreck of a person I am
My broken soul
Out of control
But you, yeah, you reign me in
With your green eyes
They look inside of me
With your green eyes
You make me want to be
A better man
Better than I am
Better than I thought that I could be
Green eyes
You hold me
Your arms keep me
Together when things break down inside
You understand
The things I can't
You build me, mold me, completely
With your green eyes
They look inside of me
With your green eyes
You make me want to be
A better man
Better than I am
Better than I thought that I could be
Green eyes
And you
You are my soul
You are my air
You are my life
With your green eyes
With your green eyes
Green eyes
As I finish singing, I look down into those green eyes and see tears as she smiles. Happy tears.
When I finish the song, I thank the audience and walk down the stairs. Rachel jumps up and wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me in a way that makes me wish her dad wasn't sitting right there.
"When did you write that?" she asks me.
"Right after I met you." And that's the truth. I didn't really realize it was about her because I hadn't written the chorus yet. Once I realized that the song was about her and the moment she looked at me for the first time with those brilliant green eyes of hers, I wanted to save the song and sing it for her at a moment that would mean something to her. To us.
"Liar," she says smiling.
"It's true. I guess my heart knew before my mind caught up..."
"I love you..." she whispers against my lips.
"I love you, too." And there is no greater truth than that. I love her.
The End
***
Keep reading for an excerpt from Jenna and Nate's story from the book, In My Bed.
Author's Writing Playlist for On the Floor
Stay by Rihanna
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Tonight is the Night by Outasight
What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
Super Bass by Nicki Minaj
Only Exception by Paramore
Untitled (How Does It Feel) by D’Angelo
Ho Hey by Lumineers
Bold as Love by John Mayer
Pony by Ginuwine
I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
Wanted by Hunter Hayes
Kiss You Inside Out by Hedley
Amazing by One Eskimo
Blinded (When I See You) by Third Eye Blind
Numb by Rihanna
Touch Somebody by Maroon 5
Push by Sarah McLachlan
Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
Story of My Life by One Direction
I Do by Coldie Caillat
Favorite Song by Colbie Caillat
Faithfully by Journey
And the acoustic version of these songs by Boyce Avenue :)
Acknowledgments
I've written an entire novel, something I never actually thought I would be able to do when I started. And the funny thing is, this little itty bi
tty section seems like it is the hardest to write. I think part of that has to do with the fact that this part is from my point of view and about my life, not about Rachel's.
First off, I want to thank my family. All of you. You have molded and made me into the person I am.
My husband- Brad, even though you aren't a New Adult Romance fan, you are one of my biggest. You are so supportive letting me stay out of the toy room for thirty minutes after nap time so I can finish writing a chapter. You made my cover for me- mine would have been clip art on Word. I love you. And I know there will be critics who may not like my book as much as I do, but you'll be there. And even though I told you that you couldn't, you can read my book if you want to :)
My kids- Thanks for being so cooperative during nap time (on most days) and letting Mommy write. You bring happiness and joy to my life every day. I love you Andrew. I love you Ryan. I love you Lauren.
Mom- You can be the first to read my book. You can have a copy on the house. You are my biggest supporter, and always have been. I love you. Your support and unrelenting belief in me mean more than any words could ever describe.
Another thanks to my ladies at work. Thanks to listening to my ideas for the past however many months. Thank you for being excited about my book on Goodreads. And for being excited about the first person to add my book as "to read" on there as well. Yay for the Netherlands! Especially Sam and Emily. Thanks!
My best friend Kimita- I don't know if you remember this, but in high school junior year, we had a creative writing assignment and I went home and wrote the whole thing the first night. I came to school the next day so excited about it. And you read the whole thing. You told me you loved reading it. You were my first good review. And you told me I was a great writer. Something about that day always stuck in my head. And that day when I finally decided to write this book, that was part of my inspiration.
My group of Beta Readers- Cassie, Jeanette, Kim, Megan, Sue, Stephanie, Laarni, Tianna, Cindy, Lisa, Gale, Michelle, and Lucy-Anne.
I couldn't beleive it when I someone I didn't know showed interest in my book. Thank you for helping me catch all my errors and reading Jake and Rachel's story.
On The Floor (Second Story) Page 29