The same piercing navy blue eyes greeted her, the same full red lips and the neat gray beard. His hair was still as bushy and swept back, away from his forehead. Only now, she could see a peppering of white around his temples. His shoulders still didn’t drop. They were strong and muscular and the fabric of his faded plaid shirt stretched over them.
“Malory!” He had turned to look at her as well and she could immediately feel herself growing red with excitement and embarrassment. She froze, unsure of how best to greet him or what to say. She remained sitting on her chair while he rushed forward towards her, with his arms outstretched.
When he reached her side, she shook as she stood up and within a matter of seconds he had engulfed her in his arms. His touch felt so much different from her father’s, even though both the men were pretty much the same age. Alex’s chest felt firm and Malory was aware of her breasts pressing against them as they hugged for a little longer.
“Look at you!” He said, gripping her arms and holding her away from him. She instinctively reached up and tucked strands of straight blonde hair behind her ears, still blushing.
“I’ve seen you so many times on TV, but I’m still amazed to see you. You look great and a lot more grown up.” Alex was laughing a little as he spoke, seemingly unaware of the emotions coursing through Malory’s veins. She couldn’t remember the last time they had been so close, they had barely ever hugged each other before.
“Thanks.” She squeaked and immediately realized how stupid she must have sounded to him. Alex laughed again and turned to Lee.
“Your daughter must be making you very proud Lee. She’s turned into a beautiful and successful young woman.” Alex finally let go of Malory’s arm and she could feel herself physically growing weak. The rush of emotions were too strong to handle. She could smell him, reach out and touch him if she wanted to, confess all her deepest darkest fantasies about him if she wanted to…but she had to behave herself. That was the most difficult part.
“I am very proud. She’s my pride and joy.” Lee spoke with a wide smile on his face and Malory tried to smile back at him, even though it was getting increasingly more difficult for her to keep her wits about her. She hadn’t been expecting this intensity in reaction, she knew it would be a surprise but this was too much. The worst part was that, as always, Alex Temple was completely unaware of the affect that he had on her.
*****
The three of them were sitting around the campfire, as the sun had started to set. Lee and Alex had set up three tents for them and Malory was already on her fourth beer. The alcohol had definitely helped her with the nerves and even though she was sitting beside Alex on her lounge chair now, she felt more relaxed. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she had an adult conversation with him. The dinner parties she remembered attending with her father as a teenager always involved her sitting quietly at the table, as she admired Alex having a “grown up” conversation with others. Now, she was finally a part of it. Alex was looking directly at her, talking and laughing sincerely at her jokes. Malory was a successful television reporter, and yet this was the evening she felt she had finally achieved success, when Alex Temple conversed with her as an adult.
“That’s a great story Malory. I bet you have a lot of fun on set every day.” Alex took a large gulp of beer from the can. His eyes twinkled with happy joy and she couldn’t stop licking her lips. As much as she adored her father, she hadn’t turned to look at him even once in the past half hour.
“It can be fun. It’s a lot of stress too. I can never expect what’s going to happen next.” She leaned in a little towards him and in the flickering bright light of the fire burning before them, she could see the flames dancing in Alex’s eyes. She watched as he took another sip of his beer and how his lips moistened. He let the traces of the liquid remain on his lips and didn’t lick it away. She wanted to do it for him.
“Anyway. I’m quite beat. I think I’m going to hit the sack now. We should be up early tomorrow if we want to go fishing.” Lee’s voice interrupted Malory’s moment of staring at Alex in the dark. He had stood up from his chair and was now walking towards her.
“Goodnight dad” Malory smiled at him as he leaned forward to give her a tight hug.
“I promise I won’t let her stay up very late.” Alex said with a smile and Lee snorted as he slowly made his way back to the tent. Malory looked at him walk, the way he was unsteady on his feet and how happy and tired he looked at the same time. She knew her father well, she knew he would be snoring away to glory in no time. The thought made her jerk her head towards Alex, who she realized had been staring at her.
“So Alex. I’ve been filling you in. How have things been with you? I remember my dad told me a few months ago that the company has been evaluated again for what two billion dollars now?” Malory took her last sip from the can and tried to crush it with her hands. Alex noticed her struggle and mimicked her, but the can crumbled into a small wrinkly piece of metal in his large hands. It made Malory’s stomach do somersaults.
“Yes, it has been. We’re doing pretty well, still.” He had turned to face her completely and she noticed how deep dimples still formed on his cheeks. She remembered those dimples well.
“So no plans of retiring anytime soon?” She placed her beaten can on the ground, next to her feet and Alex followed her movement with his intense eyes.
“I’m not that old.” He said after a few minutes and they both laughed.
“I didn’t say you were. How is Mrs. Temple?” Malory wondered if the question was too sudden, but she had been thinking about her for the past hour or so as she watched Alex talking. She couldn’t remember her name, the skinny lady with the shining chocolate hair had always been introduced to her as Mrs. Temple.
“Claire? She hasn’t been Mrs. Temple for the last four years.” Alex reached over for another can of beer that Lee had placed earlier near his feet.
“What happened with her?” Malory asked before she could stop herself. She watched as Alex opened the can, took a big gulp and then turned to smile at her.
“I caught her cheating on me so I ended the marriage. Not that it was much of a marriage to begin with.” He didn’t look unhappy while he spoke and that relaxed her a little. She didn’t want the conversation to turn into a depressing monolog. What made her even happier was knowing that Mrs. Temple was out of the picture, for good. She tried to shake the thought out of her head immediately, knowing very well that she had the courage to think like this only because she had been drinking.
“Enough about my ex-wife. Tell me about your love life.” Alex grinned at her and Malory chuckled.
“Don’t have one. Don’t have the time for one.” She leaned back into her chair as their gazes locked. She could see that he was studying her intently.
“I find it hard to believe,” he said after a few seconds, his eyes still not leaving her face, “that a beautiful young woman like you doesn’t have men breaking the front door down.” He didn’t have a smile on his face any longer, he seemed to be absolutely serious with what he was saying. Malory rolled her eyes, while still blushing under his compliment.
“It’s not nearly like that.” She tried to look away, but she couldn’t. She knew he was still watching her.
“You don’t have a single admirer? No lovers?” He was drinking fast from his can of beer and Malory reached out her hand and he bent down to pick up another can for her.
“I didn’t say that. Just that I’m not interested in a relationship.” She said. Alex stood up from his chair and took the few steps it took for him to reach her side. He loomed over her, his towering frame looked huge as he stood above her. Malory had to crane her neck to look up at him and in the darkness with the light of the fire behind Alex’s back, their eyes met. She licked her lips instinctively. She wasn’t sure if this was normal, if this was how Alex always was with everybody, or if he was actually displaying signs of attraction.
“That’s a pity.” He suddenly
said, breaking the silence. He barely bent down to hand over the can of beer to her. Their fingers grazed as he did this and she felt like her whole body shook in that instance. She had longed for that touch for so long, since she had first seen him at a Sunday family barbecue party nearly twelve years before. She had wished for so long that he’d notice her, look into her eyes and speak directly to her.
“You see, I can’t.” Malory found herself saying. Alex’s brows furrowed as he straightened his back and sipped from his can. He still didn’t walk back to his chair.
“What do you mean you can’t?” He asked as Malory popped open her fifth can of beer. She had started to feel a little light-headed and knew it was the alcohol doing all the talking, forcing her to be honest.
“I can’t because I’m in love with someone else. I always have been.” She said, as softly as he had asked the question. Malory was surprised that he didn’t immediately ask who it was that she was in love with. Instead, they stared at each other. She could feel her eyelids flickering and her palms growing sweaty. She wanted him to ask her who it was, who the man was who had her heart in the palm of his hands.
“How do you know you love him?” He asked instead and Malory was certain her heart would beat out of her chest. He was watching her, his eyes were taking in her hair, the curves of her neck, the way her blouse dipped at the neck and her breasts stretched under its fabric. She gulped the beer in her mouth, gently.
“Because I have never been in love with anybody else. He has always been the one.” She spoke softly, too softly in fact and wasn’t even sure if he heard her. He said nothing to that, instead looked away towards the burning campfire and sipped on his beer.
“Does he even deserve your love?” He asked, but it was more like a statement to himself. She heard him say the words but wasn’t sure if they were directed to her. Malory stood up. Her face reached the height of his chest and he looked back, down at her. Their bodies were bare inches apart when she reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“What are you doing Malory?” He whispered but instead of answering the question, she stood up on her toes so that their faces were now at the same level.
“I’m not sure Alex.” She said, as softly as him just as she heard the sound of the can of beer fall from his hand to the ground as he bent his face forward and kissed her. The kiss was soft and gentle at first and as she gripped his shoulder more tightly, his kiss became more fierce.
“This is crazy” She heard him say in her ear when she pulled away from him.
“I know that Alex. I’m not a child anymore.” She said and pulled him towards herself again.
*****
Malory woke up in her own tent the next morning. She stretched her arms and realized she already had a smile on her face. A flood of memories from the previous night came to her and she remembered how he had carried her in his arms to her tent after they had spent hours in his. She nearly giggled at the thought of that, at the thought that she had spent several hours in Alex Temple’s tent. They had made love three times, each one was better than the previous. Gentle and shy the first time, more confident the second and the last time, which had completely exhausted her and put her to sleep…had been one where they were both hungry for more, amazed at discovering each other’s bodies, shocking even themselves by the act of making love to the person they had known for twelve years, in a completely different context.
Malory looked at her wrist watch and realized that it was past eleven. She had slept through the morning and probably missed her father’s plans of going fishing. She quickly slipped into an old t-shirt and a pair of fresh cotton shorts that she had packed for the night and stepped out of the tent.
Lee was bent over the low burning fire, roasting a chicken. She was surprised to find Alex awake, looking fresh and normal while her head banged away with a sore hangover.
“Morning” she squeaked.
Lee and Alex both turned to look at her, but she noticed how Alex looked immediately away. The look in his eyes, which seemed to be a mixture of regret and embarrassment made her stomach toss.
“Did I miss the fishing trip?” She tried to sound chirpy and walked over to her father to plant a kiss on his cheek. Lee didn’t turn to greet her and she felt an immediate resistance in his limbs that made her heart sink even further.
“Alex is leaving.” He suddenly said, without looking at his daughter. Malory turned to look at Alex, who was sitting on a fallen log of tree and tying his shoe laces.
“Why?” She asked her father and couldn’t keep the anxiety out of her voice. What did he mean Alex was leaving? Why would he be leaving? Only a few hours ago, they were lying entwined in each others arms and hearing each other breathe.
“I have to go Malory. Thank you for having me.” Alex’s deep gruff voice hit her like a slap across her face. She jerked to look at him again and he had already stood up. His packed bag was next to him, he was ready to go.
“What happened?” Her voice was raised now and she looked from her father to Alex and then to her father again. Lee remained silent, quietly rotating the roasting chicken as Alex started walking away.
“I’m sorry Lee. I apologize. Goodbye Malory.” He said the words quickly and his eyes were downcast. Malory could tell that he was trying to leave as quickly and smoothly as possible.
“I don’t understand. What happened?” She started walking towards Alex but he hurried his pace towards his car.
“Malory, please. I have to go.” He said curtly, without turning to look at her again and hurried away. She stopped walking and watched as he reached his car, several feet away from her, opened the door and threw his bag in. Before he stepped in himself, he turned to give her one last look. His eyes looked tired and exhausted.
When his car started up Malory turned on her heels. Lee had stood up from his bent position and was staring at her with an anger in his eyes.
“Dad?” She squeaked. In any other situation, she would have run to him, wrapped her arms around him and he would have made her feel better. Now, she didn’t know what was going on.
“He told me.” Lee spoke quietly, even though his eyes were fierce.
“Told you what?” Malory asked, afraid, aware of what her father was talking about. She just didn’t want to hear it from him.
“He told me what happened last night. He thought I was going to give him my blessing.” Lee spat out the words, while still glaring at his daughter. Malory was horrified. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. That Alex Temple had discussed the night with her father? That he had asked her father for permission to be with her? That her father had turned away the love of her life!
“Dad!” She shrieked in panic but Lee held up his hands.
“I told him to get out of here and to never come near you again.” Lee was speaking through gritted teeth and Malory lunged towards him.
“Why would you do that dad? I’m an adult” She was screaming now as she gripped his arms tightly.
“Malory. You’re not thinking straight. You both had too much to drink last night.” He tried to wriggle free from her grip and she couldn’t hold on to him for very long.
“That’s not true. I’ve been in love with him for a long time. Since I was a teenager!” She was still yelling but fell quiet when she realized that her father was staring at her. She was embarrassed that she had confessed the truth to him. He looked like he was hurt, confused and angry, all at the same time.
“You’re telling me that Alex Temple has been some kind of a teenage fantasy for you? For all these years?” Lee had raised his voice as well and he was screaming back at her. Malory could feel the tears pricking her eyes.
“Forget that dad. I’m a grown woman now. You can’t control who I’m with. You don’t have the power to just send him away because you didn’t like the idea” Malory turned away from him. She could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks now and she didn’t want her father to see her cry.
“You can’t be serio
us Malory. He’s nearly my age. He’s double yours. You can’t seriously be dreaming that you’d be happy with him.” His voice had softened a little now, perhaps because he knew that she was crying.
“I can be with whoever I choose to be with dad. A teenage fantasy or a man double my age. That is not your decision.” She still hadn’t turned to look at him.
“You’ve barely dated anybody. You don’t know any better!” He thundered again.
“I know that I’m in love with him. That’s all I know.” She started walking away then, back towards her car.
“You’re being a stubborn child Malory. Will you just think about it? Look at it from my perspective? Think about how this makes me feel?” She heard her father say. Malory whipped around, her arms were crossed across her chest and she glared back at him.
“Alex Temple is a man and I am a woman. There is no other way you should feel about it dad. If you do, then that is your prejudice.” She spoke more calmly this time, even though she was still as furious at him as before. Lee didn’t respond, instead, he kept standing there, glaring at her. Malory resumed walking towards her car.
“Where do you think you’re going, Malory?” She heard her father’s voice, but she didn’t turn this time.
“I’m going back. I can’t stay here with you. Not after what you’ve done.” Malory reached her car and pulled open the door. Her car keys were lying on the driver's seat as always and she picked them up and slid in. Just when she started the car, she realized that her father had walked over to her and was standing by the window. She pressed the button and waited for the window to roll down.
“He’s not going to change his mind now Malory. If that is what you’re aiming for. He won't be with you against my wishes. I know Alex Temple better than you think you do.” He spoke quietly this time, he knew he was right, as did Malory. He was less angry now.
“We’ll see about that. In any case dad, it’s not your problem any more.” Malory said and stepped on the accelerator.
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