by Tiara James
“Okay love birdies, let’s get a move on!” Chris called.
“Yes, please! This is my Pop’s brand new yacht, I’m itchin’ to get it goin’!” Timmy added.
David rolled his eyes and set me down. “Alright, alright, we’re coming!”
As the men were gathered around Timmy driving his father’s new yacht, David kept glancing over at me and when we made eye contact he would just smile and wave. He made me giggle, the smallest things he did were just enough to make me fall for him even more than I already had. Once we were far out on the lake, the boys opened a few beers and began seeing who could do the craziest flip into the water. I was thankful because I didn’t want to discuss David when he was around, as I knew my friends were going to ask me one billion questions about our relationship. Kate eyed David as he jumped into the water; as soon as he was out of earshot her eyes pierced into me.
“Tell. Us. Everything!” She squeeled excitedly.
A smile immediately broke out across my face. “What do you mean?” I giggled.
“Where have you been for the past week or so?” Yvonne asked in a tone that made it sound like she already knew the answer.
“Or who you’ve been with for the past week or so?” Rita snickered.
“Yeah because the last time we saw you two together, we all had the talk.” Sarah eyed me.
A devious grin crossed Kate’s face. “She’s been all up under David, I can see it on her face” she teased.
Sarah’s eyes doubled in size. “Oh I just love you two together! It’s such a contrast. I’m an artist, it’s what I live for.” She gushed.
“Painting one time in Paris does not make you an artist, Sarah.” Yvonne snorted.
Sarah held her hand up to Yvonne. “Beside the point.” She looked to me, “We want to know what you two have been up to.”
I sighed, thinking of everything that had happened between not only David and I but myself as well since the last time I’d seen them. “Well let’s see, since I last saw you all David and I have gotten much closer, no we haven’t had sex because he denied me, I almost got raped, oh and to top it all off yours truly is,” I held up my left hand and wiggled my ring finger, “engaged.”
The girls’ mouths dropped open and they collectively gasped.
“Hold on wait one ever-loving minute. Engaged?” Kate took a big gulp of her drink with wide eyes.
“Almost raped? By who?” Yvonne wondered in horror.
“He denied you?” Rita questioned.
“How are you staying sane darlin’?” Sarah asked with a concerned expression.
I smiled weakly, “David keeps me sane.”
Sarah put her hand over her heart and pouted her lips. “Awh, that made my heart melt.”
“Can we puh-lease elaborate on the other issues you threw at us?” Kate demanded, looking at me as if I was crazy.
I cleared my throat before telling them the stories of the past week. They were appalled by the fact that Ray had tried to rape me and even more disgusted when they saw the fading scars from the scratches and bruises he’d left me with. My friends were plenty interested in the diamond ring on my finger but every single one of them wished it was David that had proposed.
“Did he tell you why he didn’t want to have sex with you?” Yvonne asked.
I nodded. “He said that wasn’t how I should lose it and that he wanted to know that I was really ready.” I shrugged, a tad embarrassed when reliving that night in my mind.
“Well on the bright side it sounds like he really cares about you, unlike that jerk, Ray.” Yvonne reasoned.
“Of course he cares about her, he’s crazy about her. Timmy says so,” Kate laughed lightly through her nose and smiled at me.
“You’ve had very high highs and extremely low lows in the past few days,” Rita sighed. “But as your friend, I am so glad to see David here stabling you out.”
“I agree,” Sarah smiled. “You guys are perfect.”
“I can’t complain.” I shrugged. Lately, I had been feeling very conflicted in knowing that I was hiding something as major as my family secret from David. He was so completely honest with me and there I was hiding the secret of the decade. I trusted him…but I could never let him know about my family.
“Girls, come get in the water!” Chris yelled.
“Only if we’re skinny dippin’, honey.” Sarah flirted.
Chris raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Maybe later on tonight cute thing, just you and me.” He winked at her.
Sarah blushed and shook her head. “Never in a million years my love.”
“Well we still want you in here, I didn’t bust out my father’s yacht just for you all to sit and look pretty. Get in!” Timmy demanded.
“Alright sweetheart you’ve got me, you know I love when you talk aggressive to me.” Kate batted her eyelashes at him before stepping up on the side of the boat and leaping off.
“That’s my girl,” Timmy swam to Kate and grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her in for a kiss.
I watched them with envy, knowing they were going to get to go home later on and show each other just how much they turned each other on. Sighing, I sat back and watched the rest of my friends hop off the boat and into the water. I decided to hold off on getting in the water, having just gotten my hair done and not wanting to hear my mother and Ray’s complaints about messing it up when I had a dress fitting to attend the next day. Not to mention the last time I was on the lake I had almost died!
“Hey Eva! You remember? It’s where we met!” David called from the water.
I rose and leaned on the side of the boat, looking down at his squinting blue eyes. “Oh joy, it wasn’t exactly the best night of my life!”
“Come on and get in,” he suggested.
“I don’t want to David.”
His eyebrows came together in confusion. “What’re you so afraid of?”
“Ugh I don’t know, flashbacks of that horrible night maybe? I almost died you know! And besides, my mom doesn’t want me messing up my hair, I just had it done.” I answered. They were bad excuses, but I really didn’t want to get back in the lake after what happened last time.
“Oh c’mon, Eva since when do you listen to your parents? And there’s no need to worry about anything, I’m here. The last time I didn’t let anything happen to you and I won’t let anything happen now so come on!” David pleaded.
I shook my head stubbornly. “I’m not getting in, David!”
David groaned. “Ugh! Look Eva-Marie, I love you…and I’m in love with you! I would never put you in a situation where something bad could happen to you. So please just get in the water… for me.”
What? Was I hearing correctly? The ‘L’ word! He said it! My heart back flipped for joy inside my chest! David was in love with me! Did he actually say that? A goofy smile broke out onto my face, as I was not able to contain how giddy I was. “What? Me?” I asked in disbelief with my hand over my chest, clearly flattered.
“Dammit yes Eva! Now get in and say it back!” David slammed his hand in the water, a playful grin on his face.
Without thinking anymore about it, I gave in and leapt off of the side of the boat. My stomach fluttered as I closed the distance between myself and the water feeling entirely exhilarated, I went under with the water rushing over me refreshingly. When I surfaced I swam to him and kissed him repeatedly. “I’m in love with you too, David. I love you so much.” I breathed.
David was the exhilaration in my life that made me feel like I was actually alive. He was the only person ever to make my heart and stomach drop every time I laid eyes on him. He was the new and refreshing piece of my life that renewed my hope in believing it was still worth living despite all the burdens I carried in the dark.
“God I’m so in love with you, and don’t you ever say that night wasn’t anything besides the best night of your life because it damn sure was the best of mine…it led me to you. And you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
David breathed and planted a kiss on my lips.
“He’s the man!” Timmy exclaimed, whooping and hollering with Chris along with my girlfriends.
For hours, we all swam together, laughed together, took turns diving off of the yacht, and just truly enjoyed each other’s company. I loved all of them dearly for bringing true joy into my life when it seemed nearly impossible. Once the water tired us out, the guys started a log fire in the sand and Timmy pulled his car up so we could hear the radio. David and Timmy were busy trying to figure out the radio when Chris sat down next to me.
“How you doin’ Eva?” He asked.
“Better than ever, Chris.” I smiled warmly at him, thankful that I was able to say that and mean it. “How about yourself?”
Chris nodded. “I’m doing great as well, Eva.” There were a few beats of awkward silence as he sat, just nodding his head.
I looked at him expectantly. “Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?”
“I’m glad you read my mind,” he smiled. “Look, Eva…” He trailed off.
“Yes?”
“I just want to thank you.” He sighed.
That caught me off guard. “Thank me? For what?”
Chris chuckled and shook his head. “For everything. You know, you’ve really changed David for the better. Ever since his mom died…you know it really hit home for him. He became someone Timmy and myself didn’t even know…or even wanted to know. Now to see him like this,” he looked over at David, “and with you, it’s like he’s a different person –you brought him back to life for us.”
I felt a lump forming in my throat, but swallowed it back. “Oh Chris, that’s so nice of you to say, really.”
“I just thought I’d let you know, we’re all like a family…now if you’d excuse me…my future wife,” he eyed Sarah across the fire. “Is waiting for me.”
“I hope she knows you’re in her future, honey.” I giggled as I watched him go flirt with her.
“There we go!” Timmy rejoiced and high-fived David as they solved the radio issue.
David sat next to me in the sand, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and nuzzling his nose in my hair, kissing the top of my head.
I lifted my hand and rested it on the side of his face as I watched the dancing flames.
David grabbed my hands and held it out, touching the engagement ring with his thumb. “I’m running out of time.” He said in a grave tone.
My heart clenched. I looked him in the eyes, “Never. I love you and nothing will ever change that.”
“Let’s get away,” he responded simply.
Oh if it was that simple… “Where do you suggest we go Mr. Finley?”
“Canada.”
“Canada?”
“Canada.”
“Strange.” I shrugged and leaned back.
“You’re not going to question it any further?” He asked, sounding shocked.
“Why would I question the one I love?” I leaned forward and kissed him. “I trust you.”
David got on his feet and pulled me up. “Dance with me Eva.” He began to sway me from side to side.
I giggled. “But I don’t know how.”
“You can do anything,” he shook his head.
I jumped up and wrapped my legs around him instead. “I’d rather not.”
“Fine then I’ll sing to you.” He shrugged.
I laughed, “Oh Lord!”
“She’s never been in love,” David sang, making up his own song. “But I’d be honored to be her first –”
“And only,” I interrupted, adding to the song.
“Love.” He stopped and bore his burning blue eyes into mine. Wow he was intense. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
I nodded. “Of course I will.” I leaned my forehead on his. “Promise me you’ll never give up on me.” I nearly whispered.
David’s eyebrows furrowed. He pulled his face back. “I promise I would never. What made you say that?”
Before we went any further in our relationship, I just had to know that if my family secret ever did get out I would at least still have him there for me. “My whole life is so complicated…I just need someone who’s always going to be there for me. I know I have my family…but it’d be nice to have you as well.”
“I would love you and stay with you through anything.” David answered loyally.
“Hmmm, are you lying to me Mr. Finley?” I teased lightly.
His eye contact was intense. “I would never lie to you.”
I nodded and sighed. “David, the night you met me I was reaching a breaking point after being fed up with holding so much in and not having anyone to turn to. I was ready to end my own life. Looking back I realize now that you saved me in more ways than one. You make me believe that my life is still worth living and that I can have a little faith in someone.” I smiled. “Please don’t let me down,” I whispered.
“Hey,” he pulled my chin up to look me in the eyes. “I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize what we have between us, okay? I would never lie to or give up on you for any reason, you don’t deserve that.” He studied my face as his words sank in.
My deep eyes met his. “I trust you.”
We departed from our friends shortly after and headed back to his house. Our car ride was silent – tension hung in the air, but it was a different kind of tension that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Once David unlocked his door, he let me in but stood in the doorway staring at me. I couldn’t do anything but stare right back at him. There was something burning in his eyes, something he couldn’t seem to control, the look he was giving me caused me to breathe heavily.
David shut the door and closed the distance between us rapidly, crushing his lips onto mine and kissing me hungrily. I returned the strokes of his tongue in my mouth with just as much desire. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and gently tugged my head back so he could kiss at my neck. Oh it felt so…good! I’d never felt so much desire for anyone before! I wrapped my arms around his neck and he picked me up.
“Oh God I love when you do that,” David growled when I wrapped my legs around his waist as he began walking me back to his room.
I began to kiss him passionately, not able to get enough of him! He set me down on the bed and began kissing at my neck and down to my chest, eventually removing my robe and swimsuit top. I felt so exposed but I didn’t care…I was in love with him and I knew he loved every part of me. I buried my hands in his hair, moaning and extremely sensitive to his touch. After kissing all the way down to my stomach he returned back to my lips, breathing heavily. As he kissed me, one of his hands slid down and removed the bottom half of my swimsuit and eagerly unbuttoned his. Oh I was hot everywhere! I didn’t know what to do with myself! My head was swooning. David was kissing on my neck as he positioned himself to get inside of me.
I gasped and cried out in pain, but pleasure in knowing that I was as close as I could get to the man that I loved and would continue to love for whoever knew how long. Hot tears rolled down my face but they weren’t coming down because I was in pain. The tears were there because I was in one of the most beautiful moments of my life and I wouldn’t have wanted to experience it with anyone else but David.
David kept eye contact with me when we were finished, staring deep into my eyes, breathing heavily and eventually resting his forehead on my chest. I caressed the hair on the back of his head and moved down to his neck.
“That was everything and more than what I have ever dreamed of…thank you.” I breathed.
“My pleasure. Anything for the love of my life. I love you, but somehow saying those words just doesn’t seem like enough to express the way I feel about you.” David whispered.
I laughed lightly. “I could say the same thing.”
David was silent for a long moment before he rolled over on his back. Without another word he rose, dressing himself, and disappeared down his dark hallway. I could see his silhouette grab something from the closet in the hallway and
pillows off the couch. I heard him open the door to his garage and go inside. I waited in the dark…wondering what I should do and also wondering what he was doing. I reached for the robe and slid it on, tightening it around my body, waiting for him to get back. The door to the garage closed and I watched as his shadow came closer.
“May I ask what you’re doing, sir?” I asked.
David held out his hand. “I have something to show you.”
I looked at him questioningly but took his hand anyways.
He grabbed my hand, leading me to the garage.
“What’re we doing?” I asked when I saw that stairs had been pulled down from his garage attic.
“I thought you didn’t question the one you love?” He teased and turned me around. “Go on up, it’s safe.”
I looked up into the dark attic and felt uneasy. But I trusted him so I began climbing up into the attic.
“Okay now, step on this box and I’ll help you up onto the roof.” David instructed.
I looked up at the opening to the roof and stepped onto the box. David’s strong hands wrapped around my hips and pushed me up. I felt wobbly on his roof until he was next to me, stabilizing me out. David had spread out a blanket and pillows on his rooftop. I looked at him with a smile. “We’re sleeping on the roof?”
He shrugged and lay down on the blanket. “You call it sleeping, I call it gazing at the stars.” David patted the spot next to him. “Come on.”
Oh this man was completely out of this world! I lowered myself down and rested my head on his chest as he wrapped his strong arm around me. I looked up at the stars and truly felt as if I’d entered another universe. The sky was barely black because there were so many stars lighting up the sky! They gleamed, shining bright and proud. It looked as if there were millions of crystals and diamonds strewn across a black marble floor.
“It’s breathtaking,” I took a deep breath, the sight was to die for.
“Absolutely.” David agreed.
“I’ve never taken the time to just sit and stare at the stars.” I admitted.
“Me either,” I felt David shrug. “Well I take that back.” He said after a moment.
“So you always stare at the stars…?” I giggled.