brother, and excited to see what I have for her. She’s happy, not thinking about tomorrow or the day after, when her heart will be shattered into millions of tiny fragments. And to know I’m the reason she’ll probably never trust again, makes me feel like a complete piece of shit. Nothing but an inconsiderate asshole. But I can’t have her waste her life wondering if I’m safe, or if I’ll return home to her. She doesn’t deserve to worry; she’s worried enough over the last few years. And no matter how many times I tell myself I’m making the right decision by not telling her anything, it doesn’t make my leaving her any easier to bear.
***
“Wyatt,” Allie calls. I wipe my cheeks dry and stand to go back upstairs. As my hands rests on the doorknob it twists, but it’s not because I’ve turned it. “Holy shit!” Allie gasps. “You scared me. What are you doing down here, in the dark?” she eyes me curiously. She brings her hand up and splays her hand out over the side of my face, her thumb tracing my cheekbone. Her smile disappears as she cocks her head, “You okay? Something wrong, babe?”
Yes, my world is crumbling from underneath me, a big ass sinking hole pulling me into four years of nothing but darkness. I pull my hands up and place them on top of hers. “No, baby, I’m fine,” I assure, turning my face so that my lips can kiss the center of her palm. “I was looking for some fuel for the lantern in case we needed it later.”
“Why would we need a lantern?” she asks.
“I told you I had a surprise. Come on.” I take her by the hand and lead her into the kitchen. Walking over to the fridge, I grab some water and a pack of hot dogs. I nod my head to the island in the middle of the kitchen. “Grab that bag of marshmallows and follow me,” I instruct. Her face lights up as she becomes excited.
“I fucking love surprises,” she announces, bouncing up and down happily. “Huh, by your reaction I would’ve never guessed it,” I joke. “Just shut up and lead the way.”
I lead her out to the backyard, where I have the fire blazing and sleeping bags spread out. The thermos of hot chocolate with two coffee mugs is set beside our pillows, and our sticks are sharp and ready for use. I look to Allie as I lay the water and dogs to the ground. Her eyes are wide. She’s biting her lip, and rocking back and forth from heel to toe, excitedly. She loves camping in the backyard. We’ve had some great times back here, making out under the moonlight, play wrestling around in the grass. Moments no one should ever take for granted.
“Are we staying out here all night?” she asks hopefully.
I nod while spreading the blanket over the sleeping bags. “Look how clear the sky is. How bright the stars are shining. We are most definitely spending our night counting stars, babe.”
She walks over, squats in front of the fire and holds her hands out in front of her. Her sweat pants hang low on her hips and the dimples on her lower back show, teasing my mind. Sexual thoughts begin to cloud my brain. “You cold?” I ask. It’s a pretty warm night, but she’s pretty cold blooded.
“Maybe a little,” she replies.
I walk over and stand beside her. I grab the bottom of my shirt and pull it up, removing it from my body, “Here, put it on.” I urge, holding my shirt out for her to take. She stands up and her eyes savor my bare torso. Her tongue glides slowly across her lips as her eyes glide down my chest and rest at my very prominent V. I reach out and tuck my fingers under her chin. “Eyes up here, Al.” I whisper, tilting her head back. Her cheeks flush.
“I’ll be sure to tell you the same the next time I see your eyes attached to my chest,” she fires back, breathing somewhat erratically. Fuck, I love the effect I have on her.
“Just take the damn shirt, please. I’m warm, babe, feel.” I insist. She shakes her head and crosses her arms. I step to her and pull her arms apart.
***
“Wyatt,” Allie calls. I wipe my cheeks dry and stand to go back upstairs. As my hands rests on the doorknob it twists, but it’s not because I’ve turned it. “Holy shit!” Allie gasps. “You scared me. What are you doing down here, in the dark?” she eyes me curiously. She brings her hand up and splays her hand out over the side of my face, her thumb tracing my cheekbone. Her smile disappears as she cocks her head, “You okay? Something wrong, babe?”
Yes, my world is crumbling from underneath me, a big ass sinking hole pulling me into four years of nothing but darkness. I pull my hands up and place them on top of hers. “No, baby, I’m fine,” I assure, turning my face so that my lips can kiss the center of her palm. “I was looking for some fuel for the lantern in case we needed it later.”
“Why would we need a lantern?” she asks.
“I told you I had a surprise. Come on.” I take her by the hand and lead her into the kitchen. Walking over to the fridge, I grab some water and a pack of hot dogs. I nod my head to the island in the middle of the kitchen. “Grab that bag of marshmallows and follow me,” I instruct. Her face lights up as she becomes excited.
“I fucking love surprises,” she announces, bouncing up and down happily. “Huh, by your reaction I would’ve never guessed it,” I joke. “Just shut up and lead the way.”
I lead her out to the backyard, where I have the fire blazing and sleeping bags spread out. The thermos of hot chocolate with two coffee mugs is set beside our pillows, and our sticks are sharp and ready for use. I look to Allie as I lay the water and dogs to the ground. Her eyes are wide. She’s biting her lip, and rocking back and forth from heel to toe, excitedly. She loves camping in the backyard. We’ve had some great times back here, making out under the moonlight, play wrestling around in the grass. Moments no one should ever take for granted.
“Are we staying out here all night?” she asks hopefully.
I nod while spreading the blanket over the sleeping bags. “Look how clear the sky is. How bright the stars are shining. We are most definitely spending our night counting stars, babe.”
She walks over, squats in front of the fire and holds her hands out in front of her. Her sweat pants hang low on her hips and the dimples on her lower back show, teasing my mind. Sexual thoughts begin to cloud my brain. “You cold?” I ask. It’s a pretty warm night, but she’s pretty cold blooded.
“Maybe a little,” she replies.
I walk over and stand beside her. I grab the bottom of my shirt and pull it up, removing it from my body, “Here, put it on.” I urge, holding my shirt out for her to take. She stands up and her eyes savor my bare torso. Her tongue glides slowly across her lips as her eyes glide down my chest and rest at my very prominent V. I reach out and tuck my fingers under her chin. “Eyes up here, Al.” I whisper, tilting her head back. Her cheeks flush.
“I’ll be sure to tell you the same the next time I see your eyes attached to my chest,” she fires back, breathing somewhat erratically. Fuck, I love the effect I have on her.
“Just take the damn shirt, please. I’m warm, babe, feel.” I insist. She shakes her head and crosses her arms. I step to her and pull her arms apart.
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