Charlie
Cheers went up as Cassie and Troy drove away for the first night of their honeymoon. Felix was staying with Chaos while they were away, which, according to Kelly, made Cassie kind of nervous. But Fliss promised she’d make sure everyone behaved themselves.
I rolled my eyes and grinned. Poor Felix was going to get lumped with like seven temporary parents. Just what every teenager wants.
“You okay?” Kelly’s long arm settled around my shoulders.
I bobbed my head, but a nervous swallow gave me away. “He’s still here, isn’t he?”
“Yep.” She accentuated the P. “He’s helping Chaos with the pack-up.”
“And they don’t mind?”
“He’s the guy who busted in on a wedding. They think he’s awesome.”
I snickered and shook my head. “I can’t believe he did that. I thought he was getting married. I’ve been trying to let him go. I’m moving on.” My voice pitched high as I rushed to a finish.
“I know.” She squeezed me against her and kissed my forehead. She was ridiculously tall in those heels. “Remember, just because he’s here proclaiming his love for you doesn’t mean you have to change all of your plans for him.” Spinning me to face her, she looked me in the eye. “This is your life. And I know you’ll always love him, but don’t give up on this travel dream just because he’s here. See something through, Charlie. I beg you. If your love is real, he’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”
I bit my lip, then wrinkled my nose. “You’re not just saying that to get me home early, are you?”
With a soft snort, she pulled me into a tight hug. “I just want you to be happy.”
“Thanks, Kels.” I squeezed her back, suddenly missing her before I’d even left.
Letting me go, she kissed my cheek and then propelled me towards the fairy-lit reception hall where things were slowly being packed away.
I ambled back into the room and spotted Nixon chatting with Ralphie. The bass player said something that made Nixon smile, and then Flick added his own quip that had all three of them chuckling. They all looked to Jace, who was oblivious to whatever they were talking about. He was transfixed by an African-American waitress who was carrying a tray of dirty champagne glasses. She glanced his way, her lips twitching with a grin, before disappearing through the service doors.
Jace looked down, his full lips fighting a smile.
Flick said something and Jace’s cheeks bloomed hot red, making all the guys crack up laughing again.
Except Nixon.
Because he’d noticed me on the other side of the room.
Our eyes locked and I suddenly couldn’t breathe.
This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for.
And it was the world’s worst timing.
“Hey,” Nixon said when he finally reached me.
Over his shoulder, I caught a few curious gazes, so I tipped my head towards the door. We stepped outside and took the path on the right, walking along it until we were completely alone. The reception hall was surrounded by copious gardens. During the day, people paid to walk the different pathways and admire the carefully maintained flowers and sculpted hedges, but late at night it was an empty, moonlit oasis. The warm summer air caressed my skin while crickets and other insects created a soundtrack for our silent walk. I knew I had to speak at some point, but I wasn’t ready until we found a private little nook within a waist-high maze of hedges. Moonlight bathed the patch of grass in the middle and I took a seat, crossing my legs and studying Nixon as he eased to the ground beside me. He propped his elbows onto his knees and looked at me.
I loved the way the moonlight played off his features, casting shadows, highlighting the angular structure of his face. I was tempted to take a photo, but sometimes even the best photographer can’t capture the beauty of the moment. I pulled my camera off and laid it on the ground beside me.
“You really knocked it out of the park with the whole Graduate routine.”
Nixon snickered and shook his head. “‘Crashed the Wedding’ was playing in the car as I raced to find you. I guess it kind of inspired me.”
I grinned. “I love that song.”
“Me too.” His voice was serious as he turned to face me and gently took my hands. “Just more proof.”
“Of what?”
“That we’re meant to be together.”
“Because we like the same song?”
“You know it’s not just that.” He pressed his lips together, then gave me a pained look. “Why didn’t you tell me what Dad said to you? Why didn’t you come find me? We could have worked it out together.”
I pulled my hands from his and tucked them under my legs. “So you found out, then.”
“Yeah, I found out.”
“Is that why you dumped her?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I discovered the truth as I was dumping her.” His sigh was heavy. He propped his elbows back onto his knees. “I just couldn’t keep pretending anymore. I’ve been miserable since the day you left. I tried to find my happy within that, but then you came back into the picture and just reminded me how much better my life was with you.”
His words made my eyes tingle and sheen. I blinked and looked up at the moon. “Maybe I never should have left, but…they were going to make it really hard. Your dad threatened to put a restraining order against me and get people to write horrible things about me in the media. He described the flow-on effect really well. And he also said he was going to cut you off financially.”
Nixon’s eyes rounded before he dipped his head and softly cursed.
Okay, so he hadn’t found out everything, then.
I winced, hoping I hadn’t made it worse. “You know, I don’t know whether he would have gone through with it or not, but it was enough to make me realize that it’d be a battle over you. And I just couldn’t put any of us in that position. My parents have had to deal with family shit their whole lives, and it sucks. I didn’t want that for you. After everything your family already lost…” I sighed and started picking at the grass. “I never realized I’d be taking your heart with me though.”
He turned to face me, his shadowed expression wrinkled with pain.
“How could you not know that?” His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. He said the words with such strength and conviction. It made me feel like a fool for believing his father so easily.
But then it also made me warm on the inside.
He loved me.
He’d never stopped.
“Charlie.” His voice was husky as he brushed his knuckles across my knee. “Did you honestly not know how much you meant to me?”
I shrugged. “You were always so much better than I was. I never felt worthy of you in the first place. I just figured you’d get over me and find someone else.” I glanced up and swallowed. “And you did. You found Shayna.”
“But she’s not you.” He cupped my cheeks and gently turned me to face him. “It’s only ever been you. You’re my best friend. The love of my life.”
His lips were soft and inviting as they touched mine.
I sank into the kiss, gripping his wrists when he deepened it. I closed my eyes and the world disappeared. All that existed was Nixon.
It would have been so easy to stay trapped in that bubble, floating over life like none of it mattered.
But we couldn’t do that.
Tents had doors.
Vacations had endings.
And life was full of shitty situations that couldn’t be dreamed away.
As if to prove my point, Nixon pulled back and whispered words that I couldn’t agree to. “Come to New York with me. Make me the happiest man alive.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I leaned my forehead against his. “I can’t, Nix. I’m leaving.”
“What?” The sadness in his voice made my heart squeeze.
“I’m all booked. I’m flying out tomorrow.” I sniffed, keeping my head dipped so he couldn’t see the onset of tears.
“Where are you going?”
“Hawaii, and then on to…I’m not sure yet. I’ve got a pretty long list and I’ll book as I go.”
With his knuckle, he nudged my chin up so he could see my face. His smile was sad yet beautiful. “Finally chasing those dreams, huh?”
“Trying to,” I whispered. “I can’t pull out last minute.”
“I know. I wouldn’t want you to.” His voice was soft and deep. Soft and sexy.
My insides stirred with desire. I could have seriously drowned in those moonlit eyes. They were dark pools of love and longing.
His thumb was feather light on the tip of my chin. “How long will you be gone?”
“I don’t know.” My breath hitched as the tears trickled free.
Nixon clenched his jaw and looked out into the darkness.
Slashing the tears off my cheeks, I wanted to lighten the moment with a lame joke. But I couldn’t think of a single thing to make him smile.
Reaching for his face, I traced his cheekbones—so familiar yet new.
And then I whispered something I didn’t even see coming.
“But we’ve got tonight.”
My heart must have wanted to say it, because as the words slipped out, they suddenly felt like the most important ones I’d ever said.
Nixon and I were obviously destined not to be together for long. But we’d make the most of the moments we were given.
His brown eyes caught my expression and he smiled at me, one of those tender smiles that always melted my heart. Gently taking my arms, he dragged me off the grass and onto his lap. I straddled him, awed by my overwhelming love for this guy.
Brushing his lips with my thumb, I murmured, “I love you.”
He responded by cupping the back of my head and pulling me into a kiss. And it wasn’t just any kiss. It was the kind of kiss I could soak in, like a hot bath at the end of a stressful day.
It was the kind of kiss that would see me through months of separation.
It was the kiss that said I’m yours.
Our lips trembled against each other, heat quickly building as we lost ourselves in the moonlight. Nixon set my hair free of the messy bun and curled his fingers into my wild locks. His other hand trailed from my shoulder and down to my breast.
He gave it a gentle squeeze and laughed into my mouth.
I pulled back with a curious grin and he squeezed me again.
“Still the perfect size,” he murmured.
I laughed with him, loving him more than anyone ever could. “Still all yours.”
With a wink, I pulled my shirt off, exposing my bright blue bra.
“It matches your hair.” He grinned, then kissed me between my collarbones. His lips were warm and delicious. As soon as his tongue hit my soft skin and trailed a line down between my breasts, my entire body started buzzing.
He unhooked my bra and the warm breeze tickled my sensitive spots, adding to my euphoria when his tongue curled around my nipple. I tipped my neck back with an unchecked moan.
Nixon’s strong hands supported my back while I gripped his shoulders and melted into a puddle of desire. Heat pooled between my legs as an urgency to have him tore through me.
But I couldn’t do that.
Because this was our last time in a while and I wanted to take it slow, draw it out, enjoy every second of it.
Opening my eyes, I smiled up at the moon before threading my fingers into Nixon’s hair and tipping his head up. I wanted his mouth on mine again.
He obliged, his warm tongue both a comfort and a turn-on.
I wanted to memorize the feeling.
Because I wanted to make this moment last forever.