Rachael

I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling so stiff that I crawled out of the bed and went into his bathroom, closing the door, so the light didn’t wake him up. I stared into the mirror. Wow, besides the soft red marks from his scruff and the few hickeys on my body, I didn’t look any different. I sure as hell felt different. A good kind of different. What was I going to do with this new feeling? I already felt attached and needy before this afternoon and now it was like I wanted to never leave. That wasn’t right, or at least I didn’t believe it should be. Most people dated for a long time before things took the next step, yet all I could think about was how I wanted forever with him. I turned on the water and washed my face. I turned around and hit the shower, making it fast so I didn’t wake him. Once I was done, I crept back into the bedroom to see the light on and Richard staring at me. “Baby, what’s going on?”

“Nothing, I just woke up and was a bit messy, so I thought I could use a shower. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Are you hungry?”

“No, actually after that hot shower, I feel sleepy again.”

“Good, I’m a little bit worn out.” I dropped the towel and went into my bag, pulling out a pair of underwear and a small spaghetti strap top to sleep in. A low growl ripped through his throat and I felt so beautiful. I hurried back to bed, a little too cold, making my nipples show through my top. He opened the covers for me, then let me snuggle into his arms.

As I closed my eyes, I muttered to myself, “I want this forever.”

I could have sworn he responded, “I’ll love you for forever.”

I think I was letting the sex get to my head and fell completely out.

~~~~~

I went home on Thursday morning, even though Richard completely didn’t agree with it. I told him that it was for the best, but I didn’t mean it. My heart hurt to know that I’d spend the night away from him. Since Sunday it had been like magic, but that was why I had to go. Testing myself and the feelings I had for him was a must.

My sister picked me up from the train station and I’d been in tears by the time she pulled up. I hopped in the car, wiping the tears away and doing my best to act like nothing was wrong, but there was no way to hide it. “Oh no, Rach. Tell me what he did.” She wrapped her arms around me from across the seat.

“Nothing, he didn’t do anything. He’s been amazing.”

“Then what’s wrong? I don’t want to be away from him. I thought I could easily go home and it would be nothing more than a little upset, but I haven’t stopped crying since I got on the train.”

“Oh, sweetheart. I think it’s for the best that you made the trip back home. This has been a whirlwind romance for you and maybe a day or two apart will make things a little less intense and less confusing.”

“I’m not confused, Claire, and I want it to always be this intense. I know that I’m young and maybe too naïve, but I know I love him.”

“Well let’s hope that this Christmas comes with a ring.”

“Silly, it won’t happen anytime soon.”

We got back to the house in just enough time for me to laugh away the tears. My father was at work, so he wouldn’t be home until later and my mom was standing there in the foyer waiting for me.

“Ah, just ignore that face. It’s happy tears,” Claire grumbled, shaking her head and taking my jacket from me.

“So, has he proposed yet?” my mom asked.

I rolled my eye because that was just overboard. I may be running at a hundred miles an hour, but that didn’t mean anything when it came to weddings. Although I was on birth control, he claimed with vigor as he took me over and over again that he was leaving his baby in my belly. If by chance he managed to be that lucky, then a wedding wasn’t far behind.

“No, he hasn’t,” I muttered, feeling annoyed with them. Most women these days didn’t marry the first guy they were with. I wasn’t saying that I wanted anyone else, but they were acting like our life together was a foregone conclusion. And I didn’t want to be crushed if they were wrong.

“Well, maybe at Christmas.”

“God, you two. You know I’m going to be sorely disappointed when he doesn’t ask me, right?” I complained.

“Whatever, girl. Come on. Do you still want your dream wedding with the carriages like Cinderella at St. Peters?”

“You know that I do, but we are getting way ahead of ourselves.”

“Come on, you know you love the guy, Rach. You told me so. Get to planning ideas, so we can get the ball rolling.”

“I can’t deal with you two right now.” I brushed them off and walked up to my room. Once inside there, I felt sad. As much as I loved my room, knowing that I’d be sleeping alone, I didn’t want to be there anymore.