“No, she does not.” Chay jogged into the room, wearing a pair of distressed jeans and a T-shirt that knew all the right places to hug him. “Hi.” He leaned over and kissed me.
When he lifted his head, I put my fingers to my lips and glanced quickly at his mother. She didn’t seem the least bit concerned, but my face was burning.
“Oh, you embarrassed her.” Chay’s mom tsked and waved a hand at him. “Don’t worry, Milayna, we know you kiss. It’s nothing to be embarrassed over.” She smiled and winked.
“But you’d embarrass me with baby photos.” Chay laughed.
“Of course. I’m your mother. That’s my right after twelve hours of labor and a nine-pound baby.”
Chay rolled his eyes and made a blah, blah, blah motion with his hand, but smiled at his mom. “Are you ready?” he asked me.
“Yes.”
“Where are you two off to?” Mrs. Roberts looked between us.
“I don’t know. It’s Chay’s pick today. I picked yesterday.”
“Dear, let me tell you a little secret. Don’t let Chay pick. You’ll find yourself spending the day at the go-kart speedway.”
“That’s okay; he spent the day at the zoo with me.” I looked up at him and grinned like a moron.
“I’m just sayin’. I’d rather spend the day at the zoo than riding go-karts and picking gnats out of my teeth.” She shuddered.
I tilted my head to the side. “Huh. Good point.”
“Okay, see you when you get home.” She kissed him on the cheek and then patted it. “Behave.”
“I always do.”
She snorted a laugh. “It was nice meeting you, Milayna.”
“You, too, Mrs. Roberts.”
We walked outside, and Chay looked around. “Where’s your car?”
“My car isn’t in the best working condition. I was hoping you’d drive.”
“No problem. Wait, how’d you get here?”
“I walked.”
“From your house? You walked around the block? Alone?” His voice rose with each syllable.
“Like my parents would ever let me do that. My dad drove me. I walked up the driveway alone.”
“Don’t do that!”
“What?” I could tell by his voice I’d upset him. Not the best way to start the day.
“Scare me like that.” He blew out a breath.
“I’m sorry—”
He interrupted my apology with a kiss. Not the chaste schoolboy kiss he gave me in front of his mother, but a long, wet, stomach-fluttering, kiss.
“Hasn’t your mother taught you not to interrupt?” I asked when he lifted his head.
“I think she mentioned something about it one day, but I interrupted her.” He grinned at me.
“Cheesy, Chay.” I smiled at him, and he shrugged a shoulder. “So, where are we going?”
“Wherever you tell me to drive.” He opened the car door for me.
“Oh, no. It’s your turn to pick.”
“And if I said I wanted to go fishing?”
“I’d say we’d need to go by my house so I could get my rod and fishing license,” I answered.
“Really?” He made a face.
“What? Girls can’t fish in your world?” I stowed my purse in the backseat.
“No, that’s great. I love that you’d go fishing with me. It’s just that you’re the only girl I’ve dated that would.”
“Is that what we’re doing?” I slid into the car. He jogged around the back of the car and jumped in the driver’s side.
“What? Fishing?” He slid the key into the ignition.
“No. Dating.” I bit the corner of my bottom lip. My heart hammered in my chest as the seconds ticked by, and he didn’t answer.
“Hmm.” He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “I—”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want to make the day weird.” My knuckles cracked, and I realized I’d been twisting my fingers in my lap. I forced myself to relax my hands.
“Well, if you wouldn’t interrupt me…” He leaned over and kissed me softly. “I was going to say I hope that’s what we’re doing. Dating, not fishing.”
I let out a breath, and a huge smile spread across my face.
“Does the smile mean you’re happy with the answer, or are you trying to figure a way out of dating me?”
“The smile says I was hoping that would be your answer. I can’t stop smiling, actually.” I laughed. Twisting my fingers through his hair, I pulled his lips to mine. We were both still smiling and our teeth hit when we tried to kiss. Looping my arms around his neck, I pulled my face from his, buried it in the curve of his neck, and breathed him in.
He kissed the side my temple. “Now that we have the logistics of our relationship figured out, where do you want to go?”
I pulled back and looked at him, shaking my head. “Oh no, it’s still your day to pick. This is an equal opportunity relationship.”
“How about the mall?”
“The mall.” I made a face. “I think you’re trying to get me to forget it’s your day to pick.”
“What? Guys can’t like the mall in your world?”
“You don’t,” I said, holding my breath against the pain building in my chest.
“Well, if you can like fishing, then I can like the mall. Besides, I’m thinking about the mall and then maybe the shops at the Waterway.” Chay looked at me, and his brows pulled down. “What’s the matter?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers. My head started to pound.
Chay. His car. A bicycle.
“Don’t back up,” I said.
Chay dropped his hands from the steering wheel and brushed the hair from my face. “Tell me when it’s safe,” he said quietly.
Three little boys on their bicycles rode behind his car. The boys were laughing and goofing off, doing all the things boys do. What they weren’t doing was watching for cars.
“Okay?” he asked, and I nodded. Chay put the car in reverse and slowly backed out of the driveway. “You know, you’re as good as having one of those back-up sensors,” he said with a chuckle.
I tried to give him a stern look, but failed and smiled. Reaching over, I pinched his side lightly. He laughed and brushed my hand away.
“Oh,” I raised my eyebrows, “you’re ticklish. That’s a good thing to know.”
We drove carefully up beside the boys riding their bikes, and Chay rolled down his window. “You guys start watchin’ for cars or you’re gonna get hurt.”
The boys looked over at Chay with wide eyes before turning their gaze back to the road. Like a flock of geese, they swerved their bikes to the left and into the bike path in synchronization.
***
I would’ve thought after spending the entire day with him the day before, we’d have run out of things to talk about, especially since before we knew each other, he never seemed to talk in more than monosyllabic answers. But it seemed the opposite was true. The more we talked, the more we found to talk about. It seemed Mr. Dark-and-Brooding was long gone.
We started our day at the mall, laughing our way through the shops, looking at ridiculously priced clothes and shoes. Chay was a good sport about tromping through the stores with me. Even though going was his suggestion, I wasn’t convinced he was all that interested in mall hopping, so I made it a quick visit. A few stops at the clearance racks, the bookstore, and the music store for Chay.
We were coming out of the music store when I tugged on the belt loop of Chay’s lower-than-legal jeans. “Hey. Isn’t that Jeff?”
He leaned in front of me to get a look, cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled, “Jeff!” But Chay’s voice was swallowed by the sounds of the shoppers coming and going.
“Who’s he with?” I stood on my tiptoes to get a look.
“Trina? Is that her name?” Chay shrugged and looked at me. “Some blonde who’s not nearly as beautiful as you.” He brought
my hand to his lips and kissed the inside of my wrist.
I tilted my head and looked at him. “Huh. That one was just on the okay side. I’ve definitely heard better lines. You need to work on your game, Victor.” I patted his check and walked around him. He grabbed me from behind and tickled my side.
“Work on my game, huh?” He laughed.
“Yes,” I giggled. “Hold the cheesy stuff.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Let’s go into Victoria’s Secret.” I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at the pink staining his high cheekbones. “Don’t you want to see what all the fuss is about?” He cleared his throat, sticking his fingers in his pockets. I wrapped a lock of his hair around my finger. “Aren’t you curious to know what the secret is?” I murmured.
His lips parted, and he wet them with his tongue. “Milayna…”
I took pity on him and pulled him past the store. “Okay, let’s get out of here.”
He blew out a breath and gave me a grin. “Hungry?”
We left the mall for an early lunch at a small café on the Waterway, an area next to the river full of art galleries, over-priced shops and street vendors, and every type of restaurant imaginable. We ate outside, watching the boats float lazily down the river.
“Let’s take a boat ride tonight,” Chay said.
“I’d love to take a boat ride! Why not after we eat?”
“It’s prettier at night when the lights are lit. Haven’t you seen them?”
“Nope. Never been past the mall.” I sipped my frozen lemonade and my mind wandered to Chay and me on a boat drifting down the river, engulfed in a coat of darkness. Alone, but for the gentle waves lapping at the side of the boat. My heart started to speed up, and my breath came in small gasps. Oh, hells yeah. I wanted that boat ride.
“A boyfriend has never brought you here?”
“Hmm?” Chay’s question interrupted my semi-naughty—on its way to very naughty—daydream. “Oh. Not until today.” I didn’t mention the fact that I hadn’t had too many boyfriends, and none that lasted more than a few weeks. My heart had always been saved for another. I’d thought it was Jake, but now I knew it was Chay.
“The boat ride is great at night. There are different colored lights lining the water. All the shops and restaurants are lit up, and the boat plays music and has a small dance floor. It’s all very…”
“Very what?” I asked when he didn’t finish.
“Romantic.”
“Romantic, huh? Hmm. Are you trying to seduce me?” I teased. Sort of teased, really. He had me in knots. I wouldn’t have minded a little seduction. Or a lot.
Chay put his mouth next to my ear. His breath skimmed across my skin, pulling goose bumps from it. I felt his lips move when he spoke, and I shivered. “No. What I’m trying to do is romance you.”
Oh, wow. He has invaded me. Completely inserted himself into my life, my thoughts, my heart. He doesn’t need to romance me. I’m his. Already his.
“Uh-oh. Did I just hear you right? You’re a romantic?” I leaned closer to him. Our mouths were a fraction a part. Not touching, but hovering next to each other, our breaths mixing.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” He pulled back and looked at me.
I sighed. “You were kind of… well, distant and closed off when we first met.” I swirled my fork in my pasta. “Muriel called you dark and brooding. I wouldn’t have pegged you for the romantic type.”
“Huh.” He picked up his cup and took a drink of Coke.
“What?”
“You were talking about me to Muriel,” he said with a lazy grin.
“Don’t get an inflated ego.”
When we finished eating and left the café, we walked past a street vendor selling handmade jewelry. Chay picked up a hammered silver cuff bracelet with a heart engraved on it. He paid the vendor and slipped it on my wrist. I sucked in a breath as his warm hands slid the cool metal against my skin.
Surprise and happiness stole my words. I licked my lips and a small, tentative smile touched them. My hand shook when I reached out to trace the heart engraved in the silver. My heart swelled to the point that it pressed tears at the back of my eyes. “A souvenir of your first trip to the Waterway,” he murmured, kissing the hollow behind my ear.
“I can’t… it’s too expensive.”
“I want you to have it.”
I still looked at the bracelet, moving my finger over the heart again and again. “Thank you. It’s beautiful, but it’s not a souvenir of my trip to the Waterway.” He gave me a puzzled look. “It’s a reminder of my day with you.”
He pursed his lips to hide a grin and looked down at the ground. “I like that.” He took my hand and kissed the palm before threading our fingers together, pulling me toward a large, metal sculpture. Situated around it were benches and large containers overflowing with fall foliage and brightly colored flowers.
“What are we doing?” I asked when he stopped and stood staring at the ground.
He held up a finger for me to wait. “We are waiting for… that.” He laughed when I jumped as geysers of water shot out of the cemented area around the sculpture and created a screen between us and the visitors on the other side. Colored spotlights shone on the water, creating a rainbow.
I stuck my hand into one of the water walls surrounding us. “Wicked cool.”
“If you think that’s cool, wait until tonight.” One side of his mouth tipped up in a grin. “You want a better look?” he asked quickly.
“No!” Letting out a small scream, I fisted my hand in the front of his shirt just seconds before he pushed me into the cold spray. I pulled him in with me.
We stumbled over each other’s feet, trying not to fall and embarrass ourselves, all the while laughing loud and unrestrained. I loved seeing the openness on Chay’s face, hearing his deep laugh, seeing the skin crinkle at the sides of his eyes.
“You weren’t supposed to get me wet too!” he said, still half laughing. He pulled me against him and kissed me quickly.
“You didn’t think I was going to be the only one walking around in uncomfortable, wet jeans did you?” My jeans made a sucking sound when I pulled them away from my skin.
“I didn’t think you’d know what I was going to do in time to grab me.”
“I saw your tell.” I shrugged.
“My what?”
“Your tell. The slightest movement a person makes just before they do something or when they’re lying.”
“And what’s my tell?” he asked, looking at me. The water still sprayed around us, soaking us both.
“Depends on what you’re going to do. Just now, you shifted your weight. I knew you were going to push me in because your shoulder tensed and your weight shifted to give you leverage.”
“So what are my other tells?”
I looked down, spreading my fingers over one of the colored lights, watching the water and light dance on my skin. “Your eyes darken just before you lean in to kiss me.” I tried to keep my voice from quivering like my insides were. Goose bumps covered my skin, and I hoped he thought they were from the cool water splashing over us rather than me thinking about how his kisses made me feel—all warm and gooey and like my world had tipped. “That’s my favorite.” I looked up at him, and his eyes darkened. “Yeah, just like that,” I whispered as his lips lowered to mine.
***
Chilled from the cool water, we climbed a grassy hill in a park near the water sculpture. I squeezed as much water from my hair and clothes as I could and stretched out on the lawn to let the sun dry them. We lay in the grass with the large autumn sun beating down on us and talked. And laughed. And talked some more.
Once we were dry enough that our shoes didn’t make squishing noises when we walked, we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through the small art galleries and shops.
“What are you doing?” I giggled at the look on Chay’s face as he regarded an abstract painting in
one of the upscale art boutiques. He tilted his head from one side to the other, studying the random shapes and colors.
“Honestly?” He stepped closer to the painting and narrowed his eyes. “I’m trying to figure out what it is.”
“It’s abstract. You aren’t supposed to know what it is.” I nudged him with my shoulder.
He laughed; the sound bounced off the walls of the mini gallery, echoing in the sparse space. “If I’m going to pay that kind of money for something, I want to know what it is.”
“So you’re the type of guy who likes velvet paintings of dogs playing poker?” I teased.
“Something like that. I wouldn’t mind a photograph or two.”
“There are some really pretty prints a little further down.” I took his hand and pulled him to the photographs on display.
Chay gave them a cursory glance and shook his head. “Nah, not for me. Maybe if I did this.” He placed his hands on my upper arms and guided me in front of the photographs. “Yeah, that’s a photo I could get used to.” He snapped a quick photo with his cell phone.
I could feel my insides melt at his words. “Be serious,” I said on a laugh.
Is he being cheesy or is he really this romantic?
When the sun started to set, we found a bench overlooking the water and sat to watch. The sky was streaked with magnificent colors of red and gold shining through puffy, white clouds.
“It’s pretty here. Thank you for bringing me.”
“I can’t believe you’ve lived here all your life and you’ve never come until today.” Chay looked at me and ran a finger up my arm.
“I know. We always travel to another city or state to do the touristy things. I never thought there were places to go right in my own hometown. I’m glad I’ve never been here before, though. I liked seeing it for the first time with you.”
He cupped my face with his hands and kissed me as the last of the sun’s rays slipped behind the horizon and the Waterway lit up around us like a Christmas tree. It was beautiful. The multi-colored lights made the water look like a floating rainbow.
“Now we take the boat ride I promised you,” Chay said, pulling me gently to the dock.
We boarded the boat and found a spot next to the railing away from the other passengers, watching the lights as we floated down the river. A band played in the small dance area and music filtered outside, the sound mingling with the gentle lapping of the water and the far-off conversations of people walking along the water’s edge.