The Beginning of Us (273 page)

“Exactly! Well, I need to get back to work. I have a meeting in like fifteen minutes that I’m not even prepared for.” She laughs again. “The story of my life.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“Slade, I know she loves you. Just give her some time. I promise it will be worth it. And just so you know, I’m on your side, trying to help it along.” She hangs up.

“Thanks, Rose.” I hand her back her phone with a huge smile on my face.
Her best friend knows she loves me!
That’s all I needed to hear.

*****

I walk into the house at around six, but most of the lights are off in the house.
She can’t already be in bed, can she?

“Angel?’ I call, walking throughout the hall way as I undo my tie.

“In here,” I hear her call from the bathroom.

I walk in to find her taking a bubble bath. She has her makeup done and her hair pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head.

“You look like you’re in a better mood today,” she says as she gives me a small smile.

“I am.” I lean down next to the bathtub. “How was your day?”

“It was good. I just hung out here.” She lifts a leg, putting it on the side of the tub as she lathers up some shaving cream between her hands. “I did some laundry. Cleaned the house up a bit.” She looks over to me. “Made you some more cookies.”

“You cleaned the house?” I thought it looked extra clean.

“Yes. Why? Do you think it still looks dirty?” She gives me a surprised look.

“No. it looks really clean,” I assure her. “But you didn’t have to do that.” I shake my head. “Laundry? What laundry did you do?” I will admit when it comes to laundry and cleaning, I’m kind of lazy. I do laundry about once a week. Cleaning, well that happens when I think the house is dirty which isn’t often.

“I took the sheets off the bed and washed them. Then I did all the dirty clothes that were in your closet.” She gives me an angry look. “That equaled five loads.”

I smile. “You don’t have to do all of that, Angel. Maybe I should get a housekeeper.” I never felt the need to have a housekeeper, until now. I don’t want Angel to have to spend her days cleaning the house.

“You don’t need to hire anyone. I can clean it.”

“I don’t want you here so you can do the laundry and clean, Angel.”

“Stop,” she laughs. “It’s no big deal.”

I stand up and take a few steps, coming to stop in front of the mirror while I unbutton my shirt. I throw my shirt on the floor then undo my pants. I stand there in my boxers, looking at my tiled floor shaking my head. I have got it so bad. What am I going to do? I want to marry this woman.

“Slade...?” Angel is standing behind me, wrapped up in a towel.

“Yes, Angel?” I walk up to her.

“Are you okay? You seem like you’re somewhere else? Is it work?”

I shake my head as I place my hands on her hips over the towel. “No, I’m great.” I smile. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Why don’t you go get dressed? I want to take you out this evening.” I kiss her forehead.

“Where are we going?”

“Just a drive.”

She crunches her brows together but then nods.

I take a fast shower then wrap the towel around my waist as I go to get dressed. Not only had she washed all my dirty clothes, but she has also ironed and hung them up. This woman is amazing. I can’t imagine why she is with me.

I throw on my favorite pair of faded blue jeans that have a few small holes in them, with a red t-shirt and a pair of tennis shoes. “Ready to go, Angel!” I call from the kitchen as I pick up my truck keys. I grab a bottle of wine, along with two wine glasses and a corkscrew. I walk over to the hallway closet and grab a blanket, then walk out to the garage to put the stuff in the back seat.

Where is she?

I walk back in the house and find her sitting on the couch. She looks gorgeous as always. She has on a pair of short blue jean shorts with a black and white t-shirt and black heels, and her hair is still in that hot, messy bun on top of her head.

I take a closer look at her face; she looks like she might be crying. I walk toward her and kneel down. “Angel?” I say softly. She doesn’t even blink. I lift my hand up, pushing a stray hair away from her face.

Her body jerks and her eyes lock on mine. “Oh, sorry,” she breaths.

“Are you okay?” I’m worried about her. Something is not right.

She gives me a small smile. “I’m fine. Are you ready?” She stands up and walks away from me, leaving the living room.

I push up off my knees to stand and follow after her, into the garage. She has her back to me, and I watch as she lifts her hands up to her face, wiping tears away. It breaks my heart knowing she is in pain and not knowing why. I’m not going to push her, though. Maybe what I have planned tonight will help her mood.

I reach over to my left and hit the garage door opener as she walks around to the passenger side. She opens up the door and climbs inside before I can even get over to her. The entire drive to the hill she remains silent. I park and she gasps as she looks out the back window at the city.

“It’s beautiful up here,” she says as she looks over the city in amazement.

“Yeah. I used to come up here often when I was in high school.” She slides me a look, telling me she knows exactly why I came up here in high school. Little does she know I have no plan on fucking her here. I just want to lay under the stars with her.

I climb out and go open her door for her. She gets out and walks to the back of the truck so she can look out over the city. “Let me help you.” I pull the tailgate down and lift her on top of it. I go back to the truck and pull out the things I brought and lay them next to her.

“I thought we could have a glass of wine and just relax.” I lay the blanket out in the bed of the truck and then sit down on it. She snuggles up to me as soon as I sit down.

I wrap my arms around her and hold her close to me. I feel her body lightly shake.

“Angel, tell me what’s wrong. Did I do something to upset you?”

“No.” She shakes her head gently. “You did nothing wrong. Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Come on. Let’s lay down.”

She lies down with me, putting her head on my chest as I rub her back. I look up at the dark sky and watch the stars shine, releasing a sigh. Could life get any better than this?

Actually it could. She could be wearing my ring right now.

She already owns my heart.

Samantha

I wish life was this easy. That I could just lay here on his chest forever; have him hold me close forever. I lean my head up to look at him. He has one hand behind his head, and the other is rubbing my back. His eyes are open, and he’s looking up at all the stars. I can’t help but feel special. He might have brought tons of girls up here, but I know he didn’t love them the way he loves me. I have no doubt he loves me. He just doesn’t love me the way I love him.

“Slade,” I say softly.

“Yes, Angel?” He lifts his head to look up at me.

I feel a tear slide down my face. I can’t keep my mom out of my mind. My birthday is in two days, and she’s all I can think about. I’m lucky I’m even out here with him right now. I usually spend the entire week of my birthday bawling my eyes out.

“Why are you crying?” He takes the hand behind his head and wipes the tear from my eye.

“I’m so sorry.” I sit up as more tears fall down.

He sits up in front of me. He pulls my hands away from my face, but I resist him. He has to force them down to where he holds them tightly against his chest. “Don’t apologize, Angel. Just talk to me,” he pleads.

“I’m so sorry.” I can’t quit apologizing. “I know you’ve been busy with work. You don’t need to come home to a distraught girlfriend,” I sob.

He lets go of my hands and pulls me to his chest. “Stop, Angel. You are my life, my main priority. Okay? Don’t worry about me, baby.” he rubs his hands down my back. “Tell me what’s wrong. I’ll fix it,” he promises.

That’s the problem. He
can’t
fix it. The only person who could fix it doesn’t want to.

I pull away from him. “It’s my mom,” I whisper as I look down at my legs. “I know Holly told you my birthday is Friday.” He doesn’t say anything. “The first time I called her was on my birthday. I couldn’t take it anymore.” I shake my head. “I was in such a deep depression, I didn’t even know it was my birthday.” I wipe the tears from my face as I continue to look at my legs. “Courtney showed up the next morning, crying on my doorstep. She thought something had happened to me. I had felt awful for being so careless and putting her through that. Courtney called me every day. I don’t know where I would be without her.”

“Angel...” He places his hands on my face, pulling it up to look at him. “Don’t. Don’t do this to yourself.” His blues eyes sparkle as he looks into mine. My heart feels warm, knowing he is here for me; that he wants to know what’s wrong so he can help me.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He sighs and wipes the tears from my face. He places his forehead on mine and closes his eyes. “I’m sorry your heart is broken, Angel. I wish I could make it whole. I wish I was the one who could take all the pain away.”

“You do,” I whisper as I look at his pained face so close to mine. “Don’t you see? You do.” I pull my head away from his. “You make me feel better. You make me feel something I have never known, and that’s what gets me through the day, Slade.”

He smiles, and it makes me smile. I still can’t tell him I love him. I’m just not ready for that step.

But I’m tired of hiding that fact that I need him.

That he is the only reason I’m breathing right now.

That he can stop my heart with just a look.

That he can make me weak in the knees with just a word.

That he sets my body on fire with a single touch.

I need him in every possible way a person can need someone. He leans down and kisses me. It’s soft and slow, very intimate as he explores my mouth with his tongue. “Thank you,” he says as his lips are still on mine.

“For what?”

“For letting me know what was wrong. Don’t ever think that you can’t.” He leans back, trailing his hands up and down my arms.

I wipe the tears from my eyes. “How about that wine?” I say, making him laugh.

“Whatever Angel wants.” He reaches behind him, grabbing the wine bottle. I hand him the corkscrew. “Thank you.” He pops the cork as I hold the glasses in my hand. I hand him his glass as I look at mine. I watch the wine swirl around in my glass.

“Angel,” he says softly, getting my attention.

I look up at him. “Thank you for tonight.” I look over the city and all the twinkling lights. “It’s beautiful up here.” I take a drink of my wine.

“It is,” he agrees.

“Thank you for yesterday as well,” I smirk at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He tries to hold back a smile as he looks over the city.

I put my hand on his face, pulling it towards me. “I know, Slade.”

He chuckles. “I knew that Holly would fold. She can’t keep secrets.” He shakes his head.

“I don’t agree with how you went about it, but thank you. That was very sweet.” I take a big drink of my wine.

“Did I give you enough?”

He doesn’t think he has given me enough?

“Yes, of course. I even have money to give back to you. It’s in my purse back at the house.”

He shakes his head. “Keep it. Buy yourself another pair of shoes.”

“Slade, I’m not keeping the money. I didn’t even spend half of it.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Keep it,” he repeats.

I sigh, knowing this will get me nowhere. “Thank you. When is your birthday?” I haven’t asked him this question before now because I was worried he’d ask me about mine.
Now that the cat is out of the bag…