The Beginning of Us (296 page)

"Shut up asshole, can't you see I’m in pain here?" I say as I lay my head down on the cool counter.

"Look I warned you that those guys were trouble. They got you just like they wanted to and now you have to pay for it all weekend." He says with belly laugh.

Ugh you fucker, just wait. Next time you are hungover I will be playing the cymbals through the house.

"So what is on the agenda for you today?" I ask.

"Well if you must know I’m going to head on over to Charlie's in a bit. Chloe finally scheduled the movers to come and get the last of her things. Since Char doesn't fly in till later I said I would go over and lend a hand."

"Hmm, how nice of you." I say in a sarcastic tone.

"So you want me to let you in on a little secret?" Derrick asks with a devilish smirk.

"I don't know, do I?" I spit at him after taking a nice long sip of my coffee.

"Well let me just say that it would be cool if you were to be at Charlie's apartment around 6:30 tonight. I would also suggest having a bouquet of wildflowers and take out from the Chinese place down from her apartment warm and ready to eat." He pats me on the back and walks out of the house.

"Wait, where the hell are you going and what was all that cool shit, flowers, and Chinese all about?" I ask.

I haven’t a clue what just happened there, but I think Derrick is setting me up. Or does he know something I don't.

Char has been away since Monday and all I can think about is how I walked out of this same apartment door a week ago today.

I didn't see Derrick after he walked out this morning and I have a feeling he is avoiding me on purpose. Being Char's best friend and the boyfriend to her sister I’m certain he has some insider knowledge on what is going through Char's mind right now.

I did exactly as he said and show up to Char's place at 6:30 sharp with a bouquet of wild flowers, Chinese takeout piping hot, and a bottle of White Merlot.

I glance down at my watch, it’s 6:42 and I hear the shutting of a car door.

This is it man, don't fuck it up again with her. Then the thought of rejection smacks me in the head and I’m troubled with the thought that maybe she doesn't want to be with me and I shouldn’t be standing on her doorstep with flowers, food, and wine.

Oh shit here she comes, it’s do or die time, there’s no turning back now.

Chapter 15

CHAR

"Make sure to give us a call tomorrow so we can set up a dinner date with you and Derrick." Mom calls as I exit the car.

"God Mom, when you say it like that you make us out to be the happy couple." I reply with a heavy sigh.

"Oh you know what I mean honey, no one would ever imagine you and Derrick as a couple." She says with a laugh and covers her face like that was the most embarrassing thing she could ever think.

"Thanks Mom. I will talk to Derrick and call you to set a night for us to come over."

"Alright baby girl, let me help you carry these bags to your apartment. You didn't leave with this many, what happened." Dad says as he grabs three out of the five bags he just pulled out of the trunk.

"Thanks Daddy that would be great, but you know I can handle this on my own. The door to my apartment is just around the corner. And as far as all these bags go, Chloe insisted I go shopping with her. How could I say no to shop?" I say to him with a wide smile and my big brown eyes looking up to his.

"Alright little miss independent, go on and carry all these bags all by yourself. Don't forget to call us. After spending all week with you I am going to miss not seeing you every day."

"Oh Daddy, you are such a big softy. I promise I will call you guys tomorrow. Now go get Mom home so she can unpack all the fun stuff she bought you two in LA."

"Love you baby girl."

"Love you too Daddy."

I prove my point to my father as he watches me load two bags on each shoulder, one bag on top of another, and pull the two with wheels along each of my sides.

"See I told you I got it." I look at him with a long wink and turn to walk toward my apartment.

I’m exhausted from a day of flying and all I can think about is tossing these bags into the living room, kicking off my shoes, and taking a nice long soak in the tub.

The thought of my evening plans has me in such a daze I don't even realize who is standing or should I say slouching next to my doorway.

I blink my eyes twice and do a double take. Am I dreaming? Is this a hallucination?

"Riley?"

"Babe."

"What? Why?"

"I’m sorry this was a bad idea, I shouldn't have come." He says and begins to stand.

"No, that's not it at all. I’m just surprised to see you." I say as I walk closer to him.

"A good surprise or a bad surprise?" He asks in a low whisper.

In this moment he looks so sad, as if he has been waiting his whole life for this moment. I have two choices and I need to make a rapid decision. Either I tell him a good surprise and jump into his arms or I say a bad surprise and push him away again.

I think about this for about 2.3 seconds and I drop my bags and move toward him.

I hear him drop something too and his arms reach out for me.

His touch, oh god his touch. As he closes his arms around me, I feel a slight shiver run from my head to my toes.

"I missed you. Or was that just weird to say out loud?" I say and feel like an ass.

"I’ve missed you so much this week Char. You are all I thought about, I barely slept." He replies and squeezes me much tighter.

"I’m sorry for acting the way I did last week. There is so much I need to explain to you and then maybe it will make sense."

"Char you don't owe me any explanation. I’m just so happy you are here in my arms and not telling me to take a hike."

"I promise never to tell you take a hike again Riley."

"Perfect, now let's get you inside cause I brought dinner."

"You brought me dinner? I don't understand after what happened last week. How could you even come back here?"

"Let's just say that a little birdie gave me a few tips and informed me of your favorite things to bring around 6:30. So here I am, with all your favorite things."

"Right now Riley, I think you are my favorite thing. Let's get inside."

He releases me from his arms and I feel loss of comfort. It's as if my body misses his touch.

I shove my arm into my giant purse and pull out my keys.

"Here let me."

Riley takes my keys, unlocks the door, and somehow toggles all five of my bags. He has something else in his arms, but I haven't a clue what favorites of mine he has brought with him.

"Where should I put your luggage?" He asks as he struggles not to topple over and drop everything in his arms.

"Just set them down next to the couch. It looks like Chloe got the movers to come and get the rest of her things. I can actually see the floor in here again." I say as I clap my hands in excitement.

"Yea, Derrick came over today to let them in. Was that ok?" He asks with a raised brow...too cute.

"Yes, he text me and asked if he could let them in. He has his own key so I knew it wouldn't be a problem."

I walked around the apartment to turn on some lights and I noticed Riley coming into the kitchen with two large brown paper bags.

"What you got there?" I ask and peek onto the table.

"Like I told you earlier, I brought all your favorites." He says as he gives me a wink and a beautiful smile.

"My oh my Riley, I should warn you. I love surprises." I say as I look deep into his hazel eyes.

"Good to know." He replies whiles he looks down at me and unloads the bags.

The first thing he pulls out is a bouquet of wild flowers...my favorite flowers. Bonus points!

The second thing he pulls out is a bottle of White Merlot...my favorite wine. Bonus points!!

The third thing he pulls out is two containers of take-out from the Chinese restaurant down the block...my favorite food. OMG Bonus point overload!!!

"Riley, you got all of this for me?"

"Well no it's all for me." He says with a serious smirk and a loud laugh.

And then he digs his hand back in the bag and pulls something else out.

"Here these are for you."

He puts his hand above mine, opens it, and out fall two fortune cookies.

"These are for me?"

"Yep. Open them and see what our fortunes hold. If they are good, then we will eat." He says with a giggle.

"And what if our fortunes are bad?" I say with a small pout on my face.

"Then we will just throw them away and eat anyway. It's a win win situation."

God I think I could love this man.

RILEY

As Char approaches me, her arms full of luggage my heart falls to my feet. I am more nervous than I think I’ve ever been. But it all changes for the better when she comes into my arms. I watch as she approaches me her eyes glued to mine.

She is beautiful and not just in a pretty way, but the way she carries herself. Char is acting confident, more so than she had been last week when I saw her. I am in awe of her. Her long dark brown hair is pulled high into a pony tail. Her dark brown eyes are telling me she needs me and her smile that is spread from ear to ear says she is happy I am here.

The smell of her shampoo and the feel of her touch does things to me like I could only ever imagine. I love the way her body feels against mine and could not be any happier than I am in this very moment.

All the feelings I felt for her this past week meant something to me, something I’ve not felt in a long time if ever at all. And I think I may be lucky enough for her to feel the same way toward me.

We share a brief moment telling one another how much we missed each other this past week. Char promises me that she will never kick me to the curb again, thank god.

After I give her the surprises I brought over, thanks to Derrick, we decide to sit down and have a chat. I’m hopeful that she is willing to give us a chance and anxious for her to share all the reasons she is willing to give us a go.

"Babe?"

I anticipate her to respond, but she is just staring at me. She looks like she has something on her mind, yet doesn't know how to say it. I wonder what is going through that pretty little head of hers.

"Ya know what? I got to tell ya that this time last week I hated the whole babe thing." She says looking down at the ground.

Is she upset that I called her babe? Is she embarrassed?

"Ok, and now, how do you feel about it?" I ask her pulling her face to look at me.

"To be honest, I like it. But I have to ask. Do you call all girls babe?"

I start to laugh as she asks the question, she looks almost afraid of what my answer is going to be.

"No Char, I do not call all girls babe. I save that for the ones I really like and want to know better."

"I see." She says as she scrunches up her cute little nose.

"Char I want you to know that I was attracted to you the moment I heard your little raspy voice provoke me at the mini-mart. Who knew such a wee little girl could be so aggressive."

And then she punches my left arm.

"Ouch, what the hell was that for?" I say as I hold onto my left arm pretending she really hurt me.

"I just need to show you that I’m a force to be reckoned with. Don't mess with me Riley." She says and her cheeks begin to blush a light shade of red.

God she is amazing and if I wait another second to kiss her I’m going to freak the hell out. So I decide to take matters into my own hands and make the first move. To hell with taking things slow, I lost an entire week with her and I am not wasting a second more.

"Come here babe." I say to her in a deep and demanding tone.

I pull her onto my lap and hold her tight to my body. I can't stand not to be touching this woman, she is all I want in this moment. And it’s time to show her just how much she means to me.

I put both hands on either side of her face and pull her in close to me. I tilt her face so that her big brown eyes are looking into mine.

I pull her lips to mine and my body explodes with desire. I can feel a slight tingle down in my toes leading all the way up to the tips of my hair. As I kiss her more deeply she lets out a slight moan and I feel like I’m about to go nuts.

I push my lips a little bit harder against hers and she opens them just enough for me to slide my tongue past her lips and against hers.

Our kiss is so full of longing and we are so intertwined that I have to pull away for a second to take a deep breath.

"Holy shit." She mutters.

"Fuck me." I reply and I realize what I had just said.

Char lets out a quiet giggle and slides herself from my lap.

"Well I sure as hell did not expect that." She tells me while fixing the ponytail I apparently undid.