The Beginning of Us (314 page)

I giggle at him and his level of openness with me.

"I would say we worked ourselves up a bit of a hunger. Why don't we head out to the kitchen and get some coffee and something to eat."

I see a pout come across his face.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I thought we were going to stay in bed all day and do nothing but have our way with each other."

"Good god Riley. Are you ready to go for another round?"

"Baby! When I am lying next to you naked I could be ready in no time."

"Yea ok stud, let's go eat so that I don't pass out." I say shaking my head at him. "Some of us need food for energy. Not everyone has the stamina you do."

"Ok!" He says lifting me from the bed and carrying me out to the kitchen.

"Um-mm, you think I could put some clothes on for this?"

"Nope." He says smiling like a sly fox.

"Well you might like to walk around completely naked all day, but what if I spill coffee on myself. That could be a big problem which could lead to no intimate contact...for days."

Riley lets out a gasp and his mouth drops open.

"Then hurry up and get your ass dressed. I can't go without any Char contact...for days."

I giggle as I make my way back to my bedroom. I quickly put on a bra, panties, and long tee-shirt. Being the good girlfriend that I am I grab up his boxer briefs and pair of mesh shorts for him.

Time to cook us some breakfast; I need to make sure we are well fed for the day we have planned.

RILEY

I could not be happier than I am in this moment. Today has been fucktastic. Char and I’ve done nothing all day but have sex and eat.

Some would say that it’s impossible, but with this woman I just can't seem to get enough. I’ve made the decision to halt our sex-fest for the day and take her out for a nice dinner. After all she has given me a few amazing blow-jobs today and some remarkable sex.

"Ok babe, you look great let's get a move on." I tell her while I wait for her to get dressed.

"Come on Riley, this is like our first official date. I need to look amazing."

I come up behind her in the bathroom. I pull her hair into my hands and place it over her right shoulder leaving the left one bare.

"I think you’re amazing all the time. There’s no need to primp for me." I tell her while kissing from her shoulder up to the top of her ear.

"Stop that." She giggles.

"If you don't hurry the hell up I am going to say the fuck with dinner and I will eat you up myself."

"Riley as much as I love having sex with you, if you take me right now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to move tomorrow."

"Great, I was hoping for a repeat of today...again all day tomorrow." He says wagging his eyebrows in a sexy gesture.

"God you are insatiable."

"That's right baby, now let's go!" He shouts slapping me on the ass.

We finally get ourselves out of the apartment and into the Jeep. Char insists we don't do anything too fancy. She suggests for us to go to one of the pubs downtown. Since living in Boston I haven't really had much of a chance to tour downtown, so I thought this would be a good idea.

Callahan's is the place we decide to stop and I’m immediately in awe of the sports paraphernalia around the pub. The walls are filled with Red Sox decor with a little Irish flare here and there. This is a place I could call home forever.

"You are like a kid in a candy shop." Char laughs.

"This is amazing, I feel like a kid. I’ve been a Red Sox fan since I was a little kid. The closest I’ve ever gotten to see the Red Sox is the television in the living room. Being this close to Fenway is unreal."

"Well then I guess you will be happy to know that I got you a little something." She says taking a small box and envelope out of her purse.

"What is this? It isn't my birthday." I say unsure why she would be giving me a gift.

"Well let me start by saying that you’ve made me the happiest girl in the whole wide world in a short amount of time. I never thought I could fall in love again. I dreamed of having my happily ever after like Chloe and Derrick and now here you are in front of me." She says tears swelling in her eyes.

"Oh Char. Baby don't cry." I tell her wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I am so happy Riley and I don't know how this is all possible. We’ve only known each other for a few weeks and already I can't stand the thought of being away from you."

"I know baby, I feel the same way." I want to make sure she knows I am in this for the long haul with her.

She gets out a tissue and dabs at her face, careful not to mess the makeup she spent hours applying.

"Any who, I wanted to give this to you. Open it."

She hands me the box and envelope.

"Which should I open first?" I ask weighing both in each hand.

"Um, let's see, how about the box." She says clapping her hands with excitement.

"Ok!"

I begin to remove the paper from the box and inside is a ball. But this is not just any ball. This ball has signatures on it from the entire Red Sox baseball team.

"Holy fuck Char, do you realize what this is?" I ask knowing very well she does.

"Of course I do, now open the envelope." She demands.

"I am a little star struck at the moment, give me a second."

I inspect the ball and it has every single player's autograph. This is fucking amazing. I’ve never received a gift like this before.

I tear into the envelope not ready to see what’s inside. I pull out five tickets to next week's game.

"Holy shit Char, this is unbelievable babe."

I get out of my chair and make my way over to Char's. I pick her up and twirl her around. I can't believe she went and did this.

"You have no idea how excited I am right now." I tell her kissing her all over her face.

She giggles that sexy noise and says, "Oh I can imagine."

"I can't wait to get you home and thank you properly. You have just made me the happiest guy in all of Boston."

"Well I highly doubt that, but I appreciate your enthusiasm." I say with a chuckle.

Chapter 39

Sunday September 2, 2012

CHAR

Last night was a little off after we got home from dinner. Riley got a mysterious call and didn't really mention much about it when he got off.

Instead he just suggested that we call it a night and snuggled up in my bed.

This morning I was woken by a loud noise. Not sure what it was I got up and saw that Riley was gone.

After a few moments of panic I discovered where he is and what the noise was coming from outside.

Now I’m doing something I never thought I would.

This very moment I’m sitting on the back of a Harley, which could be stolen, setting off into the sunset with an amazing guy. His strong muscular form is driving and the vibrations of the motor shiver through our bodies.

I recall the past few years I’d spent with my ex-boyfriend, Marc. I close my eyes and rest my chin on this man’s back. It’s easy to remember the heartache and the pain of loneliness. I can still sense the tears I shed for Marc. My ex never cared for me the way I loved him. I was in love with Marc for years; he played my family and me for fools. Marc stole my heart and stomped on it the day I found him in bed with my best friend Natalie. That day I lost Marc and I lost a huge part of me as well. I told myself I wouldn’t give my heart to another man again.

The wind ripping through us feels cool against my body and it’s tangling through my thick, wavy, brown hair. I scan my eyes looking along his powerfully built chest and see my arms wrapped around his waist for fear that I may fall. The mere thought of falling in love scared me for too long.

My eyes move over his broad left shoulder and I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the side mirror. The twinkle in my big-brown eyes and the smile across my face bring out an emotion as if I’m a little girl just waking up on Christmas morning.

I have a sense of freedom that I haven't experienced in a long time. I never imagined emotions this strong would consume me again.

The past few weeks are nothing I ever imagined. This man in front of me is the one who allows me to be me. He loves me for the person I am, not the woman he wants me to be.

Riley turns into a little restaurant along the side of the road. We’ve been driving for about an hour or so and I really have no clue where we are or whose bike just got us here.

He hops off the motorcycle with the grace of an avid rider. I reach for his hand and he helps me get off without knocking the whole thing over.

"So, what did you think?" He asks looking at me and my now wind-blown hair.

"Well, nothing at all like I expected." I say with a confused expression.

"Why are you giving me that look babe?" He asks.

"Ha, I got to tell you Riley. I’m bit out of sorts here. I wake up this morning and you’re gone, then out of nowhere you show up with a motorcycle in the front of my apartment."

"Oh that, yea I can see where that would be a bit odd." He laughs and kicks at the dirt along the parking lot.

I move toward him and take his trembling hands in mine.

"Come on Riley, fill me in. I mean don't get me wrong the ride was fun, but what’s going on here."

"Ok well the motorcycle was one of the things Emma found in the storage lot. It was pretty much the only thing I wanted, but didn't know how to get back to Boston. Initially Emma called a guy and he said he could have it here by this afternoon, but lucky enough he delivered it last night to Derrick's place."

"So this is yours?" I ask walking around the bike.

"It is now, this bike is ours!" He says with such excitement in his voice.

"This is great, its amazing Riley. So it was your Dad's? Did you know he rode a Harley?"

"Nah, neither Emma nor I did. That’s why I wanted it so bad. It’s like they had a secret life and now you and I get to live it again for them."

"You know I’ll follow where ever you go babe. I like the idea that we can just hop on the bike and ride off into the sunset."

"Kind of like we just did?" He asks with a huge grin.

"Yea!" I giggle.

"Char, I have a feeling we will be escaping a lot into the sunset looking into our future."

RILEY

Last night Derrick called to let me know that the motorcycle had been delivered a day early. After Char had given me my surprise, I wanted to be able to do the same for her today.

Leaving her this morning to come get the bike was hard; especially when she looked so beautiful and peaceful sleeping in her bed.

But I would never take back a moment of my journey that has gotten me to this point of my life with Char.

We took a nice long drive today into the sunset with Dad's bike. Now as my girl is behind me on our way back to Boston I feel a huge sense of relief flood through my body.

A lot of things have been thrown at me over the past few months and it all is starting to make sense.

My parent’s death was all too sudden and I miss both of them every day that they are gone. But even when they were here with us, they still led a life that we didn’t know that much about.

I don't know how or when they would’ve told me about signing the business over to me. I don't really understand why they kept it from me and Emma either.

Then there is the bike and the boat. Who would’ve thought my conservative parents were Harley folk, surely not I.

The few things I gave them while they were alive were not nearly enough to thank them for all that they provided to me. One thing is for certain that they loved and supported me more than I could ever deserve and for that I am grateful.

If it was not for their death and our loss I would never have met the love of my life. I may not have ever known that I had a business. I may never have been able to take Char for a ride on this motorcycle.

I now know, better than anyone that everything happens for a reason.

My reason for moving to Boston wasn’t to meet an incredible woman, but I did and she has changed my life for the better.

No matter what, Char is my future.

No matter what, I need Char in my life.

No matter what, I cannot live without Char's touch.

Epilogue

Three Months Later

"Jesus Christ Char, how much shit did you have stored in that little one bedroom apartment?" Derrick asks with a pout.

"Let's get a move on it Wendy the Whiner!" Daddy says pushing past Derrick with a chair in hand. 

"Look pal you’re the one that offered to help us move, so you have no one to blame but yourself." Riley says while passing Derrick by with an arm load of boxes.