She kissed the scars on his skin.

Chapter 27

We stand there for a few moments, just gazing into each other's eyes. I told him and he didn't freak out and run away, like I thought he might. I mean, I hoped he wouldn't but past experiences haven't been great for me. He loves me too. The ugly duckling. Although he proved me wrong on that one too. I'm now the swan. And I once heard that when a swan finds his or her mate, they stay together forever. Could that be us? In a sense, when Tony came into my life, he was sort of an ugly duckling. All swollen and bruised and stitched up and with the care he got he became a swan again. Then he showed me love and I became a swan. So many swans! I start laughing at my thoughts, making Tony jump.
"Are you ok?" he says.
"I've got you. Believe me, I'm more than ok" I say back, grinning. He kisses me again and my heart rate increases at his touch. I smile again his lips and pull him after me towards the exit.
We reach his car and we climb in.
"Where to next, m'lady" he says, jokingly.
"Food. I'm hungry" I say in a funny voice.
"You sounded just like Mike then" he tells me.
"He's so skinny yet he eats like a horse."
I laugh and within minutes we've pulled up outside a small seafront cafe.
I have got my appetite back now Tony's back in my life but I'm still really careful as I never want to be the fat girl again. I choose a chicken salad and water and Tony picks a pasta dish. He has hold of my hand across the small table and I can't keep the smile off my face. Out of all the people in the world, all the beautiful girls out there, he wants me. I want to scream with happiness, scream from the rooftops that this gorgeous man wants me to be his. I think Tony thinks I've lost the plot because I just can't stop grinning. It appears to be contagious because neither can he. The waitress brings over our food and drinks and smiles at the sight of us.
"That's the nicest thing I've seen so far today. There's not enough love in this world but you two are on track to change that" she says, smiling. I blush and Tony laughs, squeezing my hand lightly.
We eat our meals while we watch the world go by through the window. The dog walkers, the joggers, the mums with strollers.
Tony takes me back to mine so I can shower before work. He's offered to drive me there despite my protests about it only being a 10 minute walk.
"Shh" he whispers, putting his finger gently on my lips.
"You're my girlfriend and I want to look after you."
I grin again at his words. Girlfriend. I never thought any person would be saying that about me, let alone this beautiful man.