Unknown

Chapter 29

"Can we go to your place?" She asked, breaking the silence.

"I would, but a friend of mine is staying there. He had a fight with his wife and asked me if he could stay there. He was supposed to be gone already. He said he would be leaving tomorrow."

"Oh, why didn't you mention this?"

"I guess I forgot, it's not a big deal. If he wasn't there I would've offered you the place for you to stay until I came back."

"Where are you going to stay?"

"At my place, he can sleep on the couch."

She looked disappointed. "I was really hoping to spend the night with you."

"Me too, you have no idea. But don't worry, we'll have many nights together."

"So, where are you taking me?"

"I was thinking we could go back to the beach. Nice night to just walk and talk."

"Okay." She said as they drove in silence.

When they got there, he quickly got out of the car and went and opened her door. "Now, come here. I need a hug from you." He said, opening his arms to her as she ran towards them. They stood there for a few minutes just holding each other and kissing. "I needed this. I missed you so much." He said as he broke the kiss.

"Me too, you have no idea." She said as he grabbed her hand and started walking towards the beach.

"So, are you going to tell me what was going on with your parents today?" He said as they reached the shore and sat down. He padded the spot next to him and pulled her down.

"As I was leaving my father was coming back home and he started asking questions about where I was going and with whom. I said I was going out with a friend and he freaked out saying my only friend, Patrice, had moved. That I didn't have any friends, then he grabbed my arm real hard. My mother came out and joined the discussion." She said, playing with the hem of her skirt. "I finally said I was meeting my boyfriend."

"And what happened?"

"All hell broke loose." She said laughing. "My father prohibited me in other words from going out with you until they approve of you. They wanted me to tell you to leave and come back at a later time they agreed to, so you could call on me."

"Wow. Didn't know it was going to be so hard to date you. They do know that you're an adult, right?"

"That's what I told them. I would like you to meet them, though. I know they will like you."

"Yeah, we can plan something. Maybe I can take them out to eat or something."

"That sounds nice."

"The place I picked you up doesn't look like a dump."

"Oh, I need to tell you." She said, grabbing his arm. "Yesterday after work, my mother called my uncle and told him to take me to those apartments you picked me up from."

"You live there now? I feel much better then, knowing that you're safer."

"Yes, and that guy that owned the place, he got raided by the police and got arrested."

"No way! That's great, not for him though." He said as he put his arm around her. "Hey, come here." He said pulling her in front of him until she was kneeling. She looked at his face. He was really serious.

"Why so serious? Oh my God, you're breaking up with me! You brought me here to the beach so I wouldn't cause a scene at a public place." She said getting up and he pulled her back down.

"Hey." He said, grabbing her face. "What makes you think that? I came back from Maine as soon as I could because I couldn't stand to be one more day away from you. I just need to tell you something."

"What is it? You're worrying me."

"I know it hasn't been that long since we started dating. But I can't get you out of my mind. It's like you have me under your spell. You're all I think about."

"That's so sweet. I feel the same way."

"What I'm trying to say it's... I love you. You don't have to say it back. I just wanted you to know how I feel."

She kissed him hard. "I knew Landon for so long before we even said I love you, and he never made me so happy as you make me."

"So, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I love you too!" She said as she put her arms around his neck and they kissed.