Shark Strike Survivor

Chapter 21

"Larken, why don't you head out now, to spend some time with Chandler," Sonya says from behind me, making me turn slightly to face her with a questioning look.

"But I still have two and a half hours left of my shift," I remind her with a frown as I drop my hands from behind Chandler's neck.

"I know, but you have been extremely busy and stressed lately with school and your brother, and you need some alone time with Chandler," she says with a soft smile at Chandler and me.

"Are you sure?" I tentatively ask, still battling with myself because I want to spend the time with my amazing boyfriend, but I need the hours to make sure my rent is paid.

"Yes, I am sure," she says with a gentle nod of her head. "Oh, and you are still gonna get paid, and do not argue with me, or I will have Samuel tell you this, too."

Grinning broadly at her, I quickly take my apron off to hang it on its spot, grab my cell and wallet from the safe under the counter, and rush around the counter to Chandler. He has been widely grinning at me the entire time. He takes my left hand into his right hand as we leave the cafe, and I call out my thanks to Sonya. Climbing into his truck, he drives us to wherever he wants to take us.

"Where are we going, not that it matters to me?" I ask after we have been on the road less than a minute.

"We, my dear Larken, are going to the grocery store to purchase food and drink. We are gonna buy whatever your heart desires, and then we are gonna head to your apartment, and once there, we are gonna eat, spend some time together before you need to start your school work. When that happens, I will hug and kiss you goodbye, and leave you, so I am not a distraction."

"You are absolutely amazing, do you know that?" I sigh happily as I reach over to hold his hand tightly in mine.

"Thanks, love, but that is you," Chandler smiles with a light squeeze of my hand, pulling into the grocery store parking lot, and parking. "Come on."

We climb from the truck, and walk hand in hand across the parking lot, and into the store with Chandler grabbing a yellow hand basket for our goodies.

"What should we get?"I question as we wander down the first aisle, and look at what is available.

"Um, how about a frozen pepperoni pizza, sodas, and some sort of snacks?" he answers with a grin when I return.

"Sounds good to me," I say, and find a snack that I want, a package of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers.

Placing the package into the package, Chandler gives me a soft chuckle, and a smile of appreciation of my choice. By the time we reach the checkout lanes, we have the goldfish crackers, two 2-liter sodas, one large frozen pepperoni pizza, and a large package of double stuffed Oreos.

"Alright, let's head to your place, get our grub on, and spend some time together," Chandler says with a large grin as we walk the parking lot to his truck.

We talk the entire drive to the apartment, and by the time we are entering my home, my stress level is starting to diminish slightly. I hope that by the time I start my school work later, it is at a more manageable level.

"Thanks for being such an amazing boyfriend," I whisper to him as we empty the bags after I turned on the oven to preheat it for the pizza.

"Anytime, baby," he assures, pulling me by the hips to his body into his own body, and gives me a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Twenty minutes later, we are sitting on the couch together, eating our pizza with our snacks, and sodas while watching an episode of 'FRIENDS.' When we finish eating, and before I can stand to clear away our dirty dishes and garbage. When we settle back on the couch, I am straddling his hips while he is lying on his back with his head against a throw pillow that is against the arm of the couch, and we are lying chest to chest.

"Rest for a little longer, and if you fall asleep, I will make sure to wake you, so you can start on your school work," he encourages softly.

"But I want to be awake with you," I mumble in a small protest, despite wiggling slightly for a comfortable position with him as I yawn with closed eyes.

"We still are having our time together, baby," he whispers in assurance, rubbing his warm, calming palms over my back, lulling me further toward sleep.

"Mmhh," I mumble while falling fast asleep, my body becoming pliant against him.

Sometime later, Chandler is waking me with soft kisses on the top of my head, his hands gently rubbing where he can reach on my body while he softly tells me to wake up.

"Don't wanna, too comfy," I mumble, rubbing my face against his chest in an attempt to fall back asleep.

His chest vibrates with quiet laughter, murmuring; "So precious, but you need, too, so you can start on your school work.so you can graduate at the end of next semester."

"Fine, be logical about this," I grumble, lifting my head to rest my chin on his chest, blinking sleepily at him with a small, lazy smile.

"You are extremely beautiful, inside and out," he murmurs, causing me to blush deeply.

"Thank you, baby, but so are you," I murmur, lifting my head slightly to kiss him on the chin before settling my chin back against his chest.

"I should head out now," Chandler gently says as we stand in front of the door. "I will text you later tonight to see how you are doing, okay?"

"Okay, please text me," I reply, needing the assurance that he will.

"I will, baby, I promise," he smiles, kissing my lips softly before leaving the apartment, and I shut the door behind him once I can no longer see him.