Song for the beginning:
Chapter 4
Tessa
Hands.
They're a simple and overlooked part of a person.
They usually go unnoticed by me. Only entering my awareness during the occasion handshake or passing gesture.
But for some reason right now I feel hyper aware of Robert's hands.
The length of his fingers, the tone and even texture of his skin as he now confidently moves to hold mine in his, as we walk at an easy pace through the park.
His hands are soft and thick, his palms heavy in mine, and slightly clammy.
They are nice hands, don't get me wrong. And I find that I am reminding myself of that as his thumb moves softly over mine as we walk. Trying my best to ignore the impulse to pull away.
This is good. This is expected. This is moving on.
But Everything about his hands feel different from Hardin's.
And I'm not thinking of Hardin. Not tonight.
I can't think of Hardin.
Not the way his hands somehow felt electric every time they touched me. Or the way his long thin fingers would draw circles on my skin wherever he found contact.
And I am definitely not thinking of the rough feel of his skin on mine, or the veins that moved over the tops of his hand like rivers, splitting off in branches before following up his forearm.
The very same arms that watched tensing and releasing rhythmically as he expertly used those same long fingers on me.
Okay, so I'm definitely thinking about Hardin then.
I realize my breaths have sped up slightly with his memory, and I wouldn't be surprised if Robert can feel my pulse quicken under his grip.
The look he gives me tells me he has, and that he is oblivious to the actual cause. Probably assuming it is all a reaction to his touch.
And I feel guilt wash over me.
I have to stop thinking about him.
Robert leans over to me slowly, his lips moving closer to my ear as he smiles and whispers a quick " Come here beautiful" before pulling me to him gently, moving his arm around my shoulder, and into his warmth.
I blush slightly and I don't know if it's a reaction the closeness, or the images that still linger in my mind. I look away, unsure of what to say, and I'm relieved when I hear familiar music off in the distance. The notes bending softly over the trees up ahead.
" It must be right up there." I say aloud. Returning my attention to Robert, who squeezes my shoulder in response before we pick up our pace slightly. Making our way down the tree lined pathway.
When we finally reach our destination, I smile at the sight. The wide open lawn is speckled with people, lawn chairs and blankets fragmenting the green of the grass. A large screen up ahead. The iconic chase scene projected across it letting me know that the film has just started. The familiar dramatic score filling the air. Over the cityscape behind the screen I see the sun has almost set, and the incoming night is suffused with bluish light.
YOU ARE READING
After New York
Romance"...Six months since she found my manuscript and kicked me out of her and Landon's apartment... The morning after I had made love to her, leaving her taste still clear on my tongue as I stood alone on the street outside her flat desperately calling...
