Almost 22 years later, Leonardo Xander is at the grim age of 58 and a nicotine addict. Even though he has all the money in the world, he's lost something far more precious- Chelsea. Or maybe ex-Mrs.Xander realized that she deserved better.
When the...
"Yeah?" He turned to me, the ice cream in his hand was beginning to melt by now.
"Why do they fight all the time?"
He sighed and raked a hand through his hair.
"Love isn't perfect all the time, Lucy"
I pondered over what he said and took a big lick of my pista ice cream.
"But once you marry, it's supposed to be happily ever after" I stated matter-of-factly while staring at Mom who was on the phone with Dad. She hadn't been able to focus on me ever since we left home for the amusement park.
"That's why your Dad tells you not to believe in fairytales"
I glanced at him, "When are you leaving for college again?"
"Once spring break is done in a few weeks" He smiled.
"Being twenty is tough, huh?"
He chuckled, "It sure is. Look, the water slide is clearing up. Don't you wanna go?"
"Yes!" I squealed and jumped off the bench.
"Danny and I are going on the water slide" I hurried over to tell Mom. She gave me a thumbs-up and told Danny to keep an eye on me.
"It's gonna be so much fun!" I squeezed his hand tightly and Danny ruffled my hair with a laugh.
After waiting a fairly short time in the queue, it was our turn in the slide and I sat in front of Danny on the tube, with his arm wrapped around my waist. "Make sure to hold on tight and don't jump, okay?" The lifeguard told us and we nodded.
She pushed us into the dark tunnel and I shrieked at the top of my voice.
"Lucy, are you alright?" Danny leaned closer to me, his breath fanning my ponytail. He was such a nice guy.
"This is so fun!" I yelled as the water kept splashing on my face. I could hear him cough and it made me laugh. The tunnel kept twisting and turning till I saw light at the end.
"Danny, let's jump!"
"No what! No! No! Don't-!"
I let out a squeal as our float launched out of the water tunnel. My hands weren't on the tube anymore. It felt like I was flying.
"Lucy!" I heard Mom yell, "Somebody! She can't swim!"
That was when all bliss ended and I crashed into the water.
I really couldn't swim yet. Dad had only taught me halfway.
The water was everywhere.
I could only hear muffled yells around me.
I tried kicking my legs and flailing my arms but nothing worked. It felt like I was being drawn further into the deep pool.
Then, just like some miracle, big arms wrapped around me and scooped me out of the water.
"Danny! Oh, thank god!" I heard my mom shout in relief.
I was coughing and choking on water. My tummy felt so bad like I was going to throw up any moment. Danny laid me by the side of the pool. He squished my stomach with his hands and I vomited more water.
"Mom!" I burst out crying and hugged her tightly. If Danny hadn't saved me, I might have drowned and died. All I wanted was to hug my parents and snuggle in between them.
"Why'd you let go?! You scared the life out of me Lucy! Don't ever do that again, god, my baby!" She pressed me tighter into her arms.
"I want to go home..."
"We'll go now, sweetheart. I'll go get your towel. Keep her near you, Danny" She disappeared into the crowd.
Danny pulled himself out of the pool and wrapped his arms around me, "Hey... Don't cry... It's alright, kids make mistakes sometimes... I've got you, Lucy"
Somehow that made me sob even more and Danny kept wiping the tears off my face. When Mom returned, she wrapped the towel around me. "I can't walk..." I whined in between my sobs.
"I'll carry you" Danny offered with a smile.
He picked me up and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I'll go get the car. Wait by the gate, okay?" Mom kissed my forehead before running off again.
Danny stood there, with his arms around me but I felt guilty.
"Am I too heavy?"
"No, sunshine, you weigh like a feather" He smiled.
"But... But if your big arms are hurting... You can put me down okay?"
"Don't worry" He chuckled.
I went silent while pressing my head against his thumping chest. Danny's heart was beating just as wildly as mine, it scared me.
"A penny for your thoughts?"
"Your heart... It's beating so fast... It's like how dad's heart beats after he comes out of mom's room"
"Right... Your dad's heart beats that fast for different reasons" He chuckled.
"Gosh, is he okay?"
"Yeah" Danny smiled, "You shouldn't bother yourself with it. Your parents are happy"
"I hope so too"
Moments later, I was beginning to feel sleepy. I held onto Danny's neck tighter and made myself comfortable.
"Danny..."
"Hmm?"
"You have a nice chest. It's warm like Dad's"
Danny kissed the top of my head while whispering in a soft voice, "I hope you always stay like this, Lucy"
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