A Story To Tell | Book 1

.13.

"You wanna talk about it?"

I really didn't want to, but I did owe him somewhat of an explanation as to why I had him getting up out of his bed to come way to Orlando to pick me up at his expense. I'd be wrong not to say a word.

"Well, what started out as a good ride, it ended in disaster and I honestly wanted to escape it. It's the worst day of my life." I say, almost damn near close to crying. I had to hold back.

"You didn't go up to Orlando with friends, did you?" Bruce asked me, sounding a bit concerned. I looked over at him and sighed, giving him the answer to his question. "I told you to leave them lames alone, didn't, I?" He chuckled a little. "Don't worry. It's gonna be a'ight."

"I'm not so sure everything is gonna be a'ight, but at least he told me the truth to everything and the real reason why he asked me to come." I say, copying him by putting an emphasis on "a'ight".

"Man, fuck him. Any man that would hurt a woman isn't a man at all. They're little boys. And you're too beautiful to be hurt. That's why I don't have a problem doing these types of things for you. I just wish you'd open your eyes and see that I really do like you, Tereny. I really want to try and pursue something with you."

Although Bruce jokes a lot, hearing him say this, the tone of his voice was too serious and lacking the humor. I sighed a little and crossed my arms. I felt him touch my hand, but I didn't yank my hand away. I allowed for him to intertwine our hands together.

With his touch, I felt safe. But almost too vulnerable.

"Aw shit, who am I kidding?" I say, taking my hand back.

"What's wrong?" Bruce asked, pulling his car onto the East Palatka riverside. The lights from the bridge wasn't bright enough for us to see much, but it didn't scare Bruce away.

"Bruce, I'm just getting out of something. And us just doing this, it just proves how vulnerable I am. And I don't want to base my feelings off of a broken heart. I'm sorry and I'll make sure to pay you back for the gas you wasted coming to get me."

"Oh no, Tereny, it's not a waste of time." Bruce said to me, cutting the light on in the inside of his car so that we could see each other better. "Tereny, I want you. And I'm not going to stop trying to pursue you until I have you. I want to be the one to show you what I'm capable of."

Just staring into his eyes, the whole mood just changed. It almost felt as if, at that exact moment, Bruce was actually being so serious. He gave me the same look Tray had given me years ago when he saw me for the first time in a while. And for that moment, it had me feeling great about myself. To have another man wanting me. It felt too good to be true.

And the stare that we gave each other, it just made the light brighter. It just felt too right. My body was yearning for Bruce. And although I thought he was too young for me, in that moment, I didn't see him as a boy. I saw him as a man.

Before I could say or do anything else, Bruce had leaned into me and kissed my lips. I didn't refuse. I couldn't refuse. I wanted him just as bad as he wanted me.

I hate to admit it, but I've been waiting for his kiss. The last time we shared a kiss, it felt so right. And now that we're sharing another, it felt just the same. It felt as if this was meant to happen. And I wasn't sure if it was just me being vulnerable, or me actually falling from him from first glance or what, but I just didn't want this moment to end.

Bruce started to rub on my thigh as we connected. The way he touched and grabbed onto my body had me feeling as if he was trying to lift me up from my seat, so I obliged with the motion of his hands.