New Enemy or Old Lover (Final book in the "Love or Lust" trilogy)

Chapter 16:

Water sprayed up in my face as we swiftly went past it. I dragged the tips of my fingers on the waters edge, letting them slice through the still water as we went faster and faster. I heard Andy chuckle, and I turned my body to face his, arching a brow.

"What's so funny?" I asked loudly over the roar of the wind. His lips formed a wide smile, and the sun light from the red sun that slowly descended reflected off of his beautiful teeth. His eyes flashed down to mine, and he arched his brows back, "You, silly."

I slapped his cheek, "Hey! Eyes on the road mister, you can cause an accident." At that, Andy let out a chuckle as he shook his head at me.

"With what, a bird?" He questioned, lifting higher in the sky. I rolled my eyes at him as he added, "There is no road in the sky, Madison!" I scoffed at him playfully and nestled myself against his chest as he carried us with the wind, letting his wings take control. The wind blew furiously through my long hair, relaxing my body in his embrace as we soared over the water, Lucif Pier coming slightly into view. Down below us, I could see small fishes coming to the surface, awaiting any food that might descend to the bottom of the lake. I smiled at them.

My eyes scanned over the water as it came closer to us. Andy soon descended from the air in the forest nearby the Pier, landing his feet gently on the grassy floor. I slipped from his grip and let my flip flops sink into the wet grass, shivering at the touch. I spun around to face Andy, who had his back to me. His neck cracked in both directions and I watched as his large wings slowly scrunched together. Slowly but surely, they began to slide back into the slits that they had protruded from, disappearing out of sight. They ruffled under his skin before smoothing out, and his skin began to wrap itself around the long slots, leaving a clear back.

Andy turned to face me, a look of surprise in his eyes as he said, "Oh, I uh thought you'd already be in your way to the Pier.. I was gonna catch up."

"I wanted to walk with you," I said with a smile, extending my hand out to him. He took it with pleasure and tangled our fingers together, kissing the back of my hand as he led me through the forest. Curving on a twisted pathway, my eyes went a bit wide with surprise but I said nothing as he led us off of the trail. We stumbled down a small hill, kicking over ranches and stray rocks before stopping behind Andy as he approached an old rotting oak tree.

I furrowed my brows, "I don't get it."

Andy snagged my free hand and raised it up to the trunk, lacing it against the old bark that now crumbled a bit in my hand. He dragged it up and down, scratching away the dirt and twigs that lingered along it, "Look," He whispered in my ear, pulling my hand away. I held my hand close, a scratching at it as I studied the tree. Where the old wood and dirt once coated, it now revealed an etched note dug deep into the wood of the tree. I reached out, brushing along it once more as I read it;

A+M 1/26/2015 - 8/17/2015

My eyes studied over it, a wave of sympathy and guilt washing over me. I turned back to him, looking up into his eyes as I asked, "W-What.. I don't-"

"It was from the day we began dating to the day I lost you," Andy said softly, his voice a little shaken. "I thought I lost you forever..." That brought a small smile to my face, and I leaned over, kissing his lips briefly.

"C'mon, the party's starting."

///

"You came!" Monica screeched over the loud roar of the crowd. I nodded my head, smiling at her as I switched through the crowd of people. Monica pulled me in for a tight hug, spilling her beer onto the Pier floor.