Last Love

Chapter 25

I see a dark, broad figure standing in shorts and a black t-shirt at the shore. I stop running and take my bun out and let my long curls blow freely in the tropical breeze.

I speak when I'm directly behind him. "Hi."

He turns around and smiles at me. "I thought you weren't gonna' show."

I shrug. "I'm here, aren't I?"

"Do you wanna' sit down? I brought a blanket." I nod and watch his muscular arms as he lays out the blanket for us. I sit down, angling my legs like a mermaid so Nate can't see up my dress.

"You look really pretty." He says eyeing me up and down. He's so polite- he doesn't let his eyes linger even though I sorta wish they did.

"What did you want to talk about, Nate?"

He sighs. "I want to convince you that what we feel for each other I genuine."

"Nate, we need to be adults about this. We both need to find people that are closer to our own age. People love enough not to hurt."

"Our ages shouldn't matter! There are plenty of girls who date guys that are four years older then them. We don't hurt each other because there isn't enough love. We hurt one another because we are so fucking in love it makes us crazy.  "

"We need to stop postponing the inevitable, Nate. We were doomed from the start."

"Kate I am so in love with you. Losing you would break me! If you give us another chance I promise I'll prove to you that we are right for each other."

"Nate, I-"

"And I know you love me, Kate. I'm sure of it. I just do understand why you're so determined to hurt yourself by putting those feelings on a shelf."

I take a deep breath. Time to get everything out in the open. "I don't want people to judge us. I don't want people thinking what we have is fucked. I know my mother will love it but I know all her snobby friends will gossip about this for months.

"We fight more than we get along. That's not a relationship, Nate. You say that you'd be broken if you lost me, but I've been broken for months. You break me time and time again and even though I love you, I need to act like a third party and get myself out while I still can."

"But you love me!" Nate says, his voice trembling.

"Love can't fix everything. Love isn't always enough." I sniffle.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I swear that I'm not going to let you go this easily. I will spend every second trying to earn you back because that's what you do for the one, and you are the girl I want to fall asleep beside and wake up too in the morning. You're the girl I want to have a family with and grow old with. You're my girl, Kate. I've never has a connection with anyone the way I have with you."

I am not sure if it's his sweet words or the alcohol buzzing through my veins, but I crawl over and throw my legs over so I'm straddling him. He looks up at me shocked. His eyes are red and look so sad that I hate myself for making him feel this way.

I plant a soft kiss on his lips. He leans forward so he's at a ninety-degree angle. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me so close to him I can hardly breathe. I kiss his neck, moving upward. I kiss just under his ear, practically making him purr.

His big hands grab a chunk of my hair and yank it back. My chin points up to him and it's his turn to kiss my neck. He nips and sucks the entire length of my neck, swirling his tongue against my burning skin.

Our lips meet again and continue on the passionate, intimate kiss. I smile against his mouth.

"Wanna' go swimming?" I ask.

"Sure, baby." He smiles. I climb off of his lap and walk towards the ocean. Right before my feet touch the warm water, I peel myself out of my dress and toss it behind me. Even though I don't look back, I'm sure he's staring at me. I walk into the water until the water is just above my navel.

I hear the familiar clink of Nate's belt buckle and the sound of the water splashing under his feet. Before I know it I feel his hands wrap me around me and I lean back against him.

"The water is so nice." I whisper. He plants little kisses along my shoulder.

"This view ain't got nothing on you." He says. I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck. I stand on my tippy toes so I'm tall enough to do it. I press me body against his and he makes a coughing noise from the back of his throat.

I feel him under the water. He feels so familiar and safe like this. For the first time since I've known him, I call what we're doing lovemaking.

"Goodnight, baby." Nate says thirty minutes later outside my door. I stand on my toes and kiss me sweetly.

"Night." I insert the key into the door and slide in, momentarily floating on cloud nine until I hear the bedposts rocking against the door.

"Guys!" I shriek, completely mortified. I hear Victoria's contagious giggle.

"Okay, it's safe to look now." I remove my hands from over my eyes. The two of them are hidden beneath the safety of the duvet so my eyes remain protected from the scarring images I almost witnessed.

A sudden wave of exhaustion rolls over me. Even though I know Aiden's in the room, I strip out of my now damp dress and crawl into my soothing sheets. I'm so tired I fall asleep with the couple beside me laughing like children.