The Fast Lane

Chapter 31

The rest of the week was so relaxing. We zip-lined every day, rode horses every day, swam every day, sat in the hammocks and talked every day. Every day was so relaxed and peaceful, and we were undisturbed by the commotion of the city or neighbors. Each afternoon, rain fell for about an hour or so. On the last day, Harry grabbed me off of the porch of the house and pulled me out next to the pool. The maids watched and laughed under the protection of the porch as Harry swung me around in the rain, singing at the top of his lungs as we danced.

"No one ever looked so good in a dress and it hurts cuz I know you won’t be mine tonight!!"

"But I am yo-"

"No one ever makes me feel like you do when you smile baby tell me how to make it riggggght!!"

"Nothing is wro-"

"NOBODY COMPARES TO YOU!" He shouted and tossed me into the pool. I came up for air and wiped my eyes.

"HAROLD."

He was rolling with laughter. I couldn’t help but laugh with him. The women on the porch were laughing and calling more of the staff to watch us as Harry jumped into the pool with me and chased me for kisses. We had a final group dinner that night, but Harry invited all of the staff’s families. We had an abundance of beans and rice and an assortment of meats, and after each person had eaten their fill, we danced and danced and danced the night away. Life seemed so simple and perfect. The happiness, love, and energy of everyone in the hotel at that point was contagious, even after the party. As Harry and I said our goodbyes to all of the staff members and their families, Harry kept glancing across the room at me and grinning. I couldn’t help but get the chills or the butterflies each and every time his perfect green eyes lit up as they looked over me - the way the corners of his perfect lips curled up as if to say “I’m the luckiest guy in the world” - the way his dimples deepened - the way his cheeks reddened. The way he had been so loving this week just made me love him so much more. I felt as though I literally could never love someone more. If there was one thing that I was 100% sure about in my life at that moment, it was that I was going to marry Harry.

After everyone left, Harry and I returned to our room. I began to grab clothes from the chair where Linda, the woman who did our laundry, had cleaned and folded a pile of my things. I placed them in my open suitcase as Harry sat silently on the bed, having already packed, to watch me. When I finished, I took off my v-neck, bra, and maxi skirt and threw on Harry’s oversized RAMONES tee. I tiredly turned to look at him and crawled on to the bed, yawning.

"You are so beautiful," he said a little sarcastically as my mouth stretched to let the yawn escape.

"Ohgeethanks…" I said forcefully as I collapsed onto the bed next to him. I looked over at his stomach and ran my ringer lightly up and down the trail of hair that started at his belly button. He squealed like I’d never heard before. My eyes widened and I grinned wildly. "Does that tickle?"

"Yes," Harry said quickly. "But don’t do it again." He smiled, crossed his arms across his chest, and closed his eyes like he was waiting for me to do it again. I reached over and lightly touched the tops of each of the little hairs until Harry began to laugh and then pinned me in a second. "I thought I asked you to stop?" He said as his hands groped my sides and his fingers lightly pulled at my skin. I struggled and laughed as he straddled my hips.

"Stop. Stop, Harry PLEASE-"

"Oh no no, I ask you to stop and you simply caaaan’t. You just refuse to stop-" He kept going as I laughed and fought off his hands beneath him. Just when I thought I was going to pass out, he stopped. He gripped the sides of my stomach and stared into my watery eyes. I slowly stopped laughing and looked back at him. His brown locks fell around his face. "I mean it, you really are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met." I felt my cheeks become hot as he studied my face. He leaned down slowly and hovered over my lips like he was scared to kiss me. Our lips brushed and his warm breath fell over my skin. He finally leaned in just the slightest, giving me a light kiss, and then gave my bottom lip just the smallest nibble. He pulled back just far enough for our lips to still be touching. Finally he whispered something to me that made my heart stop beating.