One for the Ages // Book One

Chapter 7

Saying something you regret and subsequently having to eat crow afterwards is never fun. Even when you know you deserve it. And I did.

I had recklessly and deliberately hurt Harry yesterday. I had thrown something in his face that he had no control over. He was young, but more mature than I was.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I needed to apologize. It was an odd feeling. Not because I never did anything wrong before to warrant an apology but because no one else in my life cared enough to hear one from me even if I did.

So after I had pulled my shorts on, slapped my hair into a ponytail, and slipped on my flip flops, I left my room.

I had searched everywhere without a trace of him. I tried his room but to no avail and since he was a VIP on the grounds none of the front desk staff would tell me if he'd checked out. I glanced out onto the beach and I was reminded of our first conversation...on the lounge chairs.

My heart fluttered in my chest when I rounded the grove of trees to see him sitting on his normal lounge chair, a book cracked open and balanced on his thighs.

Would it have been a bad idea to fling myself into his arms? Because I wanted to. I wanted to kiss him all over his stupid face and beg for his forgiveness.

But I gathered myself instead. I leaned down and pulled my flip flops off, dangling them from one finger as I took a few slow steps towards him.

He looked up at me when I was about halfway there, his eyes were squinted just slightly. He didn't move or make any attempt to speak. His body language was clear, the ball was in my court as far as talking went.

I cleared my throat as I diverted my eyes down to my flip flops,

"My dad walked out on my mom when I was ten years old. I didn't know why. He never discussed it with me and we never spoke again. I don't even know if he's alive anymore. My mother sort of shut down after it happened. She was never really affectionate to begin with but once he was gone she folded into this pod person who doesn't feel anything." He still stared at me stone faced so I continued, "Isaac was my boyfriend in college. Before I came here I found out he cheated on me." Harry's face softened the tiniest bit and I knew things were ok now. I felt a bit more confidence in letting him in after seeing his expression. I shrugged, "So no one told me I was hard to love...I just kinda picked it out on my own."

He stared up at me for a few moments, I could see the gears turning in his head. He nodded once. He closed his book, his legs opening a bit which I took as a clear invitation for me to sit down. So I did. I sat between his legs, turning onto my side as his arms circled around me. I laid my cheek against his chest, his heartbeat pounding back at me in my ear.

I felt his mouth press down to the top of my head and a slow smile spread across my cheeks,

"I'm glad you're here." I whispered softly.

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I spent the rest of the day safely surrounded by his arms. The only time we left each other's sides was when one of us got up to use the restroom or when he got up to go get us some water. Otherwise we stayed lying on the same lounge chair. I cat napped, catching up on all the sleep I didn't get last night while he continued to read his book.

I felt his lips on top of my head again just as I was coming out from another quick nap,

"Elizabeth..." He said my name in a sing song voice, "Sun is going down, Love. Would you like dinner?"

I looked around and sure enough dusk was upon us. The beach had all but cleared out. I looked up at him,

"How long was I asleep?"