Friends & Paradise

Chapter 40 - You Have To Listen (Amber's POV)

"Are you sure you don't need anything?" Amanda asked for the billionth time. I, once again, shook my head. I didn't want anything. Nothing that she could give me anyway. I wanted Jeremy, even though he broke my heart so much. I wanted him. I needed him. But what he did, was just unspeakable. And all after I told him what happened with my ex. You just don't do that.

"Okay, well, Nash asked me to go to the hotel's gift shop to buy you snacks, she said that would work. Maybe you'd like to talk a walk?"

"A walk where?" I asked.

"I don't know. Around. Just go to the beach, the peace and quiet may help you out."

I shrugged.

Amanda left the suite, and I got up from the bed and took off the pajamas I was wearing, and changed into a t-shirt and jean shorts. I put on flip-flops and brushed my hair. I grabbed my room key and I was out.

I walked through the hallway, until I reached the elevator. I got inside and pressed to go down to the lobby. I walked inside the lobby, once the elevator doors opened, and then walked through until I reached the stone pathway leading to the beach.

Having nowhere else to go, I walked the stone pathway, and then walked through the sand at the beach. I looked up to see the last of the sun's rays for the day, and then saw Jeremy standing a few feet away from me. He looked up, and smiled a shy smile at me. My face remained emotionless, but inside my heart was beating wildly while butterflies were taking over my stomach. I didn't know if those were good or bad butterflies.

I walked near him, and he walked towards me.

"Hey, I-uh was hoping you'd come sooner or later." He said.

"...Why?" I asked.

"I need to talk to you about what happened."

"What happened? Can you please refresh my memory about what happened that night? No, wait, I think I got it. Was it that you kissed that slutty-ass bitch, who now I wouldn't be surprised if she was your girlfriend now since basically all it takes to get inside your fucking heart is just a stupid kiss!"

"Look, Amber, I know that you're pissed at me, but--"

"But what!? Huh? Jeremy, I don't give two fucks about you anymore! What you did, is just... Ugh! I cannot believe I let you play me just like Tom did!"

I was just about to walk away, when he grabbed my arm and forced me to look at him.

"Look, Amber, I know you're mad at me, and I get it! But can you please at least give me two minutes to explain to you my side of what happened that night?"

"Why? Is she waiting for you?"

"You really think I'd hook up with her? Do you really think that I'd put away all the things that we went through just for a stupid, meaningless, kiss that happened with her? Amber, whatever happened with her is nothing. It was just a kiss, and not even one I wanted. In fact, I hate her more than you do."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I'm not. Look, I work for her parents. They basically forced me to work with her all my hours, instead of having to be a waiter at night. I didn't want to take the job, I was forced into it."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Okay, well, since I'm her personal butler or boy-toy, Ivana can make me do anything she wants to. If she's not happy, then I'm fired and I have to go back home. What happened that night, was that while you were gone to the bathroom, she came to me. She just started talking to me and then leaned in and told me, 'what I'm about to do, your girlfriend doesn't need to know' and kissed me. I didn't want to kiss her, so I tried backing away, but it was way too late. You had already seen us."

"Now what? Am I supposed to beg you in my knees for your forgiveness, or have to throw myself into your arms and kiss you and tell you that I love you and that I never meant a word that I said, because if that's what you want--" I started ranting, but as I talked, Jeremy started to come closer to me until he had his hands wrapped around my waist and head, and was cut me off with a kiss. I melted into his arms, and kissed him back. Then, he pulled back.

"You don't have to prove to me that. You just have to tell me that you love me." He said.

I was breathing unevenly after that kiss that I felt a little dizzy. "I love you." I said.

He smiled, and then kissed my forehead. "I love you too."

"Does this mean we can forget this stupid thing and move on?"

"I'd say that's for the better. Let's go somewhere together." He said.

I leant back, and looked him in the eye. "Why somewhere else? We're at the beach during a sunset, it doesn't get any better than this."

He smiled. "Actually, it does."

He threw me over his shoulder, and carried me to the water. I started screaming and begged him not to throw me into the water. But I was too late. Suddenly, cold sea water surrounded me, and he just laughed.

"Oh, you think this is funny? I'll show you funny!" I threatened, while running to him and jumping on his back while I was drenched in water. That made him lose his balance and made him fall into the water. I laughed as he stod up all wet. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and we walked deeper into the sea.

The water reached up to our waists, and then he grabbed me and pulled me to him. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and held myself up with my arms around his shoulders.

"I love you." He said. He kissed me, before I answered.

"I love you too."