secrets

fifteen

-ADELE-
______

"Simon!" I yell, suddenly feeling afraid of being alone in my dark bedroom. If I stared into the darkness for too long, I would start to see his face.

In a quick second, I hear his footsteps running up the stairs and into my room. He opens the door, letting in a stream of light.

"I'm right here, baby." His mesmerizingly deep voice says. Just his simple presence in the room comforts me and takes every shred of fear away. "What's wrong?"

"There's so much that's wrong." I say, my voice low and quiet.

He turns on my lamp as I sit up in bed, then sits down beside me and envelopes me into his protective and safe embrace. I bury my head into his chest, allowing his scent to fill my lungs and relax me. "I'll hold you just like this until everything is right again." He says, pulling me even closer into him.

I nod, take a deep breath and start with the simplest of wishes. "I just need someone in my life to keep their promise for once."

His comforting and gentle expression becomes a slight frown. "How could anyone not?" It's a question I've never asked myself, most likely because there just isn't an answer. "Tell me all the promises you want me to make, and I will keep each and every one of them."

A smile appears on my face, and it's genuine. I haven't smiled and meant it in a long time. There's so many things I want him to promise me, and if he keeps even just one, I might finally allow myself to be in love again. "Promise me that Alex will never hurt me again."

"He's gone away forever, love. I promise I won't let him or anyone else ever hurt you."

I expect myself to not believe him, because every time I've believed in someone I got hurt. But there's something about the way he says it and the sincere way that he is holding me that causes me to believe every word.

"Promise me that you'll take me out for Chinese food no matter what time of day or night it is."

He laughs, and I can feel it vibrate through me. The sound of his laugh is one of the most beautiful and comforting sounds in the world. "Always. I promise."

"Promise me that you'll stay."

"I'll stay right by your side forever, Adele." I've heard those words before, but this time, I 100% believe them. "And may I promise you one more thing?"

"Anything."

"I promise to always love you with my whole heart." He says.

There's that word again. Love. The word that could break you and mend you in so many ways. I hate the word. It's always led me to places I never wanted to be.

I look up into Simon's face, right into his beautifully colored blue eyes. And for a crazy and wonderful reason, love sounds like something I want to believe in.

"I love you." I say. It's like a weight off my shoulders to say it again without fear or hesitation.

"I love you too, Adele." He answers, kissing my forehead and laying me back down.

I look at the clock on my phone.

3:30am.

Is it too late or maybe even too early to ask for another promise? If I can say I love you to him after only knowing him for a week, I can ask him this.

"Simon, love?" I ask, just as he stands to walk back downstairs.

"Yes?"

"I need you to make one more promise."

He nods, inviting me to continue.

"Promise me that one day soon, you'll make life-changing love to me."

His expression changes quickly, and his eyes brighten. He walks back towards the bed and uncovers me.

"Is now a good time?"

I don't answer, I just smile and sit up. That should make my answer quite clear.

He slams his lips onto mine gently and yet so wonderfully intense. He moves his gloriously soft lips down to my neck, causing me to breathe a little heavier. I tilt my head back, allowing him to work his magic with his lips. Suddenly, I feel them attach to my collarbone. My eyes fly open and I say, "H-how did you know?"

"It's a secret." He softly whispers into my ear. He finds his way back to my lips for a moment before pulling away and saying, "Would you say you're on the nice list this year, baby?"

Intrigued, I nod. "I'm quite sure I am."

"Well, that's a shame. Because once I'm done with you, you'll be on the naughty list."

I lean closer into him, my lips brushing his cheek. I whisper, "I want the number one spot."

In an instant, his lips collide onto my neck again. And in that same instant, I decide I am fully in love with this man and nobody will ever have my heart the way he does.