One Time Only

Chapter 10

Jerica turns and waves her hand, she then swims to the other side of the lake where there's a huge stand of boulders that create a small warterfall. "This is where you'll need to hold your breath, if you don't think you can make it tap on my foot, there's an air pocket half way through." Jerica whispers.

Harry nods, takes a deep breath, then follows Jerica as she dives along the side of the boulders. Halfway down there's a hole she swims into big enough for Moby Dick. Just as Harry is about to panic and tap her foot her sees her swimming up, following her, they break through the surface into an underground cave like area that's just breath taking.
Swimming over to the edge, Harry lifts himself onto a rocky edge, then reaches down and pulls Jerica up beside him.
"How did you find this?" He asks.

"Timmy and I came out here right after I bought this land. He loved coming here and just playing his guitar and singing. The acustics here are just amazing. One day while he was doing that I went exploring. The lake was really clear that day and I saw the opening, so while Timmy was distracted I decided to risk my life and see where it went. That's how I found this gorgeous place." Jerica says. "I don't know how many time I've came here just to sit and cry, or scream after Timmy got shot. Stupid I know, but at the time I just didn't care. This was my place, no one but me knew about but me, until now." Jerica whispers, laying her head on Harry's shoulder.

Harry drapes his arm across Jerica's back, resting his hand on her hip. "What made you want to share it with me?" He asks.

Jerica shrugs and looks down at the water beneath their feet. "This is going to sound crazy and you'll probably swim out of here and drive to town just to get away from me, but I find myself falling in love with you, and it's not a love I've felt for my brother. This is the type of love where I want to share things with you I don't with other people." She confesses, then falls quiet.

Harry is shocked at what he's hearing. Is what he's feeling love? Does it go that deep, or does he just like her with the possibility of falling in love with her later? Is he even ready for a relationship? He thinks, forgetting all about wanting to ask her to be his girlfriend. Harry doesn't realize he's taken to long to respond to what Jerica has said until he hears a splash and sees her disappear from sight.
"Fuck." Harry snaps as he takes a really deep breath and follows her. Coming up for air on the other side of Jerica's secret paradise, Harry swims to the other side of the lake and gets out. "Hey guys, you seen Jeri?"

Louis looks around. "We thought she was with you. What'd you do? Lose her?"

"Guess so, we got separated. I thought maybe she'd come back here." Harry says, trying to keep his tears from falling. That's when he realizes, yes, he's in love with the, tiny, talented, beautiful woman.

"Walk around the lake, when you get to the other side there's a small waterfall. You can walk through it, on the other side is a cliff that over looks a small valley. Jeri goes there sometimes. You might find her there." Andi says. "Oh and Harry! Whatever it is you did to piss her off or hurt her, you better fix it. She's had enough bullshit in her 21 years of life, she doesn't need you coming here and fucking with her emotions. If you don't like her like I know she likes you, leave her the fuck alone, she does deserve being played with."

Harry looks Andi in the eyes. "That's not what I'm doing. I'm in love with Jeri, and I'm planning on tell her just that. If I can get her to talk to me." Harry says as he turns and walks away. When Harry gets to the waterfall, he walks through it like Andi told him to, following the cave like pathway he finally gets to the rocky cliff and sees Jerica sitting on a rock looking out out over the edge. The problem is he can tell she's crying and he feels like an ass for being the reason.
Harry walks over to where Jerica is sitting, he sits down behind her so he can wrap his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, please stop crying. Babe listen, I was so shocked hearing you say you loved me I didn't know how to respond. I've never been in love with anyone before, hell I'm 26 and never dated anyone seriously. So I'm not sure what love feels like, but if it's like your heart is about to beat out of your chest just hearing someone giggle, or you get a hard on so fast because she happens to lean to close or touches your leg, then damnit Jeri I love you too." Harry whispers as he buries his face in her neck.

Jerica looks over her shoulder. "Me touching your leg gives you a hard on?"

Harry smirks. "Every single time."

Jerica's eyes widen. "My hand was on your thigh during most of Timmy's funeral, until you picked me up and put me in your lap."

"Exactly." Harry smiles. "Why do you think I placed you where I did?"

"Oh." Jerica blushes as she looks down. "So what do we do now?" She asks.

Harry picks her up, places her in his lap so he can see her eyes. "What do you want to do? Keep things as they are now? Or be my girlfriend so I have the right to do this anytime I want." Harry whispers as he lowers his head and kisses Jerica again.

"Oh, I like this, girlfriend sounds good to me." Jerica smiles.

"Oh, me too." Harry chuckles as he once again pulls Jerica into a soul searing kiss.