Stark hits "stone"wall (Ironman love story)

Chapeter 11

Tony's pov.

Her hand felt perfectly in my own as we walked together on the beach towards the surf shop. I was comfortable; a feeling I haven't felt since my father was still alive, and still it was rare. I felt childish when I tried to hide my smile, but she made me feel like I was a kid again. Not the irresponsible, playboy, rich Tony Stark that I usually portray, but the innocent, happy Tony that the world only knew till I was twelve.

The bell dinged as we opened and let the door fall back close behind us, the surf shop looked so cliché. Bamboo shelves, long boards, surfboards, clothes, knick knacks, accessories. I almost scowled, people today have no originality whatsoever.

I smiled again when I looked over at Emma; she was relaxed, grinning, and led me up to the cash register. A boy with long brown dreadlocks, square glasses, piercings everywhere on his face, mangy clothes, and a toothpick sticking out his semi crooked teeth. Typical hippy. I held in a snort of laughter.
She grinned and hugged him over the counter, my muscles tensed and my stomach clenched. I felt empty without her hand in mine.

The boy smiled, "Hey Emma! How're you doing this fine day?"

She returned to my side and held my hand again, I let out a silent sigh of relief.

Emma's pov.

I felt Tony relax into my hand, was he getting that worked up about me hugging another guy and we're not even dating? I glanced over at him and saw the small frown on his face. Yep.

I smiled back at Joshua Simms, my old school friend. "I'm doing great. But how are you? You look awesome and the dreads are bad ass!"

He laughed and pushed up the sliding glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "I'm doing terrific and thank you, I've given my heart and soul into these things."

There was a pause and Tony gave my hand a tiny squeeze, I laughed at myself and his antics. "Oh yeah! Josh, this is Tony. Tony, this is my old friend Josh Simms."

Tony gave Josh a nod and they shook hands, Josh gaped and looked at me with wide emerald eyes. He vaguely reminded me of a deer in the headlights. "Whoa Em, I knew you had high standards but damn girl,theTony Stark?"

I laughed and bit my lip unwillingly, hearing Josh insinuate that Tony and I were dating brought a small blush to my cheeks and a giggly feeling in my stomach. Even though we pretty much were dating, it still made me feel like a school girl.

"Shut your gob, Joshua Tree, and give us some boards. Today is perfect, I'm surprised this place is empty." I joked, he stuck his pierced tongue out at me and winked playfully before running off to the back of the shop. I leaned my back against the counter facing Tony as he put his hands on my hips and smirked.

"High standards, eh?"

I shrugged, "I was popular."

"Was? Where ever we go you seem to either be friends with someone or insulting them heatedly. I don't know whether to be impressed or running scared. Should I start now?"

I nodded seriously, "Yeah, start booking it now and you'll be safe by a couple miles."

He grinned and leaned in whispering, "I'd rather stick with the danger."

Just as our lips met, Josh waltzed back in noisily with our surfboards under his arms. "Whoa dudes, this ain't no love shack, go do that out on the waves or something."

I snorted, "Love shack? Josh, you're such a geek!"

He giggled and blushed, Tony seemed irate with Josh and I laughed. I thwacked Josh on the arm and stuck my tongue out at him. He gave me a look and pointed his finger at me, "See, that's exactly why. I only know the immature, little, prude Em Stone that I went to school with since the third grade, egged people's houses with in seventh grade, went racing with in twelfth grade, and threw frat parties with in college."