The Loving Kind- Chim

Chapter Thirty Six

Cheryl's POV:

"Right, we ready girls?"

Mark asks as we finally get downstairs with a load of things for Lily's day at the beach.

"Just about!"

"The weather isn't too bad today either! Come on then girls! Bye Rebecca!"

"Bye guys, have a nice time!"

"Will do, see you later!"

----

We finally pull up at a little beach a while later, the sun still shining and the permanent smile on Lily's face still there.

"We've got surfboards, the whole lot waiting for you. Mind you the water looks absolutely freezing so good luck girls!"

"Aren't you coming in?!"

Lily asks, hoping they'd join in the 'fun'.

"Maybe later, we'll let you teach Chez some stuff first. You alright Chez?"

I hear Mark asks as i stand staring into the ocean, my heart racing at the sight.

"Yeah, i've just never been a huge fan of the sea."

"How come? Did something happen? If you're not comfortable-"

"No, no. It's just i don't mind the clear one but when you can't see underneath. It's a death trap."

"Aw! Chez i can assure you they'll be no sharks here."

Mark laughs as i punch his arm playfully.

"That doesn't put my mind to rest one bit, i'll be ok though. I trust Lils i think."

"Course you do! Right, come on then! Let's get these on." She throws a wet suit that i manage to catch just before it hits me in the face. We go to change in a small hut nearby as Lily runs around the sand excitedly.

"Come on then, let's get surfing!" She grabs my hand and drags me to the freezing cold, seeming immune to the ice cold water.

"God Lily! It's freezing!"

"It won't once we get going, the waves are looking good too!"

"Oh my god, i'm going to kill you for this!"

"Let's go."

She rags my hand making me lose my balance and fall face first in the shallow water. I let out a scream due to the shock and coldness.

----

We've been attempting to surf for the past few hours, the water isn't so bad anymore but it's got better. I can manage to stand up, not for long but i'm getting better plus Lily's been excited all day. We're finally getting out so i can go get Marley off Mark and Steve to take him for a swim.

"Come on then, we going for a swim Marley?" He barks as i leave his lead on, not trusting him on his own in the water yet. I take him down to the water and straight away he's hesitant as he moves his paws back and forward at the waves. I pick him up and carry him further out and start to lower his legs which he starts immediately splashing. Just as i'm about to take him back thinking he doesn't like it, he leaps from my hands and straight in the water.

"MARLEY!" I shout in shock as i lift him back to the surface, his soft fur now soaked. I laugh as he barks and seemingly enjoys it more. I let him go again, holding his lead as he starts to doggy paddle.

"Yeah! Good boy."

----

After a few more hours on the beach, messing around in the water with Marley, Lily, Mark and Steve, we finally get back. I've wrapped Marley up in a towel which he seems to love as he lays half asleep in the towel in my arms.

"He's knackered! Bless him."

"Yeah, i'll see if he can sleep while we go up to the room and i'll take a shower then wait till he wakes up before showering him.

"He's like a baby!" Lily laughs as i nod and fuss over him as his eyes finally close. I leave everyone to go and get a shower up in my room, leaving Marley firmly wrapped up in a towel, fast asleep.

"Marley, come on. Shower time!" I shout as i pull on some comfortable clothes and head out of the bathroom to find Kimberley cuddling a now awake Marley.

"Hey Chez, sorry i just came in. They sent me up and said you'd be in the shower so i didn't think you'd here me knock."

"Oh it's fine, i'll just shower him and i'll be right back." I take Marley from her hands and stand him in the shower as i wash his fur and he tries to catch the water from the shower head in his mouth.

"Marley, out. Come on." I laugh as he jumps up at the water. He finally gives up and stumbles out of the shower, shaking his fur before i wrap a towel around him and dry him off, going back go see Kimberley.

"I'll let him dry for a bit." I say, thinking aloud as i give him his dinner.

"He looks funny with wet fur, doesn't he? Did he like it today?"

"He absolutely loved it! He wouldn't leave the sea and he kept trying to swim away from us but obviously i kept his lead on. It was fun!"

"Aw bless him, we'll have to go down there with the girls and even Lily one day."

"Yeah, we should." I get up and smile, giving Marley a last stroke before taking a seat on the bed.

"I've- umm- i've been thinking that maybe we should have a- a chat?" I stutter nervously as she immediately sighs and nods.

"Yeah, i was gonna speak to you tonight."

"Ok, yeah."

"Things have gotten quite complicated between us, right?" I nod and continue to let her speak.

"But to be honest Chez-" My heart drops, she can't leave me. She can't do this.

"I can't keep having this same conversation."

"Oh, i don't get it?"

"I can't keep being like we are then having to have a conversation about how 'complicated' things get."

"So what are you saying?" I don't let her speak as i start to talk to her again, tears flowing freely down my cheeks.

"You don't want this no more? You don't want us to be like we are? You'll stop visiting?" My breathe gets quicker as i panic, all sorts of horrible thoughts running through my head.

"No, god no Chez! I love you so much it hurts, i couldn't do that."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that i want us to be together, properly! No little secret sessions together, i want us to be open with it. If you can't do that then i don't know what we're gonna do because i can't lose you but i can't keep hiding us away." I don't reply for a few seconds, just trying to process what she's trying to say.

"Chez?" I feel my eyes burn with tears again as she moves closer.

"Babe, don't cry! If you don't want anything between-"

"No, no! It's the total opposite."

"Then what's wrong? Are you ok?"

"I just don't know what to say? What if-"

"This is what i mean Chez, i don't want to go through all that. I love you and that's enough for me." She lifts my face up between her thumb and finger and smiles.

"And if you love me then we can go from here. Me, you and Marley our own little family. That's if you want me?" I nod my head and try to compose myself from the crying i've done.

"I- i love you." I stutter out and she laughs, leaning forward and kissing me.

"Come here, you silly cow." She kisses me one last time before pulling me into her arms.

"I know your tired, we can speak properly tomorrow."

"Can you stay tonight?" I mumble as i lay down, resting my head on her chest.

"I'll see what i can do, i'll be back in the morning if not. I promise, ok?"

"Ok, i love you."

"I love you too."