Beyond Appearances

Unwelcome Interruptions

"Johnny, where are we going?" Johnny just smiles, and focuses on the road. I groan in frustration. "Come on! Please just tell me!" This earns a laugh.

"Let's just say, it's not what you're expecting. Hope you're ready for a long ass night." In typical Johnny fashion, he cuts me off. He blasts the radio, today's hits filling the cab. I give up and just go with the flow.

We pull up to a local bar. This is exactly what I was expecting. Apparently mystery is not his forte.

He opens my door, and grabs my hand to help my down from the truck like a true gentleman. He holds my hand as we enter the smoke filled bar. Though we've been close, the feeling of his rough hand holding mine sends my stomach into butterflies. Tonight it feels more intimate.

We take a seat at the bar, away from the rest of the crowd. Johnny gets the bartenders attention. "Two beers, please." The burly bartender nods sending the beers our way.

"So, this is the mystery?" Not that I'm not enjoying myself, but he made it seem more ominous, and we all know how impatient I am. Johnny looks at me, humor written all over his face.

"Nah. This is a quick pit stop. Trust me what I have planned is way better." I don't know what's better than drinking cheap beer, at a smoke filled bar, but I'm down. I drink another beer, Johnny stops at his 1, being a good designated driver. After chugging em down we head out on the road once more.

We ride in silence nothing on but the radio in the background. The two beers start to loosen me up. I stick my head out the window, letting the wind roll through my hair. Johnny pulls me back in when we pull up to an abandoned barn.

"Great! This is the part where you chop me up into a million pieces, or you chain me up and leave me to starve." He just stares at me, and then breaks out into a full belly laugh. "You think I'd risk my life trying to fuck with you? Hell no. I've been kneed in the groin by you once, and trust me, once is enough." He gets out of the truck still laughing.

We walk into the abandoned barn, completely surrounded by the monotonous night. The only light shining through is from the lack of a roof on the barn. The moon and stars giving off the tiniest bit of light. I go to ask Johnny what we are doing here, but I soon realize he left me all alone.

A couple minutes later he walks in holding two lanterns, and some blankets and pillows. So this is the mystery? A night under the stars, in an old barn. Not too shabby.

Johnny starts laying the blankets and pillows down. He then proceeds to lay down. He pats the spot next to him. I lay down and stare up at night sky above. It's beautiful. Midnight blue, dotted with bright stars, and a full moon. Something you'd see on Instagram.

"How'd you find this place?" I don't want to be another notch in his belt that he seduced with a beautiful sky. "Asking the deep questions, are we?" I stare, blowing off his attempt at humor. He takes a deep breath, realizing that he's not off the hook.

"Back when I was my old gang bangin self, I started to question my lifestyle. It was after I lost Valentina and Mariana. I was homeless, and I came across this place. Even after I got out of the lifestyle I just stayed here. That is until Sarah and Trent showed up."

I don't say anything, processing what he just told me. He mistook my silence for judgement. "I just screwed the night up. I'm sorry. This is why I don't tell anyone about my past." He goes to stand up, but I pull him down. He lands on top of me, in a rather intimate position.

I place my hands on both sides of his face. "No. Don't do that to yourself. I see past all of that. I see you, I just see the sweet guy you are." His eyes change from ashamed, to something deeper, he's unreadable. That is until he leans down and kisses me.

I think back to yesterday, and almost stop him. I then realize I didn't want Hunter that way. I invited him as a friend, but he wanted more. I only had eyes for Johnny though.

I start kissing him back. I know we had chemistry, but I never thought that it went this deep. Everything about it feels right. He starts kissing down my neck, lingering on my collar bone. Our bodies on fire, and working in sync. I think we've passed the friend stage.

A phone rings. I recognize the marimba ringtone as Johnny's. He groans but retreats to answer it. "Hello." His face turns to confusion and anger. "Let her. Just keep Valentina with you. I'll take care of it in the morning." He rubs his head, obviously pissed. "I'm sorry Sarah. Have a good night."

"Is everything okay?" He turns to me, plastering a smile on. "You really want me to spoil our night?" I nod. Something that concerns him, is something important. "Mariana showed up. She wasn't too happy to come home from her trip to find out that I'm taking her to court. She knocked on the door demanding she see Val. Trent escorted her off the property."

I rub his back. This guy can't catch a break. "Do you want to head back? I completely understand if you want." He looks up from the ground, and locks eyes with me. "I'm under strict orders to stay out with you. Not that I'm complaining." I roll my eyes. Of course Sarah would say that.

I lay back down, getting lost in the sky. Johnny lays down next to me, letting out a deep breath. "V, I think I'm falling for you." I prop up on my side. "Is that so?" He smiles and nods. "Oh yeah. The way you treat Val. The way you put everyone before yourself. I just don't deserve you. And to fall so quick, Fate is at play here." I can't take compliments. I've never been able to. I blush and roll away.

I can't face him, when I say what I'm about to say. "You don't want to love me Johnny. I'm damaged. But I also can't help but fall for you too. You're just a great guy, with an amazing daughter. You are everything and so much more." I here him sit up. I can't help but let tears roll down my face. I don't deserve this man. He's way too good for me, despite what he thinks.

I feel his arms wrap around me. He pulls me into his hard chest. "Veronica, look at me." He never uses my actual name. The way he says it gives me goosebumps. He rolls me under him. "You aren't damaged goods. Mark my words, one day you'll be mine. When you're ready for a relationship, I'll be there. Until then, I'll be the best friend." I smile and kiss him. "What if we are just more? Just for tonight." He looks at me surprised. "Just for tonight."

I feel his strong arms squeeze me, as he slowly starts to kiss small intimate pecks down my neck. I moan, missing the feeling of a man. Not just a man, but a man I truly like.

He slowly but surely makes me feel just how much I mean to him for the rest of the night.