Breathe Me

Chapter-5

You aint gotta worry its an open invitation

I'll be sitting right here real patient

Chapter Five

Samuel

"HOW ABOUT THOSE choices! I had no idea they had every flavor crepe and sorbet you could imagine there!" The glowing lights of the Bellagio gardens lit up Cathy's eyes like soft caramel rounds. I was licking the small drips attempting to roll down onto my fingers from the waffle cone in my grasp. The lemon and cherry sorbet was amazing, and I tried to slow down as I ate it, not wanting to look like a pig without manners.

"It's pretty impressive."

"We'll have to come back for breakfast." My eyes landed on her lips as her soft, pink tongue carefully licked her ice cream, but she trained her eyes ahead. I remembered kissing her lips, soft and sweet, always willing to let me devour them. It sent a longing surging through me, and I bit into the cone to extinguish the desire. We were just leaving the gardens at the Bellagio, where Jean Pierre Patisserie was located. The variety and colors of the flowers were extravagant, especially with the small ponds and fountains slowly flowing and making trickling, gurgling noises. Though it was crowded, it somehow felt like the most serene place on earth.

As we walked into the registration area, I glanced up at the glass flowers dangling precariously from the ceiling. I paused. The array of colors and shapes formed by the blown glass baubles was a sight, but I wouldn't want to linger under the mass of glass art if there was an earthquake. Thank goodness there never really were any in Las Vegas.

"Pretty impressive." I stuffed the last of my waffle cone into my mouth, crunching it into tiny bits. I was pretty sure my cheeks stuck out like a chipmunk stuffing his face with food. Catherine seemed to find it amusing and almost spit out her ice cream, quickly covering her mouth as a giggle slipped out.

"You might want to chew some more before you choke." She cleared her throat and pointed to her face, indicating I had a smear of ice cream on mine. Wiping the stickiness off, I couldn't help but smile at her mannerisms, so proper yet still wary of things. She offered me her bottle of water, which I had just gotten her at the sorbet shop.

"Thanks." I coughed, clearing my throat before gulping down a few mouthfuls of water. Breathing in deeply, I focused on Catherine, handing the bottle back.

"Didn't backwash, did you?"

I laughed. "Nope. I promise."

"What do you want to do now?"

I could tell she was hoping I had some sort of plan. I hadn't been on a date in ages, let alone explored the Las Vegas Strip. I'd avoided it for the most part.

"I have tickets for a comedy show. How about it?" Reaching out, I offer my arm to her, which she swiftly took. She was more comfortable than before, not so stiff and nervous. I liked that about her though, so apprehensive. I was looking forward to easing the leftover knots out of her body. I couldn't stop looking at her. She was gorgeous, and her confidence made my insides burn with a lustful fury. Glancing down at her fingers as they laced through mine, a soft flutter in my chest momentarily made me forget to breathe. She still had it, that paralyzing charm.

"Um, yeah. Sounds great." She forced a smile and sucked in a breath. I knew she wasn't yet sure if she was making a mistake or not by hanging out with me, but I was going to make sure I didn't lose her a second time around. I was here to stay, whether she knew that or not.

I gently pulled her toward the front doors of the Bellagio, and we made our way to the sidewalk where we waited in line to hail a taxi. Her curiosity was written all across her face, wondering where I was taking her. I was just as nervous as she was, my mouth dry as a desert, even though it now tasted of lemon and cherry sorbet. I hoped that after that night, I'd have more of a chance to atone for what I'd done. My self-doubt was already creeping into my mind before I'd even had a chance to realize it was there.