Poisoned Love

41. Our Happy Bubble

"Can we come here again?" I try to change the topic. It's the best I can do.

"Sure." He says and shrugs casually. I wanted to ask him when the others were coming but I decided against it. I don't want them to take Ace from me or distract him. I don't even know why I'm thinking like that but I'm liking Ace and I's time together...alone.

I tugged a hair strand behind my ear and sighed in relief. I'm glad I was able to change the topic before everything got messy again. I threw my shoes off and dipped my feet in the water. I can't stress on how amazing the warm water felt against my feet. I wish Tori, Alex and even Ryder can come here and stay with me and Ace. They'd love it here. It's so calm and peaceful.

"You wanna jump in?" Ace offers and I shake my head from side to side. "Oh come on, Lyd. Don't be so lame."

"I'm not lame." I defend. "I just..." I can't find any reason to say no. But I'm unsure if I should jump in that water just yet.

"Fine, I'll go in there myself. You can watch me have fun and sit here all alone." He says, sarcasm laced in his tone.

"Rude." I roll my eyes at him funnily.

"Rude." He mimics my voice and strips out of his shirt and jeans. I can't deny how good he looked in only boxers. No Calvin Klein model can ever compare to him. In a swift motion, he hops in the water and I cover my face with my forearms so that the water only splashes on my legs and arms.

Giggles escaped our lips and he shook his hair and pushed it out of his face. His lips lifted into a soft smile and his dimples indented on his cheeks. I sat silently, admiring the beauty of the lake accompanied by the undeniable handsomeness of Ace. He's one of a kind. I know I promised myself not to look at him that way anymore but I can't help it. I don't give two craps whether he's going to be my stepbrother or not. If I'm able to stop this marriage, I'll stop it for Ace.

I caught him staring at me back. His hair was fully wet now and a few strands fell on his forehead while others messily scattered everywhere.

"If you don't get in here, I'll have to come over there and get you in myself." He smiles. A cheeky grin plays on my lips. "It's so nice and warm, trust me."

"Well I can't. I didn't necessarily bring a swimsuit with me." I try to find an excuse to tease him. It was only a matter of seconds before he comes and drags me into the water.

"Lydia Taylor, stop being such a childish little thing." He comes closer. Oh no.

"Fine, I'll get your shirt wet, though." I smile.

"It's fine as long as you come in. The loneliness is killing me." He sneers. I wish I can swat his arm but he'll pull my legs inside the water.

I don't know what got onto me, but I found myself stripping out of Ace's shirt and my shorts. I was only in my bra and panties. The expression on Ace's face was priceless. Ace gasped and his lips were parted, like he wanted to say something, many things actually but he couldn't.

I let myself inside the water and it felt absolutely liberating. I dipped my head in and shortly got out. The water felt amazing on my bare skin.

"Told you it feels nice." He says and I turned around to face him. He wore a smug grin.

"Mmm, yeah."

"I wanna use this as an opportunity to get to know you, everything about you." He says, his tone serious.

"Ask me questions then." I couldn't help but smile. I was surprised at the fact that he's legitimately interested to know things about me. I wanted to know him too, share with him some unforgettable memories about my life and know some of his.

"Do you have any tattoos?" He asks. He instantly reminded me of the tattoo on his back that I so desperately wanted to have a close look at.

"No. I plan on getting one, I just need something memorable in my life to happen so the tattoo can have meaning." I answer truthfully. "My turn."

"What's the perfect weekend for you?" I ask and immediately regretted it. It's a stupid question. Of course with no doubt, it's when he hangs around his friends in a party and drink till sunrise while multiple girls hit on him. I don't even know why I asked that.

"With you." He says and I gasped. Is he joking? I can't tell. "I'm serious. I won't trade anything in the world for this."

His sweet words had a strange way of creeping into my heart and sinking there. I've never felt this happy in my entire life, it couldn't have been better than this.

He began approaching me and all I can see now is him. His hair was wetter, his lips fuller and pinker, his eyes were bigger and bluer than before. He looked incredible. His fingers trailed on my collarbone and moved up my neck and I gave him full access to touch me. When his fingers reached my face, he cupped my cheek in his large hand and I couldn't help but lean into his warm palm.

"My turn now." His voice is low and raspy.

"You once told me you were hurt, what caused that?"

"No one knows it except for a few people but uhm..." I say and my voice betrayed me by croaking. "When my dad died, I felt like he has taken a huge part of my heart with him. I couldn't fill the void." His eyes sank deep in mine and encouraged me to open up. Not to mention, I feel comfortable telling him anything about myself. I'm not sure why.

"What's something most people misunderstand about you?" I ask. I can't think of any other questions.

"That..." he seems to really think deeply about this. I feel sort of satisfied that he's actually giving my questions attention. He sighs.

"That I'm not capable of loving someone. I do catch feelings for people sometimes." He says. "I didn't know I was able to do that anymore, not until-"

He stops talking. His hand slid down back to his side and I mentally whimpered at the loss of contact. Part of me was so eager to know what he was about to say, but I knew he wouldn't give me an answer no matter what I do.

"What do you mean anymore?" I asked.

"Lydia.." he lectures, shaking his head lightly.

"No tell me. I told you my deepest secret, Ace."
He should know that it wasn't so easy to just open up.

"It's-.. well. I don't know to put this, uhm-" he intakes a sharp breath. "Sophia was my last girlfriend. When we dated, she told me that she wanted to go to Italy and she wanted me to go with her so I can meet her family. I caught her making out with some random guy in the hotel room and I forced myself to keep it together but I couldn't. It was one of the worst nights of my life. I thought she was the one, you know? Turns out she's not. I've sworn off of relationships ever since."

"Wow." Was all I managed to say. I can't even begin to imagine the terrible pain that Ace has gone through because of Sophia and all the nights he spent probably crying or trying to find a way to shut his feelings off. Why would someone even cheat on a guy like Ace. He has it all, looks, charms, ways of showing affection. The pain she put him through makes me want to pull her hair out of her scalp.

"I've moved on now." He chuckles mirthlessly. I don't even know it when I reach closer to wrap my arms around his neck. He needed comfort and that's what I'm going to give him. I threaded my shaky fingers in his wet hair and stroked through it. His large hands snaked around my bare waist and pulled me closer. Even under the water, I can feel the goosebumps rising on my skin. I nuzzled my head into his muscly neck and I can hear his steady heartbeat. Looks like I've done my job here.

"Don't ever leave me, Lyd."

What?