Lovesick (COMPLETED!)

Chapter 4

Ace Lancaster was my high school sweetheart. We were one another's first everything. First kiss when we were both 12, at Justin Watson's party. We had sex for the first time in this very store on 4th of July during the firework show when we were 16. We always said we would get married, have a dozen kids, die in Whimsy and be buried together holding hands. After high school he moved to Texas for college and then was drafted as the Cowboys quarter back. He has been married for years to a pretty country singer named Trina Zimms. Still, him being married I feel something I shouldn't feel just with this one look I'm getting from him. I go to set my book on the counter but miss it completely and it drops on my foot. Ouch!

"Hey Sprinkles." Ace beams and struts his stuff right on over to the cash register. Sprinkles is what he always called me, because of the freckles that I get on my nose during the summer.

He doesn't sound or look mad. I let go of the breath I've been choking on since he walked in.

"Ace Magoo...where has all that adorable acne gone to?" I ask with a huge smile. He never had acne, he did have a few zits during two yearbook pictures and of course I had to tease him about it.

He laughs. Oh, that laugh, I have missed that laugh. It's like sweet music to my ears.

"You going to come give me a hug or what? Last time I saw you, you were crying...saying goodbye to me at the bus station. Right before I left for college." His smile hasn't wavered. His deep blue eyes haven't changed, they still make my pulse race.

"I believe you cried...I believe I skipped off and made out with Justin." I tease. His contagious laugh reaches my ears again and I feel a rise of uncontrollable giggles escape me. Justin is his best friend and I always had a hard time deciding who I liked better. "That wasn't the last time we saw each other though." I remind him and he shrugs.

"Not supposed to talk about those times." he says and puts his finger to his lips. I laugh and feel a little spark of excitement as I remember those times. Coming home for Christmas while in college and having a fling regardless of having boyfriends or girlfriends. Not to mention the summers we came home from College. Skinny dipping in the lake, hiking in Yosemite, and late nights having sex in every corner of this small town.

"Get out here!" He insists with a huge intoxicating smile.

I walk around the counter and walk up to him. I'm giddy. I stare up into his eyes. He's happy to see me, and I smile with my whole face as this relief washes over me. He doesn't hate me? His caramel light brown hair and tan skin make his deep blue eyes sparkle even more. The eyes alone reveal that his excitement to run into me is nothing he was expecting today. Nor was I. I take in all of his facial features and he seems to be doing the same to mine, the dimple in his right cheek is just as tiny and cute. You can only see it when you are close. He looks as though he hasn't shaved in a few days which just makes him even sexier.

Stop.

We finally at the same moment wrap our arms around each-other and I melt into his warm sculpted chest. We hug for so long I could just fall asleep. Man have I missed him!

"You never returned any of my phone calls." He says gently while still holding me.

"I suck." I say. He called me many times after Dexter died. He sent many flowers and cards. I just couldn't bring myself to call him for some reason.

"How are you?" He asks.

"Still sad. Lonely. Overwhelmed." I say as I feel tears prick the back of my eyes. I'm so emotional right now. "How are you?" How can he be here on this day of all days?

"Same...different reasons but the same. It's like you pulled all those feelings straight out of me." He sighs while I'm still incased in his arms. His warm hand on the back of my neck feels so comforting. He smells the same as he did years ago. It's the most mild, attractive and delicate male scent that is mixed with fresh laundry and lemons. He should bottle this scent. My nose always did like his subtle yet distinctive fragrance.