In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

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 "Oh God," he replied closing his eyes. "Elton just kept repeating THEY'RE NOT DUCKS! because you wouldn't stop!" "I remember that. That was the first New Zealand trip I think. That was a great trip. I miss going on those trips," he said, a small smile on his lips. "God, that was so long ago. Everything was fresh and new. So much simpler back then." I nodded as he took my hand. We started walking around the track that circled the pond. Once we reached one of the little bridges that went over the lake, we stopped and stared down at the ducks gathering there. They were used to people feeding them. "That was before you knew me. I knew you though," I replied quietly. "When you were just an idea to me, a crush. Someone that I wanted to be with more than anything, but knew it would never happen." He nudged me with his shoulder, and smiled. "Look at us now. Take Chances right?" I giggled, and nodded, then lay my head on his shoulder. "It's nice out here. Peaceful," he said, quietly. It was. It felt like the world was on pause, like time had just stopped for a little while and we were here, in our own space where nothing could touch us. We stay there for a while, watching the ducks and the turtles, and just walking around the lake talking in the dark. The only thing that interrupted us was a text from Mrs. Gail. "Terra baby, I was wondering if you and Colby would like to ride with me in the family limo to the church tomorrow. Stacy, Amber's mother, said that she doesn't even know if she's going to attend. Anyway, I just didn't want to be alone and you're the closest thing to family that I've got left." Her words broke my heart. I texted her a quick "we'd love too" back, and sighed. "I guess it's time to go." When we made it back to the motel, we just talked into the night, like we did the first night we spent together. I told him about some childhood memories, the way I used to sneak into the theater to see movies with my friends. We would watch one, then dip out to the bathroom, then sneak into another movie shortly after. We only got caught like twice, but we did it at least twenty times. He shared some of his not so impeccable activities that he had in his childhood. We laughed, and held on to each other. I don't know what it was, but something had shifted a little since we  had been here. With us. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was though. We didn't go to sleep until the morning hours, so when the alarm sounded, I groaned loudly. "Babe," I said, nudging him. He didn't move, and I marveled again at how he managed to just sleep through some things. "Colby," I said again, rolling over and putting my head on his chest. "Sleeping. No," he mumbled, throwing his arm over his eyes. "The funeral is today. We need to get up and get ready," I said, sitting up. "No, don't wanna," he said, rolling away from me. I smiled and shook my head, then a foreboding thought popped into the forefront of my mind. "Oh my God," I exclaimed, jumping out of the bed. Colby sat straight up then. "What? What is it?" he asked, looking around like he was looking for some kind of threat. "I forgot about the eulogy that I told Mrs. Gail I would say. I have no idea what to say. How could I do that to her Colby? Oh my God, I need to write something down. Maybe I can google it," I said, my voice rushed, as my nerves took over. "I can't believe I did this." Colby rubbed his eyes and scooted up in the bed, so that he was resting against the headboard. "You don't need to write anything down. Just speak from your heart. You got this love," he said in his raspy, sleepy voice. His words calmed me just a little, but I was still freaking out. The more I thought about it, the worse it got. He sighed, and threw the blanket back to get up. He crossed the room and placed his hands on my arms. "You will be fine. I promise. This is nothing compared to everything else you've been through. Okay?" he said, staring into my eyes. For a moment, I forgot why I was nervous, and what I was supposed to be doing. That stare always seemed to have the same effect on me as it always had. "Okay," I breathed. Then I became hyper aware that he slept in his damn boxer briefs, and was almost naked in front of me. You would think that I would be used to this by now, but no. I was really starting to believe that it didn't matter how long it had been, he would just always have the same effect. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, and bit my lips. "Get dressed," I said, turning away from him so that I could go through my own things. "What? You don't like me in my underwear?" he asked, pretending to be offended. I laughed. "I think I like you too much in your underwear and we have somewhere to be. So put some damn pants on." I walked by him to get the dress that I had hung up by the sink. When I passed him, he slapped my ass, making me yelp. "I like you in your underwear too," he said, smirking at me. I rolled my eyes. "I'm not in my underwear. This is a sleepwear set, thank you." He just shrugged and gave me a half smile. "Looks like underwear to me." "Whatever," I muttered, smiling to myself as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a simple camisole with matching booty shorts. I grinned at my reflection, knowing that I still had an effect on him too. I grabbed the black dress that I would be wearing to the service, and tried not to think about how I was going to be speaking in front of everyone who knew that I was an addict myself, with no clue as to what I was going to say.