It Begins With Us

26.

Ryle:

Golden light filters in softly through the pale translucent curtains as I stir and turn over in bed. My eyes flutter open and I catch a waking glimpse of Alba sitting at the mirror table.

Silently, I watch her, my heart thrumming in my ears.

She's bent over something, the straps of her white tank top hanging listlessly off her shoulder. Her freckles scattered over the exposed skin and the neat curve of her nape glowing deliciously under bright morning light. 

Suddenly, she straightens up and the sound of shuffling papers fills the room. Her hair falls out of it's messy knot of curls and she shakes the curls out, making them fall loose from one another.

Now I'm wide awake, watching as she goes back to whatever it is that's got all of her attention.

My mind wanders over to last night, when we'd gone to Marshall's party. In a spur of emotions I had promised her I'd try. 

I had been willing to try for Lily and Emmy, but she left me so I left the notion all together. Why try so hard when there was no one to try so hard for? 

And now, out of nowhere, there was her. Alba. 

Just a handful of months ago I hadn't even known she existed. Yet here I was, making big promises and attached once again. 

Why? Simply because she wanted me to, and made it clear to me that she'd be all I needed her to be if I was all she wanted in turn. A sane and complete man, something the broken child I was never really got to become on his own.

My parents, my sister, my own wife it felt like weren't mine at all. Everyone one of them had had something more important, more lovable, to pour their energy into. Rightfully so, although damning. 

My parents never got over Emerson, while to Alyssa I was a lost cause not worth any real trouble. And Lily, she'd left me in an instant, while Alba gives me forever in every instant.

My rising thoughts of her gently pull me out of bed and lead me over to her. 

All the while, she sits with her back to me, unaware of all that she does to me. For a moment I imagine her feeling me and turning around, seeing me and smiling. I imagine her eyes lighting up and her heart picking up pace.

My hands move on their own accord and I don't try to stop them. My fingers slide through her cascade of hair and wrap gently around her warm nape. She stops and turns her head over her shoulder. In a flash, all of her love that I glimpsed the night before is right in front of me, all over her face.

It's pouring over me, in the way her eyes widen to take all of me in. In the way her lips curve, happy to see me. In the way her dimple peeks up at me. In the way her hands abandon her book and reach out for me. Or maybe, it's in the way her entire body turns to accept me, hold me.

"Good morning." She grins and I don't think I've seen her this happy since the moment we met.

"Thank you." I say idiotically and it pulls a soft laugh from her.

She straightens her torso, arching backwards, and stretches her neck up. I watch entranced as she leans her head back and waits for me to come to her. So I lean down and go to her, press my lips to her, press my chest to hers. Wrapping one arm around her neck I wrap the other around her waist.

I meld her into me completely. 

We pull apart and she turns back to her book while I stand as close to her as possible. My fingers burrow deep in her hair as I fall into a tired daze. Twirling her frizzing curls around my fingers. 

Alba:

I secretly hold my breath as Ryle twirls my hair with a dazed a look. I don't know if he realizes how adorable he's being right now, but I love it and I'm not going to risk breaking the moment. So I sit there quietly and let him sleepily play with my hair.

I'm alittle afraid now that we've stepped on from the heat of last night, that he might back out from our promise. Obviously I'm not going to let him run away, but I still don't want to have to argue about this. My eyes watch his reflection, his light grey sweats hanging low on his hips, his biceps gently flexing as his fingers twist and turn in my hair, his chest rising and falling with lazy exhilaration.

"Ryle?" I whisper gently and he hums in reply.

"...hmmm?"

"I want another kiss." I whisper and his fingers stop.

He looks up and into the mirror, his gazing into mine.

"Then kiss me." He lets out a soft little laugh alongside a grin and it sends my heart off on a frantic race.

For the first time since I've met him does he seem so at ease with his smile, so boyish and young. Glowing ever so warmly through my lens of love. 

Maybe it's because he's still half asleep, maybe it's because he feels a sense of relief from all that happened last night. I don't know, but whatever it is, I selfishly hope that it lasts. I hope it comes back again and again, till my heart overflows.

Ryle:

I grin down at her, and her eyes ask me for permission as she rises from her seat. My hands wrap around her instantly answering the question her hesitant but electric eyes ask. An explosive smile takes over her lips and she presses them to mine. I let myself feel all of her as she presses closer. Her chest against mine, her hands on my biceps, my fingers rubbing the very bottom of her spine, my thighs against hers, her feet on mine.

"Alba." I feel her name escape my lips somewhere between our lips and disappear on her's. "Thank you." I add as we pull apart and come back together.

Now I know what my first thank you had meant. My heart pulls to her, thankful for her honest love and her adoring loyalty. Alba's overwhelming presence, I'll be ruined if we're ever parted.

Whichever city she's in, I'll be right beside her. Whichever place she calls home, so will I. Whichever bed she sleeps in, I'll be there in her embrace. I don't want to imagine being far, I don't want to imagine living a day without her.

And if I want that dream to be a reality, then I have to fix what broken. Once and for all.