Beginnings (24 page)

Jeremy, knowing how Haley could get, grabbed her hand to drag her away so we weren't stuck there being forced to tell her every detail, “Come on, lets go take a shower.”

“I know you're still mad that I waited so long to tell you,” I said pulling Annie close to me. I couldn't stop myself from kissing down her neck; it was calling me, “But don't you think it was better than finding out drunk or hungover?”

She never responded, instead she lead me back into her room while I continued kissing her neck.

********

A loud pounding on the door brought me back to reality.

“I'm taking Haley for some breakfast. You guys want to come?”

“Hell yes!” I shouted, jumping out of bed. “Give us a second to get dressed.”

“Okay,” Jeremy answered, chuckling.

Annie got out of bed and my eyes followed her as she walked to the dresser. She was completely naked and I admired how comfortable she moved her in her body. With a body like that I couldn't really blame her.

“I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe I get to wake up in your arms every morning,” her words struck me hard and I walked over to her. I was the one in disbelief that someone so amazing was mine.

My hand reached for the side of her face to caress it, “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Our lips met and I poured everything I had ever felt for her into that kiss, “Promise me, no matter what, we will always be together.”

“Always,” she breathed against my lips causing me to smile.

“Now, lets get dressed and get some food.” I slapped her bare bottom and she let out a yelp.

I grabbed my clothes from yesterday, “While we are out we should stop by the frat house so I can get some clothes.”

“Why not get all your stuff?” The words came out so casually I wondered if she had any clue how much they meant to me.

“Yeah? You want me to live here?”

Please say yes
.

“I figure we'll be together all the time now so you might as well move in.” She was fiddling with her hands, a sign she was nervous. How could she ever think I wouldn't want to?

I enveloped her in my arms, needing to be close to her again. “Thank god! I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to ever part from you-”

Her lips crushed against mine before the last word came all the way out. My body became fully attuned to the desire I tasted in her mouth.

“You're still naked,” I whispered, trailing kisses down her neck. Goosebumps formed on her skin from my hands roaming her body. I loved feeling her body respond to my touch. Her hand reached for my pants and slid underneath, almost causing me to collapse.

“Come on guys, I'm hungry,” Haley wined from the other side of the door. Her voice made me jump back. I had been so fully in the moment that I'd forgotten other people existed.

“Out in a second,” Annie responded breathlessly.

“Food now, sex later! Can't you stop for five seconds!” Haley teased back at us.

I moved to the other side of the room; being close to her was too tempting. I had a feeling it would be months before we got any sleep.

When we came out to the living room we found Haley and Jeremy passionately kissing, hands all over each other.

“Can't you two stop for five seconds,” Annie teased. They pulled apart, looking guilty for being caught. It made me happy to see them together. It was about time they stopped pretending they didn't have feelings for each other.

I drove us to the cafe where they had so many delicious sounding foods I convinced everyone we should get five different plates and share them. Jeremy was on board before I had finished the sentence and I knew we would become good friends.

I held Annie's hand the whole time, marveling at how delicate and soft it felt. She inched closer, closing the gap between us. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and gave her a tight squeeze as I continued talking with Haley and Jeremy.

I noticed that Jeremy would tuck a strand of Haley's hair behind her ear or he would kiss her dimple at every chance he got. I wondered how long he'd been dreaming of being able to do that. I'd seen the way he looked at her and my guess is it had been a long time.

I turned to admire Annie and couldn't get over how different she looked now. Her cloudy gray eyes had cleared and light shined through. The hint of sadness she'd always carried was gone. I sat and watched in awe of her as she joked around with her cousin and best friend. I felt blessed to have all three of them as my family. From that moment on we never missed Sunday brunch together. It was the beginning of a tradition that even our children look forward to.

Now that I think about it, our story had another beginning. That moment, right there in the cafe. Annie was free of her past pain and I was free to live my life as I desired it. That's when I realized our story had no ending, only beginnings.