Chapter 33 Heath
HEATH
I love this girl.
I know I already do.
But it’s like I’m falling for her every second more that I spend with her.
Everything about her consumes me like a drug until she’s all I can think about.
My head is filled with her words, her voice, her laugh and glimpses of her smiles that she gives to me so easily.
The way her pretty brown eyes twinkle at the sight of me, as if seeing me makes her happy and how she softens when she’s in my arms as if the weight of the whole world slips away from her shoulders.
Lifting off my foot from the gas, I slow down, knowing she doesn’t like it when I drive fast. Having her mind relax is important to me. Because God knows she doesn’t let it rest with her overthinking.
The car feels too quiet and small with her presence. The scent of lavender flowers is suffocating the tiny space but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I look over at Hope and find her sleeping. She’s curled up on the seat and is holding the bouquet in her lap and my hand.
Marie told me that Hope didn’t sleep the night. She woke up once and found her just lying there and staring out of the window. Probably occupied in her head with her thoughts.
Parking the car on the side of the highway, I let go of her hand and get out to grab my blanket from the trunk.
There’s also my jacket that I know she’ll be needing it tonight when it gets cold.
The weather has changed quite a bit and it is getting chilly these days.
I don’t want her to feel cold when she’s with me.
Slipping back inside, I carefully lean back her seat.
When she doesn’t wake up, I take the bouquet and handbag out of her hold and put them in the back.
I drape the blanket onto her and make sure every part of her is covered — even her sexy legs that I can’t help but admire.
They look delicious in that little, short dress that fits her so beautifully.
I’m about to move back, but pause when I look at her face. She looks so peaceful, more than she has had after what happened.
The urge to touch her face and kiss her bubbles underneath my burning skin, but I shove it deep down. I don’t want to wake her up. She needs rest because today is going to be an exhausting day. I planned everything keeping her in mind. Because I want her to have the best date.
She deserves it.
Still, not being able to hold myself back — because I love the fucking bones of this girl — I tuck back the curl that kisses her face so gently that I wish it were my lips instead.
For fuck’s sake.
What is happening to me?
It’s like I’m forever stuck to her by the glue.
It’s her or no one else.
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We’re ten minutes away from the destination when Rose stirs beside me. Her eyes flutter open and she finds me staring at her.
I’m stuck in a traffic jam, and I’d rather watch her than the long lane of cars.
I tuck her chin up and rub my thumb over her chin. “Sleepy head.”
She stays put. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”
I narrow my eyes. “You should be. I was having fun talking to her.”
Her eyes widen and she quickly sits up. Remorse flashes across her face and she grabs my hand. “I don’t know what happened. I—”
Pulling her to me by the chin I bring our faces closer. “I’m teasing you, Rose.”
Her eyes look sad. “I’m sorry—”
“You don’t have to be.”
She shakes her head. “I love talking to you and I wanted to talk to you. But I didn’t sleep last night.” She hits me with those beautiful, magical eyes of hers that got me into this trouble. “I don’t know what happened, but being here with you made it easier for me to sleep.”
My chest feels tight, hearing her say that.
“You can fall asleep on me anytime,” I tell her. Moving my hand from her chin to her cheek, I caress her with my knuckles. “I love it when you get comfortable with me and trust me.”
The horn blares from behind us and I have to let go of her.
But the fact, her cheeks are a little bit pink tells me everything.
Fortunately, the lanes keep moving and I’m able to drive us closer to the destination.
When I glance over to check up on her, I find her face pressed against the window as she stares out at the busy streets, bustling crowds, crowded shops and tall buildings. Her eyes are filled with wonder and so much excitement that I can’t help but smile.
We pass a huge bookstore and she stares at it with such longing that I want to park right in front of it and take us inside. It takes everything in me to not make a change in plans. Where we’re going, we have to be there on time before it closes.
Besides, this particular bookstore is on the list anyway. We’re just coming to it later.
I roll into the parking lot and Rose gasps when she reads the giant roof signs that says—
“Aquarium!” She grins so big it wakes up the butterflies in my stomach.
“Yes,” I say, and park the car in the empty parking slot.
It appears to be little crowded and that annoys me.
If it were to me, we’d come on a weekday to avoid people and roam around freely.
But bringing her this far on a weekday would’ve been difficult.
In fact, it would’ve been impossible. If the situation with her parents hadn’t happened we wouldn’t even be here.
While she grabs her stuff from the back, I get out and stalk over to her side and open the door for her.
She hits me with a grin that makes me it so hard for me to not kiss her like I need air.
Kiss comes at the last. Sebastian’s words ring in my head.
I find it fucking stupid because we’re in love and have kissed plenty of times but according to him it matters.
Make sure she has a good time or else I will kick your ass. Marie’s warning comes to the front of my mind.
Clearly, I’m off my game today because I’m hearing their voices in my head. Usually they’re the background noise.
“I’m so excited,” Rose gushes as she takes my offered hand and tightly holds it. “I can’t believe it we’re here.”
“Believe it,” I drawl out.
She stares at the building with sparkling eyes and dazzling smile as if I made one of her wishes come true.
Just seeing that look on her face, I want to give her the whole world.
Rose looks so beautiful it makes my heart race. I can feel every beat like a drum in my ears. I’m scared that if she hears it, she’ll know how much she affects me.
Before meeting her, I didn’t know just how strong and powerful love is.
Ever since I’ve fallen in love with her, my world rotates on its axis a little crooked. Everything seems different and new.
And she’s changing me too.
Rose slowly drags me along with her to the entrance area that is bright and open. Her eyes take in every single detail while mine are locked on hers like a hawk. I don’t want to miss anything.
I quickly buy us tickets and check us in.
We pass by a lot of gift shops that have sea creatures themed things like stuff toys, t-shirts, mugs, jewelry and so much more.
I cast a glance at my girlfriend, checking if she is interested, but she is busy assessing the inside of the building with a huge smile.
My fingers tighten around hers, making sure there’s a firm grip that won’t let her get lost as we weave through the eager, loud crowd.
“Wow,” Rose breathes, her voice hushed as we step into the expansive hall. The air is cool and thick with the scent of saltwater. Around us, small tanks glisten under the soft blue light, each one containing a vibrant world of fish — colorful, darting between swaying plants and smooth rocks.
She slowly walks over to the tank nearest to us, and bends down to look at the fish.
We’re surrounded by people with noise floating all around us, but a quiet descends on me as I stand next to her and watch the tiny creatures as they leisurely swim by us.
Then we move along to the next tank that has shrimps scuttling through the calm, translucent waters. Their bodies are adorned with bright colors and they look amazing as they weave around the rocks and algae.
For a split second, I sneak a glance at Rose and get mesmerized with the way the blue light paints her face like a gentle caress. Then, a soft smile carves up on her face making her look breathtaking.
My blood races, a steady thrum beneath my skin, and I hold my breath.
She lets out a playful giggle, and I hear it so clearly and precisely in a room that is packed with people, because to me only she exists. Only she matters.
From there, we move from tank to tank, and my eyes stay fixated only on her. She laughs, smiles and giggles. Not knowing I’m storing all those sounds in my head to listen to later.
We follow others as they enter the dim tunnel and an immediate hush falls over.
The air goes quiet and the world turns blue as if we’re trapped underwater in a glass cylinder.
A lone Manta Ray nears us above and Rose shifts closer to me.
Not taking my eyes off it, I let go of her hand and wrap my arm around her waist, bringing her closer to me.
She inhales sharply, when the Manta Ray glides over the top of our heads, unbothered and disinterested in the pair of eyes staring at it with sheer bewilderment. Its shadow falls over us and I pull her closer as we both watch it holding our breaths.
“Oh my God,” she whispers.
“I know,” I mutter.
She meets my gaze with a smile. “That was so exciting.”
On instinct, I lean down to kiss her, but retreat at the last moment.
For fuck’s sake.
I have to wait till the end of the date.
Something else catches her attention and she slips out of my hold, grabs my hand and drags me deeper into the tunnel. And I let her.
Pressing her face against the cold glass, she gapes at the massive sharks that glide around gracefully. They move with such confidence and ease as if they own the waters around them. Rose seems hypnotized by them.
As we move down the long tunnel, more Manta Rays swim over us and we crank our necks every time to catch a mere glimpse of them.
“Look, Heath,” that’s all she says before she’s tugging me to the right. Turning to me, she shoots me the biggest smile I’ve even seen on her. “Jellyfish!”
Before I can reply, she faces it and touches the glass as if to touch it.
Stepping forward, I stand beside her.
“Look!” she says, pointing to the sea turtles that come close to us as if greeting us. There’s this one particular that can’t stop staring at my girlfriend.
I narrow my eyes on him, hoping he’ll get the hint but he only swims near.
“Oh hi,” Rose speaks with such softness and sweetness in her voice it evaporates my anger.
But remnants of it linger when that fucking turtle doesn’t back off.
Rose laughs and says, “I love it.”
I do not.
A second later, a shoal of fish bursts past them — their colors so many and beautiful — and all the turtles separate as if to make room for them.
Rose waves at the turtle then turns to me. Her expression drops. “What’s wrong?”
I let out an annoyed sigh. “I don’t like that turtle.”
“What?”
I just stare at her. “He was watching you a little too much.”
A few seconds passes, then her lips wobble and she’s laughing openly.
I fight the urge to scowl.
“Are you jealous of a turtle?” She asks in between her delicious laugh.
This time, I can’t withhold my scowl and narrow my eyes on her.
Sea creatures float over to us behind the glass, just as Rose steps into my space. Her delicate, pretty face gets closer to me. A rugged breath leaves my lungs.
Fuck.
This girl is so beautiful that it knocks the air right out of me, like I’ve forgotten how to take a simple breath.
“You don’t need to be jealous,” she tells me. “I only want you.”
I only want you.
Those words keep turning over and over in my head, a relentless mantra I can’t put a stop to.
I only want you, too.
Rose gets closer, until her chest brushes across mine. The contact sends a rush of heat through my system, and an ache settles deep into my bones to infuse her inside of me.
“Besides, a turtle can’t take me away from you,” she grins.
I lean my head down, and stare at her. The world fades away into a blur of colors, noises and distant murmurs, and she is the only one who has all my attention.
My expression smoothes out, and my body relaxes, the burning sensation in my chest disappearing.
“No one is taking you away from me,” I tell her.
She grins wider and my lips twitch until a smile is forming on my lips.
This girl knows how to make me smile.