29. Neve
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Neve
T he morning after clubbing with Dalila I wake up in Celso’s bed - my bed - and I’m happy. We talk for ages. I let out everything that was in my heart - my fears and what I want for the future, even though I don’t really know - I am sure I want trust and honesty and openness. I want to rely on him.
We talk and we listen late in the morning we are still curled up in each other’s arms when Celso says, “I’ll give you a lift to your brother’s place so you can fetch all your things. You’re moving back in today. I won’t spend another night without my wife by my side. ”
A thought strikes me, and I scrunch my nose as I prop myself up onto my elbows and stare at him. “Why did you ignore me?” I ask. “For the last few days you didn’t even message me. Why?”
He chuckles.
“To be honest, there are two reason. The first is that I thought you needed some proper space to think clearly without me breathing down your neck.”
I narrow my eyes. “And the second?”
“I thought I’d let you see what it is like to miss me and realize what you’re giving up?” I chuckle.
I push him playfully on the arm. “You are so freaking cheeky.” I mutter.
He grabs me and rolls me over, his body over mine as he presses me into the mattress, pinned beneath him.
“But you came running - so it worked.” He says seductively.
“Came running?” I exclaim. “Excuse me?”
He laughs at the warmth of it rolls through me, swelling in my heart and making me smile. “Fine. I came running. Especially when you left the club as though I meant nothing.”
“What you don’t know is that I’ve been watching you the whole time. Even while I was silent. I never took my eyes off you.”
The thrill of his words runs through me and I spread my legs, wrapping them around him.
He growls low and deep and presses his mouth over mine.
By late afternoon I am moved back in and unpacked. You should have seen my brother’s face when he saw Celso was there to help me fetch my things. I’ve never seen someone looking more relieved than he looked today.
It still bothers me - that he cares so much about his campaign and so little about whether or not I am happy. But at the end of the day all I need is one person who will go to the end of the earth and back for me. And I have him.
Somehow, across the millions of people on this planet, I got lucky enough to find the person who makes me happy .
He has proven to me how far he will go to win my heart and how far he will go to keep me. He is my world, and I am his and I don’t doubt that for a second.
I zip my empty suitcase up and stand on my tiptoes to slide it onto the top shelf of the bedroom cupboards. Celso steps up behind me and takes it from my hand, easily putting it away. My body tingles with him standing so close to me. He runs his hands over my waist and kisses my neck.
“You’re packing this away, but in no time at all I’ll be taking it down for you again.” He chuckles.
“I will?”
“Come on, I’ll show you how far I got.”
“With what?”
He lead me through to the dining room, across the whole table there are brochures spread out. Along with a map. On the map there are red and blue dotted lines he has marked out with thick pens.
“What is this?” I ask, my body filling with excitement .
“This is a map of Peru, and this is a map of Cambodia, to Vietnam. I’ve plotted routes for us. The red line is easy travel. We can catch a bus or a train or something like that. The blue lines are where we have to fly, either by plane or helicopter. Some places are so remote you can’t get there any other way. Then these thinner blue lines are boat trips.”
“You’ve planned everything?” I say, my mouth dropping opening at the intricacy of it all.
“I wanted something off the track, away from the tourist traps. We would backpack, traveling light, hiking through places that most people never even dream of seeing.”
“This is incredible, Celso.” I whisper, touching my fingertips over the routed adventure.
“All you have to decide is if you want to go to Peru, and Mexico, or if you want to go to Asia. Of course, which ever one you choose now - we can do the other one later in the year - but our honeymoon is going to be something we remember forever. So, you decide - “
He sits down and pulls me onto his lap. He drags a few of the brochures in front of me .
“These are the touristy places, but the photos and venues - it gives you an idea of the type of holiday. And of course we might stay in some hotels in between our rougher side of the trip. We might need a break from the jungle and a hot tub and a cocktail.” He laughs.
I reach out and touch both brochures. Both trips would be incredible, but there is something about those jungles in Asia that are calling to me.
“This one.” I say pulling the Asian brochure closer.
“I’ll start booking the flights. I’ve already made a list of things for you to pack after I did some research. We can leave as soon as you like.”
“Are you serious? You want to go on such a wild adventure with me?” I ask.
“My angel, I’ve been waiting for you - so that we can go on these types of adventures together. You and me - we’re the same in so many ways. We both want this freedom. This escape from the norm. And now we get to do it together.”
I turn to kiss him, hugging him.
I could not have asked for a more perfect man .
The night before we leave for our honey moon, Dalila and Nevio come for dinner.
I’m excited, over excited, and talking none stop about all the incredible things we are going to see.
Dalila sits at the dining room table, our take away pizza boxes are an open and everyone is helping themselves to whatever they want. The guys are talking about four by four vehicles and what would be the best one to invest in. Dalila nudges me under the table with her foot.
“You’re glowing, Neve. It’s so nice to see you smiling like this.”
“I’m so happy, Dalila. I can’t describe it.”
“You don’t need to. It’s written all over your face. My brother too - he’s like a neon glow stick he’s glowing so much.” She laughs. “You guys were made for each other, huh?” She shrugs.
“I’m going to be sending you photos the entire trip.” I tell her, sipping my drink.
“By the looks of things you guys will not have signal in most of the places you’re going. Just makes sure you don’t get bitten by some weird spider and come back with super powers. I just want my friend back - in one piece.” She smirks. “But here is to an amazing honey moon, doing what your heart desires.” She lifts her glass to me.
Celso over hears the last part of our conversation.
“To our adventure, my love.” He smiles, lifting his glass too.
Nevio chuckles. “To finding the perfect person who makes you smile every day.” He says his eyes on Dalila. Dalila grins and scrunches her nose.
I’m so happy that she has accepted our relationship - and that we can still be best friends. It would have broken my heart to lose her, but I see now that the people who are meant to be in our lives find a way of staying, even when things get complicated or difficult. Dalila is meant to be my friend.
Celso is my forever person.
We always land up where we are meant to be in the world. And I am meant to be right here. With him.
I stare across the table at Celso and my heart warms. He smiles, the most gorgeous smile that shows off his dimples. His perfect jaw and those bright blue eyes.
He is mine and I am his and that is how it’s meant to me.
In the morning I wake up before the sun rises.
I’m alert, far too excited to do anything but leap out of bed.
Celso grabs my arm and pull me back towards him before I do so.
“Wait, you aren’t getting away yet.” He laughs, holding me against him.
“I have so much to do.” I giggle, wiggling in his grip.
“No, you don’t. I’ve done it all for you. Everything is arranged. I helped you pack already. You literally only have to get dressed and climb into the plane.”
I grin. “Alright, well, I’m too excited not to do anything, so what do you suggest I do to distract myself.” I huff.
“I have something specific in mind.” He chuckles, his hand running down my back.