Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
TRIPP
F ingers laced through Dixie's, we run towards the creek. We're laughing, carefree and down here, we didn't have to sneak around. No one knew where we were.
We met at school, we knew each other but hardly said two words to each other until her mom died. She became more secluded, withdrawn and I worried about her. One afternoon after school, I waited for her at the bottom of the steps and asked her out to the diner. Just for milkshake and burgers. I was waiting to be shot down into a ball of flames, but she said yes.
The conversation flowed, it was easy with her, like breathing. I didn't have to think about it, just knew what to do.
She didn't open up about her past, but we spent a long time speaking about her future.
So, from that day on, every Thursday I was studying in the library if you asked my family, but to me, I was courting Dixie.
I have no idea why we kept it a secret, but we both enjoyed it being something between just us. No one could ruin it, no one could take it from either of us.
It worked.
“You sure about this?” I ask, kicking off my cowboy boots and unbuttoning my pants and she giggles, nodding her head as she unbuttons her pretty cream sundress and pushes it off her shoulders. The way her sun kissed skin basked in the glow of the low afternoon sun. Her dark hair wavy and blowing in the soft breeze, shimmering hints of copper that catch my eye every so often.
“So sure,” she whispers just as her dress falls from her body and I groan in appreciation. She is picturesque. Beautiful. So, so, beautiful.
Lifting my tee above my head, I toss it into the pile of my clothes. I don't even care that I am standing in my boxers. Don't care that I am out in the open with just Dixie.
Because she is all I cared about.
We passed each other our hearts, both promised to keep them safe and never let them break.
I had fallen in love with her.
And it terrified me.
We stand for just a moment, eyes dancing together in a slow waltz. The summer breeze wraps us in her embrace, and I knew I needed to have her lips on mine. I didn't want to wait anymore.
Two steps forward and I was in front of her. My fingers fumble as I softly brush a strand of her hair away from her stunning blue eyes that glisten as she looks up at me. My hand cups her cheek, thumb brushing across her bottom lip and my heart skips a beat or two deep within my chest. Edging forward, my lips are on hers, slow and sensual without tongues and my body flames against hers, every nerve ending shot, my blood pumping hard in my ears and I am lost in her.
Her tongue creeps past my lips as our kiss deepens and I feel her body mould against mine.
Her fingers walk down my body before they're linked between mine, her lips breaking into a smile as she pulls away from me.
She drags me towards the creek and stops on the bed, her eyes playful and glistening as she slips her fingers from my hands.
My brows crinkle before she reaches up behind her, unhooking her bra and letting the straps fall down her arms and away from her perfect body. Next is her panties, she shimmies out of them and there, the love of my life, my wildest dream is standing there in front of me, baring all herself to me.
She steps into the calm water before plunging her body beneath the surface, a smirk still pressed against her lips.
“You coming to join me? Or you just going to stand there, chicken?” she teases, splashing water at me.
“I'm no chicken darlin',” I smirk, pushing my boxers down and off my feet as I step into the cool water and swim towards her, wrapping my arms around her and I groan when her legs circle my waist.
“I love you, Tripp Rivera, thank you for reminding me what it's like to feel alive again.”
My heart throbs deep inside my chest.
“I love you, Dixie. Never did I think I could love someone as much as I love you. I want to be with you every waking minute, and in my dreams I am waiting for you to find me.” I rub my nose against hers, “During the good, the bad, the ugly... you Dixie Walker, are the one that takes all the darkness from my life, the one who keeps me safe... the one who has my whole heart. You're my own little Dreamcatcher, Dixie. My wildest dream and it's one I never want to wake from.”
Her lips crash into mine and that's how we spend our afternoon, limbs tangled on the bank of the creek, away from everything and anyone as we finally become one.
Mind. Body. Soul. Heart and Dreams.
She never did leave my dreams after that day.
And even now, as I lay here as my favorite day flashes before my eyes, she is with me. Standing on the bank of the creek, wearing her pretty cream summer dress as she holds her hand out for me to take.
But I can't reach her.
I never can.
“Tripp,” her voice is soft and in the distance.
I try to move, but I am grounded.
“Tripp, Tripp...” she continues calling my name, but it doesn't matter how hard I try, I just can't get to her and I watch as she fades away and that's when I am plunged back into darkness.