Chapter 18 Jude
EIGHTEEN
JUDE
This excursion was epic. Not only did I spend time with Faith, we reminisced and she opened up to me.
This day will forever be ingrained in my mind as one of the best days.
I can’t get over how comfortable we were while talking with each other.
It was different than I ever imagined—in a good way.
After the first couple of interactions with her, I wasn’t sure she’d give me the time of day.
On the excursion, she wasn’t trying to get away from me…
well maybe at first. It was awkward for a minute, but we fell into a familiar rhythm.
She rocked my world when she finally agreed to meet up tonight. I reminded myself that years have passed, and she may not be receptive to what I have to say—what I want to say. I’m hopeful she will at least hear me out. After today, it seems like we connected deeper than just a casual conversation.
I return to the courtyard, where the pool is glistening under the sun and looking as smooth as glass with no one swimming in it.
Spotting Max and Klara relaxing in the corner by the pool, I walk over to them, eager to share all the details of today.
My heart feels light, my mind is racing, and a smile spreads across my face.
Their chairs are situated close together, allowing them to hold hands effortlessly.
Max, with his messy blond hair and muscular frame, seems to almost take over the entire chair.
Beside him, Klara lounges, soaking up the sun’s rays in her yellow bikini.
Her sleek, blonde hair cascades down and around the chair.
The smell of coconuts envelopes me; it must be the oil Klara has on.
As I take a seat next to them, I rub my brow, trying to form a sentence.
“You’ll never believe what happened today.
” I tell them all the details of the unexpected day with Faith.
Right down to her finally agreeing to meet up tonight.
I watch Klara. Eyes wide, mouth open—she wants to interrupt, but doesn’t. She intensely listens. As I finish, she’s speechless. I wait patiently for someone to speak.
“Ok, so you’re telling me…you spent a whole day with Faith and then you asked her to meet you tonight?” Klara seems to be collecting her thoughts.
I clear my throat. “I’m not sure what possessed me. It just slipped out.”
“Jude, what were you thinking?” Klara asks me point-blank, worry in her eyes.
“I got caught up in the moment. I held back talking about what happened over a decade ago, but I want to tell her how I feel—how I felt back then.”
“What do you truly want from sharing and putting yourself out there?” she asks, her voice gentle as she walks over and places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I've messed up with her. There were so many times I didn't go after her.
So many moments I thought about her, wanted her, and then I decided to distract myself.
Eventually, I focused on photography instead.
I threw myself into becoming the top wedding photographer.
What do I have to show for that? Plenty of money.
And no one to share it with. It feels lonely.
The way my heart reacted to Faith, I’m seriously contemplating asking her to give us a shot.
A wave of dread washes over me, tightening my throat.
What if she wants nothing to do with me after all this?
And even if she did, how could it work? The distance is daunting—we live in two different places, thousands of miles apart.
This could be my chance to move closer to my family and, more importantly, closer to her.
I’d leave Colorado behind in a heartbeat if it meant even a slight chance of being with her again.
But then it hits me. My career as a wedding photographer has me flying to romantic destinations across the globe.
My breathing becomes shallow and quick as my mind races with the logistics that need to align for us to make it work.
“I’m hoping she will give me a chance to make things right with her,” I say, confident it will fall into place if we both want it.
“Bold Jude, very bold,” Max says as he listens.
“Show her who you are,” Klara says as she continues to rub my shoulder. “You’re an amazing guy who has so much to offer.”
Those words ring true. I wasn’t there for her, and the guilt and regret weigh on me like a boulder. My shoulders slump as I feel the defeat in my body.
Pull it together, dude! You aren’t getting her back with that kind of attitude.
I straighten up. “You’re right! She’s my person, and I’m not giving up this time.”
Although I dated here and there, I never truly connected with any woman like I do with Faith. I feel like this is my one opportunity to prove myself to her. When I apologize, I know it won’t fix everything, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Max pipes up, “Hey man, let’s go grab a drink.”
Klara gives him a stern look. “My advice is not good enough, dear?”
“No, babe. We need some guy time.” Max gives her a kiss on the top of her head and says, “Your advice was perfect. Now he needs a guy’s point of view.”
“If you insist,” she says before kissing him passionately.
They are the cutest couple. I enjoy being around them. Friends for life. They never steer me in the wrong direction. I like surrounding myself with people who care about one another and treat their significant other with love and compassion.
Max and I amble over to the tiki bar. As we get closer, the thatched roof comes into view.
There are plenty of seats at the bar, and we hop on a couple of stools.
The smell of the various fruits mingles with the salty ocean breeze, enticing me to order one of those pineapple drinks.
I glance at my watch. It’s only 5:30 p.m., which is plenty of time before meeting Faith.
Max takes one look at me and says, “Man, you’ve got this one chance. Are you ready to bare your heart to her? Not knowing how she will react.”
He’s a straight shooter, and that’s why we are friends.
No sugar coating it. He comes right out with it, causing me to think.
I’m opening myself up; it feels like the only way to make things right with her and my soul.
Everything gets put out there tonight and let the chips fall where they may.
I’m not turning back on this, on her. When I think about her, my body zings with pleasure and purpose. She’s mine…I want her to be mine.
“I’m going to apologize and tell her everything that happened from the minute I left for Utah until now. She deserves to know, and she may walk away. But I’m hoping she will see my sincerity and continue to listen. Then maybe she will share what happened after I left.”
“You’ve always been a nice guy, ever since I met you. You really fucked up with her, but you’ll never know unless you go for it.”
Does she ever think about me? Thoughts of her come more often than I’d like, and there are times it’s hard to not think about her.
Now, being on the resort, feels like torture.
Faith is everywhere. When I see her or think about her, my entire body buzzes.
The vision of a future together threatens my thoughts.
There’s only a slim chance of that happening, but I’m holding onto it.
This is our moment, and I need to seize it.
I shake out my arms and shoulders, loosening up. “To avoid rambling, I need to relax before seeing her. I want to be clear, so there’s no misunderstanding.”
“You good, buddy?” Max eyes me with concern.
“I will be when I get through tonight.”
If I stay focused, then tonight’s conversation will help me forge a way back to her. Into her heart, her mind, and her soul. I know we belong together. If I show her the real me, maybe she will consider giving us a second chance. With any luck, it’ll be a possibility.
“If you’re sincere about your intentions, which I know you are, she’ll see it written all over your face.” Max slaps me on the back. “Keep your focus on her.”
“I hope to get another chance to treat her like a queen. She deserved more than I gave her at the end of our relationship.”
“You were young and stupid. Knowing what you know now, you’d do things differently. Be honest with her.”
My mind plays tricks on me, and I can’t seem to get my head straight. I think it’s time to call it quits at the bar and head back. Then, I can jump in the pool, do some laps, and get ready for what feels like a once in a lifetime moment.
I finish my laps and make my way out of the pool.
My head clears as I walk to my suite and open the door.
It’s quiet. I take off my swim shorts. As my body feels calm, I flop on the bed and sink in.
I put my hands behind my head, thinking about what happened with Faith on the boat—that bikini she had on, those tits that moved with every step, bouncing and begging me to hold on and rub those peaked nipples.
Shit. Blood rushes to my cock. I grab it, hoping it will stand down, but it’s too late.
My mind is reeling with images of her stripping off her bikini for me right here in my room.
She puts a knee on the bed and swings her other leg over my hips.
My cock is hard as a rock as my hand starts to slide up my shaft.
I take my precum and swipe it with my thumb, moving it around my tip.
I continue to imagine that she glides her drenched pussy onto the tip and hovers there for a few seconds, moving ever so slightly up and down. Teasing me.
I close my eyes and imagine grabbing her hips and easing her down my cock, all the while stroking myself and pretending it’s her tight pussy moving up and down.
I start out moving with long strokes because I want this to last. I love the image of her fucking me, riding me as she gropes her tits and plays with those pink nipples.
I’m not sure how long I’ll last; I’m stroking faster and faster—short strokes now.
My hips are moving in an upward motion and matching the rhythm of my hand.
My balls are tightening, and my cock is twitching in my hand, begging for more friction.
“Fuck, Fuck!” I feel her pussy tightening against my dick and lose control.
I don’t even care that it’s my own hand squeezing as cum shoots out all over my stomach.
I continue to stroke the tip, letting every drop out, squeezing harder, shoving my hips against my hand before letting go and relaxing in bed.
The day will come, and she will be the one riding my cock as I shoot cum into her tight, perfect pussy. I’m confident that I will please her, and she won’t know what to do with herself.