Kourtney
“This place is beautiful.”
I grin as I gaze out at the Kittatinny mountain range from our balcony. “Are you happy with your surprise now?”
“Very happy.” Celeste slips her hands around my waist from behind me. “I can’t believe you remembered that I’ve wanted to come here since high school.”
“Of course I remember.” I lean my head back against Celeste’s shoulder. “Your parents promised to take you to Crystal Springs with them, and you were so excited, you talked about it for two weeks straight.”
“But of course they canceled at the last second because my father had a business meeting.” She heaves a sigh. “I wonder how many times he lied about having a business meeting so they could go on vacation without me.”
I spin around in her arms and settle my hands at the back of her neck, looking into her eyes. “They missed out on everything you are, and I feel sorry for them that they don’t get to know you.”
“Don’t waste a second of your time on them.” Celeste touches her lips to mine, dancing her fingertips down my spine. “We have more important things to focus on.”
I smile against her mouth. “We don’t have time for those things right now. We have dinner reservations in ten minutes.”
She squeezes my ass. “I can make you come in five.”
I push her away despite the fact that wetness pools between my legs. “It’s on the other side of the lodge, so we have to get changed and leave now.”
Celeste pouts as she drags herself over to her suitcase on the bed. “Fine, but I’m fucking you in that hot tub later.”
“You can count on that.”
Jason is at an away game for the weekend, so I decided to surprise Celeste with an impromptu trip for just the two of us. After the fight with my parents, and the awkwardness of having to see my father at work all week, I needed this getaway as much as I wanted to do this for Celeste.
We hold hands as we make our way over to the restaurant and keep our fingers laced on the table once we’re seated inside.
Now that my parents know the truth about us, it feels good to not have to hide our relationship.
I’m an affectionate person, and I want to be able to touch and kiss Celeste whenever I want, without the worry of being caught, as if we’re doing something wrong.
“This is the best seat in the house.” Celeste’s eyes widen as she sets her gaze out the floor-to-ceiling window beside our table.
“I called ahead and asked for this so we can watch the sun as it sets behind the mountains.” I smile. “Remember when we used to watch sunsets at the beach in high school?”
“Yes, because you insisted that the moon gave us special powers.”
“It doesn’t give us powers.” I wave her off. “The full moon gives off healing energy. It’s a scientific fact. Google it.”
Celeste purses her lips. “You also liked to blame everything you said on Mercury being in retrograde.”
“Mercury in retrograde is totally a real thing.” I gasp. “Oh my god, do you remember when we snuck into the school gym because we thought it was haunted?”
Amusement sparkles in her eyes. “We screamed so loud when Jason jumped out of the custodian’s closet. I can’t believe we didn’t get caught.”
“I still don’t know how he knew about our plan. We didn’t tell him we were sneaking into the school because he would’ve tried to stop us.”
Celeste chews on her bottom lip. “I might’ve tipped him off.”
My mouth drops open. “It was you? But why?”
“Because I wanted him to scare the shit out of you.”
“But he scared you too.”
She hikes a shoulder. “It was worth it to see the look of sheer horror on your face.”
I cough out a laugh. “Rude.”
The candle between us illuminates her face in a soft glow. “I would’ve gone along with any crazy plan you had because I couldn’t tell you no. I loved seeing you happy.”
“Being with you made me happy. Still does.”
“Can you believe we’re here, after all this time?”
My thumb smooths back and forth over the top of her hand. “It’s like a dream. It doesn’t seem real.”
“I’m so proud of you, Kourt. You’re taking control of your life and going after the things you want.”
“I wish it didn’t take me so long to get to this point.” I shake my head. “I think about all the time I wasted, breaking up with Jason and letting you go to Seattle. I was so scared, I let the people I love walk right out of my life.”
Celeste squeezes my hand. “Don’t think about that now. There’s no point in looking back and wishing you could change the past. Everything worked out the way it was supposed to. Everything led us back to each other. So, let’s just enjoy what we have right now.”
I lift her hand and brush my lips against her fingers. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After the waiter comes and takes our orders, we sip on our cocktails and relax as we watch the sun dip behind the mountains.
“Have you talked to Marc about your apartment?” I ask.
“He said there are a few people coming to look at it this weekend. If he finds a new renter, then I can break the lease agreement.” She sets her martini glass on the table. “I can’t wait to have access to your shower and bath tub any time I want.”
“Oh, is that the reason you’re so excited about moving in with us?”
She grins. “Among other things.”
My gaze travels to an older couple sitting a few tables down. The woman nods her head in our direction, and her husband turns to look over his shoulder.
My initial instinct is to pull back my hand and stop showing Celeste affection. But I resist the urge. We’re not doing anything wrong.
“What’s wrong?” Celeste glances to her right to follow my line of vision.
“That couple is staring at us.”
Celeste rolls her eyes. “Let them. They’re just jealous they haven’t gotten laid since the nineteenth century.”
My shoulders shake as I laugh. “Imagine if Jason were here?”
“They’d call all their friends when they got home: The gays are taking over New Jersey!”
The smile fades from my face as I steal another glance at the couple. “Do you think it’ll always be this way?”
“I don’t know. I think there might always be people in the world who don’t support our love.
It’s easier to stay close-minded than it is to go against everything they’ve been raised to believe.
” Celeste leans forward and brings my attention back to her.
“What matters is that you don’t let them steal your happiness. ”
I smile at that.
Because with Jason and Celeste by my side, nothing could take my happiness away.