Chapter 39 #2
Maddie turns and looks at me as my gaze is still on her. “What is it?” She turns her body, shifting in my direction.
“You are it. You are absolutely stunning. Are you ready?” She blushes and smiles as I drive off to the restaurant.
Walking into ‘The Noodle’, it screams romance.
The walls are burgundy, with hanging lights throughout, lighting the restaurant just enough to create an intimate atmosphere.
The smell is incredible– pasta, bread, and garlic fill my nose, making my stomach growl.
We walk up to the podium where a young lady is standing. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes, for King.” Maddie looks at me and smiles widely.
The lady looks at us with a soft smile and says, “Right this way.” We walk to the back corner table, “Here you are, your waitress will be right with you.” She smiles and nods before walking away.
I remember Mr. Collins’ rule: pull out her chair.
I go behind her, leaving my hand on the small of her back, while pulling out her chair.
She smirks at me sweetly and takes a seat.
Okay, this is going well. Haven't let her touch a single door handle all night and pulled out her chair.
I take a deep breath and sit down, calming my nerves.
The waitress came over, and we placed our food and drink orders. From there, everything was easy. One look at her ease of movement and the way she carries herself relaxes me. I am with my person, why am I nervous? Our food gets placed down, and Maddie chuckles at me.
“Levi, are you nervous?” I wipe the sweat off my hands.
“A little bit.” I give her a wink and dig into my pasta. The conversation comes easily, just as it always does with her. Everything comes easily when it comes to Maddie.
“This is amazing. How did you find this place? I’m also impressed you called ahead and got a reservation, very date-like.” She giggles and takes her last bite.
Wiping my mouth with my napkin, I set it over my emptied bowl. “Actually, I got the recommendation from the head coach, and I called right after work. I’m glad you like it, but this date is far from over.” I sign the bill, stand, and reach for her hand, “On to date number two.”
Looking out her window, questions pour out of her with each turn, “Where are we going? What do you have planned next? You’ve really already outdone yourself. I’d be happy if it ended here, but I don’t want it to.” She sets her head back on the headrest and rolls to look at me.
“Good, Peach, because our date is far from over. Stay here for a minute… and um, no peeking.” She looks out her window, taking in the beach. “I just gotta check something.”
Jumping out of the car, I pop the trunk and grab the essentials.
The beach is mostly cleared out. The sun is just setting over the horizon as the waves crash against the pink and orange hues.
I fly the quilt into the air, placing it perfectly onto the soft, powdery, golden sand.
The birds sing as the waves create music.
Placing the picnic basket in the middle and stacking extra blankets to ward off the end-of-year chill, it's ready.
Walking to the car, I open her door. “Ready?” I say with a smile, as she laces her fingers in mine. When she sees the blanket, she gasps.
“Levi–” She slows her walking and looks at me.
“You hate it?” She shakes her head no and looks at the view.
“It's incredible. No one has ever done anything like this for me before.” She looks back at me as the setting sun hits her blue eyes, making them sparkle.
“I’m happy to be the first.” I take her hand as we walk onto the blanket before sitting down. “So, do you want to do dessert or our game first?”
She smiles shyly, “Dessert. Always. While we eat dessert, you can tell me what game you have planned.” I pull over the picnic basket and unlock the clasps.
“I can do that. So, for dessert, you have choices of two types of cookies, or a double chocolate brownie cookie, which I happen to hear is your favorite, all freshly baked.” Her eyes scan over the numerous choices, taking in the sweets.
“Levi, this is incredible. I have to have one of each; I can’t believe you’ve gone through all the trouble to make this date everything it is.
” She grabs a small slice of brownie cookie and takes a bite.
“Mmmmm, oh my god, this is the best thing I have ever had in my mouth. Amazing.” My eyes grow wide as a cheeky grin displays across my face.
“Peach, hurtful.” I fall dramatically into the sand, “My heart, owww.” I grab my chest, and she laughs before placing her hand on my chest.
“One of the best things.” She winks at me, finishing her last bite. “So, tell me, what’s the game? Never have I ever? Truth or Dare?” All good choices, but neither.
“Not quite.” I turn around, digging into the picnic basket, pulling out sand toys meant for children. I smile proudly, holding out two small buckets with shovels and little trinkets. “We are having a sand castle building contest, for one minute, first one done, wins.” She smiles widely and laughs.
“It’s so on, you're going down, Levi.” Maddie jumps up and grabs a bucket. We move next to the blanket and start building.
Maddie is rocking it; her castle stands tall and proud as she uses the wet sand to pack it.
Noted. Following her movements, I run and grab wet sand, shoveling in quickly, knowing my time is running out.
She runs over to get more sand when I drop my bucket, wraps her arms around me, and I scoop her up, running her to the water in the opposite direction of her castle.
Maddie kicks her perfectly toned legs and squeals at my sabotage.
Setting her down, I kiss her cheek before turning and running for my bucket.
“Better luck next time, Peach.” Placing my pail firmly on the ground, knocking on the sides, I pull it up, and the entire castle falls.
Next to me, Maddie busts out laughing as she lifts her bucket, and her sand stays in perfect uniform, just as the timer beeps.
My castle looks as though it has been through battle, while hers stands beautifully, just as she does with a glowing smile on her face.
We take a step back and admire each other's hard work. Maddie’s is sturdy, with one big castle in the middle, two tiered, and four small ones surrounding it.
I walk over, taking it in. “Peach? Is that a moat? You not only made a top-notch castle, but it also has a moat!?” Placing her hands on her hips, she stands proud.
“I came here all the time with my mom when I was younger, and this is what we did: we would make the biggest castles, with moats, and we’d bring little Barbies pretending they lived in it.
Back when we were really close, anyway, you don’t want to hear about all that.
Your umm… castle looks like it’s seen better days. ”
I look at my fallen castle and smile. “Yours looks incredible, you’ve always been good with your hands, baby.” I wink, making her blush and smile. I extend my hand, a silent plea for hers, “Let’s walk.” She places her sandy hands in mine, and we start down the beach.
“So tell me, Peach, about your days on this beach.” She looks at the view, then at me, and I watch her bite the inside of her cheek. I squeeze her hand, reassuring her. “Or tell me something that makes you happy, anything.”
Her ocean eyes find mine, and I drink them in.
Swallowing, because damn, is she gorgeous.
“My favorite thing when I was younger was coming to this beach, and building sandcastles with my mom, then we would walk over to the slushy shop, and I’d get a red and blue slushy.
” It makes me smile to think of her little self slurping down an entire slushy.
“My mom and I used to be close, but my dad works a lot, and he always takes her with him on business trips and to meetings, and now it's just me. I wish I had someone like Scarlett. I love the love you have, and I know it hasn’t been easy, but I’ve never had anyone care for me the way you care for her.
” She squeezes my hand. “Tell me what makes you happy, Levi King.” She looks at me, as I watch the slight smirk and glossy eyes.
“Being with you. Watching you smile and opening my eyes to a world I never knew existed. I didn’t make a good castle because that was my first time.
I was nervous at dinner because that was my first date.
You make me happy, Maddie.” She blushes and kicks the water rolling over our feet into my pants.
“You wanna play dirty, huh?” She scrunches her nose and takes off running back toward the picnic blanket.
Sliding onto the blanket, she falls on top of me when my arms wrap around her waist.
Her nose touches mine. I want to kiss her, but I am trying to be a gentleman, so I nudge her nose with mine, as she says, “I’m happy with you, too, handsome.
” We fall onto our backs and look up at the night sky, now illuminated with stars.
“This view is beautiful.” Her eyes are zoned in on all the stars above, while mine are locked on her.
“Yeah, it really is.” She turns her head now, looking back at me, watching as her eyes dart from my eyes to my mouth, back to my eyes.
Placing my hand on her soft cheek, my thumb glides along her jaw.
Our lips gravitated towards one another until her soft lips grazed mine.
Not wanting to lose this moment of pure happiness, I plant my lips on hers.
Tasting her cherry lip gloss, pulling her body into mine, wanting to keep her here forever.
My muscular arm locks around her, begging her not to let go, while my other hand rubs her face, holding her into me.
Her flowy dress rises, revealing her tanned thighs and hips, making my mouth water.
A soft moan escapes her, sending waves of lust and desire straight down to my cock that I have been telling to behave all night.