AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, so that's the mister?” Evelyn not-so-whispered to Sarai, and they snickered. If I were to mistakenly fall over the balcony, was there a chance I could fall into the Chicago River?
Pulling my hands behind my back, I finally looked at Alexander, who had been staring at me silently this whole time. The people around us continued with their own engagements, not minding us—but why did it feel like it was so quiet around us?
“Didn’t you miss me?” The words tumbled from my lips, and I was shocked; that wasn’t what I wanted to say! “Because I certainly missed you.” It must be the alcohol!
I was so embarrassed! Shit!
As I faced the ground, ready to take back all I’d said, my body was engulfed in warmth and the rich scent of old leather and wet grass. My shoulders sagged as I breathed out a long breath. I hadn't realized I was holding it all this time.
I wanted to cry. It felt so good to be home. Wait, do I consider Alexander to be my home? When did I start thinking of him in that way?
“You’re hugging me in front of people.” I managed to pull myself away from his suffocating, warm embrace.
“I don’t care.” He pulled me back into his body, and I pushed him away, shocked. Since when did he not care? Because he was retired now, he didn’t care anymore?
“Yes you do,” I whispered as I rubbed my arm, suddenly feeling how cold it was tonight. “You’re older than me. Won’t people think something is going on with us?” I laughed awkwardly, hoping he would pull me into a private corner where we could talk, but instead he shook his head.
“So what if they think so?” he asked as he took a step closer toward me. I was already suffocating from the five steps he was away from me, the five steps being mine, but in just one, the tip of my nose was brushing his chest. I blinked as I craned my head backward to stare at him. He seemed to realize how close he was when he carefully grabbed my head and moved slightly back. “Sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s okay.” I looked around, even though turning my head was restricted due to him holding my head. “My hair,” I mumbled, and he quickly let go of it. Laughing awkwardly, I used my fingers to fix it even though I couldn’t see.
“Here.” Alexander moved my hair around. He had a small smile on his face and he looked satisfied with his work.
“Thank you,” I said as I stepped away from his hands. “People are looking.” I turned to look out into the city.
“Do you care so much about what people think? I don’t, anymore,” he emphasized as he took a step closer catching me off guard. “I want you, Nao. I want you to be mine, and I’m sorry it took me so long to say this, I was a coward, no—” He shook his head, his dark locks moving with the action. “—a punk for thinking about others over you.”
“Seth,” I whispered, trying to stop him. Was he really going to do this in front of people?
“Yes, I want everyone to know my feelings for you,” he answered confidently as he took hold of my hands and pressed them against his chest. “Naomi, I don’t care about our age difference or what people will think about us. All I know is that I want you to be in my life forever. I want you to be mine, and I know it will be difficult in the beginning, but baby, I swear, together we’ll be able to get through anything.” He stared deeply into my eyes, his brown eyes searching mine, and he sighed as he leaned in closer. “Nao, I fucking love you,” he whispered, and my mouth dropped, but no sound left my lips.
“Ah!” Evelyn squealed. I turned to face her for a second and she covered her lips with her hands. Standing next to her were Jeff, Sarai, Daniel, and my parents. Alexander squeezed my hands gently, and I turned to look at him, my bottom lip quivering and short breaths leaving my lips.
“You do?” I whispered, my eyes filling up with tears. I instinctively moved closer to him with short steps. “You really do?” I asked again, my voice small as I searched his eyes for dishonesty. “You mean it?”
“Yes.” He nodded as his eyes became glossy. A huge grin broke out on his face as he repeated the words I longed for dearly. “I love you.”
“I—” my tears were faster than my words as I struggled to breathe in, wiping my tears with my arm. I continued crying, repeating the same word over and over again. “I—” Annoyed that the words weren’t coming out, I looked up at Alexander, who was patient with me. “I LOVE YOU, TOO!” I screamed as the tears kept on flowing down my face. “I love you so much!” I cried as I wrapped my arms around his waist, choosing to cry into his chest, not caring if the snot got on his shirt. “It hurt so much when you weren’t there. Please don’t leave me,” I begged as I held onto him tighter.
“Yes!” Evelyn cheered, and the others chuckled as they clapped their hands.
“You better not hurt my daughter ever again, Harris,” my dad said as he hit his back not-so-softly.
As the others congratulated us for becoming a couple, I kept my face buried into his chest like a child. I was calm now, but I didn’t want to let go of him just yet. Not caring, Evelyn spoke into my ear, and I raised my head from his chest as I looked at her, shocked.
My eyes felt so heavy.
“Yeah, I’m going to get that D!” she whispered as she bit her lip and waved as she walked away with Jeff. How did she manage to get that done in a matter of hours?
“Are you okay?” Alexander asked, and I looked at him, nodding. When did he move us to the couch?
“Yeah.” I sniffled as I scooted closer to him, loving the warmth I was feeling from his body. “I’m delighted.” I giggled as he groaned, covering his eyes as we remembered our first formal meeting after he got my car towed.
“You won’t ever let that die, will you?” he asked, and I shook my head, smiling.
“No. Now kiss me.”
Epilogue
