Page 48 of Marry Me Tomorrow
“How about we head over to Anakeesta?” Jenny calls out to me.
“Sounds good,” I say. “I need some space from this cabin.”
Chapter 20
Jenny
Anakeesta ends up being a whirlwind of fun and adventure. If I thought Trent was goofy before, it is nothing compared to the excitement he exudes as we ride the railroad and zipline over the mountain. Trent seems lighter here, carefree and full of energy. It’s been nice to relax and enjoy nature and each other's company. I feel closer to Trent than I have the whole time I’ve been working for him.
The rest of the day passes in a blur, and at dusk, I get truly excited because I cannot wait for the hanging bridges. “This has been so much fun,” I tell Trent, my voice filled with excitement.
“Definitely,” Trent agrees, his grin out in full force. “I don’t know why I’ve never come here before. Our friends would love this place. It reminds me of the activities we did on the cruise we took last summer for Greg and Holly’s wedding.”
“I bet that was a fun trip.”
“It was,” he says, “but I’m betting the hanging bridges are going to be just as great.”
“I hope so,” I say. “From what I read online it looks really pretty at night.”
We head over to the entrance of the hanging bridges, and I squeal in excitement. It’s more gorgeous than I could have imagined. The lights create a magical glow, illuminating the path through the trees. The strands of twinkling lights line the wooden bridges and wraparound tree trunks. The soft, golden glow reflects off the leaves and trunks, casting gentle patterns of light and shadow, as lanterns hang at random intervals, adding a rustic, whimsical charm. I glance over at Trent, and his smile is brighter than ever.
“This is awesome,” he says, his voice filled with awe.
“It feels so magical. Like we're stepping into a fairy tale of sorts.”
We walk along the bridges quietly, taking in our surroundings. I love that Trent and I can be together without any words. Even in the quiet, I feel seen. It feels nice to be seen. For once, everything feels simple and right.
“It reminds me,” I say softly, “of our wedding.” I pull my arms tighter around myself to help keep some warmth as the night gets chillier.
“How so?” Trent asks, his tone gentle and curious.
“The fairy-tale feeling. On our wedding day, I felt that way too.”
Trent steps closer to me and wraps his arms around me, pulling me gently against him. His hands trace soothing patterns up and down my arms.
“I had a similar thought that day too,” he says. “And you looked beautiful, like something straight out of a fairy tale.”
I lean back into him and enjoy his body heat. It never fails that in his arms, I feel safe, cared for. From that first day he saved me to dancing on our wedding day to now, I feel safe and content with him. In this moment, there is no rushing around, no expectations, just him and me, standing in this quiet, magical, fairy-tale world.
Trent pulls me in tighter, his embrace comforting and strong. After a while, I say, “We should probably head back soon.” I reluctantly pull away from him.
Trent nods in agreement. “You’re right. But Jenny . . .” He lifts his head, his eyes searching mine. The way he looks at me makes my heart skip a beat.
“What is it?” I step closer to him and take his hand in mine.
His gaze softens, and he shakes his head, his expression turning more serious. “Let’s get you out of this cold air.”
He starts to turn away, but I still have his hand in mine and, almost as if I’m not in control of my body, I pull him softly back toward me. He turns back in confusion, and I don’t think—I just act.
Reaching up with my other hand, I cup his cheek. Our eyes meet, and in that moment, I forget everything except the warmth of his skin under my hands. I pull him the rest of the way toward me. His lips are warm and firm against mine as I kiss him.
It only takes Trent a moment to react, and then I’m being pulled flush against his warm, strong chest. Our kiss deepens as he reaches around and cups the back of my head, pulling me closer to his lips. No warning signs go off, no fear of ruining our friendship, just the passion and care that we have for each other coming out in this kiss. It’s filled with longing, with emotions we’ve both kept hidden.
I let go of his hands and pull his jacket toward me, my fingers trembling as I lose myself in this feeling. Our lips move at a slow pace, nothing rushed about this kiss. A tear slips down my cheek, and I let it fall, overwhelmed by the intensity of this moment. How can this guy be so perfectly perfect?
Fire rages inside me and it’s all I can do to hold on and not burst into flames. His kiss is passion come to life. His hands, calloused and rough from days working on boats and cabins, brush against my cheeks and through my hair, making me feel cherished.
It’s not until another couple walks by that I remember where we are. I step back, blushing furiously.
