Page 58 of Meet Me in the Vines
I limp into the living room and triple check my list.
“Okay, guitar, flowers, sweater for Audrey, blanket, food, wallet, keys,” I mumble. I’m frantically pacing around like a madman, rubbing my palms up and down the sides of my jeans like I can’t get out a stubborn stain.
“Dude, chill the fuck out!” I grumble to myself, my fingers laced behind my neck. I look up at the ceiling and groan. My hands come down to my hips as I let out an exasperated sigh.
“Okay. It’s gonna be perfect. She’s gonna love it. You got this. Don’t be a pussy,” I rally, gathering everything by the door to load into my truck.
The air outside is crisp. The sun is low, but not yet set. The cool breeze instantly calms me and the nerves that were building up shift into pure excitement. I place the food in the back seat and toss everything else into the bed of my truck before hopping into the driver’s seat.
Donovan
Mouse, I’m on my way. See you in 15.
Audrey
I’ll be waiting :)
This time, I’d show up. I wouldn’t keep her waiting. I’d finally get the chance to give her everything.
Fuck, I love this woman.
I grip the steering wheel so tight that I’m vibrating in my seat. Last time I was this stoked, I was eleven. My dad took James and I see the midnight showing ofStar Wars: Episode III. This date tops that by a landslide.
I see the winery just over the hill, the long, winding driveway in view. I wonder if I would’ve felt exactly like this ten years ago. Would I be nervous to take her on a first date after our night together? If things went well, would she have let me have her theentire summer? Those questions don’t matter anymore because we have today.
Today and every day after, Audrey is mine.
The giant oak trees lining the driveway cast shadows on my truck in the late afternoon sun as I pull down the road. When the front porch comes into view, all the air empties from my lungs.
Wow.
She’s leaning against a column on the porch, looking like an angel in that white dress. Or maybe more like a minx. The dress hugs every curve, accentuating her hips. I trail my eyes down her feminine legs, appreciating the invention of high heels. She tousles her loose waves over her shoulders, kissed by the sun from our days riding the quads outside. Her hair sparkles in the golden-hour glow. But nothing beats her bright smile. That smile is for me.
I’m inside a time capsule, suddenly eighteen again, picking up the girl of my dreams for a first date. She was beautiful then, and she is beautiful now.
That’s my girl.
I pull up in front of the porch and park the truck, leaving the engine on. She stands poised, looking like a goddess, and my mouth runs drier than the Sahara. I come around the truck with the flowers and run up the porch steps, lifting her up and kissing her hard. I’d been aching for her kiss all day.
Our tongues fight one another and she softly moans into my mouth. My hands cup her backside as I try not to crush the flowers in my grip.
If I could take her right here, right now, I would. But it’s not my call. It’s hers. I’ll wait as long as she needs me to.
She breaks the kiss, and I gently set her back down, our breathing heavy. She rests her forehead on mine and wraps her arms around my neck.
“Baby, you look… God, you look…” I stutter, her effect on me causing me to lose all function.
“You showed up this time,” she hums, kissing me and smiling against my lips.
“I’m sorry I’m ten years late to our first date, Mouse,” I whisper. I bury my face in her neck and breathe in her scent of freshly cut flowers and berries. Her eyes shimmer with wetness.
“It’s okay. This time, you didn’t keep me waiting,” she murmurs, rubbing her nose against mine.
“These are for you.” I unwrap my arms from her waist and give her the flowers I picked from the shop. It’s a combination of lilies and tulips—her and Violet’s favorites. She leans in and smells them, humming in pleasure.
“Donovan, they’re so beautiful. Thank you,” she breathes out. I hold her hand and help her down the steps, opening the passenger door for her. I get a flash of her ass as she climbs in and my dick twitches in my jeans.
Down, boy.
