Page 37 of The River in Spring
“Where are you taking me?”
“Oh no, you’re not getting that information. It’s a surprise.”
“All right, Mr. Invisible. Wherever you’ve decided on will be perfect, because we will be together.”
“That’s right, babe. You and me. That’s all we need.”
I want to say the wordsI love you, but this isn’t the right time. It’s coming though. I feel it rising and I don’t know if I can stop myself from blurting it out.
Four hours later, we are on the way to the celebration. The clear starry night is a perfect backdrop for the occasion. I glance at Dove, sitting next to me as we drive to the restaurant.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you, baby. My underwear matches.”
“Prove it.”
She unbuttons the front of the dress and gives me a peek. Light blue lace bra. Nice. My hand slips beneath the edge of the fabric, and I feel the softness of her skin. As I return my hands to the wheel, she lifts and straightens her skirt.
“What do you think of my hair tonight? Thought you might like to give it a tug later.”
She chuckles, but she knows me. I definitely want to pull that hair. Just the thought of leaning her head back gives me a mini-boner. The way the sky-blue dress hugs her body and how her blonde hair is loosely braided over one shoulder. Wow.
She’s mowed down every other woman I have ever known. But it’s more than what’s on the outside. Much more. I’m aware I sound like every cliché ever uttered about men and love and lust. How it becomes all mixed together and takes over a man’s mind.
The left clicker sounds, signaling to her where we may be headed. Think she’ll figure it out now. Peripherally I see her head pick up.
“Can it be? Are you taking me to Lotus?”
“You mentioned you always wanted to go there.”
“But you don’t like sushi!”
“It’s not about me tonight. You are the birthday girl. Besides, I’ve decided to expand my palate. I’m going to try it again.”
“I love you for doing that,” she says, sending an air kiss my way.
Did she just say she loved me? Not really, but it’s good enough for me to take it further. I turn into the restaurant’s driveway and get in line for the valet before responding. Turning to her, and taking her hand, I lay it out.
“I love you for all kinds of things.”
I say it clearly, so it cannot be misinterpreted or dismissed as a sound bite. A smile breaks out on each of our faces as eyes lock. We have been dancing around this moment for weeks. But we need to move to the center of the dance floor, pause and stop everything else.
“You do?”
“I do. I love you, Dove. And if it’s too much, I don’t care. That’s how I feel.”
Our fingers braid and I’m loving the look on her face. It’s for me alone.
“That’s how I feel too. I love you, Nobel. All the way. Oh God. Here we are.”
The line of cars moves up. We are next.
“This isn’t the most romantic of settings. In a car, at a sushi restaurant.” I laugh. “But I couldn’t wait another minute to tell you.”
Her hand lifts to my cheek. “Wherever you and I are is the right place. We carry it with us now. Everything has changed.”
“Everything, love.”
