Champagne Toast (11 page)

She begins pouring each of the four liquids into separate plastic trays on the countertop and explains the purpose of each liquid; how they come together to develop a photo from negative to black and white shot. She also fills other plastic trays with water for rinsing after each step.

“
So, here we have the Developer.  Developer activates the light sensitive crystals that make up the emulsion on our paper,
”
she says, holding up a sheet of photo paper.
“
When the crystals come into contact with the Developer, any parts of the paper exposed to light will become some shade of black.
”

“
Awesome,
”
is all I can think to say.  I
’
d like to say that I
’
m really taking it all in, that I
’
m actually learning, but I can
’
t stop staring at Kate.  Her lips are
so full tonight, and her never-
ending smile and enthusiasm have me mesmerized.

“
I
’
ll tell you the rest as we go,
”
she grins, realizing that I haven
’
t been giving her lesson my full attention. 
“
Before we can do any of this, though, we have to come over here to my enlarger.
”

“
Now this,
”
I say
,
gesturing towards the machine,
“—
this is a cool machine.
”

“
My parents gave it to me for Christmas a couple of years ago.  It
’
s what started all of this.  It makes this entire process possible.  We have to convert our negatives into larger images so that they can be developed into prints.  It
’
s a long, involved process.
”

“
I
’
ll follow your lead,
”
I say, gesturing for Kate to begin.  A confident, determined look crosses her face as she begins to insert negatives into the enlarger.  She giggles as she looks at the many faces I made for her.

“
Wow, you are a man of many facial gestures.  Have you thought of modeling?
”
she asks sarcastically.

“
Whatever, if the pictures don
’
t look good, it
’
s because I wasn
’
t given enough motivation.  I
’
m a serious model, I need to be inspired,
”
I tease.

“
Sure, sure.  Well, watch and learn, my handsome model
.” 
Kate quickly gets to work on the negatives and enlarging. I watch intently as she works.

“
Wow,
”
I say as she moves us towards the chemicals,
“
I
’
m in serious awe of you.
”

“
Really?  How come?
”
Kate asks, a curious look on her crinkled brow.

“
You
’
re so good at this,
”
I explain.

“
Well, wait until you
’
ve seen how they turn out.  Don
’
t speak too soon,
”
she attempts to warn me, but I
’
m not going to listen to her question herself or her abilities.
“
This is the part where you come in, Ev.  Go ahead and place this paper into the developer tray.
”

“
This one?
”
I a
sk, eager to do things properly,
wanting her approval.

“
Yep,
”
she smiles.  I dip the paper into the liquid, rocking the tray back and forth and then grasping it with the tongs when she tells me to take it out, following orders like a good student.

“
Now, this is your final rinse,
”
Kate says after we
’
ve gone through all of the steps,
“
we need to squeegee the paper and then hang it up here to dry on the clothesline.
”

About an hour later, there are multiple pictures of me hanging in Kate
’
s darkroom.

“
This is so cool, babe.  This camera, I can
’
t get over how incredible the prints are
.”  She
looks at each of the pictures, pointing out the texture in my skin as well as my hair.
“
You are a man of a thousand faces, Evan.  I swear every single shot is different.  You have such an expressive face.  It
’
s amazing.
”

“
I think you
’
re the one who
’
s amazing. And so gifted.  You did all of this, and you taught me how to do it, too.  You
’
re brilliant
.”
She smiles hesitantly. 
“
You don
’
t believe me, do you?
”

“
I
’
ve never been good at taking compliments.  You should know that by now,
”
she says, avoiding eye contact as she removes her gloves and apron.  I begin to remove my protective gear as well, following her lead.  I pull her close to me and tuck her hair behind her ears, running my fingers down the side of her face until I reach her chin.

“
Get used to it.  Because I think you
’
re magnificent.  And my God, you have no idea how many times I wanted to stop developing pictures and throw you up against the wall.
”

Kate laughs and looks me dead in the eyes.
“
Well, why didn
’
t you?
”

“
Is that a challenge, Miss Armour?
”

“
Maybe,
”
she smirks.

That signature smirk, that tiny glimmer in her eye is all it takes for me t
o crush her mouth with my own.
As my tongue strokes hers, I guide her to the other side of the room where no liquids, no chemicals can be spilled.  I may be hot for her, but I
’
m not an idiot.  She quickly wraps her legs around me and I instinctively support her thighs with my hands, guiding her to the sink.  Her ass rests on the porcelain pedestal as I place hungry kisses down her neck, biting on her skin and tugging just a bit until she moans my name.

“
Oh my god, Ev, don
’
t stop.
”

Quickly unbuttoning her blouse, I plant kisses on her breasts as I stroke the hot pink cotton bra beneath her shirt.  Her breasts are swollen and her nipples have risen to greet my thumbs as I caress them forcefully. Kate digs her hands into the back pockets of my jeans, pulling me closer and squeezing my ass with her fingers. Pushing her shirt past her shoulders, it stays on her forearms as she pulls my mouth towards hers once again.  Her tongue caresses mine fervently, pushing me to the point where I can
’
t stand it any longer.  I need to be inside her.  Kate senses my urgency and begins pulling at my belt and unzipping my fly.  I push her skirt up to her hips and yank her panties off. They are hot pink, just like her bra.  God, this girl drives me insane.

I push into her as gently as I can, and she sighs loudly, throwing her head back slightly as I enter. Her teeth pull at my earlobe as I tug at her neck with my tongue and teeth. She feels just as eager as I do as she pumps her hips into mine, her hands grasping the sink and her heels digging into my back. With each thrust, Kate cries out, louder and louder with each movement. She screams my name as she comes, which pushes me to the point of no return.  I sink into her shoulder as I groan.  My release is strong, almost primal.  Kate does things to me I never knew were possible. We stand there as one for several minutes, neither of u
s moving, still clutching each
other tightly.  Just as I
’
m about to pull away to look her in the eyes, Kate speaks.

“
I love you, Ev,
”
she whispers into my ear before kissing me softly on my neck. I feel drops of warm liquid on my skin and know they
’
re tears.

“
Kate, baby, you
’
re crying
,”
I say, concerned about her tears but elated that the woman I love, loves me in return. I don
’
t have to be afraid to tell her.  Not anymore.

“
I
’
ve been trying to think of the best way to say those words to you.
For days, I
’
ve been thinking of what
to say and how to say it.  My G
od, you
have
to know that I
’
m hopelessly in love with you
.” 
I smile, wiping the tears from her cheek.  She laughs, covering her mouth with her hand.  She
’
s embarrassed, but I don
’
t want her to be.

“
Look at me, please, and
hear
what I
’
m telling you. 
I love you
.  You
’
re everything to me, Kate,
everything
.  You
’
ve completely captured me.  Don
’
t let go.  Please, don
’
t let go.
”

Kate takes a deep breath, wipes the rest of her tears away and swallows hard, shaking her head violently.
“
I won
’
t, I promise.  God, I love you
,” s
he says as we relax into one another
’
s embrace.

Kate

December 22, 2008

“
It
’
s really cold for a football game, Ev,
”
I say, pulling on another sweater, trying my best to layer for the cold, windy Chicago air.

“
I know, but my parents sent me the tickets for Christmas and I wanted to introduce you to my beloved.  The Pack
.”
Evan grins his signature smile and a tiny dimple shows in his cheek.  It doesn
’
t always show itself, but today it
’
s prominent.

“
I
’
m shocked your dad sent you Bears tickets.  Why not tickets for a game at Lambeau Field?
”
I say, trying on Bears caps while looking in my mirror.  Evan stands behind me, his hands running up and down my sides.

“
Well, here
’
s the thing.  There
’
s nothing like Soldier Field.  I love the Packers and I love Green Bay, it
’
s a place all its own.
But, when I was a kid and we had moved here, I wanted desperately to go to a Bears Game, but money was too tight.  My dad remembers how much that meant to me, so it
’
s, I don
’
t know, just an unspoken thing between us.  Every year, he sends me Bears tickets for Christmas.  And every year, I go and I lose myself in the stadium, in the atmosphere that is Chicago football
.” 
His eyes are glistening slightly.  This means a lot to him.  I had no idea.

“
Wow, and you
’
re bringing me with you?
”
I ask, turning around and placing my hands on his chest.  I pull slightly on the strings of his Packers hooded sweatshirt.

“
And, I
’
m bringing you with me,
”
he says with a satisfied smile.

“
Well, I
’
m honored,
”
I say, patting him lightly on his strong bicep muscles, solid through the soft fabric of his sweatshirt.

“
You should be,
”
he laughs before getting a crafty look on his face. When Evan looks like that, I get suspicious.  And this time, just like every time, I
’
m right.  Evan grabs me just below my ass and hoists me over his shoulder, running me around my apartment.