Guarded Hearts (11 page)

I hear the door-bell ring and I rush downstairs to get it.

“Someone has a hot date?” Samantha asks with a smirk. She is one of my sisters, a third year S.O.S. She also holds a chair on the S.O.S directive board.

“Hope so,” I tell her as I pass her to open the door. And there he stands, all sexy and shit. He is wearing a white tee with a black leather jacket and loose jeans with some timberlands, all very James Dean-esque. I just want to drag my fingers through his silky hair. I must have zoned out for a minute, because he looks at me questioningly.

“Sorry, what?” I ask him.

“I asked if you are ready.”

“Oh, yes,” I say stepping out and closing the door behind me. He doesn’t move back as I expected, and I can smell him; all minty fresh, but still manly. I lock eyes with him. I can see his grey eyes become stormy. I think my new favorite season just became winter, because the dark grey sky will always make me remember Nix’s beautiful eyes. I bite my lip as I look into his eyes, and I see him lean in closer to me. Is he going to kiss me?

Then I feel his lips on mine as he gently tugs on my bottom lip. He sucks on it for a split second before he releases it to claim my mouth for a deeper kiss. I am in heaven. And I thought I was bold. I wrap my arms around his neck and start to run my fingers through his hair, something that I have been dying to do since I laid eyes on him. He slowly stops kissing me and steps back a bit. His hands are still around my waist and my own are around his neck, playing with his hair.

“Okay, isn’t the kiss supposed to be at the end of the night?” I manage breathlessly.

“Yeah, but I needed to get that out of the way since it’s all I could think about,” he whispers back.

He moves back a bit and I withdraw my hands from around his neck, running them slowly down his body before I break all contact with him. He grabs my hand and gently squeezes it before he turns and starts to walk to his Challenger. He opens my door and helps me get in. I see him go around the front to get into the driver side. I take this quick moment to calm my beating heart.

“So where are we going?” I ask again, knowing he will not tell me.

“Just wait and you will find out,” he responds as he turns the car on and speeds out on to the street.

I still feel nervous, but I also feel comfortable being with Nix. In a strange way the silence that encloses the car doesn’t unsettle me. Many people feel awkward with silence, but I feel that my moth-sized butterflies have calmed down. What is it about this guy that makes me feel things that I never thought possible? Why, after all these years, has my heart decided to beat a bit faster than usual? I wonder if he feels the same thing as I stare at his beautiful profile as he maneuvers the car onto the highway.

Wait, highway?

“Um, are we going somewhere far, Nix?” I ask again, because we live in a pretty small town, and everything is within reach.

“Just relax, enjoy the ride, and tell me little bit about you,” he says with a faraway look.

“Okay. So ask me the questions that you would like me to answer,” I tell him.

“Aren’t we too agreeable for a girl that’s used to giving orders?”

“Yeah, don’t get too excited. It’s only me trying to give a good impression. I don’t do this often, so take advantage, buddy.”

“Believe me, Olivia, I already have a good impression of you,” he says as he runs his gaze down my body. The car just got warmer. I feel his eyes on every inch of my body, making it tingle just like he can and has done for that past few weeks.

“Oh, about the taking advantage part, yeah, we will get to that,” he smirks. His smile stays on his lips as he starts with his questions. Yeah, I think I just sat on the sun with all the heat I’m feeling.

“So what is your major?”

“Law. I wanted to go into social work first because I want to help abused children who don’t have a voice to be heard. But then I realized that maybe I have a better chance fighting for them in the court of law, since social workers still have certain limitations in the cases that they manage. And I have a problem with restrictions. I don’t like them,” I respond, which surprises me because of how truthful I am with my answer. Everyone thought that the reason I wanted to be a lawyer was because of the prestige and power that came with the title. “You?”

“I want to be a doctor. I want to save lives. Just knowing that I can help someone and give them the chance to live, even if it just one person, would fulfill the promises I made to myself,” he answers me with sadness in his eyes.

“Well, it seems we have another thing in common. Who would’ve thought? We both not only want to save lives, we also want them to live a life,” I say.

“Yeah, way to keep it so impersonal with my first question,” he says with a laugh. I have come to like that sound. The guarded look in his eyes has gone away. Hopefully for good. It makes me feel warm inside knowing that I might have had something to do with that. I don’t know why he keeps himself so guarded, but I hope he can let me in. What am I thinking? I have to let him in too, and that is something that I am not ready for. I want to try to be in this relationship without him having to know my past.

“So, do you live around here?” I continue with the questions.

“Yeah. My parents live an hour away from school. I have dinner with them about once a month. It’s actually a requirement for them to pay my tuition. I don’t mind eating with them. Sometimes it does get out of hand, like when my mother starts talking about girls and safe sex, but I love her,” he says, turning to look back at the road. He has that frown again. I see the sign mentioning the exits for the pier out by Myrtle Beach. So I’m guessing that’s where we are going.

“Nix, are you taking me to the carnival?” I ask him with a goofy smile. He remembered one of our conversations in class when I mentioned that I have been living here a year and I had not gone to the pier and that it was something that I have been wanting to do all summer. Kylie said only teens went to the pier, not college woman.

E
ver since Olivia had mentioned in class that she wanted to go on the rides, I got the idea to bring her to the pier. I have never had an actual mature date before, so I really didn’t have many options. So I was taking all the clues from our conversations these past few days to see what she liked and didn’t like.

“Yeah, I kind of got the hint from you earlier this week, since you mention the pier about hundred times. I can take a hint,” I joke.

“What? No, I didn’t. I only mentioned it once when Mandy mentioned that some of her customers never shut up about it. I just never had time for carnivals growing up, and I always wanted to go on the Ferris wheel. Sorry if you thought that you had to bring me here. Anywhere you take me will been fine,” she says with a pout.

“I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. I just wanted to do something that you would like. I didn’t want to screw up the only chance I got to make you want to give us a try.” I take her hand from her lap and bring it to my lips to give her a little kiss, and I set our entwined hands on my lap. I look her way and she has a sweet smile on her face. That’s when I knew that this girl is going to breathe life back into me, and even though I know it’s going to hurt taking those first few breaths, it will get better. She will make it better.

I turn into the parking lot to find a parking space. I can feel Olivia’s excitement vibrating through her pores as she looks at the pier and the carnival lights. Her anticipation getting out of the car is funny; she yanks her hand from mine and opens the door jumping out before I even take off my seatbelt.

“Jesus, Livi, you didn’t even give me the chance to play the gentleman and open your door?” I say.

“Sorry, it’s cool. I know you are and I just can’t hold in my excitement. Does that make me childish?” she asks worryingly.

“Yes, but I think it’s adorable. Then again, I might be biased since I like you a lot.” She blushes. She is beautiful, beyond words. No matter what she does she always takes my breath away.

I round the car and take her hand as we walk towards the fun and games.

“Do you want to eat first or walk around?” I ask.

“Let’s walk first and see what’s around since I already know what I want to eat,” she says with a cute smile.

“Yeah, and what’s that?”

“Fish and Chips, funnel cake, cotton candy, oh, and a candy apple,” she replies with no guilt about all the carbs she is about to eat. Yep, I like a girl with a good appetite. Her joy is rubbing off on me. I feel like a kid in a candy store.

“In any particular order or how you listed them?” I turn to ask, but I have lost her attention. Her eyes are straight ahead, looking towards the Ferris wheel. It is super huge and goes up pretty high. “Maybe we should do the Ferris wheel first,” I tell her.

“Nix, am I such a dork for acting like this? Tell me the truth. I have never been to a carnival since I spent all my time studying to get a scholarship. I feel so old sometimes, but times like these I feel like a kid. So don’t lie,” she says, still worrying. As if I would think any less of her for enjoying something as simple as a carnival ride.

“No, Livi, I told you it’s cute and hot at the same time. Seeing the excitement and wonder on your face for something so simple makes me wonder what your face would look like when I give you your first orgasm with my hands.” And cue the blush. I can’t believe I left her speechless. I pulled her towards the line and we get on the ride. She still doesn’t said anything until we get to the top and she sees the view.

“Beautiful,” she whispers.

“Yes, unbelievably so,” I respond, looking at her and not the endless ocean in front of us.

We get off the ride and we head to the games, where I spend forty dollars for a stuffed Hello Kitty doll, because Olivia couldn’t leave the pier without it. Girls. We proceed to the food, which surprisingly, she did eat everything from her list and shares a bit with me. Well, I stole a few bites. We laugh so much. The last time I had this much fun was when Sky and I came here when we were about fourteen. I start to feel guilty about him not being able to experience this again or go on a date with a girl as beautiful and fun as Olivia. We start walking towards the end of the pier to see the fireworks display.

“Is everything okay, Nix? You’ve been quiet these past couple of minutes. You are not bored, are you?”

“No, sorry, I just got a little tired. I’m okay now. Let’s see the grand finale to the best date ever,” I say smiling. I really didn’t want to ruin this for her, especially after what happened at the coffee house the other day.

“I am having a great time, Nix. I will always treasure this day,” she says brightly. I pull her into a hug and turn her around to face the ocean. I give her small pecks on her neck as she looks up at the sky to see the rain of colors. The look on her face is something I will always remember about this date; to see the wonder and excitement reflect on her beautiful face makes me believe in living again, feeling again, and being able to appreciate everything in life again.

I lean in to place kiss on her neck and I can feel her melt into my body. Yes, this girl is definitely going to drive me insane. I turn her around again to face me, so that I can kiss her under the fireworks. I feel her hands going around my neck and I deepen the kiss. She whimpers and I sneak my tongue into the warmth of her mouth. She tastes like candy apple. My new favorite things, aside from her scent of vanilla and peony. I growl into her mouth as she stands on her tip toes to get closer to me. We pull apart as the last of the fireworks go up into the sky and I lean my head towards her forehead as we continue to stand there in each other’s arms. I am just breathing in her essence. One of the happiest moments of my life, and I hope it is hers too.

I pull away to start walking back to the car. She looks tired as I open the door for her and help her slide in with her new Hello Kitty. I start up the car to make our way back home. As soon I hit the highway Olivia knocks out. She looks sweet as she sleeps. I want this girl in my life. I will do anything to keep her, even if I have to break certain promises I made to myself. She is worth it.

I pull up to her driveway and I shake her slowly. I get out of the car and go around and open her door. “Olivia, baby, you are home,” I whisper, trying to wake her without scaring her.

“Aren’t we sure of ourselves, calling me baby after our first date,” she says sleepily. Her eyes have this glow in them as she starts to adjust to the light inside the car. Then she stretches and I grow hard. The way she is moving her body, she looks like a sexy kitten.