Last Heartbeat (17 page)

“So you are like me and have to have bare feet in the sand?” Phillip asks.

“I’ve loved to have my feet in the sand ever since I was a little girl. I would play all day on the beach and make sandcastles. I wasn’t very good at making them when I was small. I really didn’t care what they looked like. I wanted to play and pretend I was a princess in my castle waiting on my Prince Charming to come. I know that was silly. I was about eight when I use to be a princess, and don’t laugh at me for telling that story.”

“Why would I laugh at your story? I think it is cute just like you are. Keeping telling me more of your stories please.” He smiles so wide that his dimples appear and melt my heart. How could I resist that face?

“Okay, I will tell you another one as we walk. Then we need to get back to do the homework that is waiting on us. I remember another time my parents brought me here for summer vacation. I guess I was about eleven and I started noticing boys. I was enjoying a nice sunny day when this boy came over to where I was. We hit it off really quick and started building a huge sandcastle. This castle was bigger and better than the ones I use to make by myself. We even made a moat around it and collected shells to decorate the castle. I can’t remember the boy’s name. Every day that summer we played on the beach. I think I might have had a little crush on him. I knew he didn’t feel the same, because he was a bit older than me. That was a really great summer and I hated that I had to leave. It was always hard for me to leave this place and go back home. I guess we need to hit those books.” I notice that we’ve walked a different way than toward Megan’s house and I’m glad. It looks like that girl has parties every night. Her parents must neglect her or something, because she seems like she needs to have people around her every night. Who knows she might just be lonely.

Phillip gazes at what I am looking at, and I believe he might have just read my mind, “Megan must be at it again. I wonder how she gets away with so many parties. I think she has had one every night since school started. I hope Tyler and Jacob haven’t ended up at her party again. They told me they were going to the football game.”

We ended up back at the condo and Phillip looks a bit worried. I try comforting him. He must be thinking about his friends.

“I’m sure they went to the game. Who could party every night? It has to be rough on the body.”

“Jacob could party every night and that scares me. I hope he never drinks and drives. If that happened, something bad could happen either to him or others.”

“Why don’t you give your friends a call and see what they are doing? That way you won’t worry while we are studying.”

“How did you get so smart, my girl? You wouldn’t mind if I called first, would you?”

“No. Go ahead and while you are on the phone, I’ll get in the shower, if that is okay with you.”

“That would be fine by me. If you need some help, let me know I will be gladly to help out.” He winks at me as I head to the shower.

I giggle. “I think I can manage, but I will keep you in mind if I happen to need some help.” Smiling at him, I close the door.

Wow,
I now remembered, how hard tonight will be. I hurry and shower. I want to spend every minute I can with Phillip. By the time I finish, I head back out to the living room and see Phillip sitting outside on the balcony. He looks like he must have showered and changed into comfortable clothes. I walk out on the balcony to join him. It feels so natural being here with Phillip, and I know how fortunate I am to be here.

“Did you talk to your friends?”

“Yes, and they are fine. They knew about the party but stayed away tonight. Jacob even surprised Tyler with not drinking or wanting to go partying. That surprised me too. I’m glad he has taken a break tonight. I want to spend every minute with you and not be a designated driver for my friends. Don’t get me wrong I would go pick them up anytime. I want to be selfish and spent the rest of our first date together without interruptions though.”

As soon as he says this, he pulls me down onto his lap. Phillip reaches up with his hand and caresses my face. He gently pulls my face close to his and kisses me. The kiss is passionate and intimate. I’m glad that I’m sitting while he is kissing me or I would have been on the floor. Can you say weak-in-the-knees kind of kiss?

We finally come up for air and we both are having difficulty breathing. He looks into my eyes and I can see desire in his beautiful brown eyes. This makes me melt into his arms and kiss him again. He interrupts us because we are getting too excited and our hands have been roaming in places they should go unless we want to go further. Tonight we are not going there.

“Alexia, my beautiful girl, if you want to keep tonight a PG rating we need to stop now,” he says, barely breathing, and I notice that I’m barely breathing too.

“I’m sorry. I got carried away and couldn’t help myself. I do want to make love to you, but not tonight. I think we should wait until we get to know each other better and I am new at this. I should get off your lap, so we don’t get carried away.” I try to get up, but he doesn’t let go of me.

“It is my fault as much as yours. Don’t be sorry. I truly enjoyed myself, and when the time is right, we will make love when you are ready. I will wait as long as it takes. I don’t want to rush our relationship. You are too special to me not to wait. Take as long as you want. I will be right here when you’re ready, and no pressure.” He kisses me softly this time and I know he meant what he said. I hope my hormones don’t get the best of me and I can wait until I am truly ready. Being close to Phillip makes it so hard.

“Thank you for understanding. You are special to me, and I want our relationship based on getting to know each other first, not about sex. We can’t rush this. So far we are off to a great start in our relationship, although we have been doing things backwards. Making love is a big step and I have to truly know you and know how you really feel about me before that happens. I have been saving myself for that one person who loves me the way I want to be loved, and that is with all of his heart. That no matter what, he will take care of me and be there for me when I need him to be.” I look into his eyes, and I believe he understands me.

“You deserve all that and more, my sweet girl. I plan on being everything I can be for you. To show you that kind of love. And I will be there for you as long as I am able. Hopefully my liver will last a lifetime. I need to prove to you my feelings and earn yours so we have to wait for this before the next big step. Now lets see if we can work on that homework we planned.” He gets up and goes grabs our books.

I notice that he seemed a little sad when he talked about his liver. Hopefully it will keep him alive for a long time. I know I have to tell him soon about my heart, and maybe he will accept me the way I do with him. We may not have perfect bodies, but we can live for the now and enjoy each other while we can.

We study for a while and get a lot done. I start yawning before too long and Phillip says that we’ve done enough. We head to the bedroom like a real couple does and get ready for bed.
Wait
. We are a real couple. This sets in that this sexy guy I am going to bed with is mine. Yeah, I’m thankful. Who knew five years ago when I was on my last heartbeat that I would be here with Phillip?

Phillip sees me smiling. “What is that beautiful smile all about?”

“I am thankful to be here with you. It is crazy that it has been just been a week since we met. Now I am your girlfriend and going to bed with you, even if it is to sleep. Maybe we’ll kiss for a while and snuggle before sleep.” I smile and bite my lip after saying that.

“Well I’m thankful too. I have made out the best in this deal. Look how beautiful and sexy you are. Every guy will be envious of me. Even getting you in our bed for your kisses and snuggling will be my dream come true. You know, if you bite that lip again and you may get more than what you bargained for. That is hot, and it makes me want to lose control. I want to throw you on our bed and kiss you all over, so you better stop biting your lip.” He gives me his sexy smile that shows off his dimples.

I wonder if he is telling me the truth. Yeah, I am biting my lip and smiling at him, daring him to do it.

“I warned you, Alexia. Now be prepared to be kissed,” he growls and grabs me. We fall on the bed.

Wait.
Did he call this bed
our
bed? Maybe I heard that wrong. He looks into my eyes smiling and starts kissing me all over my face before he starts moving to my neck. I really like this too much and never want him to stop. He keeps going down to my shoulder, and I shiver with each kiss. I feel his kisses it all the way to my toes. This makes me wonder how it will feel if he keeps kissing me farther down, and I welcome it because I want to know the feeling. He knows what he is doing that is for sure.

He starts to pull my shirt down around my chest to kiss me there and I am so into it that I almost forgot about my ugly scar. I quickly jump up from him and pull my shirt back up. I hope he didn’t notice my scar. Tonight I am not ready to tell him how I got it.

“Sorry, Phillip, I got carried away and I shouldn’t have let that happen. You make me want to do things I’ve never even thought about before. Please forgive me for teasing you like that. I will try not to do it again.” I look at him with a little smile, hoping he really didn’t see my ugly scar.

“You have nothing to be forgiven for. I was as into you as you were me. We will have to stop now before I won’t be able to stop. Let’s get in bed and snuggle. It is getting late and we do have a beach date tomorrow. I need to go to the bathroom. I will be right back to snuggle.” He gets up and heads to the bathroom.

While his is in there, I go to the other one and wash my face to cool down. I look in the mirror and pull my shirt down to where he was last kissing me.
Oh no
! He had to have seen my scar. I hope he doesn’t ask about it tonight. When I get done, I head back to the bedroom and Phillip is already waiting on me. He gets under the covers and pats a spot for me with a smile on his face.

I smile at him and get in the bed. Then I snuggle up to him. “Goodnight Phillip. You have given me the perfect date today. Thank you for this amazing day.” I smile and kiss him.

“Goodnight, my sweet girl. I hope to make everyone of your days better than this one. Thank you for being you and for being mine. Now go to sleep and dream of me.” He laughs.

“Why would I dream of you when I have you already in my arms. My dreams have already come true.” I really think I have found my Prince Charming. I kiss him once more and fall into a deep sleep curled up next to Phillip

Chapter Twenty-Two

Phillip

I’m so glad the traffic is much lighter than before we left. I really want to get back to my place so we can spend more time together and take a walk on the beach. Since the moon is out, it will be a spectacular view of Alexia when it shines on her. I can only imagine what she will look like, and I bet it isn’t even as close to how beautiful she will actually be.

We arrive in no time, and Alexia is in need of the restroom. I let her know there is one on the first floor. She decides to use that one instead of heading up to the condo first. While she is inside, I walk over to see Mark.

“Hey, Mark. How is everything going out on the beach tonight? We plan on taking a walk and I wanted to make sure nothing wild is going on.”

“Everything is clear out on the beach around the condo area. I took a walk outside right before you got here. I did see a party at one of the private beach houses and it seems a bit loud. I wouldn’t head that way if you want privacy. Is that the girl you had me to put on your list the other day?” Mark smiles at me.

“Yes, she is that girl, and her name is Alexia. I asked her to be my girlfriend and I got lucky when she said yes. You will be seeing her around a lot more, I hope. I am going to take up these bags before Alexia gets finished. If she beats me, will you tell her where I am?”

“Looks like you did get lucky with that girl. She sure is pretty and you better be good to her or she will drop you fast. I will take up your bags for you so you can be here when she comes out. I don’t mind. You can head out for that walk while the moon is still bright,” Mark says. He is such a really good guy.

“Thanks, man. That would be awesome.” I get done saying those words when out comes Alexia with a beautiful smile on her face. All I can do is smile right back at her.

Before Alexia gets close enough to hear, Mark says, “Looks like the both of you are already in love. Congrats, man.” I turn and smile at him. I believe it is true that I love her. When I see her look at me like she is right now, I think maybe she feels same thing for me.

I tell her that Mark is taking up our things so we can hit the beach. I grab her purse because she won’t need it and hand it to Mark. I thank him again. I take Alexia’s hand and we head out to the beach.

I love her hand in mine and I don’t let go until I have to take my shoes off before we get to the sand. Once the shoes are off, I put them in our cabana so we won’t lose them. I hurry so I can hold her hand again and as I reached for it, I notice the moonlight shining through her blond hair. I was right. I couldn’t have guessed this picture-perfect moment. She looks like an angel sent from heaven with a halo around her head.

I noticed that she had hers shoes off before I did and that is something else we have in common. I ask her about it and she starts telling me about when she was little she would make sandcastles and pretend she was a princess looking for her Prince Charming. I hope I will be her Prince Charming. I almost laugh out at myself at that thought. How did I get here with this girl and fall hopelessly in love with her so fast?

I ask her to tell me another story and she does. The next story is amazing, and it sounds like she loved spending time here at the beach growing up, as much as I did. This story seems a bit similar to a memory I had when I was around thirteen. I broke my leg that year and couldn’t get in the water or do much. My brother was upset about me not being able to do stuff with him. All I could do is make it out to the cabana and read, which I did a lot that summer. My brother found this girl who he would make these huge sandcastles with, and that made him happy that year. He would even blush when he would tell my parents and me all about his day with a girl making sandcastles. Maybe tomorrow when we are on the beach we should make sandcastles. She will have a memory with me building them. My brother used to be really good at making sandcastles and would teach me how to make them. We’d build giant sandcastles when we were younger.