Love In Between
Chapter 42

The next day: 24 December

I have a hard time opening my eyes, but it’s unavoidable when he starts walking my back with his fingertips. I think he’s doing it with his index and middle finger… -What are you doing? I ask, trying not to laugh.

He laughs. -Good morning, love,” he says and his fingers stop walking on my back. One of his arms goes around me and he rests his chin on me, making me feel his beard. -I was going over your moles, you have a lot of them,” he says, making me smile.

-No more than you,” I let him know. I want to look into his eyes… I turn and as I do I wrap my arms around his body and then wrap one of my legs around him. -I don’t know if I’ve told you before, but you look very handsome when you’re freshly risen. I really like your hair, all messy like that,” I explain and he makes one of those grimaces that only looks sexy on him.

-You look even prettier; I’m definitely a lucky guy,” he says once again, just like he said last night. -I was thinking of inviting you to spend this morning at one of my favourite places here,” he lets me know and I can hear the enthusiasm in his voice.

-And where is that?

I’m dying of curiosity. I like that he wants to share that kind of thing with me. I guess being a girlfriend to someone like him isn’t easy, but when I’m alone like this and I hear him tell me simple things like this, I think it’s possible we could have a nice long relationship.

-It’s a surprise, but we must hurry before it gets crowded,” he says anxiously and I can only look at him doubtfully.

-So we should go now…” He comments.

-Ok… let’s get up then,” I say not very convinced and he laughs.

He gets up from the bed and when he sees that I don’t move, he takes me by the hands and starts pulling me up. -Let’s go upstairs,” he insists between laughs and I snort.

After having me take a shower in a hurry and getting dressed quickly, we’re finally inside his car. I don’t really understand his mystery, he’s only stopped on the way to get two coffees and some doughnuts for breakfast and we’re on our way to his mysterious place.

-Love, I don’t understand your eagerness to take me there, what’s so special about that place? – I ask looking at him and I have to admit that the black interior of this sports car with the dress like this in shorts, white t-shirt, sweatshirt, cap, and sunglasses; are a perfect combination.

He looks at me for a few seconds and smiles -The place as such I don’t know if it’s that special… actually it has an amazing view, but what makes it special for me is that I’ve come here several times to clear my feelings for you. This is the place where I realised that I had fallen in love with you. – He says to me, stealing the most genuine smile of all.

-There have been times when you have behaved with me like a real bastard, but I still love you,” I comment and we laugh.

-I was very confused, it’s just that you came into my life at a time when I was a world of confusion.

-It has also taken me time to realise everything that was happening to me with you. The beginning of our relationship hasn’t been the most conventional of all,” I interrupt him and we can only laugh at ourselves.

We drive a few more kilometres talking about our relationship when he finally parks the car in front of the beach and I stare at him strangely. -A beach?” I ask without understanding what is so special about it.

-He corrects me and before he can say anything else, he gets out of the car.

He turns around, opens my door and helps me out. I don’t want to tell him that I would have preferred to stay cuddled up to him in bed. I don’t want him to think that I don’t like his so-called surprise, but I don’t really understand much.

-This way,” he says, taking my hand and slowly leading us onto the beach.

Now I understand. The scenery is incredibly beautiful, the sea so blue, the rocks. It looks like something out of a movie, it’s beautiful,” I tell him, stopping in the middle of the path.

I see him looking at me with a huge smile on his face, “Come, I want to give you something,” he says in a very mysterious way and makes us walk again until we reach the shore near the biggest rock here.

-What a mystery…” I say nervously and I can only stare at him.

-Serena, when I came to this place to think about you and everything that happened between the two of us; I realised that you had given me back my hope in love. Honestly, I was disappointed and I didn’t believe that someone could come into my life and change everything,” he says as he takes a small box out of his pocket. -Don’t worry, I won’t give you an engagement ring. – He opens the little box revealing a beautiful necklace with an emerald heart-shaped charm. -As I told you a moment ago, you gave me hope. The colour that represents hope is green, as are emeralds. Although I am not asking you to marry me today because I don’t want you to run away; I want to give you this necklace not only as a Christmas gift, but as a symbol of what you represent in my life. I want you to remember every time you see it that my heart has so much hope for you… for both of us. – He tells me and all I can do at this moment is cry with emotion.

I’m a fool, but the truth is that no one has ever done anything like this for me.

I can only look into his eyes and put my arms around his shoulders to hug him with all my strength, “I love you,” I tell him without letting go.

-And I love you sweetheart,” he says leaving me with nothing more to say but to hug him.

I never imagined that he could be this romantic. …. Much less with me.