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She doesn’t say anything, but she does pull me a little closer, her arm brushing mine. I appreciate that she doesn’t offer platitudes, just listens, giving me time to come to terms with my past, somehow knowing that speaking of it brought it back to the forefront. Even if only temporarily.
We walk a block before I’m able to shove it down, throw metaphorical dirt on it, and bury it once and for all. Then I find my voice again and ask what brought her here. “My car,” she sasses, making me laugh. “Sorry,” though she doesn’t seem it at all, “some levity was needed before I begin my sad tale.” And suddenly, I don’t know if I want to hear it lest I discover a sudden bloodlust for those who wronged her. Thanks to my former profession, I’m pretty knowledgeable in what the cops look for, how to avoid leaving evidence, and so forth.
Cydne takes a deep breath, then in a matter of fact tone explains how emotionally desolate her childhood was. As if that wasn’t heartbreaking on its own, it didn’t end there, but instead lasted through her teenager years and in to adulthood. “The final nail in the coffin of my dreams for a better relationship with them was when I got in an accident and the EMTs transported me to the hospital for observation due to possible whiplash.”
Already guessing the answer but knowing she needs to get it out, I theorize, “And they didn’t come check on you?” She shakes her head no, vehemently, as if she’s trying to erase it from her memory.
It clearly didn’t work because a bitter laugh spills from her as she states, “Oh, our appetizers just arrived.”
“That bitch said that? Err, I mean, your mom did?” Shit. Regardless of how badly she obviously treats this amazing woman; it’s still her mother and I need to be mindful of that.”
A real laugh reaches my ears, goes down the canal, and wraps around my heart. “It’s okay, Curtis. They became synonymous in my head a while ago.”
“I’m trying to respect their roles in your life,” – she scoffs, mumbling that they didn’t have any – “but it’s hard.”
“Welcome to my world.” Inexplicably, with the heavy subjects we just discussed, I chuckle.
“Is this where I start singing about a whole new world opening up for you?”
“I can get behind that if you’re a part of it with me.”
“Cydne, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Shortly after that, we reach the park I’d been leading us to and take our seats at a picnic bench. That’s when I remove the cake. When she peeks at the top, seeing what I had written there – happy anniversary because it’s been a month since we met – she turns my head and drops the softest kiss on me. It’s over before it even began, but the impact will last forever.
Because that’s what she is…
My forever.
Chapter Eight
Curtis
May 19th…
We’ve had to be creative due to my schedule and her deadlines, making it difficult to carve time out for each other, but we’re making it work.
For example, she’ll come here and we’ll eat dinner during my break, then she’ll hang with me for a bit before going to my place to take care of Enzo. She continues to spend time with him, which they both enjoy, and while some is sanctioned, so to speak, there are instances when I wake up in the afternoon, having been at the pub until two or three on a Saturday, and find Enzo gone.
Admittedly, with the first occurrence, I’d freaked, my brain nowhere near ready to think straight enough yet to realize Cydne had him. Then I saw the blueberry muffin, my favorite, on the counter along with a to-go cup of coffee.
The former was still warm, the latter hot, so I knew she’d been there recently. I’d been disappointed that I hadn’t gotten to see her, yet undeniably touched by her thoughtfulness.
When she brought him back, I gave Enzo a new toy, knowing he’d rush toward his bed in the living room and be completely focused on it for a while.
I’d then taken Cydne’s hand, walked her to my bedroom, shut the door, and proceeded to show her how much I appreciated it with my mouth and tongue. As delicious as the muffin had been, it had nothing on my girl.
A different day, when I knew she was working late to make a deadline, I’d arrived at her house around ten, one of my early nights, after she’d texted that she’d finished. I took her dinner, but she’d informed me she was hungry for something else.
She’d dropped to her knees, removed me from my pants, and blew…my mind. Yeah, that, too. We haven’t gone any further than that, despite the fire burning between us.
I’m totally gone for this woman and I know thatsheknows we’re about so much more than the physical. Hearts are involved. Our future is waiting on us.
**Cydne**
I adore the man to pieces, but I’m about to spontaneously combust. His patience in taking this to the next level is what officially won me over, eradicating the last of my worries regarding my parents.
Since meeting him, I now understand how they can love each other to the point nothing else hits their radar, because I’m feeling that for Curtis. However, I know he and I aren’t the only people in the world.
