Once covered, we got right to it. I had my mind set on painting the prettiest pink pumpkin tonight, but I also planned to pick Trek's brain. I needed to know if we were really doing this or what?
"Trek, are you having fun?"
There was a look of pure focus on his face while he painted his pumpkin black. "You know this isn't typically my choice of fun, but I am happy to share this moment with you." He glanced at me briefly and winked.
I couldn't hide my blush if I wanted to. That was all I seemed to do in his presence.
"Are you having fun?" he quizzed in return.
"I'm having the best time ever. This is the best date I've ever been on."
He stopped painting. "Travel, things will be different for you from here on out. You hear me?" His pretty autumn eyes bore into mine.
"I believe you."
Trek nodded. "I hope you do." He went back to painting.
"Why now, though?" I probed, painting my pumpkin a glittery pink color. I didn't have the courage to look into his eyes again. I feared much more would happen tonight, other than painting.
Trek didn't stop painting, but he answered. I was so glad he didn't look at me. My stomach was in knots already.
"As a boy, I was scared to tell you how I felt. When we became adults, both of us were distracted by June and Mook. She and I are no longer together, and it's the same for you and Mook. I refused to miss my chance with you again. I'm scared that if things go left, then it could ruin our friendship. However, I know who I am and what I want. You're who I want, Travel. You've always been the only woman I wanted."
I slowly dragged my eyes from my pumpkin to Trek. Just as I thought, he peered right at me. "Why me?" I asked in a shaky voice.
"Why not you? The day you walked into my class with your pretty dark skin, long ponytails, and floral dress, I had never seen anything so pretty. I couldn't figure out why my heart raced or why I couldn't look anywhere else but at you. Now, as a mature man, I realize it was love at first sight. You've had me hooked like a fish since that day. You're so embedded in my life that I wouldn't know how to survive without you. My home, my mind, my body, my phone — you control everything. You have no idea of the power you hold over me, Travel. I don't expect you to have the same love or affection for me that I have for you, butI hope I've shown you over the years that you can trust me and that you'll always be safe with me. What I want to know is if you feel the tiniest bit for me that I feel for you?"
Just like that, the waterworks had surfaced. I set down my paintbrush and wiped my eyes. It wasn't just like or lust. I'd just learned that my best friend was in love with me. He had been for years.
Trek had sat back and patiently waited until he was able to gain the woman he was in love with. What he didn't know was that his best friend loved him back just as much, if not more. He handed me a napkin, and I dabbed at my eyes. No man had ever spoken so lovingly about me before.
I gave him my full attention.
"You're the only man to speak about me in such a lovely and attentive way. From the first day I met you, you have dominated my head and heart. Your eyes were the first feature that caught my attention. In Haiti, I'd never seen anyone with eyes like yours. I figured at my young age that you had to be a special person with eyes like that. Next, you were the biggest eight-year-old I'd ever seen, but you were the sweetest. We ate lunch together and played at recess every day. The only reason I pursued Mook was because I thought you didn't feel the same way about me. Once June had your attention, I just had a feeling that we'd never be together. I knew I couldn't live a life without you, so I willingly walked into the friend zone. As much as I hated how much time we missed out on, I believe this opportunity was meant to happen."
"Now I'm in full agreement with that, but before I get beside myself, I want to make sure I just didn't imagine this whole conversation. You really feeling me?"
"I really am. I'm nervous and excited, but I'm anticipating this new journey just like I did Deshoni's birth."
"That's music to my ears."
Trek and I grinned and laughed the remainder of our night. He was a breath of fresh air.
<<<
After we'd stuffed our faces with the many delicious savory and sweet options they offered, we finally made it home. He stopped outside my bedroom door. It felt as if this was our first date, and I appreciated it so much. It didn't feel like best friends testing the waters.
My heart raced. Trek stood right in front of me. With my back pressed against my bedroom door, I had nowhere to go but to the floor. He reached out, and his large hand cupped my cheek. His thumb gently stroked my cheek. The moment had finally come.
"Travel, I wanna kiss you. I've been dying to feel your lips for years. I know it's everything I've dreamed of and more, but I want to feel the real thing. Do I have your permission to kiss you?"
I nodded my head. It was the only action I could perform. Trek had me speechless.
"Don't nod, baby. I need to hear you say it," he commanded.
"Ki-kiss me, Trek. I want you too," I confessed in a shaky tone. I really did want him to. I was just nervous.
A smirk lifted the corners of Trek's mouth as his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, pulling me firmly to his chest. I prayed he didn't want to hold my hands because they were sweaty as hell.
