“Come on, Dad, I'm not a child anymore.”I rolled my eyes playfully.
“And you're not old enough to stay out all night, either.We trust you, but just remember that trust is important,” he insisted.
“I know, I know.You remind me of this every time.I've practically memorized the whole speech!”I replied, annoyance tinting my voice as I stepped out toward Marco’s car.My dad stood by the door with his hands in his pockets, watching us drive away.
“Usual dad lecture about trust?”Marco asked, grinning at me.
“Yep,” I said, smiling back.As we drove, Marco suddenly halted, catching me off guard.
“What's wrong?”I asked, surprised.
“I just wanted a kiss.”He leaned in for a gentle kiss.
“So, where are we headed tonight?”I inquired after we resumed driving.
“There's a small, tiny restaurant that opened in the hills last month.It should only take about 10-15 minutes to get there.I've heard their pizza is fantastic,” Marco said, clearly in a good mood.
“Oh, there's a party Jessica invited us to.It's her friend Aurora.Do you know her?”I attempted to keep the conversation light.
“Yeah, I know her.She dated a buddy of mine.I heard about the party; we could swing by after dinner if you want.”Marco grinned.
“Sure, that sounds good.”I replied.We chatted about various topics, but I steered clear of anything personal—my mom, Zane, or anything else weighing on my mind.It felt like I was accumulating secrets, creating an invisible barrier between us that I didn't know how to breach.
At the restaurant, we enjoyed ourselves, laughing like we used to when we were younger.The ambiance was charming and rustic, complete with a cozy fireplace, and the pizza was delightful.Although the restaurant buzzed with chatter, it felt like the perfect date—one I wished would never end.I momentarily forgot about Emily, my mom, and even Zane faded from my thoughts.
When we drove back, we decided to head to the party.The night was dark, and the winding road through the woods made me wish I could freeze this moment in time.
“Stop!”I suddenly exclaimed.
“What's wrong?”Marco slammed on the brakes, concern etched on his face.
“Look, there's a little parking area.Want to pull over for a moment?”I asked, locking eyes with him.He understood my unspoken intent; no further words were necessary.
My heart was racing, lodged in my throat.I craved him, but there was an urgency within me that I couldn't quite comprehend.I needed to seize that moment that night, to grasp something I could control, something I could make happen.
We hurried into the back seat, and Marco paused, his gaze lingering on me as he gently caressed my cheek.The full moon bathed his face in a soft blue glow, revealing his striking beauty.What more could I possibly have wanted?
“You look stunning tonight,” he murmured, as if seeing me for the first time.Then, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to my bottom lip.The warmth of our racing hearts echoed in the air between us.He shrugged off his dark blue shirt, the moonlight tracing the contours of his toned body.I was mesmerized, and I wondered why I had waited so long to embrace this.
I fumbled with my dress, struggling with the stubborn zipper.
“Let me help you,” he whispered, even though we were alone.Instantly, my dress slipped away, and a chill ran through me.But then he kissed me again, his lips urgent against mine, a fire igniting within us both.“Are you sure?”he asked, pausing to search my eyes.I nodded, unable to voice my affirmation.“You always wanted something more romantic, not like this,” he said, as if trying to sway me.
“I'm done waiting.We've held off for far too long.There will never be a perfect time or place.I just want to get it over with,” I whispered, pressing my lips against his neck, feeling the heat between us.
“Wait… wait…” he said, gently pushing me back.“This isn't you,” he insisted, locking his eyes with mine.
“What do you mean it's not me?I'm right here, ready.What's holding you back?”I fought to keep my voice steady, confusion and frustration bubbling beneath the surface.Marco had always been the one eager to take the next step; now he was the one hesitant.Why was everything unraveling?“Fine, forget it,” I snapped, starting to pull my dress back on as he fell silent.
“I'm sorry.It's just… I want this, but it doesn't feel right,” he admitted, regret lacing his words.But I was too far gone in my anger to care.
“Let's just go to the party.I need a drink,” I said curtly.The tension hung thick between us, and I could feel our relationship falling apart.I just couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, it was all my fault.
The night had taken a turn for the worse.All I wanted was a cold beer and to lose myself in the pulsating crowd, letting the
music drown out my thoughts.This wasn't who I was, and yet, I felt this rebellious spark igniting within me that I wasn't quite ready to embrace.
The bar, once a charming old restaurant, was teeming with people.Aurora had rented it out, and it was difficult to tell if it was just for her friends or open to everyone.Marco had vanished with a buddy to grab some drinks.I spotted Jessica and waved; her face lit up at the sight of me.
