This story came to me in a dream last night. I hope you all like it, as much as I did when I woke up.
As usual, I only own this idea, not the wonderful characters, I just like to take them for a joyride every now and then.
Enjoy!
ASASASASASASAS
The night air is cool, but not too cool.
The sky is clear.
The sounds of the city are permeating the air.
The city lights fill the sky.
The view is amazing.
Very few people are in our vicinity.
The warmth of his body next to mine.
I can't believe I've never been here and it is less than 3 miles from my condo, and I see it all the time.
I am so elated that he chose this place.
The planetarium was beautiful, we watched a wonderful rotating show of the constellations. It was breathtaking. To be able to see the stars and learn so much about their history, was fun. His face was lit up like the beautiful night sky. I love to see him so relaxed and enjoying life. His life has been filled with ups and downs and sure most of them have been his fault. I love how he has owned up to his mistakes, and doesn't blame others. I also admired how he is 20 years sober, and still attends meetings to maintain his sobriety. It speaks volumes about his character and what kind of man he truly is. I think the most admirable thing that he does is attend family counseling sessions with his ex-wife and kids, so that he can continue to build a better relationship with them. Every time he returns from a session, I can see the anguish in his eyes, from having to face all the negative things he caused in his marriage and how she still holds that against him, but he doesn't blame her. He understands her anger and respects it. He strives every day to be the best man that he can possibly be. The hard work that he puts forth for his kids, his career, for life, and for me makes me love him so much more than I ever knew was possible.
To see him happy is all that I can ask for. That is all I want for anyone in my life, I just want people to be genuinely happy.
As we walk outside to the observation deck, hand in hand, he squeezes my hand which causes me to look up at him, "What is going on inside that pretty little head of yours?" He asks, intently gazing into my eyes.
"I'm just thinking about you, love!" I say squeezing his hand back and leaning into him.
"Hmm, I hope that it was good thoughts!" he teases kissing me on the cheek.
Laughing as we reach the edge of the deck, "Mostly!" I exclaim.
"Mostly, huh?" he says wrapping his arms around me, as we look over the deck.
"Isn't that what I said?" I tease, placing my hands over his, and interlocking our fingers.
He nuzzles his face into my hair, he just doesn't understand what that does to me and places a kiss in my hair, and whispers, "I have truly rubbed off on you!"
"Yeah, sort of!" I say laughing at him.
"It's not a bad thing, though!" he says.
"Yeah right, try telling that to Rusty, Provenza or Taylor!" I exclaim while tilting my head up to look at him. Our height difference is perfect, when I wear flats. I fit perfectly. It's like we were made for each other. It may have taken us awhile, to find each other, but when we did, it was well worth the wait.
He just laughs at my assertion, but he knows it's true. I've heard Provenza and Rusty both ask him, 'what has he done to me?' little do they know, I've always been like this, I just chose to hide it. Taylor on the other wasn't so shocked, when I told him off in very few words, last week. He has experienced this side of me, in the past. He didn't like it then and I'm sure he doesn't like it now, but there is only so much of his condescending egotistical bullshit I'm willing to entertain.
Now he's quite and admiring the stars and beautiful city lights.
Relaxing into his embrace, listening to his firm heartbeat as the hustle and bustle of the city is the soundtrack in the background, makes me so thankful that we have found each other. I never thought I would ever, find love again. My marriage did a great deal of damage to my heart. I honestly at times felt like I was turning into the ice queen, everyone was accusing me of being. I felt like I had to protect my heart, because it had been beaten and bloodied by Jack's betrayals and lies. I never in a million years would have imagined that I would have an alcoholic husband and be a single working mother of two while still technically married. The last time that he left us, was the final straw, I finally had enough and filed for legal separation. I couldn't allow him to keep running in and out our lives. I couldn't allow him to continue to take food out of our children's mouths all because he wanted to get drunk, gamble, and sleep with other women. I always swore to myself that I would never allow myself to love an addict again. So, when I began to feel myself feeling things deeper than a friendship for Andy, I was afraid. Very afraid. I didn't want to explore this because I can't handle being hurt like that ever again. I tried my hardest not to compare the two, because I know that Andy is nothing like Jack. However, Andy made me realize that they are one in the same, they just chose to make different decisions. Jack chose and still chooses to drink and gamble. He chooses to be an absentee father. He chooses to blame others for his shortcomings. Jack is not ready to get better, until he is ready to do it for himself, he will never recover.
Andy chose to give up drinking. He chooses to still not drink. He choose to seek treatment for his addiction. He chose to regain the trust of his children. He chose not to blame others, but instead take responsibility for his own actions.
Once I realized their differences, I was able to open up to Andy as a great friend. Once we became great friends and discovered the ugly truths about each other, things began to change between the two of us. He was ready before I was, but I am eternally grateful that he was patient with me. He understood that it took so much of me to give my heart away again. I still guard it sometimes, unintentionally, but he never gets mad at me for it. He is always patient and kind. He has showed me what true love really is and great it feels to have it.
Standing here in his embrace, feeling his warmth engulf me as he places gentle kisses atop of head, makes me heart swell with so much emotion.
His embrace tightens, as I'm still deep in my thoughts, "Sharon?" He says.
"Hmm, yes?" I answer nuzzling closer to his chest.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" He inquires before kissing my cheek.
"Truly!" I breathe taking in the magnificent view of Los Angeles.
"But not as nearly as beautiful as you, beautiful!" He says and he spins me around in his arms.
Looking into my misting eyes, he asks "What's the matter, beautiful?"
"Thank you, Andy!" I whisper gazing into his caramel eyes.
"Anytime, beautiful!" He says before kissing me tenderly.
"Thank you, Andy..." I start to say, "Beau..." he tries to say as I placed my finger over his lip.
"Thank you Andy, for being my best friend. Thank you for breaking through my barriers. Thank you for helping me break down my walls. Thank you for being there for me, when I thought I was down for the count. Thank you for showing me that love doesn't have to hurt. Thank you for showing me that isn't supposed to hurt. Thank you for trying. Thank you for being patient. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for being kind. Thank you for being the epitome of love to me. Thank you for showing me that I deserve to be loved and appreciated. Thank you for making me feel like I'm the prettiest girl in the world. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for being all the man that I will ever need (in more ways than one). Basically Andy, thank you for loving me!" I say with tears of joy gliding down my face as I wipe the tears that are starting to fall from his eyes with my thumbs.
He grabs my face and slowly runs his thumb over my lips and says "Beautiful, being able to love you and hold you, is all the thanks that I will ever need!" Softly placing his lips on mine, allowing our souls to connect deeper. The kiss turns from tender to passionately quickly, sending fire surging through my viens.
I break from the kiss, still close enough to steal another kiss "I've never loved someone as much as I love you, Andy!" I breathe onto his lips.
"Neither have I!" He says. Placing a gentle kiss on my forehead as he hugs me.
"Sharon, thank you for allowing me to love you!" He says as I turn around to look at the city again.
"Thank you for wanting to love me!" I inform him as I wrap his arms around me, as I lean back into the best place on Earth his chest.
I close my eyes and drink in the wonderous feeling that I now feel.
He whispers in my ear, "Look, beautiful!" I open my open my eyes just in time to see the shooting star that he is pointing to.
"Quick, make a wish!" He tells me.
As I close my eyes, only one thing comes to mind.
"What did you wish for, beautiful?" he asks.
"You'll find out, if it's meant to come true!"
ASASASASASASAS
As always, thank you for reading. I can't wait to read the reviews! Tell me what you like about the story.