Of Poetry and Prose: Chapter Eleven
I was glad that the guys came with me on my first solo mission because it just wouldn't have been the same without them both here. I wish it could always be like this; the three of us working together. I know it can't and won't be, but I am happy that we're all here together in this moment.
I'm especially pleased that Jake came, because I want to believe that we've finally found ourselves in a good place to move forward. And maybe this could be the perfect place to start heading in the right direction with our relationship.
After running all over Lima in an effort to quell a spirit that had attached itself to an ancient Incan statue Ezekiel decided we should play tourist. He took us through all of the museums showing us all of the pieces that would be fun to steal. Halfway through our visit to Museo Larco Jake took my hand in his before laughing at something Ezekiel was saying about the security for the particular necklace we found ourselves in front of at the moment.
"Are you okay with this?" he asked quietly, raising our interlocking fingers a bit. I found all I was capable of was smiling and nodding in consent. "Do you think Jones actually thinks we're interested in how he'd steal everything in these museums?"
"I think he's trying to see how long he can annoy you with this adventure before you threaten to punch him," I replied pressing myself a little closer to his side.
"Then I hope he's ready to talk all day because with you here by my side I've only heard about every third or fourth word out of his mouth," he said leaning down, his mouth brushing my ear with each word, sending shivers down my spine.
"You do realize he'll find a way to get back at you once he figures out that you're ignoring him."
"Yeah, but for right now I'm enjoying spending some time with you that has nothing to do with our day job."
"So you're trying to tell me that our first date is following Ezekiel around lecturing us on the best way to steal Incan artifacts and jewelry?" I inquired with a smirk.
"No, our first date will not include Jones in any way shape or form." I can't help giggling as he grumbled his reply.
"Good to know. And just out of curiosity when do you foresee this date without Ezekiel taking place?"
"Hey guys," we both look up at a smiling Ezekiel. "How long do I have to go on talking before you decide to ditch me and make this fictional first date a reality?"
"What are you going on about Jones?" Jake asked with a look of confusion on his face.
"I figured the two of you would take off on me the first chance you got. I mean you have been dancing around each other for long enough. Personally I would have ditched me halfway through the first museum," Ezekiel replied with a smirk.
"You could have just told us you wanted to see the sights by yourself," I told him a smile on my face because I know he's still trying to play matchmaker with the two of us.
"Wouldn't be as fun if I couldn't annoy Stone in some fashion. And Mate, let me just say you took quite a bit longer than expected to come round. Might I suggest a walk along the Miraflores Boardwalk," he said before heading out.
"Well Darlin' what do you think, does a walk on the boardwalk sound like a good first date to you?" Jake inquired a smile of his own gracing his handsome face.
"Sounds wonderful."
Walking with Cassie hand in hand along the boardwalk is more than I ever would have thought possible for us when I think back to how I treated her for so many of the months we've been acquainted. She has become the bright spot on the horizon of my life and in some ways I don't know how to proceed from here. We finally made it to this moment, and I'm actually scared she'll change her mind. After pushing her aside I'm frightened she'll do the same to me. I squeeze her hand a little to reassure myself that I am here with her.
I watch her as we walk her hair floating around her in the ocean breeze, and I can't help thinking back to a similar moment atop the Vatican. She had looked so beautiful then and there, and in that moment I had wanted to forget all of my resolve to keep her at arm's length; I wanted nothing more than to kiss her and spill every emotion that I had been trying so hard to keep hidden away. I wonder if it's fate that I've found myself in this similar situation with her a second time. How did I find myself right here with her when by all reasoning the two of us should probably have never met?
My life and perspective have changed so much since Eve found me in that bar all those months ago. I believe that almost anything is possible since I work in the impossible and am surrounded by magic every day. Standing here with her seems almost too good to be true, but when she turns to look at me with her azure eyes shining and bright smile I think that maybe, just maybe we were always meant to find our way to each other.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I was remembering that night up on top of the Vatican. Your hair looked similar to now with the breeze blowin' around it. I remember thinkin' then you looked beautiful standing there looking out at the city lights. I wanted to change things right then, but I let my head get in the way of my heart like I always do when it comes to you."
"You really thought I looked beautiful?"
"Yes. Maybe if Flynn and Eve hadn't been with us I would have been a bit braver and listened to what my heart had been tellin' me."
"What was your heart saying?" she questioned placing her palm against my chest, my heart pounding beneath it.
"That I shoulda just kissed you and told you, you were special to me."
"And what is it telling you now?"
Her question and the sight of her biting the bottom portion of her lips was all it took to spur me into action. I pulled her flush against me before kissing her with all of the emotion I had been trying to hold back all these months. When she melted into my embrace kissing me back as if her life depended on it I knew I had finally made the right decision when it came to Cassandra Cillian. I don't know how long we stood there in the middle of the boardwalk kissing, all I know is it felt like the entire world had disappeared and there was only the two of us kissing in what could only be a magical moment. We were pulled out at the sound of Jones whistling and clapping.
"It's about time," Jones yelled from the other end of the boardwalk.
I know I must have been scowling at him, but Cassie just took my hand looked at me with a smile that was pure happiness and I couldn't be angry with him when she looked at me like that.
"Why don't you take me home, and you can read me some more poetry." I don't know what I did to deserve her, but I'll read her poetry for the rest of our lives if it means spending my life living in moments like this one.
I know you have all been impatiently waiting for this chapter and I thank you for following along. I'm going to try to get an Epilogue up in the next couple days that will just be a bit of fluff, but otherwise this is the end of this particular story. I hope you guys have enjoyed reading the story as much as I have writing it. I really appreciate every single one of your follows, favorites, and especially those reviews. Thank you all so very much!