Thank you for all the encouraging and positive notes. I really appreciate everyone's support and ideas. It took me a little time to write this chapter and I rewrote it in my head as I swam laps this morning. So please forgive any spelling or grammar errors. Thanks so much for your support and patience. ~Avy73
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Tommy and Azucena finally decided that they needed a break from the sun and water; they walked up the beach to the chairs that Steve and Frog occupied. Frog was the first to speak up, "Are you pruny enough yet?"
"Nah, just starting to get hungry. You hungry Frog?" Azucena asked, as she leaned over Frog and squeezed the water out of her hair, intentionally dripping it all over him.
"Agh, really?" he exclaimed, jumping out of his chair as he tried to avoid the water she was dripping on him. The three of them laughed at him, when suddenly he changed direction and ran at Azucena. She knew he was going to pick her up and throw her back in the water. She threw her towel on the chair and ran away from him as fast as her legs would carry her. The two of them ran through the backyard, in between the hammock and trees, around the beach chairs, and eventually down the beach; laughter and joyfulness following them.
Steve laughed as he watched them, he looked at Tommy, "Are those two always like that?"
"All the time, one is just as onery as the other."
"You're the calm, quiet one." Observed Steve.
"Dean and I balanced them out." He shared.
"Yeah, Azucena told me about Dean. Losing a friend is terrible."
"It hit us all pretty hard, but Frog took it the hardest." Tommy reflected, as he finished drying off with the towel. They watched as Frog ran straight at Azucena a second time, as she managed to maneuver around him. He quickly turned around and dove for her ankles, grabbing one at the last second, which stopped her in her tracks.
"Are they going to do this for a little while?" questioned Steve, who was very hungry at this point.
"For at least the next ten minutes."
"I'm going to start dinner." Steve said, as he laughed at the sight of Frog carrying Azucena over his shoulders towards the water. He could hear her yelling at him.
"What can I do to help?" asked Tommy, as they walked up towards the lanai.
"I'm just preheating the oven, Azucena made a pan of shells earlier in the day."
"She's an incredible cook."
"Oh, I know. I think I've gained ten pounds since she moved in." shared Steve.
"If it's only been ten, you're lucky!" Tommy laughed.
Tommy stood on the lanai and watched his friends dunk each other in the water in a variety of torturous ways. Steve stepped back out onto the lanai with two bottles of water, offering one to Tommy. "Thanks."
"You and Frog make yourselves at home. There's plenty of food in the fridge. Eat and drink whatever you want."
"We appreciate it. As a thank you, we would like to take you and Red out to dinner on Saturday night. You guys pick the place, it's our treat."
"Thanks." Shared Steve, he was debating whether to say anything, but decided as a big brother, he was allowed to ask. "How long have you been in love with her?"
The question didn't faze Tommy, he assumed he showed his hand the day he called Steve about the parole hearing. He continued to watch his two friends try and drown one another, his voice was distant, "As long as I can remember."
He sat down at the table on the lanai and looked at Steve, who had followed suit. "I remember the day she arrived in Silver Pond. I lived next door to the Pressgrove's and Frog lived across the street from me. He and I were playing catch in my front yard when a car pulled up into the Pressgrove's driveway.
"A woman got out of the car and opened the door to the backseat and this little girl with the brightest red hair got out. All she had with her was a plastic grocery sack of clothes. The woman walked her up to the front door, rang the doorbell, introduced her to the Pressgrove's, and left.
"Can you fathom experiencing that at eight years old after you lost your only parent?"
Steve imagined the scene that Tommy had laid out before him, losing his mom was terrible, but to be thrust upon strangers as his sister had been was unfathomable. "I can't wrap my head around it."
"She's amazing. She's the most kind hearted, compassionate person I know." Reflected Tommy, "Her smile can light up a room and her laugh is infectious."
He paused, looked down at his hands and then back at Steve, "After the incident, I watched as she struggled to find her sense of self again and it was one of the hardest things I have ever seen. She's my best friend and I would do anything for her."
Steve saw the passion in his eyes as he talked about Azucena and he decided it was okay if Tommy and Azucena had a relationship, even if it was long distance. "Look, you've known her a lot longer than I have, and she thinks the world of you. You've been there for her through some truly terrible times. I'm not going to stand in the way of you two. However, if you hurt her in any way, you will regret it. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Answered Tommy, "and thanks for being there for her after everything with WoFat and Woods."
"She's ohana, we take care of each other."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the Frog and Azucena at the table. Steve looked at the two of them, they were breathing hard. "Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes; if you guys want to get cleaned up."
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After a delicious dinner filled with laughs, they had done up the dishes and matriculated to the lanai to watch the sunset. The evening passed with teasing from all parties and plenty of laughter. Stories were brought up that embarrassed each of them, like the time Frog lost his eyebrows to a chemistry experiment gone wrong. Or the time Azucena got sent home in fifth grade for breaking Tyler Lentz nose and two of his fingers – he had cut one of her pigtails off in class.
Eventually Steve bid them all goodnight, as he had to work the next morning. Frog begged off to get some shuteye, leaving Tommy and Azucena the rest of the evening to themselves.
"Want to go sit by the water?" offered Azucena, "I love the sound of the waves at night."
"Works for me." Answered Tommy, as he stood up from his chair. She slid her arm around his waist and he rested his arm across her shoulders, they were a perfect fit. As they walked down to the water, she confessed, "I'm so happy you guys were able to come here. I don't think I could have found the right words to describe this place."
"You pretty much live in paradise." He observed.
"It's nice, but I miss you guys." She said, as she squeezed his side with her arm.
"I've missed you too." He said, pulling her closer to him and kissing the side of her head. Butterflies danced in her stomach and there was a slight hitch in her breathe, but she loved the fact that he had kissed her, even if it was just the side of her head.
Tommy allowed himself to linger in her personal space, and he breathed in the smell of her hair. It hadn't changed; it still smelled like peaches and cream. His voice was soft and thick, "I love the smell of your hair."
"Sounds like something Frog would say." She giggled, as she wrapped her other arm around his waist.
"No, Frog would say that he loves the way you style your hair." He responded, and she laughed with her whole body, "You're right!"
"I love your laugh." He shared with her, as he took his free hand and ran it through her hair. At this point in time, the butterflies in her stomach were doing complete summersaults and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. "Red, I've wanted to kiss you for years."
"Then do it." She answered softly. The hand that had been running through her hair, stopped and he leaned down. When his lips met hers, it was as if electricity ran through her body and every nerve ending was on high alert. Her heart raced, and she loved every moment of it. She gripped his body tighter and without realizing it, pulled him closer to her.
When he ended the kiss, he didn't pull back. He pressed his forehead to her's and could hear her erratic breathing. She was almost dizzy from the excitement. She exhaled, "I've wanted that for a long time."
Her arms were still wrapped around his waist. He whispered, "How long?"
She didn't hesitate, "Senior year, the day we all volunteered at the nursing home. I watched you comb Gladys Snyder's hair and tell her she was beautiful. I always knew you had a gorgeous soul, but that day I saw it."
She didn't have to ask, he volunteered, "The day Runaway Champ died, and you hugged Frog while he mourned the loss of his dog. Your heart is beautiful, and so is the rest of you."
She buried her face in his chest and just relished in the moment. He had told her she was beautiful and kissed her. It was a miracle she was standing upright, the way her body was buzzing with excitement, "Tommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Kiss me again?" She asked, ever so softly as she looked up at him. This kiss was much more passionate and lasted much longer, they were both gasping for air when it ended. Their forehead's pressing together again, "I need to sit down."
He took her by the hand and led her over to the chairs, but she paused and tugged him towards the giant log of driftwood that sat on the beach instead. They both kneeled to sit down and Tommy planted his butt firmly in the sand and leaned against the log. Azucena became emboldened and straddled his lap; then she leaned forward and kissed him again.
Tommy placed his hands on her back in the beginning of the kiss. But as that kiss turned into a passionate makeout session, his hands roamed down to her rear. As he squeezed her tight rear end, he heard a slight gasp in the back of her throat. He was terrified that the past was resurfacing, he pulled back and place his hands on her shoulders, "You okay?"
"Oh yeah." She responded, he could hear the smile in her voice. He catalogued that sound in his brain, it was a happy, excited sound. He wanted to hear it again.
As they resumed kissing, she ran her hands through his hair. She had loved his shaggy hair from last year, but she didn't mind this shorter, clean cut version either. She could feel his hands, one ran down her arm and the other sat softly against her neck. It was as if his touch were fire and everywhere he touched burned with an intensity she had never felt before.
Parts of her body were ablaze and it exhilarated her, but it also slightly scared her. She stopped kissing him, but she still stayed closed to him, their foreheads continuing to touch. He had felt her freeze up, "Everything okay?"
"I'm loving this, don't get me wrong," She paused, "but I can't do much more than this. I don't –"
He interrupted her, running his fingers through her hair, "We will go a slow as you want. If it's too much, just tell me."
He felt her body loosen and relax, he figured this conversation would eventually come up and he was truly willing to go as slow as she wanted. He had waited years, it didn't matter if there were a few more, as long as he got to spend time with her. She hugged him and rested her head on his shoulders. He heard her whisper in her softest voice, "Thank you."
The rest of the evening was spent either looking up at the stars over the ocean or engaged in passionate kisses. It was two in the morning when they decided to get some sleep.
Tommy pulled her up out of the sand and they both wiped the sand off their backsides. Holding hands, they walked up from the beach and stood outside on the lanai. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him, and whispered, "I want to fall asleep in your arms, but I think it would test Steve's hospitality."
"He already knows about my intentions, but I don't want to push our luck." Responded Tommy, in his softest voice. He kissed her again, "Good night Red."
"Night Tommy."
They opened the backdoor and parted ways; Tommy to the guestroom and Azucena quietly climbed the stairs. She silently changed into her pajamas, laid in bed, and reflected back on the evening. Her heart was happy.
