Always And Forever

Story 4: Liquid Courage


"Guard Number Three doesn't have to know." Graham told her impishly, reaching into his cape and revealing a flash of wine bottle.

"Guard Number Three will break the door down, smash that bottle against the wall and leave a horrible stain you'll never be able to clean. People who don't know the context will assume it's blood, and... Fair. Your ears will be bleeding when she's finished scolding you." Vee helpfully reminded him, taking that same hand and squeezing it gently. "You don't need to take unnecessary risks just because you read a list of date ideas."

Graham had been smiling so easily ever since she arrived, managed to go through dinner outside not reacting to the awkward surroundings that was patches of dirt everywhere and the rare potted plant for a "garden". He hadn't reacted like he wanted to die when moving in to kiss too soon or misreading a sign she was using flirty dialogue. He had been on top of the world for an entire hour.

Then he crashed, expression plunging into such despair that was over the top but completely sincere the way he did it. He looked like he might walk into the shadows, curl up and wait to die if a miracle didn't strike immediately.

Vee pulled at her eyes, stretching the skin for a moment before sighing. "Pop the cork."

Graham instantly found the motivation to continue life, glowing as he withdrew the bottle and two separate tools just for getting the cork out. One was a large key that didn't look promising, the other a butter knife that Vee thought looked similar to one that was on the table just a moment ago.

There only place to sit right now was the table, but Vee led Graham to a quiet corner away from the spilled dirt. This corner seemed to catch the most moonlight, and as they both sat down against the stone wall she found herself admiring the shine across his eager face as he stabbed the cork. He really looked his best when he was making a simple situation intense, she realized.

Ultimately, the cork had to be removed by a passing Guard Number Two. That didn't diminish Graham's efforts; glasses previously on the table were removed from his cape and the wine flowed.

Vee ended up with just over half a glass while Graham's looked as if it could be downed in a single gulp. The former couldn't help but notice, especially as she took a sip just for a sample and watched the latter from the corner of her eye staring deep into the crimson liquid.

"Do you drink?" Vee asked bluntly, finding no smoother option. She stared straight ahead, not wanting to make him feel judged.

Too bad they were shoulder to shoulder, allowing her to feel his gain immense tension. That's not even getting too his sputtering, his failed attempt to make not look immature. Vee already worked to assemble a speech about how one's mental maturity had nothing to do with stereotypical activities while his voice caught up with his words.

"No, I've never..." Graham created a tidal wave in the glass the longer he looked at it, murmuring. "I don't know what's going to happen when I do; so I wanted it to be in a safe place with people I could trust. And since we were having dinner and the advice in the book said wine drinking is romantic..."

Her heart fluttered with joy in a moment, but Vee looked away to take a rather informal gulp before she blurted how sweet he was. She felt him look at her in contemplation, though hopefully he at least knew not to chug.

She had to set the drink down with a slight buzz, wrapping her arms around one of his and leaning her head on his shoulder. He tensed in response, not immediately aware what to do when she was "bold" like this. His description, not hers. Graham decided to be "bold" as well, turning his head at the last minute so her nose would bump his cheek but that was okay. It was okay because Vee didn't care if there were wine drops on her lips, she had to kiss him quickly while the buzz lasted.

"Don't you dare think any negative thoughts tonight; you did good. If you're ready to try drinking, I don't mind what happens... Because I don't drink often myself, so I'm a little..." Vee tightened one arm around his, the other stretched out so she could wipe the red drops. She didn't mean to linger on the latter but hoped she had sparkles of passion in her eyes because he might not get it otherwise.

Graham looked between her and the glass, though seemed more fixated on her. He didn't say anything, but his determined expression would indicate his decision even more so than his brave first sip.


"Graham?" Vee addressed a seemingly defeated Graham, his posture slouched against the wall and head hanging. "I'll get help if you need-"

The glass landed so hard on the stone ground, Vee cringed expecting it to shatter and the wine flow out. When her eyes cracked open, she was stunned how Graham's face was right in front of hers. Eyes shimmering, brows furrowed, and their noses pressed together caused a slight pressure.

"Um." Vee had no time to care how stupid that sounded, suddenly highly aware of her face scorching that was obviously from the wine.

Not only were their faces close, but he was also on his hands and knees as if he'd crawled onto her. He wasn't straddling and seemed to be shaking as if barely able to support himself. Vee set her glass down, instinctively throwing a hand to his most jittery arm as if that would somehow keep him from collapsing.

"Not fair..."

"What?"

Graham was in no state for coherent speeches, but he reeled to a normal distance while still gazing the deepest he ever had into her eyes like searching for something. With distance restored, Vee was shocked how quickly he flushed though she didn't know if from the wine or just a pinch of self-awareness in the back of his mind.

"What's not fair?" Vee asked, used to him looking so soft and lovesick. But the way he looked at her then was something different.

When he didn't respond after several moments, Vee leaned closer and cupped his other cheek despite feeling the sizzle. That move had Graham give a huff of a pleased sound, even encouragement to get the rest of his words out though Vee could never have expected them.

"Life isn't fair if you want to court me. You could have anyone, and there's actually some good people in the world but they'll never get to hold and kiss you..." Graham sounded almost offended by that, face a contradiction with his loving eyes but worried expression. "Go find them."

"I only court one at a time, I'm sorry." Vee responded immediately, waving as if to dismiss the idea completely. She knew he didn't mean that and seeing him not even stumble over his words but rather take what she said at face value was endearing in its own way.

These were, however, opinions about him only. If she did find another man, if he wasn't awkward scoring points were going to be brutal.

When Vee's fingers landed on his cheek again it alarmed her how heated he was, but he didn't seem in a hurry to leave especially when he fell on his stomach next to her and gazed up with eyes so serious despite his legs lifting behind him and kicking the air as if this were normal.

"If you had more experience with courting, you wouldn't be so enthralled with me." Vee told him rather casually. "I know I have my own issues being stubborn, overly-competitive and-"

"I love those things, Vee." Graham declared, never stopping to breathe. "I want to have a fairytale ending in real life, spend every day with you, get married just in case I didn't prove how I feel before, have kids, grow old together. I want to do all that soon. I'm so ready."

Vee loved to hear it, but just in case he sobered up a little she kept a straight face as she continued. "It's a big world, Graham. There are more women than you think, and they might see you from my perspective and want a chance. What would you do if someone angelic swooped in offering Heaven in her hands?"

Graham's eyes rolled so far back probably wondering how she had the audacity. "I want you, not Heaven." Graham spoke of the location like filth. He tried reaching, his arm landed like dead weight. He dropped his head too, sluggishly watching from the side eyes swimming in unrestrained affection.

Vee slid closer, sighing but smiling watching his eyes eagerly follow her fingers as they brushed his cheek. "You're dangerously cute sometimes, you know?" He didn't; if she said that while he was sober he'd probably never show his face again. But since it was here, she gave his forehead a tender kiss the moment he had to retch.

Vee helped him sit up, though he was half leaning on her and nearly falling onto her lap. He kept himself steady holding her hand after she poured herself more wine to stay composed noting his eyes twinkling more than the stars in sight which shouldn't have been humanly possible. His hair tickled her neck as his head sometimes slipped on her shoulder, but he managed to hold it up.

Vee finished her sip of wine after mentally arranging the list of what she loved about him. He didn't ask, but she could tell from him staring expectantly and twisting their legs together alcohol made him needy. Validation for expressing his own feelings he normally struggled to say without destroying their dates.

"There's a few ways we can do this." Vee told him as if speaking of the weather. "I typically organize my list in chronological order. Let's say if I thought you were handsome when I first laid my eyes on you, after that we go into your quick thinking. On the other hand, alphabetical order promises you can hear the ones that I assume you're most worried about sooner so you can be reassured that way. It's all up to you, Graham. I have a good drink, the man I love and a beautiful night sky, so I'll stay however long it takes..."

"You still love me?" Was a question Vee had always read on his face when he thought he messed up. Vee never thought she'd hear it spoken, not even from one powerful sip of normal wine. Of course, the subject of how her feelings remained would be his takeaway even if drunk.

Vee hoped her combination of outright telling him how and the security of her arms around his frame helped convince him once and for all. She couldn't help the thought this was going to be how a lot of their nights would end if they married, minus the stone ground and alcohol. But she would tell him until blue in the face, because she wasn't lying when she said she was stubborn.