Renegade Runaways :: Chapter Thirty Three
Hope welcomed the oaky taste of the red wine she sipped. In that moment, she took more than a sip. It was a gulp. She knew better, but it sent a warm flush through out her entire body that she couldn't resist.
"Do you want to talk about that?" Kayla asked from the seat beside her.
Hope cleared her throat. Her tongue burned. She glanced at Kayla, "Talk about what?"
"The fact that you're guzzling that glass of wine," Marlena replied not missing a beat.
Hope hated it when they cornered her. She glanced around the room and found her husband at the bar with Steve and John. It was date night. The first one they'd had since any of them had been home. It was one of their many attempts to be normal citizens of Salem, USA.
Kayla followed Hope's gaze, "How's that going?"
"What do you mean?" Hope's eyes met Kayla's blue ones.
"My brother?" Kayla specified, "Marriage? Home life?"
"It's great," Hope replied flatly.
"You're lying," Marlena accused and took a sip of her own wine.
"Hope, what's wrong?" Kayla questioned, "Spill."
"Marriage is great," Hope shrugged, "It's like we never missed a beat. I love him with my whole heart."
"But?" Marlena waited.
Hope rolled her eyes, "Why do you two do this? What about John and Steve?"
"What about them?" Kayla laughed, "They're the same bafoons they were before we left. The same ones they were on our whole trip."
"Our whole trip?" Hope stared at her in disbelief, "You act like we all went on a vacation."
"I'm choosing to ignore the fact that we were dodging bullets and bombs the entire time." Kayla sighed, "It was a lovely tour of the southeast portion of the country."
Hope and Marlena exchanged glances and Marlena almost laughed.
"Geeze, how many glasses of that have you had?" Hope raised her eyebrows.
"Forgive me for trying to put a positive spin on something terrible, okay?" Kayla sighed and crossed her arms.
"Everyone copes differently," Marlena shrugged, "You're doing a beautiful job."
"I'm not coping," Kayla glared, "I'm just moving on."
"But, you're back together with Steve?" Hope smiled at the thought and the subject change.
"Yes," It was Kayla's turn to roll her eyes, "Is that really a surprise to anyone?"
"No," Marlena giggled.
"You and John are fine?" Hope clarified eagerly.
"We're here on this date aren't we?" Marlena shrugged.
"You forgave him?" Hope eyed Marlena.
Marlena sighed, "Of course I forgave him."
Hope smiled at them, "This makes me so happy."
The two blondes at the table watched her take another drink of her wine. This time it was a more conservative sip.
"So?" Marlena questioned, "We're still waiting. What's bothering you? How are you and Bo coping?"
Hope's eyes wandered to the bar again and this time Bo's eyes caught her's. He instantly began to walk towards her. Her heart fluttered. He looked so handsome in his suit and tie.
"FancyFace," Bo leaned down to grab her hand. He lifted it to his smiling lips and kissed it, "Dance with me?"
Hope smiled with relief, "I'd love to."
She could feel Marlena and Kayla's eyes on them. She hated it. All she wanted to do was protect him. Without another glance at her two blonde best friends, she let herself be led out onto the dance floor.
Bo's lips found her ear and hovered there, "You're not having fun."
"Yes I am," Hope argued. She tensed in his arms and she knew he didn't miss it. He could read her like a book.
Bo twirled her, "Your right eyebrow is slightly furrowed. What's wrong?"
Hope bit her lip and searched his eyes. It wasn't about her. It was about him, "How are you?"
"I'm good," Bo reassured. He smiled at her and gave her sparkling gown a once over with his mischievous eyes, "This is fun. Stop worrying."
"Promise?" Hope questioned. She peered up at him with a concerned gaze. Her fingers mindlessly played with the small tufts of hair on the back of his neck.
Bo kissed her lightly, "I promise."
She relaxed into his arms and let herself take a moment to listen to the music. Bo smiled. It was moments like this one that made him forget. They all deserved this night, along with many more to come.
"FancyFace," Bo whispered. The song they swayed to was coming to an end. Hope wished it wasn't. She could stay there forever.
"What?" Hope questioned.
"Let yourself have fun tonight," Bo begged, "Please."
"Bo," Hope started to argue, but Bo's lips stopped her. She accepted his kiss without protest.
"Promise me," Bo demanded when he broke their kiss.
Hope smiled at him, "I promise."
"I love you," Bo reminded, "You look beautiful, but you'd look a lot more beautiful if you'd stop worrying about me."
Hope nodded, "It just feels weird being out in public and not constantly having to look over our shoulders."
Bo brought her hand to his chest and pressed it into his heart, "You're telling me."
Hope shrugged, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Bo shook his head, "We've been through a lot."
They searched each other's eyes in silence for a moment.
"If we don't let ourselves enjoy this night and our freedom, then they win," Bo spoke seriously, "I fought so hard to get back to you. They will not take this away from me. I refuse to let them win."
Hope swallowed the knot that was swelling in her throat, "You're right."
Bo kissed her again, this time with a little more desperation. Hope smiled at him when their lips parted and he rested his forehead on hers.
"I love you so much," Hope whispered.
"I'll never get tired of hearing that," Bo smiled back, "Are you ready to have fun now?"
Hope sighed, "I never have been one to lose Brady."
Bo felt weak at the knees when she winked at him, "You kill me FancyFace."
"Until my dying day Brady," Hope smirked and swatted his behind as she walked away from him.
Bo's groin tightened as he viewed her backside when she walked away from him. He would definitely be taking her out of that dress later. He smiled to himself. It was going to be a good night. He casually walked back to the bar to join John and Steve for another round before dinner, stealing glances of his wife the entire time.
Hope was back at the table with Marlena and Kayla, but this time she was laughing.