Forum! Come to the forum and play the 'what if' game.
Welcome Mahi, Prancing Anya, and Kammy. It's always a joy to learn who my readers are.
Ian O'Shea, I wish you didn't hate Nate so.
Annabelle, thanks again for your kind words.
As for the rest of you, I'll be talking to you.
A NEW OUTLOOK
THAT NIGHT BEFORE I WENT TO SLEEP, I took the ring off of my right hand and placed it on my left but I didn't say anything. I wanted to see how long it would take him to notice.
As it turns out, it wasn't Ian who noticed at all.
We woke in the morning and we went together to the bathing room to wash up and brush our teeth before going to the kitchen for breakfast. There was a crowd of people. A few had come to me to say they were glad that I wasn't hurt in the accident. Ian went on to get breakfast and sat down in a cubby to wait for me. In the middle of it all, Nate entered the kitchen and gushed. "Hello, Beautiful! Good to see you back!"
I turned to Nate to give him my full attention and I held out my arms for him to come to me. "I guess I'm back."
He looked at me. He creased his eyebrows and tilted his head. "So, I see the wedding is back on."
Ian was behind me and I heard his plate hit the floor. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and turned towards Ian. Ian swallowed his mouthful of food and then spoke slowly and deliberately. "Wanderer, turn around."
I turned slowly with my left hand over my lips exposing the ring. His eyes were glistening. He walked slowly to me and bent low, wrapping his arms around my thighs, and he picked me up off the ground. He looked up at me. "Yes?"
"Yes." I answered.
He spun me around and everyone in the kitchen clapped including Nate.
He approached us after Ian put me down. "You really didn't know?" he asked Ian.
"No, you let the cat out of the bag," he replied. Ian turned to me. "When did you switch it?"
"Last night when I went to bed, I thought it might somehow salvage your birthday. You've been so good since I came back and you've been wonderful about Nate. I couldn't possibly love anyone more than you."
He grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me right there in front of everyone. Ian's parents entered the room in the middle of the kiss. His mother cleared her throat loudly. Ian slowly brought the kiss to a close. "Mom, the wedding's on!"
She threw her hands up in triumph and did a little dance. I had never seen Maggie so animated before. It was pure joy that was driving her. She came over and put her arms around me. "It will be nice to have a daughter."
After dinner, Burns and Sunny left to return the rental car and pick up a new van. I couldn't go. I never wanted to get in that car again.
That night Ian and I made love and he was very gentle and passionate.
Ian woke me in the middle of the night just as Burns had done at the mountain.
"Babydoll. Wake up. You're having a bad dream."
I woke up and began to cry.
Ian comforted me. "It's okay. I'm here."
"I dreamt about the accident. I saw Brandt broken and bleeding. I wish I could just forget."
He held me and soothed me until I fell back to sleep.
This happened three nights in a row.
The following morning after my latest nightmare, I rolled towards Ian. "I want to go back to the mountain."
He looked at me cautiously. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. You've been wonderful. I just was hoping that a change of scenery might do me good."
"How long will you be gone?" He still didn't get it.
"I don't want to go alone. I want us to go to the mountain but I know you don't want to leave your parents. They already lost you once for six years."
"Are you kidding? I've been dying to go to the mountain. I just didn't want to push you. I need to check on the buildings. Nate told me they still haven't completed the heating system and it's getting cold. When do you want to leave?"
"Well, Burns and Sunny just got back last night. Tomorrow is Kyle's birthday. Which reminds me, I got you another present for your birthday but it's really a dual gift. I got one for you and one for Kyle so you won't get it till tomorrow."
He smiled. "Okay. You still didn't say when you want to leave."
"I guess we can go when Burns and Nate leave but we should take a separate vehicle. We could take the sedan."
"Okay, I can live with that."
"I wanted to talk about something else too."
"What?" He looked nervous.
"I know I promised you that I would stop using birth control as soon as we were married but..."
"What? You're not pregnant are you?"
"No. I want to wait until I'm eighteen. I just hate the thought of being knocked up at seventeen."
He lowered his head and smiled. He looked back at me, his eyes sparkling in the morning light. "Babydoll, you can wait as long as you want eighteen, nineteen, twenty one even. I have you in my life and that's all that I need."
"Thank you."
He looked at me serious again. "Twenty five is my limit though."
I smiled broadly and pulled him in to plant my lips on his.
That day Sunny was all excited about planning Kyle's party. I tried to be excited for her but I was sad that Ian's party had been ruined in the worst way imaginable. Sunny had suggested earlier in the week that we make it a dual party for the both of them but Ian was against it. He said it was Kyle's day and he wouldn't take it from him.
The last couple of days I had been pretty sedate. I didn't feel right about just jumping back into the 'happy' things. Maybe it was my way of punishing myself for the guilt I felt. Today, Ian informed me that he expected me to go to dance lessons with him. He invited Nate to come along. I thought this was crazy because it was obvious that Nate would want to dance with me as well and I felt this might be pushing the limits of Ian's jealousy. After all, the first time Nate and I almost kissed, we were dancing. When we got to the game room Maggie wasn't there. Ian explained that she had other things to do. I knew better. He made sure she wasn't there.
First we all stretched. At least I seriously stretched. The guys made fun of each other. Ian asked if I would dance for both of them. I was more comfortable now with my dance skills so I didn't mind dancing for them. They both looked like little kids at the circus. Their eyes were bright and their smiles were big.
When I finished, I grabbed a bottle of water and took a big swig. "Okay boys, time to hit the dance floor."
Ian got up first. He smiled as he took me in his arms. The music began and he was moving smoothly across the floor. I was so proud of his progress. He was really doing well. When the song ended he leaned to my ear. "Please don't kiss him."
"Ian!" I whined.
Nate got up and took me into his arms. His hold was definitely different from Ian's. It was strong and confident. Ian started the music and then he left the room.
"Ian!" I called out.
"Leave him. It's difficult for him…to see us together." We glided across the floor. "We talked. He told me about your deal."
"My deal?" I questioned him.
"Well, not a deal exactly, the agreement. The one until you say 'I do'."
"Nate, I…"
"Just dance." He smiled. Then he stared into my eyes.
When he looked at me like this I felt vulnerable. I didn't like feeling like this. I looked down and I could feel the blush on my cheeks.
"It's nice to know that I can still do that to you." He smiled his beautiful smile and twirled me effortlessly around the room.
When the song ended he leaned close to my ear. "I really wanted to kiss you." He kissed me on the cheek.
When he pulled back from my cheek I saw Ian standing in the doorway. "I heard the music stop." He was solemn.
Nate walked towards him. "She's all yours. But you knew that." Nate left the room.
Ian came back to me. He was quiet. He took me in his arms and when the next song began he started to dance. He wouldn't look at me though. This frustrated me.
"Hey!"
He gave me an exasperated look. "What?"
"I didn't kiss him."
"But you wanted to." Again I could feel the heat in my cheeks.
He let go of me and backed away quickly. It suddenly occurred to me that he set me up. I walked towards him. "You set me up. Why would you do that?"
He backed up but didn't speak.
I was angry and I kept pacing forward. "Ian! Why did you leave the room?" I was in his face.
"You're not afraid of me?" he asked.
I realized that even though I knew he was angry that I didn't back down.
"I guess I'm not."
"Good, 'cause I'm really jealous right now but I can take it as long as you're not afraid of me." He stepped forward and took my face in his hands and pressed his lips ferociously to mine. It could only be described as an angry kiss. The kind one would give if they were trying to establish ownership. He nibbled my lips and parts of me jumped with electricity.
I breathed out the words in between his kisses. "I think we should go back to our room." He slung me over his back like a caveman and walked briskly through the caverns to our room. Once inside he flung me down on the bed.
"If your clothes aren't off in thirty seconds, I'm ripping them off," he ordered.
I felt his demand and his actions were quite hostile. I decided to speak up.
"Whoa! Are you mad at me?"
I stopped him in his tracks.
"I guess maybe I am. I'm sorry."
"Ian. I want to make love to you. I don't even mind it rough, but if you are angry about Nate, then I'm sorry. I have been very up front with you about my feelings for Nate and you put me in a very awkward position today. If anyone should be angry it should be me."
He took a deep breath. "You're right. I asked you to be patient with me and you have been. You don't deserve my anger." He knelt on the bed towards me. "Forgive me?"
He was so damned adorable. "I hate when you get all puppy dog like that."
"Can I take your clothes off instead of ripping them off?"
"No. Now I'm not in the mood." I was being a brat.
He leaned in and kissed my neck. "How about if I do this?"
"No."
He stood up and took off his shirt revealing his muscular body. He slid back on the bed and pulled my shirt up revealing my stomach. He kissed my stomach down to my jean line as he pulled open my jeans. "How about now?"
"My lips are up here." I said pointing to my lips.
"Okay." He crouched over the top of me and kissed me. He made sure he nibbled my lips. Then he opened his mouth and pushed his tongue into mine and our tongues were playfully caressing each other. When he pulled away he took a deep breath. "How about now?"
I sighed as I said, "Oh I don't know. I don't really feel like sex right now." He fell on the bed on his back.
"Oh come on. You're killing me here!"
I straddled him. I was in control now. "Will you obey me?"
I knew it killed him to be subservient. I pulled off my top and he reached for me. I waved my finger at him. "Uh-uh. Will you obey me?"
"Wanderer…" he moaned.
"Answer the question."
"For how long?"
"Forever of course." I smiled an evil grin.
"Can I play rough?" He was trying to bargain.
I bit my lower lip. "The question?" I reminded him.
He didn't answer.
"Oh well, I guess I'll go do laundry." I started to get off of him.
He caught me and pulled to his chest. "I'll obey you. I'm your servant," he conceded.
"I thought so."
That night the sex was rough and playful. We both came away with a few loving bruises but it was worth it. We hadn't been anything but serious in a while. It was nice to have the playful Ian back.
The following day was Kyle's birthday. I dragged Ian to Kyle's room first thing to give them their dual gifts. Kyle threw on a pair of pants and then let us in.
"Happy Birthday Kyle!"
"Hey Sis!"
I have a gift for you and a gift for Ian. I got you both the same thing so you can play together. I handed each of them a boxed gift and ordered them to unwrap it. They both got into the box at the same time and pulled out a top of the line baseball glove.
"Here. I got you a six pack of balls. I thought you might at least be able to throw the ball around in the main cavern."
"Thanks Sis, this is good," Kyle said jubilantly.
Ian looked at me. "You don't need us right?"
I nodded. "Right. That's the plan."
They needed no more coaxing. They took off for the main cavern leaving Sunny and me to get everything ready for the party. I was hungry.
"I think we should eat first," I said to Sunny.
"Sure. If you can eat then I'm a happy camper," Sunny replied.
We went to the kitchen. Nate and Burns were there with Ice and Aaron. I still felt very uneasy around Aaron.
I turned to Sunny. "Maybe we should come back later." I muttered to her as I tried to turn back in the direction we had come from but Nate saw me.
"Hello, Beautiful!"
I turned around and waved half heartedly. "Hi."
I don't know if Nate picked up on my reluctance to Aaron or if he thought I was avoiding him. He marched right up to me, hugged me, and kissed me on the cheek. He whispered in my ear. "You look lovely as always."
He took me by the hand and led me past the others to the food that Heidi and Violetta had prepared. "So, what does our little dancer want for breakfast?"
"Well, if I let you dole it out, I'll be eating for two," I said snidely.
"You're not trying to tell me something, are you?" he joked.
"NO!" I hissed.
"Whoa, it's not like I got you pregnant!" he remarked.
Sunny heard him. "You're pregnant?" she stammered. The others all turned to stare at me now.
I balled my hands into fists. "I AM NOT PREGNANT!" I bellowed. I smacked Nate on the shoulder and continued to yell at him. "And YOU shouldn't be spreading rumors!"
"You mean like you are going to name your first son Nate Jr?" He was on a roll. I clenched my teeth and screeched as I shoved him in the chest backing him up a few steps.
He grabbed my wrists and held them. He snickered as he leaned towards me. "What are you going to do now?"
I had two choices. I could kick him in which case he would be going down in a hurry or I surrender and let him win. As angry as I was I couldn't hurt Nate but I wasn't going to lose so I made a third choice. I went for shock factor. I leaned forward and opened my mouth slightly and kissed him right smack on the lips. I tasted his sexy lips with my tongue. It only lasted a few seconds but he was dazed and so was everyone else.
I turned to the others. "Well, that shut him up."
I went to Heidi. "Can I get some scrambled eggs and bacon, please?"
As Heidi put the food on the plate, the others came to life. Ice mocked him. "Nate, you should have seen the look on your face!"
I thanked Heidi and marched over to a cubby and sat down to eat. Sunny got her food and sat next to me. Under her breath, she said, "You are in so much trouble!"
"It was worth it to get the best of him for once."
"No fighting at Kyle's party," she warned.
"I don't intend to fight," I remarked.
"Ian's going to flip."
"I won't let him go to the party till he's calm."
"And what if he, you know, loses it?"
"I don't know. I don't want to think about it."
We ate our food in silence. Nate approached me with his arms up. "Truce."
"Ugh!" Sunny groaned as she walked away.
Nate leaned close so the others wouldn't hear. "He's going to be pissed. You did that in front of witnesses."
"Would it have been better if we were alone?" I asked.
"Would you have kissed me if we were alone?"
"Nope. I would have walked away, but I wasn't losing to you in front of all of them."
He looked at me seriously. "So, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to tell him," I said flatly.
"Don't do it when you're alone," he pleaded.
"I have to. If he's going to hit me, it's better to find out now before we are married."
He looked at me with creased eyebrows. "You did this as a test?" It was an accusation.
"No, not on purpose. You started this mess remember?"
"Let me tell him then."
"No."
"Then take Burns with you for protection," he demanded.
"No, Nate. Look, he's playing ball with Kyle. I'm going to help Sunny with the party and then I'll tell him. If you tell him before I do, I will never talk to you again. And I mean it!"
"But…" he objected.
"No buts!" I was adamant. I hugged him and whispered in his ear. "I'll be alright, I need to believe that."
After breakfast Sunny and I went to the game room to decorate. "Don't say anything in front of his parents."
"I won't. I just don't understand you sometimes."
"Sometimes, I don't understand me either. I can only tell you that I didn't kiss him as a romantic gesture."
"I'm sure Ian will believe you," Sunny said sarcastically.
A short while later Ian and Kyle entered the room. We were nearly finished with the decorations.
Kyle spoke first. "Hey, ladies. What's shakin'?"
Ian came up behind me and wrapped himself around me. "I'm sweaty. Want to take a bath with me?"
Perfect, I thought. He wouldn't kill me if I was naked in front of him. I turned to Ian. "That sounds perfect."
Sunny turned suddenly and bellowed. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Shut up, Sunny," I snapped back.
"What?" Ian asked. She had roused his suspicions.
"You're not going near the water with her," Sunny ordered.
Ian looked at Sunny. "What is your problem?"
I took Ian by the arm and dragged him out of the room.
"What's going on Wanderer?"
I grabbed his hand and pulled him all the way to the bathing room. It was empty. I pulled him inside just as Kyle showed up.
"Kyle, stay away!" I pulled the door shut.
Ian looked like a deer in headlights. "Babydoll, what's going on?"
"Let me start by saying that I'm not afraid of you."
"O-kay?" he said nervously.
I took a deep breath. "I kissed Nate."
"You what?" he snapped.
"And I did it in front of a bunch of people."
He stepped back away from me all the way to the other side of the tub and he grabbed his head in agony. "Why would you do that?"
I was scared to death but I tried very hard not to show it. I gathered my courage and walked around the tub towards him. "Let me explain."
"I don't want to hear it!" he hissed.
I didn't want to push my luck. I could see he was shaking with anger. I stepped slowly closer to him.
"Wanderer, don't. Please just stay away."
"Ian, it's not what you think!"
"You just told me that you made out with Nate in front of a room full of people. What am I supposed to think?"
I kept walking towards him and he kept backing up. When he backed into the wall, he slid down until he was sitting with his knees up.
"Please," I pleaded. "Just let me explain."
He put his elbows on his knees and held his forehead in his hands. He wouldn't look at me. He spoke softly. "Talk."
I spoke like I was in a speed race. "Okay. I went to the kitchen with Sunny to get breakfast. Burns, Nate, Aaron, and Ice were there and so were Heidi and Violetta."
"That's just great," he muttered.
I continued. "Nate dragged me over to the food. Now, you see, when we were at the mountain, Nate made breakfast for me and it was a ton of food. So, when he asked what I wanted, I passed the comment that if it was up to him, I'd be eating enough for two. Then he alluded to me being pregnant and you know how I feel about that subject. I told him I wasn't. Then he said 'it's not like I got you pregnant' and the others heard it. They all thought I was pregnant! It pissed me off."
Ian started to laugh.
"It's not funny!" I screeched. My anger was surfacing all over again.
He quickly composed himself. "You're right. It's not."
"I told everyone I wasn't pregnant and I smacked him in the arm and I told him he shouldn't start rumors. You know what he said?"
Ian stared at his hands. "I can only imagine."
"He said, 'like the one about how you promised to name the baby Nate Jr?' I went crazy. I pushed him and he grabbed my wrists. He thought he was real cute. He said, 'what are you going to do now?' I wasn't going to let him get the better of me in front of all those people. I figured I had two choices. I could kick him where it hurts or I could go for shock value."
Ian shook his head acknowledging my choice. He spoke very low. "So you kissed him."
"Yes, but it wasn't meant to be romantic."
He sighed. "Why couldn't you just kick him?"
"The same reason I could never kick you."
He spoke barely above a whisper now. "Because you love him."
"I'm sorry."
He let out a little growl. "If it had been Burns, would you have kissed him?"
"I don't know. Probably not."
He was silent. I waited for him to say something. He didn't.
I decided to break the silence. "Do you want to break up with me?"
He answered without hesitation. "God, no."
"Do you want to hurt me?"
He looked up at me for the first time. "No."
I was relieved. He had answered the two toughest questions. Now I needed to get him to want to touch me. "Do you want to have angry sex with me?"
"No."
I took off my shoes, my halter dress, and my panties. He didn't show much interest. I slid into the tub. "I thought you wanted to take a bath."
"I don't want to anymore."
I went to the edge of the tub closest to where he was sitting. Nudity was Ian's greatest weakness and it didn't work. I was getting desperate. "Look, Ian. I know what I did was wrong. I guess I should have let Nate make a fool of me, but I lost my temper. I'm sorry. I'm willing to take whatever punishment you want, just don't drown me." I meant it as a joke but I wanted to take it back as soon as I said it.
He just sat there.
"Please?" I paused at the edge of the tub. One more try I thought. "It's cold in here. Won't you warm me up?"
He was exasperated. He stood up. "Why can't you just stop loving him?"
Now I was exasperated. I snapped back at him. "Because I can't. You know what? Just forget it."
I crossed back to the other side and started to climb out of the tub. Ian jumped in fully clothed including his shoes and pulled me back into the tub.
"Ian!" I screeched.
Kyle burst into the room. "Ian, don't do it," he warned.
Ian had been standing behind me and now he shifted quickly in front of me to block his brother's view of my naked body. "I wasn't going to hurt her. Do you mind not staring at my naked fiancée?"
Kyle turned quickly away from us. "Sorry, man. I just thought…"
"I said it once and I'll say it again. I will never hurt her again. Thanks for all the faith 'Bro'."
"Okay, I'm leaving but I'm not going far. Sunny told me not to come back until you were out of the bathing room."
"Fine!" Ian hissed.
Kyle left the room. Ian backed away from me and ducked under the water for a long time before he finally came up.
"Why did you jump in with your clothes on?"
"I don't know. I had to do something. I'm so freaking mad at you right now." He reached into the water and pulled off his sneakers and set them at the edge of the tub.
"What can I do to make it up to you?" I crossed the tub and tried to put my arms around his neck.
He pulled my arms away. "Wanderer, please. I'm not in the mood."
I had been shot down again. He took off his socks and squeezed them out. He took off his khaki's and squeezed them out. I decided my best chance now was the straight up tease.
I became provocative. I used my eyes when I spoke to him. "Ian, would you feel better if you spanked me?"
"No, if I spank you, I might lose control and hurt you. I'm really not in a fun mood. I hate that you love him."
I was on the defensive. "He hates that I love you. I can't change who I am. No matter what body you put me in, I'll still love both of you."
He was quiet. I pulled myself out of the tub and sat on the side. I put my head in my hands. I didn't know what else to do. I started to cry. "I'm sorry if I can't be what you want me to be."
He sighed. "That's just it, Wanderer. You are everything I want."
I tried to figure out what was wrong with me. "Ian, I've been on this planet for less than two years. Everything here is so…" I couldn't find the word. "Most of the things I've experienced have been through memories that aren't even mine. I want to do so many things and sometimes I think I just get selfish."
He looked at me with such pain. "Wanderer, I can only take so much. First, Nate coaxes you out of that hole. Do you know how that made me feel? Then you couldn't deny that you wanted to kiss him when you were dancing with him and now this. My patience is gone. Do you want to be with me?"
"YES!" I slipped back into the tub and began walking towards him. "Please, Ian. I'm begging."
He put his hands on my face. "I want you so bad, it hurts."
I put my hands on his chest. "I'm right here."
"I'm not just talking about your body. I want your soul."
Tears began to stream down my face. I was torturing him. I wasn't used to all these emotions. For thousands of years my focus was on whatever was in front of me. I had choices now and I didn't know how to handle it. I looked at him through my tears. "How do you do it?" I asked.
"Do what?"
"Choose just one?"
"Wanderer, one of the things I love most about you is your innocence. There are different kinds of love. You can love many people in different ways. But the kind of love I have for you is all encompassing. You are the one I want to wake up with every morning. You are the one I want to bear my children. You are the one who drives me crazy sexually. You are the one I want to share every important moment in my life with and most important; you are the one I can't live without."
I was sobbing. "Please Ian." My body was heaving with the sobs. I tried hard to get the words out. "That's how I feel about you. When I'm with you, you are the only one I think about. When I'm with Nate, even though I enjoy being with him; you are always on my mind. That's the difference in my love for him and my love for you. You are the one I can't live without."
We were standing only a foot apart. He pulled my face to his. "Thank you."
He kissed me tenderly which led to the slow burn kiss. He kissed the tears on my face as if each tear was an important moment in my life that he didn't want to miss. We had been in the cool water for some time and I was cold. A shiver ran down my spine.
"You're shivering. Are you afraid of me?"
"No. I'm cold, but when I told you before that I wasn't afraid of you, I lied."
"Are you kidding? I was scared to death that I was going to lose it."
I looked at his beautiful blue eyes. "But you didn't." He picked me up and sat me on the edge of the tub. He got out and pulled me to my feet.
"I just kept telling myself that I love you and when you asked me not to drown you; that was like a dagger to my heart."
"I'm sorry; I wanted to take it back as soon as I said it."
"That's why Sunny didn't want you to come here with me. She actually thought I would drown you. It's nice to know everyone thinks so highly of me."
"Well, I say we go to the party and show them just how happy we are."
"Are you happy?" He put his hands on my hips.
"I'm very happy and I can't wait to be your wife."
"We had a really good talk here today."
"We did. I love you, Superman."
"I'm not going to say it."
"Oh please!" I pouted. "Please, please, please."
He used the moment to his advantage. "Will you obey me?"
I played along. "For how long?"
He put his hand on his chin and looked at the ceiling as if he was thinking. "Only for…..EVER!"
"Forever is a long time," I replied.
"I wish it was longer because that's how long I will love you."
I smiled. "I didn't say I obey."
"Well, even if you say it, you won't." I knew he didn't say it to hurt me but because he believed it to be true.
Ian helped me put my clothes on and he wrapped himself in a towel. I cradled my arm in his. "Shall we?"
"Well, I'm not leaving without you."
We exited the bathing room. Kyle was sitting outside the door sulking. "It's my birthday and I get stuck babysitting my psycho brother."
"Hey! I resemble that remark!'
We all laughed and headed down the tunnel. Ian and I went back to our room to get ready for the party.
"I hope you don't think you are going to be putting any clothes on now do you?"
Finally, the sexually charged Ian I had been trying to ignite in the bathing room came to life. "Are you asking me to obey you?" I teased.
"I'm asking you to fulfill my desires I tried very hard to suppress back there in the bathing room."
"So, you did want me?"
"Babydoll, I always want you."
He took me and I was his willing slave. I'd have to say we were both pretty happy by the time we left for the party. I was definitely dressed to impress. I had my little pink tiered mini skirt on with my black spike heels. Ian wore the same outfit he had on the day he met me at the jeep.
When we entered the party holding hands we turned a lot of heads. Sure, most of them were just shocked to see that Ian hadn't killed me but we were definitely the 'hot' couple at the party. I went to Sunny. "See? I told you everything would be fine." I looked at Ian across the room. "It doesn't get any finer than that!"
Ian made a beeline to Nate. I prayed he wouldn't start anything. They came to me together. Nate spoke. "Ian says you two want to come back to the mountain and he wants to bring his parents. What would you say to that?"
I was very excited. His parents would love it on the mountain. I wanted to hug Nate but I didn't want to hurt Ian.
Ian saw my intense excitement. "Go ahead, hug him."
I pounced on Nate. He hugged me back. Then I pounced on Ian.
"This is going to be great!"
So the party was a success. Ian and I had a great time and we were the couple 'in love'. We couldn't keep our hands off of each other all night. Even Nate seemed happy to see Ian and I so involved with each other. Ian's parents were thrilled to be invited to the mountain and it was decided we would all leave tomorrow night.