BT – Chance Encounters – All I want for Xmas
Chapter 4 – Star Gazing
It's been quite a long time since you last saw him. You get texts every other day, sometimes even a phone call. He always asks about your welfare and your work, teases you about the latest novel you've read wanting to know if you're still hooked on your vampire trashy romantic stories or if you've finally moved on to some other craze. The answer is always the same – the big crush you have on vampire stories is not likely to go away. You don't know why but it always seems to reassure him, as if he's taken a personal interest in the matter.
Sometimes he asks for your help, when he's stuck on one of his graphic novels. You've helped him with a few plots and received a copy of the book and a bunch of flowers each time one was published. You have to admit – it takes your mind off the loneliness and boredom at work. Of course it pays the bills but then, without Henry, you'd probably have resigned a long time ago and found something else to do – anything – somewhere else. You don't see him that much these days. He's apparently had some rough times lately – personal stuff he doesn't want to talk about – but each time he drops by, he seems to want to speak about something else – anything else, actually. You've let it pass. Everyone has their own secrets and you've come to know him enough to know he always opens up with you in good time. But there are things you've come to sense and wish to discuss with him, if you are to stay, if you are to take your relationship a little bit further.
It's not you don't enjoy being with him. It's just you enjoy it a little bit too much. You know he likes you – a lot. He's said it and most important, he's shown it, quite a few times. It's just you've never let him come too close, not letting him too much into your heart, for fear he might one day get tired of you and you'd be the one left to suffer. But you know he wants more. He's made it clear. You've never allowed yourself to go where he lives and never let him stay at your place for more than a few hours in the evening. You're aware it intrigues him, challenges him. He's not used to being held at a distance.
Basically, what he likes when he comes around is to have a cozy night with you. It still amazes you how much he likes to kiss and cuddle. Of course, he likes more too but it doesn't seem to be what matters most. You blush at the memory of the few times things got a lot more heated. You two have had a few sessions of mind-blowing sex that make the butterflies in your stomach widely flutter each time you allow your mind to drift off to them. But you're aware there are other women in his life, one in particular. The others seem mere entertainment to him, pretty things he likes to be surrounded with but that he doesn't let into his life. That's why you stubbornly refuse to go to his apartment. He's not lied to you – yes, he sometimes brings some of them there, though never letting them stay and yes, his partner, that Vicki he told you about, haunts his condo. You don't want to meet any of them. That's his other life. You've come to accept it though never told him that way. Now is the time to tell him.
It's the beginning of the summer here and the cold chills often felt at night, even throughout spring, have made room for some very warm evenings. He's texted you yesterday to meet him today in the park next to your place after sunset.
When you arrive, he's already there, spreading a blanket on the grass. You can see a half-open wicker basket next to it. You stroll towards him and kiss his cheek as he pulls himself up and turns towards you. "Good evening, angel," he greets you and pulls you into his embrace. He gives you a die-for kiss that leaves you breathless and nuzzles your neck. You spy the top of the basket from over his shoulder. "No, no, no," he chides you, pulling away from you just a little to kiss you again. "It's a surprise. Don't spoil it, will you? You must sit first," he says, helping you, then drops to his knees in front of you.
You raise your eyebrows expectantly. "I'm sitting," you state. "Can I get my surprise?" He laughs out loud, a hearty laugh that tugs at your heart. It's been quite a long time since he looked so relaxed and truly happy. "You seem in a good mood. May I ask you why?"
"I've missed you. I've worked a lot recently. Had quite a rough time. And I've been planning this for quite a while... Is that enough to be happy?" He grins at you and you grin back.
"I'm not complaining, Henry. I've missed you too and I'm glad to see you look so happy and relaxed... Surprise, please?" you add, feeling suddenly like a kid. No one's ever bothered to plan a surprise for you. You're overjoyed.
He laughs again. "You look like a kid just opening a birthday gift, you know?"
You pull him closer to you and kiss him. "Thank you," you say.
"I've not even shown you what it is!" he exclaims. "You may not even like it."
"Thank you for planning this exclusively for me. The content of the basket doesn't matter, only the intention." He lifts the lid of the basket to reveal a bottle of champagne, a bowl of strawberries and cream and cookies. "What's the occasion?" you ask.
"Do we need a special occasion to celebrate our friendship and enjoy life?" He quirks an eyebrow.
"Nope, you're right. We should do that more often."
"We will..." You beam at him. He gets two crystal glasses from the basket and pours you a glass of champagne. He hands it to you, then lifts his own. "To a beautiful night and a beautiful lady." You smile at him and let it pass – you're not really comfortable with the compliments but have come to know that's the way he is. You both take a sip and then spend the next couple of minutes sharing a heated kiss. He pulls you towards him, cradles you on his shoulder, then pulls you both on the blanket. "The night is clear. We'll be able to see a lot of stars tonight, maybe even some shooting stars and make a wish," he whispers in your ear, sending shivers down your spine. "Are you cold, my lady?"
"Nope, I'm good, just happy, I guess..." He gathers you more closely to his chest and you spend a few minutes looking at the sky in silence. You kiss his cheek and sit. "Ready for some dessert?" he asks, pulling the strawberries and cookies from the basket.
"Yeah, sure, why not?" You are not hungry but it looks delicious and you want to humor him. You dip one strawberry in the whipped cream and take a bite. It does feel yummy. You offer him one, testing him, knowing he's not going to accept it. Not once when you had dinner together has he even picked at his food. He always orders for two but leaves his plate untouched and his glass of wine full. "Henry, I think it's time we talked..." You don't want to spoil the evening but then if you don't, you'll never settle this. There will be other wonderful evenings like this one and you'll always think "next time".
He gives you a worried look. "Did I do something wrong, angel?"
You caress his cheek and take hold of his hand. "No, you haven't. Look, Henry, there are things that need to be settled between us. You're right. We are friends. It is precious and not to be wasted by secrets." You see he's suddenly on edge. His eyes get darker and he tries to pull his hand from yours but you don't let go of it. "Henry, don't shut me out." He breathes in and closes his eyes for a brief moment then opens them and looks at you straight in the eyes. You feel suddenly cold, as if all happiness had left you. "Don't you dare try and compel me into forgetting, Henry Fitzroy!" you growl at him, furious. He looks at you, utter amazement in his midnight blue eyes.
"What do you mean, compel you?"
"And don't you dare take me for a fool either. I'm your friend, Henry. I'll never hurt you. You can trust me. I'd rather kill myself than betray your secret," you whisper, hurt in your voice.
He closes his eyes again. "What do you know?" he tentatively asks.
Here we go! He doesn't trust you yet but he's not acted upon it either. "I know you're a night walker. You can't compel me, which seems to be extremely rare. I know the pretty little things you hang out with are your takeaway meals and I certainly don't want to be one of them. I know you took blood from me the very first time we met but never have since then. I know your partner is more than your partner, that you would give your life for her, that when she calls you come running and that she's changed you..." You've said it all in a hurry for fear you might not have the courage to say it at all and he's not interrupted you once. Just looked at you in amazement. "Shall I go on?" you ask him.
"Why? There's more?" he asks, clearly amused now.
"Yes, Henry Fitzroy." You insist on his last name and it dawns on him. You've made research. He grins at you.
You're pissed. He's not answered you, not even tried to negate what you just said. "What?" you demand, "What's so funny?"
"I should have known. You're so strong-willed. I knew from the start I was playing with fire, seeing you again."
You cut him in. "I told you, Henry. I'll never betray your secret, ever."
He pulls you gently towards him and kisses you. "I know, angel. I should have told you a long time ago. I should have trusted you. I'm sorry."
He pulls you down on the blanket. You settle your head on his shoulder again. You both see a few shooting stars. You don't know what he wishes for but as for you, well, you wish for loads of nights like this one.
One more chapter to come, as all good things must come to an end...