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Chapter 95

A Date!


Leah


I had lain awake for a long time after lying in bed after the bar.

I could not sleep. Too many butterflies were buzzing through my body.

And every single one of them I had beaten to death in agony the day after.

Marcus had not called!

I had not taken the phone out of my hand for most of Wednesday. During school I had held it in my pocket so that I would not miss if it vibrated. Put it next to my plate when eating. Later, I held it in my hand the whole time at a friend's house. I constantly looked expectantly at the display. But it just didn't ring. Only once, and that had only been Mom. Even while running with Jake, I had tied it around my ankle so I could get a look. When I finally lay in bed, I cursed the entire world of men!

Mom had come to me and was now sitting with me on my bed.

After I had told both Lisa and Alice about Marcus, a meticulous absolutely complete report in each case, I hadn't said much to Mom yet. I did not see it as being absolutely necessary. For one thing, Mom wasn't that curious, and for another, Dad would have already told her some things. So now I told her about Marcus. What a likeable impression I had of him and how well we had gotten along. His black eyes. His voice. But that I had obviously been wrong.

"There can be a myriad of reasons why he hasn't called you yet," she tried to comfort me.

"What does Dad say about it?" suspicious, I dug deeper. After all, he still hadn't told me what had gone through Marcus's head. If Marcus was an asshole, which I assumed he was at the moment, Dad had to have heard that.

"He's already scheming his revenge because a boy disappointed his little girl!" chuckled Mom.

Little girl? Hello?

I was about to get mentally upset about it when my cell phone beeped.

Hi Leah.

Please forgive me for not getting back to you. Things are going haywire right now in my family. If it's not too late for you, can we talk on the phone now. I would love to hear your voice.

Marcus

A warm shiver ran through me as I typed a response.

Mom gave me another kiss on the forehead and left.

I had only noticed it subconsciously.

I hadn't finished typing when my cell phone rang. I shakily pressed on the small green button.

"Hello?" asked a dark beguiling voice.

"Hi!" I replied, clearing my throat first. It had come out much too wrong.

"I saw you were writing, so you're still awake," he then said.

Marcus apologized again. He had wanted to call in the evening, since he knew that I had school and then practice. Then chaos broke out at home, but he didn't say why.

I also didn't ask about it. It wasn't really any of my business.

"It was very nice with you last night ... I'd like to see you again," he said after some idle chit-chat.

"Me too," I admitted.

We arranged to meet after school on Friday afternoon. Tomorrow - Thursday - he had something planned that could not be postponed.

I had just hung up when Becky came storming into my room. Jake had just picked her up.

"Tell me!" she promptly demanded.

So I told her with a tingle in my stomach and brought the little butterflies back to life one by one.


Thursday just wouldn't end, and neither would school on Friday.

But then stood an old VW-Bus in the parking lot of the school and on it leaned probably the hottest guy in the world. And he was waiting for me!

Jake and Becky were on the way with me. I walked right up to Marcus, but really didn't know how to act.

Reach out to him? A short hug? A kiss?

I felt the heat gathering in my cheeks and it didn't go away when he took the decision of greeting from me.

His shapely lips touched my cheek with feeling.

"So, this is the brother you didn't want anymore?" asked Marcus after a long moment of me staring at his smile.

I had completely forgotten his voice. How deep it was. How it made me tremble.

"What? ... Um ... yeah, this is Jake," I introduced. "You know Becky."

They shook hands and chatted briefly about the car, which my little brother was totally excited about.

The bus was already a pretty old model and in exactly the same condition. It fit into the hippie movement I had once heard about in history. But chic. Kind of. Two-tone. A rather faded red at the bottom, a dirty white at the top. His surf gear was spread messily through the back.

Jake and Becky then quickly went on their way.

They didn't want to get on our nerves.

The first thing I then heard from Marcus was an apology.

Unfortunately, he did not have as much time as he had actually thought. Therefore, he suggested going to a small café not far from the school.

I agreed.


Holding hands, we strolled there.

We sat down - facing each other - on a bench in the far corner and ordered milkshakes.

"You used to have long hair? ... I can't imagine it on you," he laughed gleefully at one point.

To prove it, I showed some pictures from my phone.

"I like you better with this tousled look. Appears somehow more open. And bolder!" he twirled through my hair and let his fingertips slide along my cheek. "You have such beautiful eyes, Leah. I can't stop thinking about chocolate," he said, but I couldn't help but laugh.

He was visibly embarrassed that I laughed. He probably thought I was making fun of him.

"Excuse me for laughing," I therefore said immediately. "I have the same eyes as my mom and my dad also always compares hers to chocolate," I explained, which visibly calmed him down and made him laugh as well.

"Then I guess I'll have to think of something else. Let me have another closer look," he demanded, and his hand held my chin to turn my gaze to him.

He looked me in the eyes.

I looked him in the eyes.

Black. As if I could dive into them and hide. Yet they appeared so soft between his thick lashes and curved eyebrows. A small scar lay on the outer edge of one brow.

Involuntarily, I lifted my fingers and drove over them. I let my hand drop a little to stroke over his cheek.

A three-day beard hid the small dimple on his chin today. It matched his voice. It made him appear manly, no longer boyish. And above all, not innocent ...

Was the air conditioning actually broken here? A small contemplative fire flowed through my body and there was absolutely nothing wolfish about it.

The serenity in his handsome face diminished the longer he looked at me and his fingertips slid over my face.

"Forget about the eyes. Let's talk about your lips instead," he muttered.

"And what about them?" I inquired, leaning towards him a bit and having a go at a seductive gaze. His scent became more distinct. More breathtaking.

"I remember them being silky soft. And forbiddingly sweet!" Marcus whispered and came towards me as well. "But memories can be deceptive!" he still meant and immediately covered my mouth with his.

An incredible kiss that took away my senses. There was no more shyness, as there had been on Tuesday. It tingled in my fingertips, and something glowed in my chest.

The hand on his cheek slipped into his hair and I slid closer to Marcus.

I lost all sense of time. I never wanted to separate from those soft, comforting warm lips that massaged mine. He tasted so delicious, but I could not define it. His previously free hand settled on mine and went tingling up my arm.

Breathing heavily, we detached ourselves from each other a little and looked at each other. At the same time, a slight smile arose with both of us.

"Do you want anything else?" a waiter suddenly asked in front of the table.

Our heads flew in his direction.

He looked stressed and annoyed. And he had probably just robbed himself of his tip!

Marcus gently stroked over my chin and his fingertips continued to drive tingles along my jaw.

I turned my head back in his direction.

"I think I have everything I need!", Marcus stated in a whisper, looking me in the eyes.

"So do I!" I answered him, ignoring the waiter.

We kissed each other again.

"So just the check," I could still hear the waiter say as he moved off, but then interrupted us far too quickly.

Marcus paid the bill and arm in arm we walked back to his bus.

"I was going to ask you who the guy was who picked you up on Tuesday," Marcus inquired. "You meant it was your dad."

I bit my lower lip.

To blame this rash statement on alcohol would probably not be very credible. After all, we had both been pretty sober. How was I supposed to explain that? Lying or playing it down was futile. Because if my impression didn't deceive me, I had a new boyfriend. How long would I be able to keep the truth about my parents from him?

"That was Edward Stone ... He's together with my mom," so I admitted. What would Marcus say to that? I really couldn't imagine.

"But certainly not for very long, right?" he asked more specifically.

"No. Only several weeks ago." The question was still simple.

"This guy can't be older than me!" then Marcus stated as we arrived at his car.

He said it quietly, but I thought I heard a protesting undertone. I tensed up inside and braced myself for the fact that in a few moments I would be single again. Just like before!

I grumpily spun out of his arm and stood in front of him with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

"What can I say? Edward is seventeen and my mom is thirty-seven. They love each other. They're happy together. Do you have a problem with that?" I snapped aggressively. So whatever Marcus thought about it, I wanted to know right away. If he couldn't handle it, he should say so. Then I would definitely be home in time for dinner.

"You're cute when you're mad!" Marcus suddenly chuckled, however, taking my angry face in his hands and breathing a sensual kiss on my lips.

"Uh ..." What was I going to say again? Was I going to say anything at all?

"Twenty years. Must not be easy for them."

My attitude relaxed.

"You're not ... I don't know ... disgusted or anything?" I inquired doubtfully.

"Why should I? It's none of my business. As long as neither of them is forced to do anything, or perhaps takes advantage of the other's mental inadequacies, I don't really care. But since you're not stupid, I'm sure neither will apply. Besides, on Tuesday you told me about your super mom and your cool dad. You would have told it differently if something was wrong with your parents. Less lively," he meant seriously.

He still held my face, but now my hands laid down against his torso. Against those distinct muscles under his T-shirt. His arms fell around me.

I was a little taken off guard. Not to say impressed. He had listened when I told him about my parents.

"The only interesting thing at it is that you call him Dad!" he added.

"That's what it feels like ..." I started to explain a little and leaned with Marcus against the bus which was right behind me.

I told him about some things, but nothing that involved anything supernatural.

That he woke us up in the morning with coffee. That he handed us his expensive Audi just like that. Constantly. In the meantime, we didn't even ask for it anymore. How he was endeavored for our future. When we had problems, he was there for us and tried to help us. When I thought I was pregnant - without going into detail about why I had sought comfort. This was too embarrassing for me, however, for basically not knowing Marcus - or Becky being raped. How he was helping Jake study at the moment. How he cared and worried about us overall.

"So, he can definitely gaze like a father!", Marcus then smiled as he held the door open for me.

Remembering Edward's face on Tuesday night, I chuckled and nodded in agreement.

He drove me home and stopped at the bottom of the driveway.

Jake, Em, and Dad were playing basketball in front of the garage.

Not anymore now, of course. Now they stood there and looked down at us between the cars.

"Wait. The door handle is broken. You can only open the side from the outside," Marcus remarked and immediately got out.

He opened the door and actually held out a hand to me.

Wow ...

I grabbed it, but he didn't let go when I reached the ground, instead pulling me by it again into his arms as he now leaned against the bus. Again, I felt his strong upper body under my hands.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" he inquired.

I told him that we were invited to a wedding tomorrow, but it would not start until late afternoon.

The vows were scheduled for sunset, exactly - 5:38 p.m.

He already had plans tomorrow, but he could easily cancel them, but I agreed almost challengingly.

Surfing. With his older sister and her boyfriend. It was October, the summer finally over, but temperatures no longer particularly bothered me. Furthermore, the waves were apparently just ideal at the moment. In addition, he was convinced that surfing was only dependent on the instructor. I wanted to put that to the test, however.

We said goodbye with a stunning kiss.

Afterwards I stood with Lisa in front of my closet and looked for the suitable clothes for tomorrow.

Finally, I asked Rosie's opinion before we sat on the porch.

I had their blessing for my outfit.

A pink colored bikini that I would wear instead of underwear. After all, surfing was planned. Over it a wide-cut light blue top that exposed one shoulder. It came with black skinny jeans and pink sneakers. I loved pink, as long as one did not go overboard with it.


Although I was in bed quite late/early after a rather cozy evening with my family and was woken up without coffee but by my cell phone, I was quite awake.

Joyful anticipation! I grinned to myself.

I knocked softly on Jake's door.

Becky was still asleep, but he was already awake.

Like most of the time, when the sun had risen. We both felt like running.

While we at least washed and brushed our teeth, Becky also woke up. She staggered into the bathroom, but was also getting ready. She was going to do something with her little brother today and Jake was grappling with economics. On our patrol he took Becky home.

I took a quick shower and was ready just before half past eight on the dot.

We took a quick look at Mom in the bedroom. We knew that Dad wasn't there.

She lay there as if dead. Of course, she wasn't, but you could really think she was. The bedspread on the floor, one arm hanging down, her hair wildly disheveled. The only thing missing was the dagger in her back.

We tried to wake her up enough for her mind to pick up that it was already morning, and I was about to be gone for the time being.

She mumbled something about adoption.

What did you do to Mom? She wants to send us to an orphanage!

I accused Edward by text message.

I'm sure she has her reasons and I'll be damned if I'm going to disagree with her!

came back.

I sent a tongue sticking out smiley face after it.


At half past eight on the dot, the front doorbell rang, behind which I was already standing.

I opened it and was immediately greeted with a kiss that made me tremble.

"Good morning, my fawn!" he whispered, smiling lovingly.

"Good morning, my surfer boy!" I replied dreamily.

"Well, I hope you come up with something better than that!" complained Jake behind me. Chewing!

"Hey, Jake," Marcus greeted my brother. "So, are you guys coming or are you scared?" asked Marcus.

He had suggested that they could come along, there was enough space in the bus, and he would have enough surfboards.

But their plans for today were already set. And while running, I had heard the ulterior motive that Jake didn't want to disturb us. Dear brother!

"No. I have to study, and Becky already had plans and is back home for now ... But have fun ... and behave yourselves!" he said with a wink and went with a plate full of pancakes towards the stairs.

Mmm ... breakfast. Hunger!

I swiped one from him.

"Hey! That's MY breakfast!" he complained, moving the plate to safety behind his back.

Marcus was offered one voluntarily, but then Jake disappeared very quickly before he had to sacrifice any more.

"Well, I like your brother!" stated Marcus.

"He's not always like that, though!" I warned him.

I took my bag and we disappeared.


We drove to Ocean Park and there to a bistro right on the beach, where we first would have breakfast.

We were already expected.

His sister was a pretty young woman, probably in her mid-twenties, and was sharing a breakfast menu with her boyfriend. They seemed to be very much in love.

"Hi, Leah, I'm Maggie," she introduced herself and extended her hand to me.

"Marcus has been talking about nothing else for days!" her boyfriend gave me to understand and also extended his hand to me.

I had the impression that Marcus wanted to hide behind me a bit, while my cheeks heated up slightly.

What had he told them?

"I'm Ethan," he followed up as well.

The breakfast passed amusingly, and I liked both of them.

Although the two were a few years older, I had the feeling that I was on the same wavelength as them.

They shared some embarrassing stories from Marcus's childhood.

I chuckled and was very grateful about the fact that my brother had other plans. He would think of a few things on the subject.

The extended breakfast was coming to an end as I ate another chocolate muffin with caramel filling.

"You sure can polish off a lot!" meant Marcus appreciatively.

"Mmm ... mmm ... I have a damn good metabolism ... Almost as good ... as my circulation ... I pretty much never get cold ..." I carefully scraped the last crumbs together.

"That's good. The water is not very warm anymore."

"Doesn't bother me at all!" I said in between.

Ethan paid the bill, for which I thanked him profusely after being told to put my wallet back.

If I had known that, I would have held back a bit with the food. The place was not exactly a cheap diner.

We went back to the bus and got the surfing equipment.

Maggie and Ethan had parked on the other side of the bistro, from where they were still getting their swimming gear.

"And you think you could teach me this?" I asked challengingly.

"If not me, who else!", Marcus stated with played arrogance, gave me a fleeting kiss, and immediately pressed a surfboard into my arm.

My first problem: How do I get this huge thing to the water in style? Well, somehow I managed it.

Marcus had a huge bag with him in addition to his surfboard.

Arriving at the beach, I first looked around.

On the promenade, many people walked or sat in the cafes that lined up here, but on the beach itself I saw hardly any people. And if they did, then they were mostly surfers.

No wonder. It was cloudy and we very rarely reached the seventy-degree Fahrenheit mark. Today was not one of those days.

Maggie and Ethan were already waiting, and Maggie rummaged through the large bags. She pulled out two oversized blankets and we spread them out on the sand, weighted down at the corners by our various bags. Towels were scattered - together with some drink bottles. Some cords were unpacked and put to rights with wax cans. Then wetsuits came to light.

Maggie handed me one that she thought would fit me after Marcus's stories about me. Then the two disappeared again to get their boards from the car.

Well then. Undress!

Somewhat embarrassed, we turned our backs to each other.

I quickly threw my socks and sneakers into my bag and then took off my jeans. With my top still on, I grabbed the wetsuit. Indecisively, I held it up in front of me.

Someone could fit in it? I doubt that!

"Ever worn one of these things before?" Marcus asked me.

I shook my head.

Then he laughed all at once.

"Maggie gave you the wrong one. It's from Jules. My much smaller sister," he was still laughing behind me.

I exhaled in relief as I turned to Marcus, who was squatting in front of the big bag and took out another suit.

Then I had forgotten what I actually wanted to do.

Marcus just rose, dressed only in tight swim shorts. He stood with his back to me as he was apparently still checking the size, but this sight somehow confused me.

I cocked my head and chewed on my lower lip as I continued to view him at length.

His back, shoulders, arms, waist. Not a single muscle seemed to be able to hide under his skin and was pretty discreetly defined. Different, as I knew it from Jake, who appeared rather massive and beefy. Also different from Ben, where you could only guess at the different muscle parts.

Then he turned to me.

Wow ... The front looked even hotter. How would that feel?

Involuntarily, I lifted my hand and placed it carefully on his upper arm.

As if I could break it by a thoughtless movement.

Slowly I let my hand roam over his caramel-colored skin.

My hand slid over his shoulder, the silky clean-shaven skin of his torso, over the more than implied six-pack, his belly button, the more obvious pecs.

A nipple piercing! So that was it, which I could not identify the other day in the bar through the fabric.

I didn't touch it.

I was afraid. So to say. That had to hurt, however!

I marveled at the extremely well-built body until his hands came to my waist. Only now I also looked him in the eyes and saw a shy smile on his face.

"You seem to like what you see!" noted Marcus far less sheepishly.

"Oh yes!" I confirmed.

"Lucky me!" he murmured, pulling me towards his beguiling lips whereby his hands slid to my back.

"But that's not how it works with surfing!" Ethan and Maggie came back to us.

Marcus let go of me a little startled, but grumbled with his sister for picking out the wrong suit. He then handed me the right one, which he had dropped intermediately.

It already looked more like one I could put on.

I watched the others put on the suits and then tried it, myself. I pulled my top over my head and threw it in with the rest of my clothes. I stood up straight just again after rising into the legs, when I felt a warm hand in my lower back.

Marcus looked at me.

With a gaze as if he was just somewhere else.

The hand drove up my spine and made me shiver comfortably. He helped me with the rest, zipped up the back very slowly and I swear he touched me more than would have been necessary for this help.

"Hot!" he whispered in my ear before we then headed for the water.

Maggie and Ethan went straight out into the waves with their boards, while Marcus and I stood still with one surfboard closer to the beach, so we were only up to our waists in water. He showed and explained all sorts of things to me.

It all didn't sound so difficult, but I doubted that it would actually be easy in practice. I was not to be mistaken. Standing on this wobbly thing was an impossibility! I fell into the water a few times trying. Okay. A couple of times I had deliberately acted stupidly when Marcus just happened to be standing appropriately to catch me. My ambition finally won out, so I cut a not-so-poor figure.

Since every normal person needed a break at some point, we later drifted a bit on the surfboard and watched Ethan and Maggie really ride the waves. We sat one behind each other and I leaned against him.

"We've already been in the water for hours and you're not cold?" he asked intermediately.

"No. Told you my circulation is amazing!" I replied, turning to kiss him, but we fell into the water in the process.

The lesson went on for a bit, interrupted every now and then by little kisses, but eventually we were lying on the blanket on the beach.

Side-by-side.

I was lying on my stomach and had wrapped myself a bit in my towel so that my bikini dried, while he leaned sideways on his arm. We talked.

Maggie and Ethan were already making their way home.

"I'll fire up the grill this evening. I assume you're coming over to make sure everything is edible, too?" asked Ethan.

I chuckled. And realized that I was hungry.

"Certainly!", Marcus answered immediately.

"See you later then, little bro," Maggie gave Marcus a kiss on the forehead from behind.

Ethan set at it to give Marcus a kiss on the forehead as well, but Marcus pushed him away first.

"Get out, you nut!" he grumbled after him.

"See you this evening! ... Leah. It was nice watching you fall in the water. Might do it again tomorrow!" Ethan turned to me, and Maggie laughingly agreed.

"Let's see. So far, I have nothing planned for tomorrow," I considered briefly and looked at Marcus.

"Apparently now you do!" he noted with satisfaction.

They both said goodbye and wished me a good time at the wedding this evening.

"They are very nice," I stated.

"Yep ... There are worse siblings. And almost-brothers-in-law," he agreed. "But we don't have to surf tomorrow just because Ethan said so," he clarified.

"Nope, it's okay. I think it's fun. And hey, I think I fell for the surf instructor!"

He laughed.

"Relationships between teachers and students are strictly forbidden!"

"But we're not in the water!"

"Then no one can object to us!" he stated and kissed me.

We smooched literally, until once again my cell phone rang.

Do you know the saying of our grandparents: Everything was better in the past? I was beginning to believe it. There used to be no cell phones that could ring at completely unnecessary moments!

I looked at the display and let my head fall on the blanket, already annoyed.

"Hey, Dad!" I groused. He should be aware that he disturbed. After all, he wanted to let me waste away in an orphanage this morning!

"Hello, sweetheart!" he purred charmingly, however.

I rolled my eyes.

He just said he'd be there in a little over an hour and I should let Mom and Jake know. The plan was to have a community welcome for the new neighbors before we had to get ready for the wedding .

I hung up and let Jake know.

So unfortunately, we packed everything together and Marcus drove me home.


We stood on the porch until Mom 'got' us.

"Oops! Leah ... I was startled," she said, and I heard her take a deep breath.

She had a trash bag in her hand to take out and apparently hadn't noticed us yet.

"Hi, Mom," I mumbled after detaching myself - also spooked - from Marcus jerkily.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. ...", Marcus wanted to say and extended his hand.

I chuckled.

"... Black," Mom added with a smirk, shaking his hand.

"Mrs. Black," he completed, looking down at the floor for a moment, embarrassed.

Introducing each other with our full names had not yet occurred to us.

"I'm Marcus ... Carter," he then looked at me. Also chuckling.

Mom greeted him and Jake also joined us. We talked briefly about the day and that we wanted to go to the beach again tomorrow, whereby Jake meant he might go with Becky then, as long as they wouldn't interfere, and Becky felt like it.

"But not before breakfast!" Mom determined sternly, but followed it up with a kindly, to Marcus, "You're welcome to join us, Mr. Carter."

"Thank you. I gladly accept the invitation, but you don't have to be formal with me!"

"Thank you, likewise!" meant Mom with a smile.


Thank you for reading!