“How did you and Caleb meet?” I ask Nikki, drying my wet hair with a towel. Alex and Caleb are currently wrestling in-side the lake, body slamming each other into the water. Nikki and I are sat on the chairs, drink in hand whilst watching them.
“Be careful Alex! He’s fragile,” Nikki yells before turning towards me. She lets out a quiet giggle, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear.
“Through my brother. For years, Alex and Caleb were my brothers dealers. He used to come around to my house regularly and we sort of got talking,” she grins, biting down on her lower lip. I can see how much she loves Caleb from the way her eyes light up as she speaks about him.
“Dealers? So like, drugs?” I ask casually, glancing back at Alex. I’m not stupid, I know he has a dangerous job. His entire vibe screams danger and authority but that’s what attracted me to him to begin with. Nikki follows my gaze and smiles softly as she notices my lingering stare on him –
“Don’t be fooled. He’s actually a really good guy. Him and Caleb are like brothers.” She re-assures me. I nod my head, agreeing with her.
“I know. It’d just be nice to get to know the work side of him a little better.” I hint but Nikki shakes her head, looking at me apologetically.
“They don’t speak much about their work, neither of them do. I don’t really know anymore than you do.”
I give her a grateful smile in response and shrug it off. Alex has been nothing but nice to me. Regardless of what he chooses as a career, I know his intentions with me are good.
“Nikki! Baby! Come join us,” Caleb yells from the water and Nikki shakes her head, giggling behind her drink.
“I don’t want my hair to get wet!” She yells back before turning back towards me. We continue chatting for a while, getting to know one another. Nikki is actually a really cool girl and I’m glad we met because I can see myself being good friends with her.
Alex and Caleb begin to walk back from the lake, standing up in the water. My laughter dies down and my eyes fix on Alex as he comes towards us. His shirt has been pulled over his head and is resting over his right shoulder. Droplets of wa-ter glide down his body, glistening his tanned skin. My mouth hangs open slightly and I can feel my throat dry out. The muscles in his toned stomach ripple and I can feel my ovaries physically clench at the sight of it.
“Good lord, I actually have the urge to make babies with this man.” I mutter under my breath and beside me, Nikki snorts, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Girl, I feel you. Caleb makes me want to reproduce all the time because, look at him? Why wouldn’t you want that per-fect human to reproduce?”
We both silence as we watch both of them glide towards us, unaware of how attractive they are.
*****
The sun begins to set and everything has finally been set up. Two tents are pitched, a handmade fire in between them. Caleb had driven into town to pick us all up a pizza and we’re now huddled around the fire, eating pizza and drinking beer.
“This is actually so peaceful,” I say to Alex who’s sat directly opposite me. He nods his head, agreeing. He’s changed into a black sleeveless shirt, muscled arms covered in tattoo’s that are on show. I have to physically stop myself from staring be-cause he looks too damn fine. The flames of the fire cause his features to illuminate with an orange tint and I smile at him. In the background, the sun is beginning to set and it glistens across the lake. The entire place is magical.
I lean forward and pick up a slice of pizza, biting down into it. Beside me, Nikki does the same and sighs as she chews.
“I have had the biggest craving for pepperoni pizza all day.”
“You’re not pregnant, are you?” I joke, chuckling. Nikki stops chewing and her face turns emotionless before she splutters with nervous laughter. Beside her, Caleb breaks down laughing too.
“Nice one Ariana. Kids and me don’t mix.” Caleb chuckles, lifting his can to his lips and taking a swig. I raise one brow at Nikki who’s face has turned a shade paler. My eyes drift over to Alex who’s also watching her intently and I know he’s thinking the same thing.
“H-how about a song?” Nikki says cheerfully, jumping to her feet. Her eyes are slightly wide as she scurries towards the car. Alex and I exchange the same knowing look before looking at Caleb who looks completely oblivious to his girl-friend’s weird behaviour.
“Caleb…” Alex starts, his voice firm and quiet. Caleb stops drinking and turns to face Alex —
“What?”
“Let’s play a song! Come on Alex, do your thing!” Nikki cuts in, practically throwing an acoustic guitar at Alex. He catches it one handed, his brow lifted as he studies Nikki’s desperate face. Moments of silence pass between the two of them and Alex slowly nods, positioning the guitar under his arm.
“A song, right.” Alex says, clearing his throat. Caleb’s gaze is flickering between all of us, flashing with confusion. My lips tug upwards into a surprised smile —
“You play guitar Alex?” I ask him and he nods, his fingers hovering over the strings. I’m both surprised and grateful to change the subject. Nikki looks like she’s about to burst into tears.
“There’s nothing my man can’t do,” Caleb chuckles, slapping Alex’s shoulder lightly. We all quieten down and my stomach flutters as I wait for Alex to play. His head is positioned down, dark strands of hair falling over into his eyes. His fingers begin to strum a beat, the sound of the notes floating in the air. I re-position myself, sitting cross legged as I watch him in-tently. To be completely honest, I’m surprised he plays guitar. I wouldn’t expect that from him at all yet he looks so natural with it in his hands.
Alex continues playing, soft notes quickening up until it created a beautiful strum of music. The sound warmed my heart but when he opened his mouth to start singing, I almost lost my breath.
“Everybody loves the things you do…” he starts, his voice soft and calm.
“From the way you talk, to the way you move.”
His dark lashes fluttered closed as he sang, disappearing and becoming one with the music. I held my breath, unable to tear my eyes off him.
“Everybody here is watching you, cause you feel like home. You’re like a dream come true.”
As he sings, his lips twitch upwards into a smile. He lifts his head up until his eyes are hooked on mine and I feel my heart quicken up pace, thumping against my chest. The flames of the fire aren’t the only thing that’s keeping me warm as I lose myself in the swirls of his eyes.
“Oh, you look like a movie. You sound like a song. My god, this reminds me… of when we were young.” Alex songs, his eyes fluttering closed once again. I finally inhale, my lungs tightening from the lack of oxygen. His fingers continue to strum the beat and it looks like he’s going to stop playing but I don’t want him to. Instead, I push myself off the floor, sit-ting beside him. His eyes flash with curiosity and I motion for him to continue playing.
His features flash with surprise before filling with adoration as I start singing. I’m not shy or nervous, I simply feel calm, losing myself in his smile.
“Let me photograph you in this light incase it is the last time. . . That we might be exactly like we were before we realised, we’re sad of getting old, it made us restless.” I sing, my fingers tapping rhythmically against my knee. I can’t seem to stop staring in to Alex’s eyes, my heart bursting with emotion.
“Oh, I’m so mad. I’m getting old, it makes me reckless.” Alex belts out, his voice beautiful with a raspy undertone to it. I stop singing in surprise at his voice, my lips tugging up into a wide smile.
“It was just like a movie, it was just like a song…” we both sing, our voice mixing together. He strums out the last few notes in the song as it comes to an end.
“When we were young.” I finish off, my chest rising and falling as a silence falls upon us. Alex slowly lowers his guitar, his eyes searching my face. It feels like the entire world stops spinning in that moment as we both stare at each other, una-ble to move.
“That was fucking beautiful.” Caleb says from opposite us and we finally turn to face him, forgetting completely about him and Nikki. Alex chuckles under his breath, unable to wipe the smile off his face.
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you hermosa?” He asks quietly, his words soft. His hand trails across the grass until it finds mine, both of our fingers wrapping around each other.
“I could say the exact same to you,” I whisper back at him, loving how warm and safe his hand feels in mine.