Part 38
Mark looked from the shirt back to her face, and down to the shirt again.
He took a deep breath, determination crossed over his face, then without another hesitation, he lowered his face to hers. Their lips met, warm and sweet, but Lola stood frozen, clutching the blue cotton in her fist. Warm tingles climbed up her spine, as Mark’s hands moved to hold either side of her face. He held her there for a single breath, then broke away.
Staying only inches from her face, he said. “That. I came for that.”
Part 39
Lola’s lips met Mark’s again, an urgency filled her chest as she inhaled his scent. She knew it. She had it before, and she needed it so badly. Her free hand entangled itself in the strands of his hair. Mark’s hands dropped from her face, and he pulled her tight into his chest.
“Mark,” Lola whispered.
“I know…”
“I just need…” she said.
“Let it be,” he said. “Just for a moment.”
She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. His dark gray eyes, so intent staring back into hers.
“I’ve always loved you,” he said.
Lola’s breath tightened in her chest. Then a sudden flutter in her womb broke her thoughts.
“The baby moved,” she said quietly. His hand moved to her belly, and he smiled.
“I think that that’s beautiful,” he said. “The baby…I...I thought you were before beautiful before, but now I know it’s nothing compared to now.” He kissed her forehead, and took a step to sit on the edge of the bed.
He chuckled to himself. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” he shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. “You can’t meet me where I am. I know that. I just couldn’t go another second being so close to you without you knowing. That’s why I was gone all those months, I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my distance,” he laughed again. “And I was right!”
Lola sat next to him, and piled the shirt into her lap.
“My favorite time of the day is morning. I don’t know if you knew that. I love the way the dew sparkles on the grass blades,” she said. “It feels like something magical happens fresh and new when the sun comes up. I can’t look at it anymore though. At least I haven’t been. All the magic was gone.” A tear ran down her cheek. She wiped it away. “But I just…I can’t…” she tried. “I need…” she broke off again.
“You need way more than I can give you. It’s not lost on me that I was the second choice. But I’m here.”
Lola rested her head on his shoulder as a calmness ran over her. And for the first time in months her body relaxed and her thoughts centered.
“I get it!” she jumped up suddenly. “The initials, it’s a bank! We used to bank at this little place in town. Bank of Edwardsville/Alton Center. It was a mouthful…we eventually switched. But that might be it. It fits, I mean, BE/AC? Right?”
Mark nodded. “That would definitely work. Then the numbers?” he asked.
“Well, could it be a safe deposit box?”
📃A special note to the readers📃
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"You have to make the prompts work for you." ~@borrowedearth*
