Unexpected Love (Unexpected Series) (4 page)

     Mom looks to the table and says, “You can set the table while Arissa fills the drinks.”

     “Yes Ma’am.”

    
We are having pot roast with potatoes and homemade yeast rolls, which smell amazing. We all gather at the table and start passing all the fixings around. Damon is the first to sample the feast before us and with a smile, he proceeds to tell my mom how wonderful everything tastes.

     We finish our dinner and walk into the living room. I sit down by the tree and pick out his gift I bought him. He takes his gift from his pocket. After eyeing how small the package is
, I start to wonder what he got me. “So, let’s open them at the same time,” Damon says eyeing his gift in my hands. 

     I agree, “Okay.”
I start to open mine and I see that he has stopped and is intently watching me. I see that it is some kind of jewelry box. I open it slowly my mouth falls open as I turn my eyes towards Damon. I can't believe he has bought me a ring.  After a few moments of me just staring at him, I snap out of my daze. “It’s beautiful, Damon.”

     Conveying his
sincerity, he says, “Just like you. It’s a promise ring. I want to marry you one day and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you promise to always be mine?”

     At that
moment, everything comes rushing through my mind, my doubts about our future together; I love Damon, but am I ready to give him forever? Our lives seem to be on different paths. Me going off to college and having a career and him not really planning to do much of anything, do I really want this? He is looking at me with hopeful eyes and I do not have the heart to deny him anything in this moment. “Yes, I promise to be yours always.”

     With more enthusiasm than I can
take, he kisses me. When he is satisfied, he starts to open his gift. Well I feel like an idiot because all I got him was new pool stick. I know how much he loves to play pool. He is always hustling people for their money, but a little bit of a bad boy is hot, right? Damon checks out his new gift and says, “A new pool stick, that’s cool. Thank you so much I needed a new one.”

    
Feeling a little down, “You’re welcome. Do you really like it?”

     With those meaningful
eyes, he tells me, “Yes, I love it.”

   
“I can’t help, but feel like it isn’t enough.”

     “It’s plenty. I am more than happy with it. I can’t wait to use it.”

     Damon’s cell rings. “Hello. Yes mom, I will be there soon. Ok. Bye,” he hangs up the phone. Regretfully, he speaks to me, “Sorry. That was my mom and I have to go.”

     I watch him as he stands and I finally speak, “Its ok, I understand,” with a low voice.

     He extends his hand to help me up and pulls me into his arms whispering in my ear, “I wish I didn’t have to go.”

     Pouting, “Really it’s
ok; I just thought we would have more time together.”

     One last squeeze and he articulates his displeasure, “I know, please tell your parents thank you for dinner.”

     Trying to be positive, I beam up at him and say, “Thank you for the ring. It is too much though. I really love it.”

     “That’s good, because I really do love you.”

      I push my lips to his showing him just how much I love him, as I pull away I utter, “I love you too.” We walk out the door and I watch him as he walks to his car. When he gets to his car door, I yell at him, “Drive safe.”

    Waving back, “I will
, call you later Babe.”

     I smile and yell back, “Y
ou better.”

     T
he nerve of that little bastard, I cannot believe he just asked my girl to marry him. Over my dead body, he is no better than his father is; he probably cannot keep his pecker in his pants. I swear if he hurts my girl, I will break his face. Replaying what just happened in my head I get a growing suspicion that Arissa is not as into him as he is her. God, I hope she dumps him.

     I mosey on into the kitchen thinking about what just happened. I show my mom the ring with an apprehensive look. Taking my hand in
hers, she studies it. “Wow, things must be getting serious.”

     “I guess they are. I just can’t help but feel uneasy about the situation now that he is gone,” taking my hand back and placing it on the counter.

     With a motherly smile she looks into my eyes, “I can understand that. You haven’t been dating that long and he is already trying to propose to you. That is a bit much.”

     I look down
, my emotions in a fluster, “What should I do? He doesn’t plan on going to college and I am one foot out the door already.”

     “Have you talked to him about this?”

     Looking unsure, I affirm her suspicions, “Well kind of. He says that he can get a job wherever I choose to go away to college. That just makes me feel even more uncertain.”

     Squeezing my hand, “Well honey, you don’t have to decide your fate now. I would just let it go for now and enjoy the fact that you have a man that wants you that much.”

     Placing my hands over my face in frustration, “I guess you are right. I can always change my mind later if I need to. Alright, I’m going to go to bed, night mom.” Mom embraces me in her reassuring arms and whispers, “I love you baby, goodnight.”

     Listening in, I over hear her tell her mother that she is nervous and uneasy about this. I feel a lot better about the situation now that I have heard that. I knew she was smarter than that.

     Still irritated at the way I handled the situation with Damon, I pull on my long white t-shirt and a pair of boy shorts. I snuggle into my bed ready for sleep. Once I drift off to my dream world, I meet up with my dream guy on the beach the sun is shining in the distance leaving a glow upon the ocean.

     He is standing there in a white dress shirt and his jeans are rolled up around his ankles. His shirt is open, waving in the wind making him look so damn sexy. I run to him and he
embraces me with such strength. I wrap my legs around his waist as he lifts me up. I feel him spin us around and I lean my head back and smile with pleasure.

    
He leans down into me and plants feathery kisses down my neck. I wiggle a little trying to break free from his amorous assault. He grips my waist tight while holding me firmly to him. I feel him growing hard between my legs then he rocks my hips so I rub against his erection. I whimper a little as my sex pulses with excitement. I have this sudden urge to rip his clothes off and do ungodly things to him right here on this beach for all to see.

     I slowly open my eyes and look to my alarm clock and it is a little after nine in the morning. I am still tired; I don’t think I slept very well. I turn to roll out of bed and then it hits me; it’s Christmas morning. I put on my pink fuzzy slippers, grab the matching robe and run down the stairs.

  
  I find mom in the kitchen making coffee and dad is sitting on the couch watching the Macy’s day parade. I snatch a soda from the fridge, pop the top and take a big gulp. I notice that mom is watching me as if I am a weirdo, I ask, “What?”

     “Thirsty much?” Mom says.

     I let out a fake sigh of exasperation, “Um actually I am just really tired and I need the caffeine; I didn’t sleep well last night.”

    
“Oh honey, I’m sorry.”

    
“It’s ok, it is Christmas after all. It should get better.”                                                                                               

  
  “Yes, Merry Christmas honey!”

    
“You too mom.”  I give her a quick hug.

    
I watch as she puts the coffee on a tray and leaves, to deliver it to dad. I follow her out the door, when dad comes into view I yell out enthusiastically, “Merry Christmas Dad.”

     Smiling back at me, “Same to you baby. Are you ready to open your gifts?”

   I look at him as if he just asked the dumbest question ever, “Duh, I am always ready!” I respond.

     He shakes his head at me and then crawls over to the tree; he sits next to it and looks at the presents. He is so
slow; I think he likes to draw this out to increase our frustration. He picks through the gifts until he finds the one he wants me to open. I tear into the paper and beam with excitement when I see it is the sweater I have been wanting from Aero. Aeropostale is my favorite store; I could spend hundreds of dollars in there in no time. I stand up and yell, “Thanks you guys I love it!”

     Smiling back at me they reply in unison
, “You’re welcome.”

   
Dad hands mom her gift next. I watch her as she rips into it like I did. That must be where I get it. I sit there in anticipation awaiting her reaction, as she opens the lid and I see tears fill her eyes. It’s a necklace with a charm that has my name on it. “Mom, do you like it?” 

     “Oh, honey it’s absolutely perfect. I adore it.” She crawls over to me and hugs me to her so tight. We both start to cry.

    “I figured when I go away to college, you can keep it with you to feel close to me.”

    
Wiping her tears away, “Oh honey, I will I promise. Jake would you be a dear and put this on me?”

     I watch my dad place the necklace on my mom
, in awe of the love they share, they are so adorable. Dad smoothes out her hair and she turns to kiss him, “Thanks honey!”

     “You’re welcome sweetheart.” He whispers.

     I chuckle at their mushiness. “Ok, let’s get back to Christmas.” I walk past them, grab dad’s gift, and hand it to him. Now dad is the slow one, he takes the gift and feels around it. Then of course, he has to make an educated guess as to what it is. One year I wrapped his gift in like ten different boxes trying to stop him, because every year since I was a kid, he could tell me what I bought him before it was open. This year I did not care, I have kind of giving up on that game. Therefore, I watch him patiently waiting as he shakes it and then feels it.  “It’s a watch.”

     Laughing, “Would you open it already?” He just chuckles and then opens the paper slowly. I yell to him, “Any day now would be nice!”

     He sneers at me at then rips the paper off, “I was right, it’s a new watch!  Exactly what I need.”

      I smile, “I know tha
t’s why I got you this one. It is waterproof and it still looks nice.” Its black metal with a turquoise screen, it doesn’t have numbers just lines. I think it will look good with his every day work attire. He opens it to put it on and I wait for him to see the inscription on the back. It’s says, ‘As time goes on I will remain your little girl forever’. However, he doesn’t notice it and I can’t bring myself to tell him. I want him to be surprised by it.

    
There are so many gifts; I got mom a bottle of her favorite perfume Chanel Number Five. Dad got some golf clubs. I received a ton of new clothes. I start to help clean up the wrapping paper and bring my things to my room.

     While walking back from my room I hear dad yell, “Arissa dear, there is a box down here with your name on it I must have missed.”

     I hurry down the stairs; it’s small like a jewelry box. I open it and find a key inside. I look at the key dumb-founded before I realize it has a Mitsubishi logo on it, “Really?  You got me a car?”

     Laughing they respond, “Yes, we bought you a car. Do you want to go see it?”

    Excitedly, I jump up and down. “Yes, Yes! I can’t believe I got a car, Yay!”

      I run to the front door and in the drive way is a shiny silvery blue Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider. I start jumping up and down with such excitement I have tears of joy streaming down my face I am so happy. I hug mom and dad tight and tell them thank you about a million times. I ask, “Can I drive it?” 

     Mom answers sarcastically, “Well honey that is what it is for!”

     Shaking my head at her,
I said, “I know that, but can I drive it now? Do you mind if I go show Damon real quick?”

     Dad responds first, “No, we don’t mind, just don’t be gone long.”

     Quickly replying, “I won’t I promise, again thank you guys so much; I love it.”    

    
“We are glad that you do dear.”

     Then dad pipes in, “Drive safely and hurry home.”

     Jumping in the car I roll down the window and yell, “I will, I love you guys,” as I pull out the drive.

     I get to Damon’s house in about five minutes. He doesn’t live far from my house. I am so excited when I pull into his drive. I texted him on my way over and told him to meet me out side for a minute. The door opens and Damon comes out.

     Climbing out of my new car I say, “Hey, how do you like my new car?”

   
Looking it over, “It’s really nice. I am happy for you.”

     I yelp in response, “Thanks, I was so excited I just had to show you.”

     Damon utters, “Well I don’t mean to be short, but I have to go. My dad is in the house and we are in the middle of opening gifts. I got bitched at for you coming over and interrupting.”

    
Feeling bad now, “I’m sorry. Please tell them I said Merry Christmas. I hope you have a good day. I love you, call me later.” 

     Pulling me in for a quick
hug, he whispers in my ear, “I love you too, now be careful!” Giving him a smooch, “I will. Bye.”

   
“Bye.”

     I jump back into my new car with excitement as I pull out of the drive and wave goodbye. I see that Damon looks upset and I feel ba
d for getting him into trouble. His dad can be such an ass sometimes. I hope he doesn’t get too much flak from this.

     I pull into the drive way and turn off the ignition. I just sit in ‘MY’ new car in amazement. I can‘t believe they bought me a car. I was not expecting this until graduation. I make my way into the front door and see my parents in the living room. I plop my butt between them on the couch, reach my arms around them both, and pull them in for a group hug and say, “I love the car its perfect, and I can’t believe you brought me a car! I love you guys.”

     Dad tucks a loose hair behind my ear, “We are so happy that you like it dear. I know that you have wanted a car. So we thought since you will be going away to college soon that you will need a car to get around. We were going to wait until graduation, but figured we would rather give it to you for the winter so you wouldn’t have to walk in the cold anymore. We didn’t know that Damon’s dad had the same idea.” Dad replies.

     “It’s perfect and I am so happy that you didn’t make me wait. Thank you again; I really can’t express how grateful I am.” I excitedly said.

     “I am glad to hear that dear. Now if you will go get dressed and help me in the kitchen. I have to get started on the dinner. The family will be here at one.”

     It was a very good day, but by the end of it, I was ready for bed. I tried to call Damon, but he did not answer his phone. I crawled into bed and passed out, when his face comes into view; those gorgeous emerald green eyes hold my attention as he leans in to caress my lips with his. I shudder with his touch and he wraps me in his pleasant arms to warm me up. Little does he know it’s not because I am cold, it’s from his touch. In a sexy as hell voice he says, “I have missed you beautiful.”

    
Pleased by his words, I beam, “Not as much as I,” knowing full well that I mean every word.

  
With a suggestive grin he replies, “I sure hope so.”

  
Then the shrill of my cell phone wakes me from dream, leaving me totally sexually charged. I look at the time and it’s about 4am. Who the hell is calling me at this hour? The caller ID says that it is Damon calling “Shit.”

    Something must be wrong. I answer and ask, “Is everything ok?”

    He slurs a little, “Yea kind of, I was out playing pool with the guys.”

   
I roll my eyes with aggravation, “Have you been drinking?”

     “Um, yea I had a few.”

    “You sound like you had more than a few. Where are you? You didn’t drive did you?”

     “No, I’m outside the bar in my car.”

     Unbelieving his carelessness I ask, “Do you need me to come get you?” 

     He softly speaks into the phone, “Yes, please. I don’t want to drive.”

     Well maybe I was a little harsh, so I try to sound a little less judgmental and say, “Ok. I will be there soon.”

     I hang up and type
in the local cabs number on my phone. As I am pulling on my jeans, I hit call. I throw my shirt over my head and grab my keys. I wait a few minutes outside for the cab to arrive. I get in the car and tell him the address to take me to. I sit there with my phone in hand waiting to hear from Damon. I flip it open to see the time again, when I look up I notice the cabby eyeing me. I try to let it go, but the longer we are in the car the more uncomfortable I feel.

    
I should have told someone what I was doing. What if this creepy guy tries to rape and kill me?  Shit, what do I do? Opening my phone again, I text Damon and let him know what cab company I called and I look to the front of the cab to find the cab number, I type it in and tell him that I am really freaked out by this guy. I slide my phone on vibrate and wait for his response, but I don’t get one. Luckily, the cab driver might have been a creeper, but he took me straight to the bar.

     As I get out, I hand him a twenty and tell him to keep the change. Seeing the mustang parked down a few cars, I speed walk to it. I get to the car and Damon is passed out in the front seat. I bang on the
window, he jumps, and looks to me startled. He reaches for the door handle and gets out. A little pissed at the situation I yell, “Why the hell didn’t you answer my text? I was sitting in the backseat of a cab and the guy was a total creeper. I was fucking scared to death!”

     Hol
ding up his hands, “I am sorry. I must have dozed off waiting for you. I am sorry, but it looks like you made it here ok, thank you for coming.”

      I try
to calm myself down realizing there is something else going on here, “Are you ok, what’s going on with you?” 

     With a low
voice, he says, “No. I am not okay, my parents are getting a divorce, and it is bad. My dad came home for Christmas. They got mad when I went out to see you. Then when I got back in, they were fighting. It was a mess. It ended with dad telling mom that he wants a divorce. He told her that he is moving in with his secretary. Then he left and mom was a wreck. She was crying and I just couldn‘t take it anymore. So I came here.”

   
Realizing that I might have overreacted I tell him, “I am so sorry to hear that. Can I do anything to help?”

  
He shrugs his shoulders while giving me sad eyes and utters, “No, just be here with me.”

    Pulling him into my arms I whispe
r, “Ok, I am and I love you. It is going to be ok.”

    He hugs me tight, “Please don’t ever leave me.” I just squeeze him tighter and rub his back to comfort him.

     I stand there pissed as hell watching as she holds that screw up. I can’t believe he made her come
out here this late at night to take a cab, what was she thinking? I could strangle them both.

   We get into the car and I drive us back to my place, its late and he doesn’t want to go home. We sneak into my room and get into bed fully clothed I might add. He wraps me in his arms and I fall asleep.