King of hearts, p.33
King Of Hearts, page 33
I popped my head around the corner to double check I hadn’t imagined the previous few hours, but with a sigh of pure relief I saw she was still there. Grabbing the two warm drinks, I headed out, still not entirely believing my luck.
“So, I was thinking we could have a barbeque tonight. And we could –” I paused, smiling at a very much asleep Arna. Placing both of our coffees on the table in front of the lounge, I grabbed a blanket and draped it over her before bending down and gently kissing her forehead. The subtle, refreshing and wholesome scent of oranges permeated the air around her, and unable to be away from her for too long, I squeezed in close, sitting at the end next to her feet.
I watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and the lack of colour in her skin. I’d done that to her. Me and my fucking stubborn ways. And even after everything I put her through, she was here, comfortable enough to sleep so easily. I was a lucky, lucky bastard and while everything screamed I didn’t deserve her or this second chance, once I could muster the strength to move away from her, I was going to use the time to show her just how lucky I knew I was.
I threw a couple of steaks on the barbeque, delighting in the design of the outdoor kitchen which allowed a perfect view of the spa while I grilled. As the meat sizzled, I was captivated by the sight of Arna, bathed in the glow of the lights of the jacuzzi and the few candles she carefully placed around the edges. She exuded an aura of serenity in the way her delicate features were relaxed, her eyes closed as she luxuriated in the bubbling water. Christ, my balcony never looked so good.
It was fairly late to be cooking dinner but like yesterday, the day had flown by. We spent most of yesterday unpacking her belongings, after she eventually woke from her nap, and then spent the evening on the lounge watching The Fifty Shades Trilogy. I chuckled to myself at the memory of Arna telling me my punishment for allowing us to waste time by being apart, was to watch the three films in their entirety and then go to sleep with no expectations of seeing Barbara.
She was still upset with me yesterday apparently which again made me smile. Bloody Barbara.
I didn’t tell her how she reached for me in her sleep or how she softly spoke my name in the darkest depths of the night. That was only going to piss my woman off more, and if there was one thing I knew, it was that she held a fire second to none.
Now, the play of light and shadows danced across her skin, highlighting the graceful curve of her neck and the gentle slope of shoulders. I knew, while she appeared to be wearing nothing, she wore a strapless black bikini which I wanted to tear from her body, but I wasn’t going to push her for anything more than her presence – until she was ready. I was mesmerised by the way she surrendered to the sensation of the spa and longed to envelop myself in the warmth of the water. Anything to be in the vicinity of all that she was.
I flipped the meat and grabbed two drinks from the mini fridge adjacent to the barbeque before walking over to her. She sighed contentedly, appearing unaware that I was near, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. She really was everything to me and I’d very nearly let her go. A thought which was as jarring as a cold shower in the dead of winter. Right now, she radiated bliss, a vision of tranquillity stirring only when the glass touched the corner near where she rested. Her face lolled to the side and she lazily grinned up at me.
“Thank you.” She said and I leant down to kiss her briefly, surprised when I felt her wet hands reach around my shoulders, deepening our connection. I inhaled sharply as I gripped the edge of the spa feeling myself harden under her touch. I was desperate to jump in, clothes and all, dinner be damned. But I knew she still wasn’t quite there, so I pulled back, placing a couple of kisses against her lips as I headed over to make sure I didn’t burn the food.
“It’s almost ready, babe.” I said as she reached for the drink and took a slow sip.
“Okay, okay. I’m getting out.” She replied, standing and stepping out of the spa, making it near impossible to concentrate on cooking.
“Christ, you should come with a warning.” I mumbled as I took the steaks and placed them in the tray to rest before we ate. One of my favourite things about her was that she clearly had no idea how bloody gorgeous she was and I continued to ogle her from behind the barbeque. She walked towards me, tying the towel tight around her body. Winter was definitely here and getting out of the warmth of the hot tub into the crisp air was not for the faint hearted.
“Andy?” She questioned as she came and stood next to me, her arm moving around my waist.
“Yes?” I answered, wondering if she was going to ask to watch another movie of her choosing to further punish me.
“You know how you said you love me?”
“Mmmm.” I answered, unsure on where this was going.
“Would you still love me if I started collecting garden gnomes and then placed them around your apartment?” Her face was both sincere and curious and my entire body shook with unexpected laughter.
“Woman, I have no words for you.”
“So, you would?” She asked curiously.
“Please do not fill my house with gnomes. But yes.” I said, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose before reaching for our dinner. “Come on, let’s get you inside where it’s warm and there are hopefully no gnomes waiting for us.”
After dinner we moved over to the lounge and Arna chose another movie designed to inflict maximum pain, but I didn’t care. Not now that she was home.
I snuggled her into my lap and wedged my face into her neck kissing her skin. She giggled, swatting me away as she reached for the bowl of popcorn she insisted I make for her.
“Can you watch anything without popcorn and red liquorice?” I asked.
“Yes. But why would I?” She grabbed a few pieces of popcorn with some weird contraption attached to her hand and I reached for her wrist, pulling it up so I could study her fingers.
“Arns,” I did my best to contain my mirth – and judgement. “Um, respectfully, what the fuck are these?”
She looked appalled, as if she suddenly saw me in a new light which made me press my lips firmly together to stop the laugh that was desperate to escape.
“Firstly, how dare you! Secondly, how dare you! Thirdly, they’re frongs.” She snapped her frongs in my face before she took another piece of popcorn from the bowl which now sat on my lap.
“And what exactly are frongs?” I asked.
“Frongs are the new black, Ando. They can be used for alllll kinds of small things.” She raised her eyebrow and she had sarcasm written all over her as she gazed down at my crotch before again snapping the frongs at me.
Ignoring the mess I would have to clean later, I threw the bowl from my lap and pushed her down onto the lounge as she squealed with delight, the damn frongs still snapping at my face. Reaching for her wrists again, I put her hands, mini-weird tongs still attached, above her head and kissed her deeply. The little tapping sounds she was making ebbed away as she sunk into the lounge, moaning against my mouth. Pulling back, I looked at her sassy little face which now held a huge grin.
“You think you’re funny?” I said as I gently bit her bottom lip.
She nodded, that big, beautiful grin still firmly planted across her face.
“I think your memory needs a little refresher.” I said as I kissed down her neck, my hand still holding her firmly in place. She hummed, pushing her hips up into mine, making my cock twitch.
Arna groaned long and deep as she wrapped her legs around me and sunk further into the lounge, surrendering herself in the way I missed so fucking much and stupidly came close to giving up.
Like a goddamn fool.
I loosened my grip on her arms and snaked my way down her body, leaving a trail of kisses and gentle squeezes. I sat up, marvelling at the goddess who lay before me, reaching down to press her shirt up and over her stomach as Arna’s eyes lazily opened.
Just as I was about to explore her, my intercom intrusively buzzed. “Oh, fuck right off.” I mumbled into her skin. “Hold on.”
Picking up the phone I greeted Graham, before inwardly cursing all that was holy. Turning to Arna who was looking at me expectantly, cute as a fucking thirsty little bunny, I rolled my eyes.
“So, ummmmm, how do you feel about dinner – with my parents?”
“Hey, you.” Arna’s sleepy voice made me smile as she walked towards where I was currently lying in the afternoon sun.
“Hey, sleepy head, come lay with me.” I shuffled over and when she curled herself into my side, I let out a sigh, again admiring the feeling of peace she brought forth. Heading into the stadium this morning for a few hours was far too long to be away from her but I was pleased to find her still sleeping when I returned.
“Sorry. I haven’t really slept much over the last week and your bed is just so bloody comfortable. Maybe even more so than this chest.” Her words were muffled as she rested against me and I laughed at how despite everything, including another unexpected dinner with my parents, she still had her sense of humour. “What are you thinking about sitting here all by yourself?”
“I was thinking, when I retire I want to run a training camp for kids who want to play professionally.” I answered honestly.
“Huh! That is both unexpected and amazing.” She said before adjusting herself to sit up against the sun lounger. “Tell me more things.” She squinted at me as the sunbathed the balcony and I moved to shield her face from the bright rays.
“You know, I’ve never told anyone that. It’s been my dream for a while but I was always worried people only asked about me so they could say they knew me. I was always just a means to show off to someone else.” I huffed.
“Honestly, you’re bloody lucky you met me, plus I come with all of this.” She said as she gesticulated up and down her body. I barked a laugh and she smiled, the amusement lighting up her entire face.
I moved to face her, swinging my legs to rest on the ground next to the seat.
“Can’t disagree with you. If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cute-cumber.” Arna closed her eyes and cackled. I watched in awe, ready to hear that sound every second of every day.
“Shit. Honestly, you duck to the clubhouse for the first time in three days and return with the worst love declarations in history? I thought you were meant to be the Hearts?”
I reached for her hand and smiled, again adjusting my head to block the sun from her eyes.
“Okay, fine. Let me try another one?”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, but this is your last chance or you retire from all love declarations. Deal?”
“Deal.” I grinned, knowing this one was going to be my best yet. “But no more games. No more dares, okay, only truths.”
“Finally,” She joked.
“My truth is, I can’t imagine or bear a life without you. You’re strong-minded, ambitious and above all else, you are fucking kind. I was a dumbarse to think you were anything else and I’m sorry it took me so long to realise. I don’t think I appreciated you enough even before, but now that you’re back here, in our space, with your loud laugh and bright demeanour – I can see everything so much clearer.
“One of my favourite quotes is by a man named Roger Bannister. An English bloke who was the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes. Anyway, he said, ‘the man who can drive himself further once the effort becomes painful, is the man who will win’. And it really makes perfect sense, so in every situation I have always done my best to live by that motto. Whatever the circumstance, it has nothing to do with the odds stacked against you but how hard you push and the opportunities you make for yourself. And I won’t ever let another chance pass again, especially when it comes to you.”
I stood and came around to the other side of the chair holding my hand out for her. Taking her hand in mine I motioned with my head for her to follow me into the living room.
“Do you remember our first kiss?” I asked once we were inside and Arna stepped towards me, pressing her lips to mine.
“Mmhmm.” She said, her mouth firmly planted against my own. “It was right here.”
“Yes, it was. And I can’t walk into this room without thinking about you. About the way I thought I was finally going to taste you. And it was going to be soft and sweet but before I knew it, your hands were in my hair and I could barely believe I had waited so long.” I kissed her again, getting a little lost, before I remembered my end goal as I stepped back, reached into my pocket and dropped to one knee.
Arna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as I opened my palm to the ring Jay designed. The perfect ring, just as she deserved.
“Oh my god. I take it back. Your love declarations are everything.” She squeaked, her eyes shining and I did my best to stop my own tears from leaking.
“Arnabelle, my love, you’ve been the editor of my heart since the minute I met you.” She giggled and I grinned up at her. “You’ve polished every chapter we’ve shared and it took me far too long to realise how much better my story is with you in it. And now, I won’t miss an opportunity. I will never take you for granted.” I paused, squeezing her hand. “And so, I’m asking you, if you will continue to edit our lives together, one pun at a time. As my wife?”
She burst into laughter, tears of what I hoped were joy, falling freely as she gave me her answer, repairing any of the cracks which were still left in my heart, with a resounding, “YES!”
Epilogue
Arna
Six months later
The resounding chime of metal against glass silenced the laughter and conversation on what was thus far, the best day of my life, as all eyes turned to my fiancé. I looked over to where he stood in his light grey suit, the jacket never having made it on, and I sighed deeply. My cheeks were already sore and we had only been here for an hour, another indication of how content I truly was.
Andy was going to be my husband and I was the happiest bitch alive.
The suit pants did wonders for his arse and I was going to take great delight in removing the grey bow tie which sat saliently against his crisp black dress shirt later tonight. I admired him as he thanked our guests for being here to celebrate our love while moving closer to pull me into his side. He thanked his parents for sharing their house with everyone we held dear and especially commended his mother, my soon to be mother-in-law, on the beauty of where we stood.
And he wasn’t wrong.
Fairy lights hung low across the yard, casting a soft glow over our guests, the waitstaff moving around seamlessly with the delicious canapés we selected especially for tonight. When I first saw the little cases with popcorn and red liquorice, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. If I didn’t already know, that small gesture alone cemented that I was marrying my other half.
“I’m the luckiest bastard alive.” He said, his eyes never leaving my own. “And I can’t wait to celebrate with you all again when I make this beautiful woman my wife.”
“Kiss her.” Someone called and Andy laughed before lifting my chin and doing just that to the pure elation of our family and friends. Looking at me adoringly, he pulled away and turned to our guests, his hand still firmly around my waist.
“Please raise your glasses to my absolutely divine wife-to-be, Arna.” Everyone cheered and Andy and I kissed again before Queeny appeared with a wine in hand.
“Since when do you drink wine?” I asked, taking the glass and having a sip before handing it back.
“Since your fiancé introduced me to something more sophisticated than the $4 Gossips bottles at the local corner store.” She remarked, as if I was beyond stupid for even asking.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Queen, I didn’t realise you’d become a woman of such class.” I mocked and then frowned as Nan and Andy looked at me with faux horror.
“Honestly, Andy, you’re marrying the wrong Frost woman. But you know where I am if you change your mind.” She winked at him and I barked a laugh as Andy planted a kiss on her cheek before excusing us both to continue mingling with our guests.
“I’m so sorry.” I giggled, feeling a little tipsy from the few drinks I had already consumed to calm my nerves.
“Baby, I’m beyond used to your Nan by now. She asked me if I wore boxers or briefs earlier.”
I choked on my drink, Andy patting my back as he chuckled, nodding solemnly as if he understood and agreed with my reaction.
“Of course she did, the horny bitch.” I scoffed again, shaking my head at her obnoxious behaviour which only seemed to be getting worse. “Wait until I tell Marls.” I said, sighing, before turning in for a hug.
“She’ll be here soon.” He consoled, rubbing his hand up and down my back.
“I know. I’m not mad, the last few months have been awful for her and I can’t even imagine. I just miss her, you know. She’s my girl.” I shrugged sadly.
“Bellsy!” I turned to Dad who was gesturing for me to meet him at the backdoor to the house.
“If I’m not back in five minutes please come and disentangle me from whatever long-winded conversation I’m about to be pulled into.” I whispered.
“I will rescue you with honour.” Andy bowed as I grinned and walked towards Dad.
“Bells, Marlee is at the door, but she isn’t coming inside.”
“What?” I asked in confusion. Why wouldn’t she come to my engagement party? I knew it was a really difficult time so I hadn’t been pushing her, but she assured me she would be here tonight.
“Be gentle,” he said, reaching for my wrist, halting me, “And be prepared. She doesn’t look well.”
I nodded once, walking through the house to the front door, brushing aside Dad’s warning in my haste to see her. Although, I could have had a month to sit with my dad’s words and I still wouldn’t have been prepared for the slap I felt at seeing the state of my best-friend. Her unwashed hair was tied into a bun, her face covered in more makeup than I had seen her wear in the fifteen years we had known each other but the hopelessness in her tired eyes evoked the biggest shock of all.
