Getting Closer
The sun was setting over yet another day. Nick and Rianna were lying on the beach talking. Nick was playing with Rianna’s naval, admiring the piercing she had there.
“Did this hurt much?” She shook her head no.
“I just held my breath and tightened every muscle in my body. Didn’t feel anything until it was all over.” Nick raised an eyebrow, quite impressed.
“This sunset is so beautiful. The whole sky is like a rainbow. And I bet you’re thinking that I sound really wimpy right now, right?” Nick smirked.
“Nope. A guy with a sensitive side kinda turns me on. I got something that would make this even better.” She sat up and reached into her duffel bag. From that she pulled out her lunch bag which had a cantaloupe sliced in four pieces.
“Here, bite a piece then chew it slow.” Nick did this with a little hesitation.
“And this will make this sunset better?” Rianna gave him a ‘just-do-it’ look and he took another bite.
“Savor it. The sweet juice. The soft texture. It’s an erotic fruit. More so than strawberries or cherries. They can be bitter sometimes. But not cantaloupes. They have a sweetness that just lingers in your mouth.” Rianna ate some herself, then kissed Nick.
“See what I mean? Sweet fruit, sweeter kisses.” And Nick did see what she meant. He took another piece of the fruit and tickled her lips with it. Kissing her immediately after. One sweet kiss was followed by another until all of the cantaloupe was devoured.
“There is just something about you Rianna. I can’t explain it. You’ve just got this magic. Unlike other girls.” She looked deep into his eyes.
“I wish we’d met sooner.”
Nick was starting the car when Rianna sighed. He knew by now that it meant she had to tell him something.
“Nick, my parents are coming to visit tomorrow night. And I want very much for you to come with me and meet them. And mis hermanos, mis tios, mis primos — mi familia es muy grande y....” He put his hand over her mouth.
“You’re doing it again. I can’t understand a word that you are saying.” She had to laugh at herself. Her first language always slipped out when she was excited or nervous.
“I’m sorry. It would just mean so much to me if you could come.”
“You know I will. I would love to meet your folks.” Rianna leaned over and kissed Nick’s cheek. Then she turned the radio on. Aerosmith’s “Jaded” was playing. She turned the volume up sky high and sang along. Almost louder than Steven Tyler himself.
When the song ended, she switched over to a more hip-hop oriented station. Outcast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” was on. Of course, Rianna knew this too.
“Don’t you think I’m so sexy? I’m just so fresh and clean. So fresh and so clean, clean!” Nick turned the volume down and looked over at his girlfriend.
“Are you outside of your mind, girl?” Rianna exploded in laughter.
“Oh, this is nothing. When we were younger, we used to turn every radio on in the house and sing while we cleaned. And we still do it. When it’s time to redecorate the club, we turn the beats up and sing so loud! God forbid Mariah or Christina Aguilera comes on. Marcy and I will shatter glass.” Nick couldn’t help himself from laughing.
“You are very odd, woman.”
“Oh come on! Like there weren’t weird things you, your sisters, and your brother did when you were younger.” Nick denied it. “Oh come on, spill it Papi.” Nick rolled his eyes and shrugged.
“Well, whenever I go home and visit, we play this weird game when Mom and Dad leave. It’s like some stealth assassins kinda thing. We get all decked up in black clothes. Sometimes Les puts on Mom’s mascara as war paint. We get our toy guns out, turn off all the lights, and stake each other out. There are no alliances. You get assigned one person to kill. Once they’re out, you kill whoever else walks. Whoever is left standing wins. You gotta try it one night with us, it’s so much fun.” He had a huge smile on his face from missing his younger siblings.
“We used to do something like that too, except it wasn’t as organized as what you described.” They spent the rest of the night goofing off at Nick’s house. Sharing secrets and childhood stories about themselves, their friends, and family. They spent the rest of the night getting closer.
Chapter 8
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