Page 21
Story: Through the Flames
She said, “You’re so good to me, Carter,” against my lips. “Can’t wait to love you for the rest of my life.”
I could tell from the look in her eye that she was still thinking about s*x, and even though I looked calm on the outside, I wasn’t going to stop my imagination.
The thought of the future made my stomach tighten. I know for sure that it will be a heated one.
“Let’s say I somehow grow up by tomorrow. Will you marry and f**k me then?” Amaya asked as she kissed her way down my jaw.
Very heated.
********
“Amaya,” I said, fixing my cufflinks. “We’re going to be late!”
Amaya still doesn’t get the idea of getting ready on time after all these years.
I took a deep breath and let the bow tie around my neck go. I don’t remember the last time I put on one of these monkey suits.
Amaya is the only person who makes sense to me to get me back into one.
“Carter, by now you should know that you can’t hurry up and be great.”
I spun around so fast that I almost got whiplash. I wondered why I ever chose to wait until I was married at times like this.
She wore an emerald green silk dress that fell off her shoulders. The thigh-high split in her dress showed off her caramel-colored legs with every step she took. She looked like a goddess, my goddess.
She came over to me and put her hands around my waist, under my trousers.
“Do you like it?” she asked with a sly smile.
“I love it. You could wear a trash bag and I’d still think you’re the most beautiful woman to ever walk the Earth.”
She bit her lip and turned red, shaking her straightened hair behind her shoulders.
“Stop being corny. If I really wore a garbage bag, you’d run and hide,” she said, turning away from me and walking to the kitchen.
I said, “We both know you do all the running and hiding in this relationship, my love,” as I followed her.
She went straight for the bowl of strawberries on the counter, taking one in each hand and biting it.
I said, “You’re nervous,” as I walked up behind her.
“I think that’s fair. This is the most important night of my life.”
Amaya’s art has gotten better over the past few years. She has a lot of fans on social media and is now very famous.
A lot of people say that she caught the eye of a very rich woman in Dallas. She has chosen to show Amaya’s work in her gallery.
They flew us to Dallas and set up for us to stay at one of the biggest hotel chains in the world.
She was a model, fashion designer, artist, and an heiress, which should give you an idea of how wealthy she was. Her parents owned the hotel where we were staying.
She was a socialite and one of the few people who were close to the hotel owners’ other daughters. Not to mention that she was married to the son of a rich oil man.
In short, one of the richest people in America knew my babygirl, and I’m so proud of her.
The formal clothes were because they were throwing a gala tonight to celebrate the opening of Amaya’s work at the Marlowe gallery.
“I know you’re scared, but trust me, you’ll be fine,” I said as I watched her eat her sixth strawberry.
I recently started to cut back on the sugar she ate, but all that did was make her obsessed with berries.
It’s better than all the gummy bears she used to eat.
“I know that, but what if something goes wrong? These people are very, very rich. You know how I can get with snobby people,” she said, pouting and looking sad that she could be a total bitch when people disrespected her.
“Well, you should know that there will definitely be snobby people. Are you willing to give up all your progress for them?” She bit down on the strawberry and thought about it, already reaching for another one.
These wealthy people have definitely spoilt Amaya. From the presidential suite we’re staying in to all the baskets of berries they’ve sent her. They’ve done everything they can and spent a lot of money to make her feel welcome.
“Sometimes I forget that you’re used to all of this,” Amaya said as she fed me a berry.
A long time ago, I made the decision to never go back to Dallas. Coming back here brings back too many bad memories.
It’s been more than ten years since I’ve been this close to my mum, and it made me more anxious than I’d like to admit.
But I came here for Amaya, and she was my main concern, as always.
“Don’t worry about that tonight. This is your night, so let’s just have fun.” I kissed her forehead, and she hummed back.
I went into the living room to answer the phone when it rang. One of the receptionists told us that our car had arrived.
I told Amaya, and she went back to the room to get her purse. We walked the mile-long hallway to the lift after locking up the suite.
I asked her, “Do you remember the first time you rode a lift?” and she smiled the biggest smile.
“Of course I remember. It was one of the best days ever.”
I couldn’t believe what she said. “Really? What about all the places we’ve been? Or the first time you ate pizza?”
“Every day I’ve spent with you has been the best day of my life. But that was the day I knew I was free at last.”
*****
“Is my makeup still good?” Amaya asked as soon as the dealer she was talking to was out of earshot.
“I think I need to get you away from all these bad people. You’re becoming one of them,” I joked as I pulled her into me by the waist.
“Come on. Have you seen those women? I look like a troll next to the people in this room,” she said. I never got why the most beautiful people couldn’t see how beautiful they really were.
“Then you’re the prettiest troll I’ve ever seen,” I said, kissing her on the lips.
“You’re just saying that. All of those girls are older than me and have kids. Do you think I’ll look that good after I have kids?”
I frowned. I’ve been making jokes and teasing her all night to make her happy, but I really didn’t like where her mind was going.
“Listen, I’ve been joking, but if you keep talking like that, we’re leaving. I won’t let you stay in a place where you feel less than. You’re amazing, talented, and beautiful. Don’t forget that.”
I held her cheeks in my hands and kissed her, not caring about the people around us. Amaya has never had to deal with feelings of insecurity before, and I won’t let her start now.
She pulled away from the kiss, lifted her head, and looked me in the eyes. “You’re right. I shouldn’t compare myself to other people because I’m beautiful.”
“That’s my girl.”
I could tell from the look in her eye that she was still thinking about s*x, and even though I looked calm on the outside, I wasn’t going to stop my imagination.
The thought of the future made my stomach tighten. I know for sure that it will be a heated one.
“Let’s say I somehow grow up by tomorrow. Will you marry and f**k me then?” Amaya asked as she kissed her way down my jaw.
Very heated.
********
“Amaya,” I said, fixing my cufflinks. “We’re going to be late!”
Amaya still doesn’t get the idea of getting ready on time after all these years.
I took a deep breath and let the bow tie around my neck go. I don’t remember the last time I put on one of these monkey suits.
Amaya is the only person who makes sense to me to get me back into one.
“Carter, by now you should know that you can’t hurry up and be great.”
I spun around so fast that I almost got whiplash. I wondered why I ever chose to wait until I was married at times like this.
She wore an emerald green silk dress that fell off her shoulders. The thigh-high split in her dress showed off her caramel-colored legs with every step she took. She looked like a goddess, my goddess.
She came over to me and put her hands around my waist, under my trousers.
“Do you like it?” she asked with a sly smile.
“I love it. You could wear a trash bag and I’d still think you’re the most beautiful woman to ever walk the Earth.”
She bit her lip and turned red, shaking her straightened hair behind her shoulders.
“Stop being corny. If I really wore a garbage bag, you’d run and hide,” she said, turning away from me and walking to the kitchen.
I said, “We both know you do all the running and hiding in this relationship, my love,” as I followed her.
She went straight for the bowl of strawberries on the counter, taking one in each hand and biting it.
I said, “You’re nervous,” as I walked up behind her.
“I think that’s fair. This is the most important night of my life.”
Amaya’s art has gotten better over the past few years. She has a lot of fans on social media and is now very famous.
A lot of people say that she caught the eye of a very rich woman in Dallas. She has chosen to show Amaya’s work in her gallery.
They flew us to Dallas and set up for us to stay at one of the biggest hotel chains in the world.
She was a model, fashion designer, artist, and an heiress, which should give you an idea of how wealthy she was. Her parents owned the hotel where we were staying.
She was a socialite and one of the few people who were close to the hotel owners’ other daughters. Not to mention that she was married to the son of a rich oil man.
In short, one of the richest people in America knew my babygirl, and I’m so proud of her.
The formal clothes were because they were throwing a gala tonight to celebrate the opening of Amaya’s work at the Marlowe gallery.
“I know you’re scared, but trust me, you’ll be fine,” I said as I watched her eat her sixth strawberry.
I recently started to cut back on the sugar she ate, but all that did was make her obsessed with berries.
It’s better than all the gummy bears she used to eat.
“I know that, but what if something goes wrong? These people are very, very rich. You know how I can get with snobby people,” she said, pouting and looking sad that she could be a total bitch when people disrespected her.
“Well, you should know that there will definitely be snobby people. Are you willing to give up all your progress for them?” She bit down on the strawberry and thought about it, already reaching for another one.
These wealthy people have definitely spoilt Amaya. From the presidential suite we’re staying in to all the baskets of berries they’ve sent her. They’ve done everything they can and spent a lot of money to make her feel welcome.
“Sometimes I forget that you’re used to all of this,” Amaya said as she fed me a berry.
A long time ago, I made the decision to never go back to Dallas. Coming back here brings back too many bad memories.
It’s been more than ten years since I’ve been this close to my mum, and it made me more anxious than I’d like to admit.
But I came here for Amaya, and she was my main concern, as always.
“Don’t worry about that tonight. This is your night, so let’s just have fun.” I kissed her forehead, and she hummed back.
I went into the living room to answer the phone when it rang. One of the receptionists told us that our car had arrived.
I told Amaya, and she went back to the room to get her purse. We walked the mile-long hallway to the lift after locking up the suite.
I asked her, “Do you remember the first time you rode a lift?” and she smiled the biggest smile.
“Of course I remember. It was one of the best days ever.”
I couldn’t believe what she said. “Really? What about all the places we’ve been? Or the first time you ate pizza?”
“Every day I’ve spent with you has been the best day of my life. But that was the day I knew I was free at last.”
*****
“Is my makeup still good?” Amaya asked as soon as the dealer she was talking to was out of earshot.
“I think I need to get you away from all these bad people. You’re becoming one of them,” I joked as I pulled her into me by the waist.
“Come on. Have you seen those women? I look like a troll next to the people in this room,” she said. I never got why the most beautiful people couldn’t see how beautiful they really were.
“Then you’re the prettiest troll I’ve ever seen,” I said, kissing her on the lips.
“You’re just saying that. All of those girls are older than me and have kids. Do you think I’ll look that good after I have kids?”
I frowned. I’ve been making jokes and teasing her all night to make her happy, but I really didn’t like where her mind was going.
“Listen, I’ve been joking, but if you keep talking like that, we’re leaving. I won’t let you stay in a place where you feel less than. You’re amazing, talented, and beautiful. Don’t forget that.”
I held her cheeks in my hands and kissed her, not caring about the people around us. Amaya has never had to deal with feelings of insecurity before, and I won’t let her start now.
She pulled away from the kiss, lifted her head, and looked me in the eyes. “You’re right. I shouldn’t compare myself to other people because I’m beautiful.”
“That’s my girl.”