Page 59 of Unhitched
Chapter thirty-nine
Kace
“So, I was thinking maybe we should leave the apartment this weekend,” Mya says from where she’s sitting on the floor making crafts on the coffee table.
This week’s project is a mashup between a coloring book and a deck of cards.
She ordered blank cards and is drawing outlines of different mandalas on the faces based on the number, and then her customer will color them in.
Her creativity is insane, so I have my laptop set up out here for that reason alone.
They say it’s best to surround yourself with people who are on your level or higher, so clearly it’s in my best interest to be around her.
That, and I feel like I spent so much time trying to stay out of her orbit that I want to make up for it now.
The past week since we’ve returned from her sister’s has flown by.
We went out once for groceries, to the craft store, and I went to therapy.
Besides that and work, our time has been spent deep in the honeymoon phase.
Sex. Tacos. Cereal. Comfort ditalini. Movies.
Cuddling. Teasing. Touches every time we’re close enough.
All the things I love about a relationship–the things that make this feel right.
I haven’ t questioned Mya or my decision to be with her. Once everything clicked for me, I was all in. She’s a little crazy and lives life more freely than I do, but I need someone to help ensure I enjoy life in all the right ways.
I glance up from my keyboard. “Yeah, I’m down. I want to take you on a real date.”
“Actually…” She stands, making her way to where I’m at in the kitchen. I twist my barstool and make room for her to stand between my legs. I grip her waist, and her hands fall to my chest. “I want to take you out.”
I chuckle. “Is that so?”
She nods. “Mhmm.”
“Where does Mya Holloway take her boyfriends on dates?” I ask, masking the panic coursing through me. I hate surprises and not having a plan. Unfortunately for me, that sounds like Mya’s April 25th kind of date, and I know I’ll likely have to pay that cost to be with her.
She grins. “Well, you see… It just so happens that BOYS LIKE GIRLS are going to be in Forest Grove this weekend.”
My thumbs freeze where they’re rubbing across her back. “Really?”
She nods. “I know how much you love them, so I got us tickets.”
I’m torn between pure excitement and off-the-wall anxiety. I hate driving anywhere near Portland. It’s stressful as fuck. Plus, I’ve never been to that venue.
Before I react, she slides her fingers to the nape of my neck and plays with my hair.
The gesture immediately relaxes me as she continues.
“The show starts at seven. It takes about an hour to get there, so I thought we could leave at four. That way we won’t be rushed.
There’s a highly rated brewery near the McMenamins venue that we could try.
And it’s all within walking distance of a free parking area with security. ”
I stare. “Did you plan all that?”
“Yes… Do es it not sound fun?” I can hear the panic in her voice. “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I just thought–”
“Mya,” I cut her off. “I meant…” I pause, trying to find the right words. “I mean this in the nicest way. I assumed you’d be the type of girl who buys last-minute tickets and figures the rest out when she shows up.”
“I am.” She nods, still unsure if I’m on board or not. “But you like it when things are planned. I didn’t want you to have to worry about anything so you could have fun.”
I tug her closer, and I have no doubt she can feel me hard between her thighs. She melts into me. “Thank you. It sounds perfect.”
Her smile returns. “I’m so glad. I can’t wait.”
“I think you should buy me a T-shirt,” Mya announces once we’re through security at the outdoor venue. She’s walking backward to face me, holding her hands out for me to grab.
“Is that so?” I take one of her hands in mine.
She looks so fucking cute in her ripped jean shorts, black combat boots and my black and white flannel tied around her waist. Her black crop top reveals a sliver of her stomach that distracts me whenever I look at her.
She crimped her hair and tied half of it back in a black and white checkered bow.
It’s a far cry from her typical color vibes, but she barely got me out of the apartment when she showed me.
She nods, her smile bright. “Duh. I want to remember our first date forever.”
“So what you’re saying is we can burn the JCPenny pictures then?” I had no idea how the photographer captured anything worth keeping, but lo and behold, three different shots were emailed to Mya. I was shocked to see they truly made it look like we were a couple then.
“No way. I’m keeping those forever. We’re making them centerpieces at our wedding.” Her eyes widen and she freezes when she realizes what she said. “I mean…” She chews on her lip.
I pull her into me and kiss her perfectly pink lips, hoping to reassure her that she doesn’t scare me anymore. “Let’s get you a T-shirt. Also, you taste like Dr. Pepper.”
She releases me to dig into the front pocket of her shorts, pulling out a maroon Lip Smackers and wiggling it in front of me. “Discontinued flavor.” She uncaps it and swipes it over her lips. “But tonight is going to be the best night ever, so I thought it was worthy of an appearance.”
Thirty minutes later, Mya is wearing an oversized tee repping my favorite band, and standing next to me in the front of the general admission section, bouncing on her toes.
This venue is sick. The sun is setting behind the stage and trees surround the grass field we’re in.
There’s a VIP section in front of us, but we scored standing room right behind the rope that divides the two sections.
A red glow highlights the drum set, and John Keefe comes into view.
Fuck, this is cool. A spotlight focuses on Martin Johnson, still looking straight out of the 80s with his rock star mullet, black leather jacket and black leather skinny jeans.
With a few strums of his guitar, the intro to “Two Is Better Than One” starts.
A chill runs through me when the chorus hits–from the slight breeze or Martin’s voice, I’m not sure.
I glance at Mya. She’s singing the lyrics, swaying back and forth in her own little world.
Everything about her screams life . I can’t believe I fought this for so long, and I can’t believe she’s mine.
My eyes remain on her for the rest of the song. When it ends, she turns toward me with a smile that’s harder to see now that it’s dark outside. “What?” she asks .
“Remember when you told me you wish I could experience my own energy because I’d hate it?”
“Uh… yeah.” Her face crumples into worry, and I can’t help but smile.
“I wish you could walk into a space and experience your own energy so you can see how magical it is.”
Her face softens. “Thank you for that.”
I nod toward the stage. “I didn’t know you listened to them.”
She shrugs. “I didn’t before. But I’ve had them on repeat all week just for tonight. And now I love them.”
“I love you.” The words tumble out without permission, but I’ve never meant the sentiment more than I do with Mya now.
Her grin widens, and she turns toward me, looping her arms around my waist. “Really?”
“Really,” I confirm, my heart thudding in my chest to the drum beat of the next song.
“I love you too.” She stands on her toes to press her lips to mine. “I love you so much.”
I pull her closer, and she squeezes into my side.
My attention is pulled to where Martin stops strumming his guitar to speak into the microphone.
“Alright everyone, get your phones out,” he says.
“Right now. This is your chance.” Everyone around us switches their phone to video mode, pointing the camera toward the stage.
“We’re playing ‘The Great Escape’ chorus for you.
Then you’re putting them away so we can go back in time for three minutes to enjoy music like we used to! ”
The crowd roars, most of them jumping up and down at the start of the chorus. I glance down at Mya in my arms. “Don’t you want to record this for our first date memory?”
She tilts her head to look up at me. “I’ll never forget this.”