Micah kissed my cheek and went back inside, once again trying his wings out at not being jealous.
“I asked them to play a special song,” he stated, a light blush came across his cheeks. “I don’t know if they have-”
At that moment the music began to flow from the reception hall and I could hear the Michael W. Smith song, Friends are Friends Forever, begin to play.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked quite gallantly.
“You don’t have to ask,” I smiled and went into his arms. “I like the song choice; it’s perfect.”
He gave a heavy sigh and continued to dance.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
He looked down at me with those big blue eyes and said he had lousy timing.
“What do you mean?”
“I had the chance to start at PHS in the fall last year, but I drug my feet until March. If I’d have…” He shook his head and went silent.
It didn’t matter, I knew what he was thinking and I was surprised at myself as the realization hit me that he was absolutely right. “If you’d have started sooner, I’d be with you instead of Micah?”
A half smile emerged, “Definitely. I liked you from the moment I met you in English class. I think I’d have had my work cut out for me, but I’d like to think you’d have eventually come around.”
I blushed. “I would have,” I confirmed for him. “But I’m sure God intended for us to just be friends, really good friends.” But it was time to change the subject because the hold he had on me was getting firmer, “So you’ll start back at school next week. What’s after that?”
“I’ll finish up at PHS since they have the Air Force ROTC program and then it’s on to Colorado Springs.”
I raised my eyebrows without thinking, “What’s there?”
“The United States Air Force Academy; I have a full scholarship.”
“Wow, that’s pretty impressive, but…”
“But what?”
“What happened to Eglin? I thought you’d be staying in Florida.”
“No, I just had family at Eglin.”
An odd pang hit me hard in the chest as the thought of Ryan flying into a war zone crossed my mind, “H-how long does it take to become a pilot?”
“I’m already a pilot,” he replied as smoothly as if he was telling me he was male, “but it takes a bachelor’s degree from the Academy, officer’s training and a lot of other things to fly in the Air Force.”
I took in a comforting breath; a lot can happen in four years, and maybe the world will be a more peaceful place when the time comes for him to hit the sky.
“So how about you? Does your life end here tonight?” he asked.
I know the color drained from my face, “What?” The shock I felt was clearly communicated in my single word question.
“I mean are you forgetting about college and a career? I’m seeing him as a ‘keep-her-barefoot-and-pregnant’ kind of guy.”
I rolled my eyes and felt the color returning to my cheeks, “He’s already told me he doesn’t want me to be a teenage mother and, to answer the first part of that question, I haven’t decided yet exactly what I want to do, but whatever it is it won’t be for the money-I have that covered.”
He laughed, a big grin spread across his face, “Yeah, I know that’s right.” He spun me slowly in time to the music and then the smile faded, “So I guess this is gonna be it for us-I wish it wasn’t.”
“Why does this have to ‘be it’ for us? Can’t we keep in touch?”
“No one ever does that, Leese. Everyone has good intentions and then they drift apart and the years slip by, and before you know it, we’ll only be a memory for each other.”
“Geez, Ryan, that’s a depressing statement,” I frowned. I truly didn’t want this to be it. He and Micah were the most unique people in my life. Micah and I were pledged to having forever together, but how do you keep a friend from slipping away?
“It’s true. You have a new life in front of you that doesn’t include your friends. But,” he added with a sweet look on his face, “I’ll never, ever forget you.” His lips came against my cheek and rested there for a long moment. “I don’t suppose,” he whispered, “You’d approve if I moved this to your lips, would you?”
I returned the kiss to his cheek, “No-these lips are for my husband. But I guarantee you that I won’t forget you either.” I wasn’t expecting to cry, but I felt the sting coming on, “Are you staying at the Acqualina like most of the guests?” I was trying to find any reason for this not to be the last time I would see his face.
“I’ll spend a couple nights, but then it’s back to Pensacola.” The song was ending and he gave me a firm squeeze and kissed my forehead, “Love you, Leese,” he said, turning me loose and walking away.
One tear slipped down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away as Micah came around the corner to bring me back inside where our guests were waiting. I know he saw it, but he also knew I considered Ryan a good friend.
He pulled me on to the dance floor, “I think this will be our last dance tonight, here anyway,” he added with a sultry look so hot I could feel it on my skin.
“Special request?” I asked.
“Definitely, baby. Your request.”
“My request?”
“I think you’ll remember,” he smiled, centering us on the dance floor as the guests moved away and the lights dimmed.
As the music began, I realized it was the song I picked when he slow danced with me in my music studio at home. The blush felt as if it covered me from head to toe as I’ll Make Love to You, began to fill the room.
“Are you ready?” he whispered in an echo to the singer’s words, “I’ll hold you tight, baby, all through the night…tonight is your night.”
“Oh, Micah,” I whispered back, “I didn’t think tonight was ever going to arrive. I’m ready to spend the first night of the rest of my life in your arms. Let’s go.”
The next thing I knew we were running for the open limousine door as our guests blew a shower of bubbles over the walkway.
The hotel was only minutes away and before I could even collect my thoughts we were in the elevator and on the way up to our suite. Micah became very quiet, but his eyes were speaking volumes about what was going through his mind. I couldn’t stop the constant blush that waved across my skin as he held me in his gaze.
When we reached the door, he opened it and then swept me off my feet and carried me inside, “We made it, baby-I can’t believe we’re finally here.”
“Me either,” I said, smiling up at him.
“I was thinking, since we’ve been so patient, there is no reason to rush tonight. I’d like to get comfortable and dance with you some more.”
I was pleasantly surprised, especially since I was scared, but I didn’t want to tell him I was feeling this way.
He came around behind me, his lips caressing my bare shoulders and neck as he slowly unzipped my gown. His mouth followed the zipper down to the base of my spine. He was kneeling on the floor when he finished, his steel hands holding my hips as he placed kisses on my lower back.
I turned and looked into those eyes so filled with love as I allowed the gown to slip to the floor. He offered me his hand and I stepped out of it. I could see the flush of heat on his skin as he looked at me in my lacy white bustier, panties, and garter.
“Go ahead and slip on something comfortable,” he said through husky vocal cords.
I disappeared into the bedroom, putting away my gown and pulling out the silk, white baby doll outfit I had chosen for tonight. I hadn’t realized how badly I was shaking until I tried to put it on.
When I returned to where he was waiting, I noticed he removed most of the trappings of his full tuxedo and was down to just the slacks and his dress shirt, untucked and the buttons undone. I hadn’t shown him my outfit when I bought it; I wanted it to be a surprise and from the look on his face I knew he liked my choice.