I stare at his body, my heart skipping a beat. "Austin." I try to greet formally but my voice comes out hoarse which causes him to smirk.
"Come to bed April." He says, lightly tapping the space beside him. "I think I'm good, I'll just be downstairs, eating Thai rice." I say and turn to the door.
I hear his rapid movement, then he's pulling me into his chest, a dangerous look in his eyes. "Oh baby, there's no Thai rice, I think what you mean, is a tickle meal." He snickers and my eyes widen as he throws me on the bed, climbing on top of me and attacking my sides with his long fingers.
I gasp for breath, my laughter getting louder and his questions getting more aggressive. "Will you come to bed with me!?" He asks through my laughter and I yell out a yes, gasping as he releases me, a string of chuckles escaping his own lips. I glare at him and turn on my side of the bed, still gasping for air.
"Awn babe, don't be mad at me." He whines, running his hand up and down my arms. My eyes flutter and a shiver runs up my spine, my tongue darting out to wet my lips. "April," he whispers, running his nose up my arm, his arm wrapping around my waist. His face finds the crock of my neck, his lips tickling my skin.
I turn over, facing him, his striking eyes cutting me deeply. His long fingers graze my skin slightly, setting my skin ablaze. When I'm with him, my mind becomes blank, but it keeps running, thinking how I could be so lucky to have someone like him; someone like Austin.
My chest burns in an uncomfortable itch, an itch that could never be satisfied without him, I want him, I have him. I want him more than I ever thought could be possible.
"I love you." My voice comes out cracked, a sob following it. His brows furrow, his face contorting in confusion. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asks, his thumbs coming up to brush my cheeks. I pull him closer, connecting our lips in a sweet kiss. Tears slip down my face, his lashes brushing against mine, his hands holding my waist down. My fingers lose themselves in his hair, my body hot all over as the even hotter tears stream down my face.
"I love you, I love you so much." I cry out as we seperate, hiding my face in the crook of his neck.
"I love you, sweetheart, I love you." He replies in a soft voice, his face buried in my hair. His hands run up and down my back in a soothing manner, his scent calming me.
This is why I love him so much, he won't question me, he'll make me feel; he'll make me feel more than I can ever see. I'm afraid of losing him, I can't imagine what it would be like without him with me.
When I was fourteen, that night we met, when he told me his name, I was awestruck, I was captured in his eyes, his breathtaking aura. When we danced, there was magic in our touch, when I let my head rest on his chest weakly, I could hear his rapid heartbeat, and I knew it was because of me. I knew from the way I fitted perfectly into his arms, I was meant to be his, he was meant to be mine; we were meant to be together.
He never introduced himself as Luke. He was always Austin Henderson to me. He was always a different person to me.
And then we met five months after, and he didn't even recognise me. He just walked past me, leaving me gaping like a fish. I was crushed, heartbroken.
And we met again at sixteen, and he didn't know who I was at first, but when he recognised me, I could see that glint in his eyes, but it was different from that boy that night two years ago, this was far admiration, and that boy was pure excitement, love and a deep feeling that couldn't be read just by look.
We were separated again, for five years, until we met again, and that boy was back. The boy on the night of that charity event. The boy who danced with me in his arms, the boy who softly kissed my cheek when the night was coming to an end, the boy who looked at me with wonder. He was back. And I knew there, I couldn't lose him, not ever. He was mine. Always and forever.
"You okay?" He asks when the tears had dried on my face. I pull my head out of his neck, looking down at our entwined fingers, I nod, a small smile etching at the edges of my lips.
"Hey, look at me." He whispers, taking my chin between his index finger and thumb. "I love you, nothing will ever change that, I don't know what happened right now, but know I'm here with you, forever." He breathes, his forehead pressed against mine.
"I love you Henderson, I love you."
°•°•°|°•°•°
I flip my dreads over my shoulder as I pick up my latte. Temi and Zayan were busy arguing on why and why not pottery is a dumb thing to take interest in. You know I would never hang out with them without anyone else to keep me company because I don't want my brains fried off, but Austin had to take Neferankh back, and I really just wanted to hang around a different couple. I haven't really gotten to know Zayan that much so I'd say now's the best time for that.
I had gifted Neferankh a mini Polaroid, she seemed really interested in it, it's like something that's meant to be for her. I miss her a lot already, if I had to get along with Kai to be closer to Neferankh, I guess I could try.
Shudder.
"So, Zayan, where are you from, I mean from the looks and your accent, I would say Pakistan, Arabia?" I ask and he nods.
"Arabia. I thought everybody would know that." He furrows his brows, a refreshing look in his eyes. Temi rolls her eyes, eating her muffin in a way that would make every princess gasp.
"Why do you think that?" I ask, looking at Temi for answers, she pauses and turns her head, ignoring me and I know immediately that she's been hiding something from us.
Oh, Temilola!
"Well, I guess not everyone actually searches or knows about me. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Prince Zayan Asad of the second Royal family of Arabia, heir to the throne, and this is my girlfriend, my beautiful Aleena Temilola Maha Frost."
Cue the choking.
My eyes widen and he immediately grabs a glass of water, handing it to me. I quickly gulp it down, beating my chest like a deranged gorilla, my eyes watering as I stare accusingly at Temi.
"You-" I hiss but I'm cut off when a young lady walks up to our table, her face red as she stares at Zayan with wide eyes, a glinting look in her eyes.
She says something in a different language but I'm too busy glaring at Temi to hear what she said. Temi's glare is hard enough to get someone six feet under, it seems like Zayan's amazing looks is shielding the glare from the female shaking in excitement.
Zayan says something to her in the same language and I assume he's speaking his language. I turn to look at the girl and see that her face dropped, she glances at Temi and I see her steps falter when she notices the glare on her face. She quickly turns back to Zayan and quickly nods, turning back around and walking slowly away.
"What did she want?" Temi hisses, her eyes still boring holes into the girls back. "Some girl that knows me and said she's falling for me, or she's fallen for me, and that she's loved me ever since she saw me, it was love at first sight, you get the gist." He says, his eyes glinting with mischief. He's enjoying this way too much, seeing Temi jealous is not just an everyday occurrence.
"Then I told her I have someone else, and that person is you." He whispers, but loud enough for me to hear. She smiles at him but it's the sarcastic smile.
"Well, can you also tell her that when she's done falling, she should stand up." She says, and I feel her Yoruba accent coming in, like she's trying to hold herself back from saying a snide comment. My eyes grow large and Zayan throws his head back in a loud laughter that has everyone looking back at us.
We're definitely not the normal celebrities that try their best to hide themselves, we really don't even care, like I'm seated in the midst of a frigging prince, and no one here even knows.
I didn't even know!
"So, why are you here in San Diego, and not back in Arabia?" I ask, stealing a muffin from Temi. He smiles and pulls her cheek. "Well, after Mia found a way to contact me, I realised that five years apart was too much, I couldn't wait to see her when Mia told me I'd meet her on Halloween. I'd seen her so many times on TV, her dancing got so much better, Everytime I
watched her, my heart skipped, it'd been so long, and I couldn't let the opportunity to be with her slip." He explains, glancing at Temi who's hiding behind her hair.
Cute, cute, cute!
"Awn, you're making me jealous." I squeal and he chuckles, ducking his head. "So, when are we going to see that big diamond rock?" I tease and Temi starts choking.
Payback's a bitch!
°•°•°|°•°•°
Adam and Macy join me on the couch, Adam cuddling Macy who seems pretty interested in watching Thunder Cats Roar! with me, Adam, he just wants to be with his wife.
It's been a long time since we've hung out, ever since me and Austin got really serious, and since she started showing, we haven't had our crazy girls night. I've actually not been having time with any of the girls. I guess a relationship does steal you from your friends, sometimes. I smile at her as she rests her head on my shoulder, her familiar scent wafting as her colored hair falls down my shoulder.
"I missed you." She exhales, Adam groaning in agreement and I smile. "I missed you guys too. But not so much you Adam." I snicker and Macy cackles as he gasps, offended.
"Why don't we have an only girls night, with all the girls, like highschool again." Macy suggests, her voice low and sleepy. I smile.
"Yeah, that'd be great. Now, you need to rest, don't want Uriel hate me for keeping you up, do we?" I sniff, rubbing my eye.
"Who's Uriel?" Adam asks, an adorably confused look on his face. "Macy's baby, duh. Now go to bed, you knucklehead." I shoo them and he rolls his eyes, helping his wife upstairs.
Mom walks out if the kitchen with Kira hot on her trail, her hair in a French braid. Brooke must have done that. Mom sits down right beside me, snatching the remote and changing it to a different channel that's showing a boring historical drama movie. I know because I checked.
"Ma!" I whine, pouting buy she just makes an unimpressed look. Kira snorts next to me, her fingers typing fast against her keyboard.
"So, your grandmother has been complaining that she wants to see her grandchildren this Christmas," mom starts and I groan, "So, we're going to England in December, a week before Christmas so we can stay a while month with them and come back after new years." Mom finishes, a bright look in her hazel eyes.
"No, mom, I'm not leaving San Diego, can't you guys go alone?" I cry and she rolls her eyes. "Oh come on, you know my mother will have my head if I go to England without her babies, and her grandson!"
Oh she has set the bait!
"Mom, you can't do that! You know Ethan and Brooke are trying to hide Uriah from every paparazzi out there and going on a grand trip to England is certainly not the best idea. Besides, England is extremely cold this time of the year, and he won't be able to-"
"I birthed all of you in England April, don't try to lecture me on how cold England is." She narrows her eyes at me, her lips pursed. I raise my hands in defense, looking at Kira for some backup but she already has her headphones on.
So much for having siblings.
"Look April, we haven't seen your grandma in a year, and all those times she missed in Russia, she wants to spend it with you in England for Christmas and new year, just for a month. Besides, the distance would be great for you and Luke." My eyes widen.
"I wasn't complaining because of Austin." I definitely was.
"Of course you weren't!" She winks. She's on to me, dammit.
°•°•°|°•°•°
"Okay, you go first." Lola laughs, throwing a chip in her mouth, relaxing further into Temi.
"Um, honestly, if I was in that situation, I'd first blast her with Spanish, make sure that she looks dumbfounded, and then trip her, accidentally kick her and just walk away like the sweet innocent me." Mia grins. Temi laughs, hiding her face in her twins hair.
We were on a video call with Mia and Mario, well he ran away a little after he heard her grandma muttering something about her jams.
The doorbell rings and I stand up, walking around the girls lying down on the floor and the couch, all paying attention to Mia. Once I reach the door, I pull it open and come to stare at the handsome face of my tired boyfriend.
"Hey stranger." I mutter and he cracks a smile, pulling me to him. He presses a kiss to my temple, stepping in and taking off his shoes. "How's Neferankh?" I asks and he smiles.
"She was really happy about the Polaroid, couldn't stop talking about it, when Kai found out you were the one who gave it to her, she rolled her eyes but I know she was happy that Neferankh was happy. I think you guys might actually get along." He exhales, wrapping his hand around my waist.
"No, I'm pretty sure I like out hate-hate relationship just the way it is." I announced and he snorts out a laugh.
"What's up! People of the house!" He hollered, everyone answering with a 'yo!' even Mia.
He makes a beeline for the kitchen, probably rummaging for one of those fruit cups Lola always keeps. "Oh my goodness, Temi, Lola, this jollof rice is stealing my heart already." He moans out, coming up to us with a plate of the rice and a plantain hanging from his mouth.
"Do you mean that someone or something else has you heart?" I demand, narrowing my eyes at him. He smiles, walking up to me and bending forward so if I'm looking up, I'll be seeing his neck filled with a light stubble.
"Only you baby, only you." He says and pecks my lips about three times until June starts fake gagging. I roll my eyes, pushing him away to see Mia fanning herself.
"That was so hot!" She squeals and May cackles at me, everyone follows her lead, cackling, squealing and fanning themselves.
"Oh, shut up!"