Chapter 12:
Prince Charming
Oh sigh! I know, right now you might
need to stop and take a bit of a breather. I have to every time I get to this
part of the story and God knows how many times I’ve told it now, but I was so
angry I could have probably killed somebody right then. I left the shop but was
way too emotional and high-strung to get behind the wheel of a car so I started
walking. I didn’t know where I was going; I was just cooling off. After a
couple of minutes I heard someone catch up to me and put their hand on my
shoulder. “Damnit John, I don’t need a fucking lecture right now!” I yelled
assuming that’s who was behind me.
“No lecture. I just wanted to see if
you were alright.” Said a much softer voice.
My heart stopped when I heard Howie
speak. It startled me and I whirled around so fast that my ponytail actually
smacked him in the face. “Sorry.” I cringed when he blinked a hair out of his
eye.
“It’s alright. That’s what I get for
being so short.” He said.
One sentence out of his mouth and
there was a smile on my face again. It’s amazing how he can do that, but he’s
just so god damn likeable. So… charming. So… Prince fucking Charming! I let out
a sigh and then shrugged. “I’ve been through worse.” I replied. I don’t know
what kind of answer that was but honestly I didn’t know if I was all right. All
I knew is that eventually I would be.
Just as I was wondering to myself what
he was doing there, Howie looked at me with a guilty expression. “I’m sorry if
that back there was because of me.” He said. I didn’t mean to laugh, but what
kind of ridiculous statement was that?
“Is he your boyfriend?” Howie asked.
I laughed again. “Danny? No.” I
answered but then sighed, “Not for a long, long time. That back there really
had nothing to do with you. I’m afraid that’s been building up for a long time.
He just used you as his excuse to get it out.”
Howie shrugged shyly not really sure
what to say next. He seemed sad though. I could tell he really wanted to make
me feel better and this time I kind of wanted him to. “I know I sort of blew
you off before,” I said deciding to just fuck it all and go for it, “But if I
say I’m sorry, would you still want to buy me lunch?”
I was relieved when Howie’s face lit
up at the suggestion. He held his arm out and I looked at it curiously. I
didn’t know what the hell he was doing. He laughed at me and then used his
other hand to place my arm in his. God I’m such an idiot! How did I not know he
was offering his arm to me? Well, I guess maybe its because no guy ever has.
I blushed and forced a nervous laugh
but I could tell that no matter how stupid I felt, Howie just thought it was
cute. I looked down at my hand resting gently on his forearm and smiled. That
was a good place for it. Without saying anything he began leading me down the
street. As we walked I felt completely at peace. It was like everything that
I’ve been through lately never happened. Like the world didn’t fucking exist.
Nobody had ever been able to make me feel half of what I felt as we walked up
the street in silence. I glanced up at him curiously and he smiled sweetly. I
looked into his eyes and god, I just wanted that man to rescue me from this
place and take me home with him. I know that sounds a bit like a fucking fairy
tale and I’ll be the first to admit that those aren’t real, but a girl can
dream can’t she? If there were a shooting star anywhere I would have fucking
wished on it!
Neither of us spoke until Gale, (I
mean the waitress) asked us what we wanted. Before she left she looked at Howie
and then flashed an approving smile at me. I don’t think Howie saw it but I
smirked and when I smiled he smiled. “I’m glad you changed your mind.” He said,
“Because I was planning to ask you again and it would have broken my heart if
you’d have said no.”
“I’m sorry about the other day. I was
just having a rough week.” I tried to explain but it felt somewhat pointless.
“I’m also just not used to people being nice to me.”
“I know. You told me all about it on
your birthday.”
Great! I was drunk and spilling all my
problems to a fucking stranger. How the fuck did he get “amazing” from that?
“You know I really have no idea what happened that night, right?”
“I know.”
“So you want to tell me how the hell I
ended up in Nick’s bed the next morning? Because it’s been driving me fucking
crazy. Even drunk I can’t imagine how I let that happen.”
“Well that’s quite an interesting
story really.” Howie laughed.
“And you obviously remember it.”
“I wasn’t drinking that night. AJ
doesn’t like being in bars too much since he got sober, so he took Brian home
right after the game. I knew I was going to have to drive Nick home later, so
yeah, I remember everything that happened that night.”
“So?”
“You really want to know?”
I thought about that for a minute. Did
I want to know? Finally I decided I was probably better off leaving it a
mystery, especially the Nick thing. When it came down to it, I really didn’t
want to know. There was only one thing I was curious about. “Just tell me one
thing.” I said making him curious, “What song did we dance to?”
Howie grinned and I blushed, yet
again. “It’s just that I’ve never actually danced before and since I can’t
remember it I’d like to at least know what it was I danced to.”
Howie sat there staring at me and for
some reason I felt so self-conscious. I must have seemed like the biggest
fucking idiot on the planet. Howie looked around the diner and then smiled at
me full of excitement. “I can do better than that.” He said and then got up
from the table.
I had no idea what the fuck he was
about to do. Where was he going? I watched curiously as he walked across the
room and slid a quarter into an old jukebox. Then he walked back over to me and
held out his hand. Was he really asking me to dance right there in the middle
of the diner? I looked around at the other people eating their lunch and I mush
have looked at him like he was crazy. Howie smiled. “Why just tell you when I
can help you remember. Dance with me.”
OK, so how fucking romantic was that?
What could I do? I didn’t have any choice, my body just kind of gravitated
toward him and he pulled me to my feet. God, all my butterflies were back and I
swear I felt lightheaded as he pulled me against him. He put my arms around his
neck and then fucking slid his hands around my waist.
When the music started he began to
rock me back and forth and twirled me in circles to the music. I was fucking
hypnotized by him and no longer cared if everyone in the room was staring at
us. I wasn’t pulled from my trance until I figured out where I’d heard this
song before. It was the same song that Leighanne had as the ring tone on her
cell phone. “What is this song?” I laughed.
Howie smirked and then pulled me even
tighter against him. “This is the song we danced to.” He answered, “Just
listen.”
I’m really not that much of a music
listener but when I do, I tend to listen to country, not pop. But, a slow song
is a slow song I suppose and I have to admit it was kind of catchy. I laid my
head down on Howie’s shoulder and listened to the lyrics. Really kind of
beautiful actually. A love song. But there was something about the lead singers
voice that I just couldn’t get out of my head. I pulled my head back up and
looked at Howie as I tried to figure it out. “Something wrong?” he asked with a
playful smile on his face.
I hesitated but it was driving me nuts.
“Call me crazy, but doesn’t that kind of like… Brian? I mean without the accent
though?”
Howie kind of giggled but then the
singer changed and I recognized AJ’s sexy voice instantly. It had to be him. It
just fucking had to! I stopped dancing pulled away from Howie now just
listening intently. Theses city boys had me all messed up. They hadn’t just
invaded my life and my heart, now they’d invaded my mind too because I swear to
god I was hearing their voices. “That’s AJ.” I said, “It has to be.”
Howie laughed this time and I thought
I was losing my mind. He pulled me back to him and began to spin me around
again. And then he began to sing along with the chorus. I couldn’t believe what
I was fucking hearing. He had the voice of an angel. “I’ll never break your
heart.” He sang, “I’ll never make you cry. I’d rather die than live without
you. I’ll give you all of me honey that’s no lie.”
I can’t even count how many firsts
I’ve had this week but you can add romantic dance in the middle of a crowded
restaurant while the man of my fucking dreams serenades me, to the top of the
list. Who needs fucking fairy tales! God I just wanted the moment to never end.
I laid my head back down on his shoulder listening to the beautiful sound of
his voice while he sung along with the second verse.
It was a dream. It had to be. It was
too fucking amazing to be real. Shit like this doesn’t happen in real life. Not
to me. But then the door to the diner opened I heard the harsh sound of my
father’s laugh. “Well if it ain’t my favorite whore of a daughter!”
Nope. I was right. Moments like that aren’t
real. At least not for me. Nice fucking timing dad! I turned around to see my
father and Pete the Pervert staring at me. Hank’s eyes darted to Howie. “Did ya
fuck her yet? Hope she didn’t charge ya too much. She ain’t god damned worth
it.”
“Nice hair princess.” Pete added
licking his fat greasy lips. One of these days I’m gonna kick that man’s ass
just for being him.
Poor Howie looked like he was going to
be sick. My father’s words didn’t hurt me. I was long since numb to anything
that bastard had to say. But Howie, he seemed to feel it with every ounce of
his soul and that pissed me off. “Real nice dad, and you wonder why I don’t
like you much.”
“You broke my fucking nose bitch.”
“You’re luck I didn’t castrate you for
raping mom.”
“Ha! I’d like to see you try it
Cinderella. Besides That bitch wanted it.”
I began to lose my patience. “You
nearly killed her this time you know.”
Hank’s eyes narrowed and he smiled so
fucking satisfied to see me angry that I half expected him to pat himself on
the fucking back. “That fucking bitch had it commin’ to her.” He said and
fucking cackled and evil laugh. “You should have heard her beggin me. Crying
like fucking 6 year old. ‘Help me somebody, help me. Damn it Cinderella where
are you!’ Fucking heartbreaking.”
Hank and Pete burst into laughter and
I became so full of rage that things kind of turned red and all blurred
together as I flew at him. “I’m going to fucking kill you, you bastard!” I
screamed as I knocked his ass to the ground.
I jumped on him and just began
punching. Pete pulled me off of him and I kicked him in the fucking balls. The
ground practically shook as he hit it. He wouldn’t be back in this fight. Not
today. I flew at my father again just as he was getting to his knees. I tried
to strangle the bastard.
I probably would have killed him. I
know I fucking wanted to. But before I could I was being dragged off of him. I
was so out of it that it took Howie and two of the cooks to stop me. I fought
as hard as I could as they dragged me from the building. I could hear my father
screaming but the fucking coward didn’t come after me. “You ever come near me
or my momma again I’ll fucking kill you! I swear to god Hank! I’ll fucking kill
you!”
I didn’t realized how out of touch I
was with reality until I snapped back and I was lying on the ground. Howie had
my face in his hands and he was whispering something to me. I couldn’t
understand him at first but as I started to calm down the words came into
focus. “Cindy! Cindy! Honey calm down! It’s all right. It’s over.”
I looked into his eyes and regained
control of myself. I literally shook it off and then got to my feet. Howie
looked so worried and I had no idea what to say to him. I looked inside where
the cooks were helping Pete and Hank into a booth. Dad was bleeding a little
but really I hadn’t done much damage. Pete probably hurt a lot worse, not that
the fucking prick doesn’t deserve it. I looked back at Howie who just stared at
me speechless. “Let’s just get the fuck out of here.” I said.
I apologized as best I could as we
walked back to my car. Then I took him for a drive. I told him a little about
my fucked up family history as we went to the one place I’ve always run to ever
since I was a girl, Vista Lake. It was a little bit of a drive from Hanley but
hell, a drive was sounding good right then. Howie just listened as I talked. I
told him my whole life’s story just about. I was sure that after today I didn’t
stand a chance with him but he was really sweet to listen anyway.
When we got to the lake we walked out
to the dock and hung our feet off the edge. It was nice out but it was a
weekday afternoon so we had the lake to ourselves. It was quiet and peaceful
and I really needed the fresh air. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Come here a lot?” Howie asked as he watched me look around the familiar
setting.
“Ever since I could drive.” I admitted
taking another deep breath. “Hal showed me a picture once, of my mom. He used
to have quite the crush on her back in high school. She was so pretty.
Sunbathing in a bikini right out there.”
I pointed out to the middle of the
lake where a wooden platform floated. I sighed. “She was smiling like she
didn’t have a care in the world. She looked happy. But that was before my
father. I’ve never seen that woman.”
“I’m sorry.” Howie whispered.
“I used to come out here when dad
finally started hurting her and I would pretend she was out here and that she
was happy again. I always wished that I could be happy like that. I wanted to
swim out to that raft and just soak up the sun as if I didn’t have a care in
the world. Just to see what it feels like.”
God I couldn’t believe I just said
that. I’d never told anyone else that, ever. I could feel Howie staring at me
but I couldn’t meet his gaze. I stared at my hands in my lap. Then he stood up.
I looked up just in time to see him pull his shirt over his head.
DAMN! OK, I didn’t know what he was
doing and there were a million thoughts running through my head at the moment
but I think it’s safe to take a quick time out to say DAMN! I mean fuck! He may
be a little short but ladies don’t let that fool you. Shit, I didn’t have any
idea he looked that good under his clothes. I was distracted to say the least!
I know I was staring with my tongue
hanging out like a fucking dog, but Howie didn’t seem to notice. His eyes
twinkled and he said, “So let’s do it then.”
Do what? What were we talking about?
Like I could think of anything other than the fact that he was taking off his
pants. Before I knew it he was standing there in nothing but his boxers. “What
are you doing?” I asked and I fucking meant it.
“It’s a beautiful day to get a tan.”
He said, “You can swim can’t ya?”
“But?”
“There’s nobody here but us. Lets just
swim out there and lay out like we don’t have a care in the world.”
Howie winked at me and then took off
running. He jumped feet first into the water. When he surfaced he smiled at me.
God he looked good all wet. “You coming or not?” he asked and then headed for
the middle of the lake.
I took a deep breath and then shed my
clothes. I couldn’t help but smile as I pulled my shirt off and saw the silky
red bra. Thank you Leighanne for insisting I need more than one pair of “sexy”
underwear.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this
but I stripped down to my bra and panties and dove into the water. I mean if
you think about it, It’s not much different that a bikini. A little sexier
maybe, but that’s not such a bad thing.
The swim out to the platform was
longer than I realized and I was out of breath when I got there. Howie pulled
me up and I fell on my back. I lied there catching my breath and Howie laid
down next to me. Neither of us said anything for a few minutes. I closed my
eyes and stretched letting the sun beat down on my skin. God it felt so good.
“It’s just like I imagined it.” I whispered more to myself than anything.
“And I bet that smile on your face is
every bit as pretty as your mommas picture.” Howie whispered back.
I opened my eyes to see Howie propped
up on his side staring down at me. He was so fucking perfect. I know he didn’t
have any idea what he’d just done for me, to him it was just a spontaneous
swim, but for me, it was so much more. It was freedom.
In that moment I fulfilled a dream
that I’d always wanted and thought I could never have. Right then I was so
happy. If I could do this, why couldn’t I do anything I fucking wanted? Why
couldn’t I own my life instead of it owning me? For the second time in my life
I felt tears well up in my eyes, but this time it felt different. Happy tears
are so much different than sad tears. I was overcome with a whole different
kind of emotion yet I was every bit as overwhelmed. I got a grip on it fast
though and smiled back at Howie. “Thank you.” was the only thing I could think
to say.
I closed my eyes again just wanting to
make the moment last as long as I possibly could. I lied there until I felt
that same magical soft touch from the fucking hotel elevator. I couldn’t make
my eyes open, it felt so fucking good. Goosebumps, all over my skin and fucking
chills on the inside. Finally I opened my eyes. Howie was running his index
finger up and down my arm like he just wanted to see what I felt like. God I
was ready to make love to him right fucking there in the middle of the fucking
lake.
I couldn’t help it and my whole body
tensed up. He realized I was staring at him and he nervously pulled his hand
away from me. I just wanted to scream out, “Oh God, don’t stop!” but somehow I
managed to keep quiet.
There was more silence and then Howie
smiled at something he was thinking about. I questioned him with a look he said
the last thing I expected. “So, Cinderella.”
Normally that was a word that would
get you beat no matter who you are but I was so shocked to her him say it that
I couldn’t react. “Is that really your name?”
He was smiling but not laughing. I was
still in fucking shock and just stared at him like a dumbass. “In the
restaurant,” he continued obviously having no idea how delicate a topic this
was, “You’re father kept calling you Cinderella.”
“Nobody calls me that except my
parents, and I mean nobody.”
I didn’t mean for that to sound like a
threat but looking back it may have just been one. I kicked myself the instant
I said it and I felt like a total jerk. He didn’t know. How could he? But he
didn’t seem to mind. I don’t think it fazed him at all actually. Instead he
began running his fingers along my skin again. (yeah, he was forgiven.) “That’s
too bad.” He finally replied. “I kinda like it.”
Did he really just say that? He lifted
his eyes to mine and smiled. “I’ve never known a Cinderella before. (hmm big fucking
shocker there.) “But I’ve also never known anybody like you before.”
Oh God I’m such a sucker! He had me
hook line and sinker and he fucking knew it. I looked up at him too nervous to
do or say anything and I just watched the smile on his face fade. He slowly
began lowering his face closer and closer to mine and his eyes turned from
playful to passionate. Holy shit was he about to-
His lips brushed mine for only a brief
second making me desperate to kiss him. He was drowning me in my own fucking desire.
He scooted himself right up against me and then brushed the back of his soft
fucking hand up the side of my face combing my new, wet bangs back.
“Cinderella.” He whispered reverently and then threw his lips delicately onto
mine.
I could have died right then and gone
to fucking hell and I still would have been happy for all eternity. He tasted
so sweet the way his lips gently tugged on mine and the way his tongue seemed
to pull me closer to him. It was the kiss to end all fucking kisses. The kiss at
the fucking end of the book. Fireworks. Passion. Romance. Longing. Desire. All
fucking rolled into one soft, gentle kiss.
Love.
Fucking true love’s first kiss! Fuck
fairy tales! This was real and right now there was no one to ruin our fucking
moment. God! I just wanted to feel his lips on mine forever but eventually he
pulled himself back. He sat up and I barely managed to do the same. My breath
had been stolen away and my fucking heart along with it. I felt weak all over
and I was shaking. Howie saw the shivers and pulled me into his arms. He
squeezed me tightly and kissed the side of my head. I just let him hold me.
I have to say it. After all that the
only word I could think of to describe that moment in my life was fucking
amazing! AMAZING! Then he opened his
mouth to say something again but hesitated like he was piecing together his
thoughts. Finally he asked, “Did you mean what you said earlier today? About
leaving?”
The question kind of threw me for a
loop. It seemed so out of the blue. But I knew the answer. “Yeah, I did.” I
said.
“Do you know where you’re gonna go?”
Oh god, how the hell would I know
that? I had nowhere to go. Everything I knew was this town. I released a long
sigh and then said, “I don’t know, I don’t really care as long as it’s far away
from here.”
“What about Florida?”
I turned so that I could see into his
eyes. I thought he was joking but he was one hundred percent serious.
“Florida?” I asked. “What’s in fucking Florida?”
Howie shrugged. “Me.”
Was he saying what I think he was
saying? “It’s really nice there.” He said, “You might have to get used to city
boys, but I have a place there. It’s kind of all right. Has a guest room… or
two. You know… if you needed a place to stay.”
I couldn’t believe it. Was this really
happening? To fucking ME? I didn’t know what to say. Howie smirked, “I should
warn you though, that would mean living in the same state as Nick, but we could
lock him out if we had to.”
Holy fucking shit! He was being
fucking serious! I sat there and stared at him for so long that he eventually
got tired of waiting for me and pulled me in for another kiss.
I’d like to say that this was where
the story ends, but I’m sure you know that, that simply isn’t the case. There
is so much more to this epic tale of tales, but had I known just how much I
would have put the two of us on a fucking plane right then instead of waiting
around to go to some fucking ball. But fate, as it seemed, was about to take
its coarse.
***