< : > : Chapter Twenty - Six : < : >

Harlow | Phoenix | Other people

Rolling over I picked up my vibrating cell wiping across the screen with my eyes still closed. "Hello?"

"Hey baby." Phoenix answered giving me goosebumps first thing in the morning. His voice was smooth like butter making me want to reach through the phone and kiss him. "Are you still in bed?"

"Yeah."

"Good, you haven't eaten then. I'm outside with breakfast if you don't mind having company."

Sitting straight up I looked around confused. Touching my hair realizing my bonnet was missing I knew my  day wasn't starting off right. There was no way Phoenix was here.

"Babe?"

Slowly getting out of bed I grabbed my pajama shorts peeking out the blinds for any unusual cars in the apartment complex. "Phoenix are you really here?"

"Did you forget everything that happened last night?"

"I wasn't sure if it was a dream or not."  Running to my bathroom I gargled some mouthwash hoping not to kill him with morning breath just to let him in before I could thoroughly brush my teeth.

"Come open your door and I'll prove it."

Freezing at my front door a large part of me thought this could be a sick dream teasing me of its fake reality until I opened the door waking up in my bed again with my phone on the charger, my bonnet securely on my head, and an aching heart.

But this was real . . . right?

"Are you still there?"

"I-I'm here."

Wiping my palms on my pjs I carefully unlocked the door slowly pulling it back revealing my boyfriend dressed in dark jeans with a simple white t-shirt. His military cut hair had grown longer on the side along with his growing beard taking him out of regulations but still made him look rugged and sexy.

Launching myself into his arms squeezing him with every bit of strength that I had needing to feel him for sure. Needing to know that this was real. Yesterday's surprise in the grocery store parking lot was real. Our special date and several intense kisses were real. Him standing here in the hall of my apartment build was -

"Baby you're choking me."

Instantly releasing him I pulled Phoenix inside closing and locking it turning back to him ready to kiss him madly but he was already walking back to the door dropping whatever was in his hand to cup my face. Making sure to kiss with closed mouth I broke the kiss moving him back a few steps.

Phoenix looked at me with both confusion and a little hurt. Biting my bottom lip I bent down to pick up the bakery bag.  "I need to use the restroom . . . Oh my goodness you went to Sharron's!" Opening the bag I pulled out a bagel, mouth watering and ready for a bite.

"She said hi and put in extra cinnamon butter for you."

Putting the bag on the counter I kissed Phoenix on the cheek telling him I would be right back quickly slipping into the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a quick shower.

Dressing in a large crop top sweater and jeans with my favorite Converse I went back out to Phoenix finding him in my kitchen putting breakfast from Sharron's on a plate.Walking up behind him I slide my arms through the small gaps at his side as he moved around lacing my fingers at his belt buckle. Resting my head between his shoulder blades breathing him in I thought about the few days that I had left with him before he flew back to California.

Feeling him turn around Phoenix wrapped his arms around me placing several kisses to my face before reaching my lips. Tilting my head to the left the same time his tongue pressed against my bottom lip for access I relaxed my jaw letting him take what he wanted.

Tasting the sweet cinnamon butter and raisin bagel I kissed Phoenix with all the passion I could muster. We were now in my own home with no one to drive up to our outside date. No one to walk in my apartment with their own key.

Just Phoenix and I

Not knowing when the next time we would have this moment I kissed him like a long distance girlfriend would. I kissed him for the many nights we had to get off the phone unable to go straight to sleep because we would replay our entire conversation. I kissed him for the times he called me beautiful, gorgeous, cute, his girlfriend. I kissed him for the moments of sweet childhood memories that he shared with me and vice versa. I kissed him because he was mine as much as I was his. I kissed him because he was finally here and I could.

"Harlow." He pulled back moving away to the kitchen window lifting it open letting in a nice breeze. "I'm trying to be a gentleman and respectful of our first time meeting each other but," he looked behind him meeting my eyes. "it's difficult when we're kissing like that."

Feeling my cheeks warm I looked away to the breakfast plate. "Maybe we should eat now."

"I don't mean to make you feel embarrassed." Feeling a hand on my wrist I looked up to his hazel eyes. "If anyone should be embarrassed, it should be me. I'm almost twenty-five and can't control myself when kissing you."

"It's okay."

"Doesn't mean I want to stop kissing you though so don't get that idea." Placing a kiss on my neck he grabbed the plate of food walking over to the table.

Pouring juice into two glass cups I followed after him taking the vacant chair. Thanking Phoenix again for breakfast we both grabbed a bagel, a portion of cinnamon butter, and a few pieces of fruit. Talking a little about deployment he told me everything that he was allowed to give information about. What was classified stayed just that and I never pushed for more.

Chewing a piece of fruit I sipped my juice ready to bite my bagel when my dad's party for Phoenix came back to me. "Hey, what are you doing tomorrow around six?"

Phoenix chewed slowly on his food thinking for a moment. "Nothing comes to mind. What's up?"

"Remember I was telling you that my parents wanted to have a party for you?"

"Yeah, the party for dating you." He chuckled.

Tossing a blueberry at his head it hit his nose falling to his plate. "Haha." I rolled my eyes. "They were wondering if you would like to have it tomorrow?"

"Can I bring my aunt and Dylan?"

"Of course. The more the merrier."

"Then I'll be there."

"Great. I'll tell my dads then." Finishing the rest of my breakfast I checked the time needing to head out for work. Looking over to Phoenix his thoughts seemed to elsewhere. "Are you okay?"

His eyes moved back to mine and a smile spread across his face. "I'm great."

"Okay, well I'm going to clean up and finish getting ready for work."

Standing up Phoenix grabbed our plates stacking them on top of each other before grabbing our glasses with his other hand. "I'll clean up. You finish getting ready and then I'll take you to work."

"Are you sure? You don't have to if -"

"Harlow." He cut me off with a quick kiss. "Yes, I'm sure I want to take you to work. I have a chance to do it so let me. Please."

Smiling at his sweet statement I kissed his cheek heading back to my room to get ready. I was excited to tell Timara how amazing Phoenix was at lunch and to hear about her and Corey as well.

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