Waratah

🍂 Caelum 🍂

Solis wanders into the backyard and crosses his arms. His eyes dart from the new bean bag chair to the projector, then to me. He shakes his head and I roll my eyes.

"What happens if your girl doesn't show up tonight?"

"Evolet will show up."

He nudges the bean bag with his shoe and sighs.

"Come out with me and the boys tonight, I'll find you a beautiful woman to help you forget all about her."

"She'll come." I glare.

"How can you be so sure about that?" He raises an eyebrow. "She freaked out and couldn't give you an answer about her feelings. Perhaps you should consider the idea that she isn't coming. I don't want to see you hurt and we've worked too hard to establish ourselves in this business for something to go wrong now."

"Enjoy your night, Solis."

"Caelum," he grumbles.

"I'll see you tomorrow regardless of what happens. I won't destroy something I've worked so hard on."

"I hope you remember that."

"Goodbye, Solis."

Solis leaves the house and I return to setting up for our date. When she fell asleep on my shoulder, I had ample amount of time to decide my next move. I considered staying until she woke up but I knew she needed more time to think without the pressure of giving me an answer right away.

We talked about watching a movie I liked, but I also wanted a reason to hold her close, to feel her head on my chest and the warmth of her body radiate into mine.

I set up the projector outside on the grass and chuck some blankets onto the bean bag in case it's cold tonight. I wander into the house and empty the snacks into the bowls.

I put the bowls outside near the bean bag, then check to make sure I have everything. I want this date to reassure her that nothing needs to change between us.

There's nobody else I want, nobody else I need. I don't know how she crept up on me like that, but I'm happy I met her, regardless of the outcome.

Seven-thirty arrives and my heart wildly beats. I scan the living room to ensure there's nothing laying around. I lurk near the hallway and tentatively listen.

The doorbell doesn't ring, nobody knocks but that's okay because there's a million reasons as to why she could be running late. Despite what Solis thinks, I know she'll come.

When the doorbell finally rings, I take a deep breath and race to open it. Evolet's silky black hair is half tied up and she's wearing foundation to cover the lack of sleep from last night. She still manages to take my breath away.

She glances at the note in her hand, then at me.

"Hey, Evolet."

"I'm sorry I'm late."

"You don't need to apologise."

"I'm sorry it's taken me so long to make a decision."

She crumbles the note in her hand, but maintains eye contact. I can't read the emotion in her green eyes but the fact she came has to be a good sign.

"I realise I'm crazy for ignoring the red flags, but I'm also crazy about you. I don't like what you do, but I can live with it."

A smile encroaches on my lips.

"I'm crazy about you as well."

She sighs with relief and genuinely smiles. I open the door wider and she steps inside. We walk down the hallway and she peers around the living room and it makes me laugh.

"I don't grow plants in the house." I chuckle.

Evolet's gaze drops to her shoes and she blushes.

"What are we doing tonight? Your note was very ominous."

"Come outside and I'll show you."

Curiosity sparkles in her green eyes as she follows me outside. Her lips part and her eyes go wide as she takes in the outdoor setting.

"You must have spent a few hours setting all of this up!"

"Yeah." I nod.

"You were that confident I would come?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Yes." I nod.

"I don't know if I deserve you, Caelum." She shakes her head.

"Take a seat and enjoy the snacks and refreshments provided. I hope you like the film I picked, it's not a favourite, but I do think it's good."

"Is it a horror film?"

"Please tell me you don't hate horror films?"

"Would that be an issue after everything we've been through?" She laughs.

"Certainly not."

"I don't mind horror films, I just don't like to eat while watching them. These snacks look delicious." She grins.

"Luckily I picked an action film, so you'll be fine to eat."

"Okay."

I connect my computer to the projector and press play on the movie. She wiggles to the side of the bean bag and I squish beside her. The opening credits play and Evolet snacks on chocolate chip pieces.

She watches the movie while I take a glance in her direction to reassure myself she's actually here. I had faith she would come but sometimes that doesn't always translate to what we want to happen.

I thought about all the movies that would impress her, but it ultimately boiled down to a classic action movie with exploding cars, guns, and fast car chases. It's a typical movie Solis and I would watch together.

A cool breeze rushes past and she shivers. I place the blanket across our laps and she nuzzles into my side. She looks up with her stunning green eyes which leaves me swooning. I wrap my arms around her body and pull her close.

This was the moment I was longing for and it's everything I was expecting.

The main character is racing away from his rivals which leads to a shoot out in a basement. Bullets fly from every direction and I sigh with a shake of my head.

"What?"

"They're wasting bullets like that."

"Please don't say that." She groans.

I pull away and frown.

"I don't own a gun."

"Seriously? Don't you need protection?"

"This isn't the mafia or cartel. Solis and I handle a majority of the work and we only give jobs to people we can trust. I have measures in place to keep us and the plants safe. I don't want to resort to violence."

"Oh." She frowns. "I assumed the worst."

"What other wild ideas do you have swimming in your head?"

"It's what the future holds that worries me. You want to make millions of dollars, that's going to draw attention, good and bad. What happens when somebody wants to take what's yours? Can you handle the power and destruction a gun will bring?"

"I don't think people know what they're capable of until they're forced into the position."

"Will you like the person you become?"

I pull her back to my chest and frown.

The main character is victorious and saves themselves from the bad guys unscathed. He wins the girl and earns a passionate kiss. Evolet makes a little noise which makes me smile.

Evolet looks up at me with want in her eyes.

"Can I kiss you?"

"Yes." Her voice is barely a whisper.

I grab the back of her head and bring our lips together. She shuffles around and places her hands on my chest. She slides them over my chest and weaves her fingers into my hair. I nip her lower lip and she gasps and tugs on my hair.

Evolet tries to get comfortable but the moving beans make a lot of noise. I grab her waist and help her settle onto my lap. She isn't shy about straddling my waist and I love that.

She madly grins and brings our lips back together. Her hands travel down my chest and slide under my shirt. Evolet grins as she traces her fingertips across my stomach muscles. She tugs on my shirt and I chuckle.

"What's your goal here?"

"I'm curious about your tattoos."

I raise my shirt and her eyes trail the length of my chest. She traces the tattoo of the moon with the clouds, then over the rosemary sprig, then to the sun.

"Can I see your tattoo?"

Evolet climbs to her feet and unbuttons her jeans. My eyes grow wide as she tugs the side of the fabric down. I lean forward and brush my thumb over the inked words on her skin.

"Beyond what is seen," she mutters.

She fastens the buttons and smiles.

"I'm surprised you showed it to me."

"You've bared so much to me in the last twenty four hours."

"I can't wait to learn more about you."

"There's nothing too interesting about me." She chuckles.

"I want to know everything about you." I smile.

"I'm ready to fall down the rabbit hole with you."

"I started falling the moment I met you."

I kiss the tip of her nose and her smile widens.

She stifles a yawn and I pout. I don't want our night to end.

"Do you want to spend the night? I can sleep on the couch."

Evolet bites her lip and contemplates the idea before shaking her head.

"I don't want to leave but I have work early in the morning."

"Let me drive you home."

"I'll message you when I'm safe at home."

"You better message me otherwise I'll drive over to check."

She laughs like I wouldn't do it, but I would.

"Where does all this stuff go?"

"Go home and rest. I can take care of this."

We wander to the front yard and she lingers beside her car. I pin her against the cool surface and steal a chased kiss. Evolet lingers for more but I open the door and she reluctantly climbs behind the steering wheel.

"Don't forget to message me."

"I promise."

I close the door and wait for her to drive away before retreating to the house. While I wait for her to message, I shove everything into the lounge room for tomorrow. When my phone pings with her message, I go to bed and allow the exhaustion of the last twenty-fours pull me under.

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