Page 12 of Goodbye To Tomorrow

Chapter 3

Jiraiya

Surprise

Gracen rushed into my arms as she saw me walking through the door. My nose quickly picked up the sweet mild scent of her perfume mixed with her uncertainty.

"Did you miss me?" I asked her, pulling her closer still.

"Just a little," she teased me as she began to chuckle softly. Her face was pressed against me and her laughter was muffled against my broad chest.

"Beautiful liar,” I responded, moving my arms downwards from her neck across her back to her waist; I tickled her gently on both sides invoking an abrupt jerk from Gracen and a slight struggle to break free from my embrace.

"Okay, wait," she whimpered, trying to control herself from erupting into wild uncontrollable laughter that had formed in her lungs.

"Wait?" I quizzed teasingly, tickled her once more.

Unable to contain her jerky movements anymore and the air of laughter in her, she ducked and broke free; darting away from me towards the far end of the room.

I naughtily chased after her; she wasn't fast enough and was soon wrapped up in my arms again, this time from behind.

"I missed you!" She yelled as her body made contact with mine once again. A satisfied grin spreads across my face.

"I missed you too,” I admitted and tickled her again.

“I am going to pee in my pants if you keep tickling me like that," she gasped trying to keep from giggling. “I’m warning you," she struggled still trying to break free.

"How much do you love me?" I quizzed her again.

"So much, so damn much! My love for you is infinitely immeasurable,” she added as I turned her 180 degrees to face me, still not letting go of her.

“I will never get tired of hearing you say that you love me,” I confessed staring into her eyes.

"I love you so much! Please don't do that again." She begged with a sheepish smile, trying to draw sympathy from me.

I hugged her tightly, pressing her body hard against mine as if I was going to push her into me and leave her body print on my chest.

We said nothing for a while, each lost deep in our own thoughts.

"So, what's the surprise you spoke about over the phone on your way here?" She asked finally, breaking the silence.

I loosened my embrace gradually until she was free from my body.

"Close your eyes," I ordered.

"No way!" She said in naughty protest.

"I won't tickle you again. No more shenanigans," I promised, raising my hands in surrender.

Gracen looked intently into my eyes before finally budging. Slowly, she closed her eyes.

Silence took over the room as Gracen waited for me to unveil my surprise.

"You can open your eyes now," I said unhurriedly.

Slowly she parted her eyelids, the rays of light from the white fluorescent bulb momentarily blinding as she struggled to see what I held in front of her.

Her vision finally readjusted to the light; I held in between my fingers, two rectangular pieces of blue paper.

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