Page 35 of Hale's Pawn
“Hmm, thought this was some challenge, not questions., he retorts.
I chuckle. “We’ll only answer this one and then we move on. How’s that?”
“Works for me. The color of your eyes. Well, naturally gray, like mine, except yours have small flecks of brown and are lighter. Sometimes in the sunlight, when it hits it, it kind of goes more blue-brown. Just a tad bit. Now, challenge.”
“Okay, let me pick from Instagram this time.” I smile and lean into my phone that’s set up right next to my other camera to see which challenge I should pick. I look at Oran from the screen and his eyes are on me. I look away and back at the challenge. “Okay! So this one, I’m going to have to move. We have to stare into each other’s eyes with Snoh Aalegra’s song, Dying 4 Your Love playing in the background and see who’ll crack a smile first. I guess it's called The Smolder Challenge.” I stand and wait for Oran to hand me the other stool.
He turns to face me and with his eyes, he tells me to straddle him. This man does not understand how social media will want him to come back online. The people in the comments alone are acting a fool. I do it anyway to avoid a bigger thing. Oran instructs Alexa to play the song. The song begins and we gaze into each other’s eyes. This song is sexy as fuck and it’s hard to concentrate. I don’t think I’ve ever looked into Oran’s eyes this long before outside of sex. It feels intimate as hell and the heat creeps up my body. I’m not scared or anything but I think what I’ve been avoiding is all over my face now. I don’t know how this happened so fast, how this is okay or normal for me, because I swear I was just in love. Damn…do I like Oran Hale? Snoh Aalegra sings the chorus and Oran breaks first. He smirks and his smirk turns into a full blown grin. “I win!” I say and in my excitement, I give him a quick peck.
Oran shakes his head, not satisfied with that. “Give me some sugar.” He wiggles his right brow. I roll my eyes and before I can respond, Oran kisses me tenderly. This isn’t like how he kissed me at the wedding. This is different, like he’s trying to tell me something. I want to hear it because I don’t know what it is. I can’t figure it out and when he lets me go, it takes me a second to realize what he’s just said.
“What did you say?” I ask him.
“I said, end your live and meet me in the car.” He quickly kisses me again and then helps me out of his lap.
Oran walks out of the room and I try not to look goofy as fuck on my live. I fold my lips into my mouth for a moment trying to keep my smile at bay. I hide my face for a second trying not to act like a fucking school girl, but I can’t help it. I seperate my fingers and I talk like that. “Guys, I have to go. I know I said I’d stay on longer, but I have to meet my guy outside. Love you guys! If you have other questions and comments, please leave them and I’ll try to do another live soon! Love you!!” I end both lives and get up to go change. I quickly don a two-piece multicolored plaid skirt ensemble. The top is a sort of thin-strapped halter that comes around my neck. My upper back is exposed but not midback or lower back. I complete that with white airmaxs and I smooth my hair up in the high ponytail that it’s in. I grab my cell and another one of my small purses, then meet Oran right outside. I climb into his BMW 330i M. I don’t naturally know cars, but Mikonos has one. “What color is this one?” I ask.
“Sunset orange, baby.” Oran looks my way. “You smell nice. I like this,” he says as he tugs hard on the ponytail as I buckle myself in.
I glare at him, yet all he does is chuckle. “Thanks. Words work just fine,” I tease and he gives me a look that says he knows I enjoyed it. “Where are you taking me?” I ask.
“Taking you on a date. Gotta take the girl that I like on a first date sooner or later, right?” he says as he zooms away from his house.
I can feel the fucking goofy smile on my face. “I like you too,” I say quietly.
Oran’s hand finds its way to my thigh. He caresses it. “ I know, Bug, that’s why I smirked because you told me with your eyes. I know a hopelessly-in-like woman when I see one,” he teases.
I swat his hand. “Whatever. I’m going to eat the entire menu just for that.” I know money isn’t the issue but it’s still funny to say.
Oran chuckles. “I like a girl that can eat. Let’s eat the whole menu together, babe.”
“Corny ass,” I say, but the goofy smile is still there.
18
Oran
Ainslee’s eyeswiden as she realizes where we are 45 minutes later. I texted Deacon Fairhope, a friend that Jagger and I met through the rivalries of our two towns, if we could call it that. Fairhope is more of a peninsula, while we’re an island. There’s just this serene thing about Fairhope, once you start to drive around. It’s like a piece of Long Island, the Hamptons, and the south in the way of accent, all put together. I park right in front of the resort and spa. It’s as beautiful on the outside as I’m sure it is inside. I haven’t been here since the grand opening and they did renovations too. The black and white concept of the spa is worth stepping in for alone. We get out and I hand my keys to the valet. We walk towards the front double doors. There are bikes parked there for when someone wants to ride. We make our way inside. Whoever designed the place is a genius. The lobby reads Fairhope. A brunette woman smiles at me and Ainslee. “Welcome to Fairhope Resort & Spa, Mr. and Mrs. Hale! How was your drive over?”
“It was good. Relaxing.” Ainslee smiles at her.
“It was cool,” I reply.
“Well, Mr. Fairhope called and said to give you the keys and that all expenses are covered. Here are your keys, and please do not hesitate to come down to the bistro to enjoy some refreshments. The spa is open for you and closed to the public, you can go in there and stay for as long as you’d like. The staff is there as well. It’s on the ground floor. So from here, you just take a right and go down the stairs, the spa is there. All the robes, slippers, and everything else is prepared in your room. He also says that your dinner is at 8pm at the Fairhope Country Club, Is there anything I can bring up to your room right now? Coffee or tea?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No, not for me.” I look at Ainslee. “Do you need anything?”
She shakes her head as well. “No, I’m alright. Thank you though.”
“Great. We’ll here you go, Room 14. If you need anything, I’m here and my name is Sisi.” She smiles.
“Thank you,” we both say. I take Ainslee’s hand in mine as I lead us to the right and up the stairs with a dark blue carpeting. The layout is simply stunning.
Once we get into the room, I look around. It is huge and they used the minimalist idea of decorating to perfection. The room scheme is white and beige. There’s a simple leafless branch in the corner of the room behind a small coffee table. The king size bed has white sheets with beige and gray pillows and a beige throw at the foot of the bed. On the throw, there is a note. I walk over to pick it up while Ainslee checks everything out.
Life’s a game made for everyone and love is the price.
~Deacon Fairhope~
