Chris POV
"You realize the next wedding we go to will probably be our own?"
I unlock the apartment door, holding it open for Opal to enter. "What? You don't think Cooper will be next," she teases with a smile before collapsing on my couch.
"Highly doubtful," I laugh as I toss my keys onto the table closest to the door. I lay my suit coat over a dining chair before sitting on the coffee table in front of Opal. I lift her tired legs one at a time, slowly undoing the strap to her heels before sliding them off of her feet.
"Hmm," she hums as she relaxes more, laying her head back on the couch, closing her eyes. "A girl could get use to this."
I begin massaging her feet, going between gentle rubbing to full pressure in the spots I know she needs most. "Lucky for you, you'll be getting it for a lifetime."
"Lucky indeed," she whispers, opening her eyes slightly to see the small smile playing upon my lips.
"Are you ready to relax in bed, call it a night or?" I ask, moving onto the other foot.
"Or what, Evans?" Her eyes fully open now.
I concentrate on massaging her foot, but cast a small glance up as I ask, "What do you say to a late night swim?" She pauses for a moment, contemplating.
"Do you have a pool here?"
I nod my head slowly. "I do. One I think you'd really like."
"Is this just your way of seeing me in fewer clothes?" she quirks a brow, narrowing her eyes, but the corner of her lip turns up giving away her teasing.
I'm positive my smirk gives me away. "Well, someone promised me a trip to the beach in March, that didn't happen."
"Yeah, I know. Too busy getting hit by a car and all."
"So, I mean you kind of owe me," I say, dropping her feet back to the floor, leaning closer to her. She meets me halfway, giving me her lips.
"You're gonna be disappointed."
I kiss her again. "Why do you say that?"
"Because nothing can top how sexy I was in that hospital gown."
I can't help but bark out a loud laugh, doubling over at her joke. "Can I be the judge of that?" I ask once I've calmed myself down again.
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Opal POV
Standing in the master bath of Chris' bedroom I stare at my body through the mirror in front of me. I had only packed a bathing suit because part of what Laura had wanted to do was spend some time out by the pool of their subdivision. I'd managed to not let any of the men see me in my suit that day, since Chris was 'working' he'd missed it as well.
My hands go immediately to cover the two incisions from my two surgeries. Now I'm wishing I'd gone suit shopping and bought a one piece.
"You alright in there?" Chris asks after a soft knock to the bedroom door.
"Uh, yeah. Just another second." I pull my engagement ring off, setting it off to the side of the sink. I sift through my bag, locate my cover up and toss it on quickly. I open the door to see Chris in black swim trunks and a white tee. "All set," I say with a smile.
Chris picks up two towels off of the dining table along with his keys and cell. He holds the door open for me before locking it behind himself.
I follow beside him to the elevator, surprised when he presses the up button. I give him a look of confusion. "I thought we were going to the pool."
He just gives me his infamous smug smirk, leaning back against the elevator as we ride it to the top floor. He motions with his head for me to follow him down the hallway until we meet a set of stairs. "Up again?" I ask.
"Just a little," he ushers me in front of him.
At the top of the stairs is a door with a sign that says 'Pool Entrance.' Chris uses a fob from his keys to unlock it, pushing the door open.
I step out and discover I'm on the rooftop of his apartment building. The sky is clear, a perfect summer night, stars thrown across the dark sky. The moon just a few days away from being full casting a beautiful glow. I stand still, in complete shock of how incredible it all looks. Chris places the towels and other items on a near by pool chair before slipping his shirt off. He steps to the edge of the deep end, turns around to face me, gives me a wink before doing a backflip into the pool.
"Nice moves ya got there," I call out when he resurfaces swimming towards the edge again. I take a few steps closer to the edge before sitting down, dangling my feet into the water.
"You gonna join me?" he asks getting closer to me.
"Haven't decided yet," I answer honestly. "It's really beautiful up here." I look around a bit more taking note of the few lit up posts that cast a light glow along the outside of the pool while the pool is lit up from inside.
Chris holds himself up in the water by resting his arms along the pavement beside where I sit, pushing his hair back out of his face. "It feels good, right? Not too cold, not too warm." I nod my head, leaning back on my hands. "We can come up tomorrow during the day, maybe get a bit of a tan if you want?"
"We'll see," I answer.
"I meant to ask you something the other day but I got a little too busy trying to stay away from you," he mentions with a chuckle.
"Whose fault is that?" I ask pointedly.
He pushes back from the pool wall, treading in front of me. "I've got the Policeman's Ball coming up next month. Think my fiance might like to accompany me?"
I suck in a deep breath between gritted teeth. "I don't know, Evans. What would your girlfriend say?" I question with raised brows.
"Don't have one of those, so I wouldn't know."
"She'll probably need to check her calendar, make sure she can get away from work and her other responsibilities."
"What if I tell her that I already checked into all of that? And that I even bought her a plane ticket already." He swims closer to me again.
"So, are you saying she doesn't actually have a say in it?" I challenge him.
He keeps his eyes locked on mine as he places his hands on the concrete on either side of me. He pushes himself up, catching my lips with his own before sinking back into the water. "Nope. She doesn't."
"Pretty bold of you to assume she'd say yes, Sergeant."
The look in his eyes change, darkening a bit. "Please get in this pool with me, Opal."
The feeling of playful banter changes as I shift, moving my arms to rest in my lap holding my cover up in place. "What's wrong?" he asks, noticing my change in demeanor.
"Nothing," I say calmly, looking up at the moon. "Just think I'm gonna stay right here is all."
He comes back to the edge, turns around and pushes himself out of the pool, sitting next to me. "What's going on?"
"I said there's nothing going on, Chris." This time my gaze rests on my hands.
He lifts his hand, bringing it to my face. He gently pushes against me, turning my head to face him. "Care to lie to my face this time?"
Damn him for being able to read me so well.
"I don't want you to see my scars." I don't know why he looks back at me as if he's stunned by this information. I've let him into every part of my life, with the exception of my body. This falls into that category for me. I'm no longer comfortable in my body since the accident.
"Ope," he says quietly, still holding onto my face, cradling it in the palm of his hand.
I feel the tears forming, and I don't want to give in. No, I desperately want him to let this go, give me more time to feel comfortable in my skin again.
"Please, Opal. Let me see you." His voice is so soft, gentle.
I close my eyes, letting the tears release. "Chris," I mumble through my silent tears, taking a shaky breath I stand up carefully, backing away from the pool side. I move both of my hands down to the hemline of my cover up. With my eyes closed I pull it off over my head. I drop it on the ground beside me before my hands go to cover up my scars.
I can hear Chris get up, but I don't open my eyes, afraid of what I might see. Scared I'll see a look of disgust, repulsion or pity.
A moment later I feel his hands resting over my own. He moves his hands to rub lightly against my own. I feel myself relaxing under his touch, but yet still afraid. "Opal," he whispers. With another deep breath, mustering as much courage as I can, I remove my hands from my body.
I lean my head back, fighting with myself internally for crying, being vulnerable again over something as silly as this. I finally open my eyes, but remain staring above me, at the stars.
As I feel his fingertips trace over the scars I bring my gaze back down, seeing Chris knelt in front of me. He doesn't look up at me, keeping his eyes on my scars. A shiver runs through me as he tenderly places his lips over the scar to the left, then on the scar to the right.
My hands that have been just hanging at my sides, reach up to cradle his face. "Chris."
He stops, resting his forehead against my abdomen. "These are beautiful, Opal."
I scoff at his words, even during this precious moment. He leans back, finally looking up at me. "No, Opal." He stands, taking my hands in his own bringing them together and holding them clasped against his chest. He rests his forehead against my own, not releasing my hands. "Those scars mean more to me than you'll ever know. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be getting the future I've dreamt of. These scars are giving me a lifetime with you, baby."