I still wasn’t quite ready to get out of my chair, which I thought was miserable. I had to get pushed around everywhere because my shoulder still hurt like a bitch and Sara wouldn’t let me roll myself around because of it. I hated this stupid thing. I was stuck in a wheelchair for two more weeks. After that though, I would be fully healed. It had almost been two months. The first thing I was going to do was pin Sara against a wall and make her scream my name.
She was rolling me down the sidewalk to the park. She had convinced me to go on a walk, and I made a pretty witty joke about how it was going to be more of a roll for me, but she just rolled her eyes and told me I was going. She could be convincing when she wanted to be.
“It’s nice out today.” Sara said happily as she wheeled me down to the park.
I frowned and said, “For people who can walk, maybe. I’m miserable.” I pouted.
“You’ll be up in no time. Besides, I hear girls will do a lot of things for people they pity. Call it cancer and everyone will be falling at your feet.” Was this entrapment? Ha! Joke’s on her!
“You’re the only girl I care about falling at me feet.” I grinned and looked up at her. She was upside down, but I could still tell she was trying to hide a smile.
“Good answer.”
“I’m quick on my feet.” I joked and she just rolled her eyes.
“That’s hilarious because you’re in a wheelchair.”
It was my turn to frown. “I didn’t find that very funny.” I mumbled.
“I did.”
I stuck my tongue out at her and looked back ahead of me.
We were in the park now. It was nice here. It was cool out, and the leaves were orange and red. I always like fall. I liked the cold and the colors and sometimes there was snow. I loved it all. The park was nice because of that. It was pretty empty because of the cold, just a few older couples taking walks or feeding the birds. It was pretty easy to find somewhere that would be private where we could talk for a while.
Sara helped me out of my chair and onto the bench. She sat down next to me and I wrapped and arm around her shoulders. “It’s not so bad out here I guess.” I finally admitted.
“I knew you would like it.” She let her head rest on my shoulder and after a few minutes she said, “You worry me sometimes?”
“Why is that?” I didn’t want to worry her. I didn’t want to do anything but make her happy.
“I was a one night stand, and you were definitely well practiced in that art.” I felt my cheeks flush and I looked up at the clouds. “I never know if you’ll just grow tired and I’ll wake up one morning with a note on the bed saying ‘Goodbye So and So’ like you forgot my name.” How long had she been thinking this? No. I wouldn’t do that. I had no plans of doing that at all.
“Sara. You’re favorite color is blue, but you tell everyone it’s red because you feel like not enough people like red and you feel like people should, even if you're indifferent about it. You like red and green grapes, but you really hate Concord grapes for some reason. You like the Bruins, and you can’t name a football team to save your life. Your birthday is April 19th and you are an only child. You’re a dog person and have a dog back home. And you’re a 36 D.”
“I never told you my bra size.” Her face was red and she wouldn’t look at me.
I chuckled and said, “I’ve taken so many of them off the damn thing is practically imprinted onto my finger. Also, I have a good eye for things like that. You know, I’ve got experience there.”
“I don’t want to hear about it.” She muttered darkly.
I just shook my head and lifted her face up to look at me. “Do you believe me yet? You’re different. I’m not going to disappear before you wake up. I’m not going to forget your name. I’m not going to leave when I find someone who looks better, if that was possible.”
“You can’t fool me with your smooth talking.” She growled and I stole a kiss.
She just melted into me and soon I noticed her trying to deepen the kiss. As much as I wanted more, now wasn’t the time, so, much to both of our dismays, I pulled away. “I’m pretty sure I could, but I’m not fooling you or trying to smooth talk my way into anything. I mean it. Every word. You’re different, Sara. You’re special. You’re…you’re what I want in my life. One night stands were fun for a while, but…not now. Not anymore. Not when I have you.”
“Really?” She looked so nervous. Hell, I was nervous too. How long had it been since I felt like this? High school? No, this was different. It was scarier and more exciting and just…different. I had never felt like this. Sara really was different from everything else in my life.
“Really. And you have to remember, I was your one night stand too, how do I know you won’t leave me on a whim?” I smirked down at her playfully.
“You don’t.” She said and I just blinked a few times in shock. She laughed and dropped her head back to my shoulder and looped and arm around my waist. “I’m joking. I don’t have any plans to leave you any time soon. You’re just the thing I need in my life too.”
For now. The thought echoed horribly in my head. I closed my eyes tightly and begged for it to go away. I didn’t want to think of that. The idea that she could leave me any day scared me. I already had gone though enough with girls screwing me over, I didn’t want Sara to hurt me too.
“Devon?” Sara’s quiet voice brought me back to the real world and I looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”
“You scare me too.” I whispered.
I think she understood, because she buried her head into my shoulder and I heard her say, “Don’t worry.”
If only wishing made it so.
We sat there for a long time; the sun was starting to dip below the horizon and the sky was lit up with oranges and yellows. It was beautiful. I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather be with at that moment than Sara. I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.
How had I changed so much in such a short period of time? How had I become someone that I used to swear I’d never become? If someone had told me I would be cuddling with a girl and dating someone instead of just screwing two months ago, I would have laughed and told them to get their head checked. And here I was. With Sara. I liked her, a lot more than I would ever admit. Maybe this is what falling in love was like. I couldn’t remember. Maybe it wasn’t that I couldn’t remember though, maybe it was just something that had never happened to me.
No.
I wasn’t falling in love.
I still didn’t believe in love. I believed in tolerating people for long periods of time. I believed in the power of lust. I believed in finding things you like about people and putting up with things you hated until you couldn’t take it anymore.
But I craved Sara.
In more than lustful ways too. I craved her in all sorts of ways. I of course lusted after her, she was gorgeous and great in bed. Spectacular really. But I wanted to just be with her. I wanted to lie in bed with her head on my chest and a hand on my stomach. I wanted to read cuddled up on the couch. I wished I could dance with her at bars or clubs or wherever. I wanted her for all sorts of reasons.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice anything unusual until Sara sat up and looked around.
“What is it?” I asked, marveling at how her hair looked with the last rays of sunlight catching it just right.
“I thought I heard something.” Was all she said as she continued to look around.
And then I heard it. A whimper. It was quiet and I could barely hear it, but I did. “Check under the bush there.” I pointed, wishing I could do it myself. I didn’t know what was in there, and I didn’t want her to be in danger or anything, but with my fucking cast I couldn’t really do much. “Be careful.” I added when she stood up and walked over to the bush.
She bent down and pushed aside branches and I heard her let out a sigh. She reached around to pick something up and all I could think was Please don’t be a baby. Please don’t be a baby. Please don’t be a baby. I wasn’t sure that would ever change. I wasn’t the parent type.
When she turned around I was afraid to look, but I did anyways. I was able to let out a sigh of relief. It was a puppy. Australian Shepherd by the looks of it. He was cute, he had long white and brown fur and clear blue eyes. He was young, just a puppy, and thin. How long had it been since he was fed? He didn’t have a collar, or anything. He looked so sad as Sara brought him over.
I touched the top of his head and got a closer look at him. He was covered in fleas and other bugs. This wasn’t right. He deserved better. He was just a puppy. This was no life for any person or dog or cat this young. This was no life for someone or something without any means to change their situation.
“Sara.” I bit my lip and looked up at her. She had this sad look on her face. She looked downright miserable.
“We can’t.” She mumbled.
“We can’t leave him here.” I protested.
“We’ll…we’ll take him to the pound.” She was chewing her bottom lip.
“Sara.” I knew she didn’t want to, but I knew she didn’t think she should take him in.
“Devon, I can’t—”
“Please? You like dogs. You’ve always wanted one. Let’s do this. We can. It’s just a dog.” I wanted to add that it wasn’t a child, but I didn’t feel like bringing up kids with Sara. I wanted to wait on that for as long as I possibly could.
“Devon, I don’t know…” She fell silent and looked down at the puppy in her arms. He was looking up at her with his sad blue eyes.
“Sara,” I lifted my hand to her cheek and she looked back at me. “we can do this. It’s a puppy, a lonely, cold, hungry puppy. It’s just a puppy.”
She nodded. “Okay. We can try."
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Kind of short, I know, but I hope you liked it anyways. I just found out exactly what I want to happen in the last chapter. It. Will. Be. Perfect. I'm excited. It may even qualify a sequal. Maybe. Depends on how many people want one. We've got a bit to go though, so hold onto your hats. We've got exs, brothers, puppies, love, pain, bad decisions, and leaps of faith, and who knows what else?