Chapter Forty

C hapter Forty

A ndy

S ince she first let me take her hand at the airport I hadn't stopped touching her. I could not, for the life of me, detach myself out of fear she would disappear before my very eyes. Pushing two suitcases with one hand was not an easy feat though, so when Graham came to help, I was thankful. Otherwise, leaving one behind seemed like the only plausible option.

"Good morning, Andy. Ms. Frost, it's nice to see you again." He looked down at the suitcases, smirking. "Are we adding a name to the building?" He questioned cheekily and I raised my brows, pressing my lips together tightly to withhold my smile.

"Graham, it's lovely to see you again too. And no – just here for a visit." He looked down to her bags again as the lift doors opened and then raised a brow at me.

"Yes, Graham, add her name." I affirmed as he hit the button to close the doors.

"What, no!" Arna protested but the lift closed before she could say anything further. She turned, her face blank and I shrugged before pulling her into me and kissing her deeply until the doors opened again at the penthouse.

"Mmmmhmmm." I mumbled against her mouth. "You said you have no apartment, so you'll stay with me now."

"Andy, I can't just move in with you. I need to call Greg. Shit. I need to call Greg. And Dad and Queeny." She whined in protest and I chuckled as we wheeled the suitcases into my apartment.

"Baby, relax. Flick has already called and explained everything to him. He said something about the same position in Sydney now that the scumbag has gone." I clenched my teeth at the mere thought of that fucker she used to call a boss. I did my best not to think about him and all he had done to sabotage both Arna and I.

"What?" She squealed before spinning around and dropping onto my lounge. "How the hell did all of this happen?"

"Let me put these away and make us a drink so I can explain. Coffee or wine?" I asked, ensuring I never again assumed when it came to the beautiful woman sitting on my couch.

"Coffee, please." She answered, although it was muffled under her arm which was thrown over her face. I still couldn't believe she was here with me while the bottles of scotch I'd been using to comfort my pathetic existence for the last week, still lay empty in my bin. Those nights were the longest and loneliest of my life. Sleep proved difficult and I spent as many hours as I could at the ground, because it made for some small distraction from the emptiness of my world without her. I gave plenty of time to dissecting how less than a year ago, I walked the same streets as her with no idea she was my other half. And it was only now she was here, willing to listen and possibly give me another chance, that my world felt as though it was righting itself.

I flicked the espresso machine on and connected my phone to the internal speakers selecting an instrumental of a classic song by The Cranberries. I tried to fill the empty space over the last week with music and even that fell short.

I popped my head around the corner to double check I hadn't imagined the previous few hours, but with a sigh of pure relief I saw she was still there. Grabbing the two warm drinks, I headed out, still not entirely believing my luck.

"So, I was thinking we could have a barbeque tonight. And we could –" I paused, smiling at a very much asleep Arna. Placing both of our coffees on the table in front of the lounge, I grabbed a blanket and draped it over her before bending down and gently kissing her forehead. The subtle, refreshing and wholesome scent of oranges permeated the air around her, and unable to be away from her for too long, I squeezed in close, sitting at the end next to her feet.

I watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and the lack of colour in her skin. I'd done that to her. Me and my fucking stubborn ways. And even after everything I put her through, she was here, comfortable enough to sleep so easily. I was a lucky, lucky bastard and while everything screamed I didn't deserve her or this second chance, once I could muster the strength to move away from her, I was going to use the time to show her just how lucky I knew I was.

I threw a couple of steaks on the barbeque, delighting in the design of the outdoor kitchen which allowed a perfect view of the spa while I grilled. As the meat sizzled, I was captivated by the sight of Arna, bathed in the glow of the lights of the jacuzzi and the few candles she carefully placed around the edges. She exuded an aura of serenity in the way her delicate features were relaxed, her eyes closed as she luxuriated in the bubbling water. Christ, my balcony never looked so good.

It was fairly late to be cooking dinner but like yesterday, the day had flown by. We spent most of yesterday unpacking her belongings, after she eventually woke from her nap, and then spent the evening on the lounge watching The Fifty Shades Trilogy. I chuckled to myself at the memory of Arna telling me my punishment for allowing us to waste time by being apart, was to watch the three films in their entirety and then go to sleep with no expectations of seeing Barbara.

She was still upset with me yesterday apparently which again made me smile. Bloody Barbara.

I didn't tell her how she reached for me in her sleep or how she softly spoke my name in the darkest depths of the night. That was only going to piss my woman off more, and if there was one thing I knew, it was that she held a fire second to none.

Now, the play of light and shadows danced across her skin, highlighting the graceful curve of her neck and the gentle slope of shoulders. I knew, while she appeared to be wearing nothing, she wore a strapless black bikini which I wanted to tear from her body, but I wasn't going to push her for anything more than her presence – until she was ready. I was mesmerised by the way she surrendered to the sensation of the spa and longed to envelop myself in the warmth of the water. Anything to be in the vicinity of all that she was.

I flipped the meat and grabbed two drinks from the mini fridge adjacent to the barbeque before walking over to her. She sighed contentedly, appearing unaware that I was near, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. She really was everything to me and I'd very nearly let her go. A thought which was as jarring as a cold shower in the dead of winter. Right now, she radiated bliss, a vision of tranquillity stirring only when the glass touched the corner near where she rested. Her face lolled to the side and she lazily grinned up at me.

"Thank you." She said and I leant down to kiss her briefly, surprised when I felt her wet hands reach around my shoulders, deepening our connection. I inhaled sharply as I gripped the edge of the spa feeling myself harden under her touch. I was desperate to jump in, clothes and all, dinner be damned. But I knew she still wasn't quite there, so I pulled back, placing a couple of kisses against her lips as I headed over to make sure I didn't burn the food.

"It's almost ready, babe." I said as she reached for the drink and took a slow sip.

"Okay, okay. I'm getting out." She replied, standing and stepping out of the spa, making it near impossible to concentrate on cooking.

"Christ, you should come with a warning." I mumbled as I took the steaks and placed them in the tray to rest before we ate. One of my favourite things about her was that she clearly had no idea how bloody gorgeous she was and I continued to ogle her from behind the barbeque. She walked towards me, tying the towel tight around her body. Winter was definitely here and getting out of the warmth of the hot tub into the crisp air was not for the faint hearted.

"Andy?" She questioned as she came and stood next to me, her arm moving around my waist.

"Yes?" I answered, wondering if she was going to ask to watch another movie of her choosing to further punish me.

"You know how you said you love me?"

"Mmmm." I answered, unsure on where this was going.

"Would you still love me if I started collecting garden gnomes and then placed them around your apartment?" Her face was both sincere and curious and my entire body shook with unexpected laughter.

"Woman, I have no words for you."

"So, you would?" She asked curiously.

"Please do not fill my house with gnomes. But yes." I said, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose before reaching for our dinner. "Come on, let's get you inside where it's warm and there are hopefully no gnomes waiting for us."

After dinner we moved over to the lounge and Arna chose another movie designed to inflict maximum pain, but I didn't care. Not now that she was home.

I snuggled her into my lap and wedged my face into her neck kissing her skin. She giggled, swatting me away as she reached for the bowl of popcorn she insisted I make for her.

"Can you watch anything without popcorn and red liquorice?" I asked.

"Yes. But why would I?" She grabbed a few pieces of popcorn with some weird contraption attached to her hand and I reached for her wrist, pulling it up so I could study her fingers.

"Arns," I did my best to contain my mirth – and judgement. "Um, respectfully, what the fuck are these?"

She looked appalled, as if she suddenly saw me in a new light which made me press my lips firmly together to stop the laugh that was desperate to escape.

"Firstly, how dare you! Secondly, how dare you! Thirdly, they're frongs." She snapped her frongs in my face before she took another piece of popcorn from the bowl which now sat on my lap.

"And what exactly are frongs?" I asked.

"Frongs are the new black, Ando . They can be used for alllll kinds of small things." She raised her eyebrow and she had sarcasm written all over her as she gazed down at my crotch before again snapping the frongs at me.

Ignoring the mess I would have to clean later, I threw the bowl from my lap and pushed her down onto the lounge as she squealed with delight, the damn frongs still snapping at my face. Reaching for her wrists again, I put her hands, mini-weird tongs still attached, above her head and kissed her deeply. The little tapping sounds she was making ebbed away as she sunk into the lounge, moaning against my mouth. Pulling back, I looked at her sassy little face which now held a huge grin.

"You think you're funny?" I said as I gently bit her bottom lip.

She nodded, that big, beautiful grin still firmly planted across her face.

"I think your memory needs a little refresher." I said as I kissed down her neck, my hand still holding her firmly in place. She hummed, pushing her hips up into mine, making my cock twitch.

Arna groaned long and deep as she wrapped her legs around me and sunk further into the lounge, surrendering herself in the way I missed so fucking much and stupidly came close to giving up.

Like a goddamn fool.

I loosened my grip on her arms and snaked my way down her body, leaving a trail of kisses and gentle squeezes. I sat up, marvelling at the goddess who lay before me, reaching down to press her shirt up and over her stomach as Arna's eyes lazily opened.

Just as I was about to explore her, my intercom intrusively buzzed. "Oh, fuck right off." I mumbled into her skin. "Hold on."

Picking up the phone I greeted Graham, before inwardly cursing all that was holy. Turning to Arna who was looking at me expectantly, cute as a fucking thirsty little bunny, I rolled my eyes.

"So, ummmmm, how do you feel about dinner – with my parents?"

"Hey, you." Arna's sleepy voice made me smile as she walked towards where I was currently lying in the afternoon sun.

"Hey, sleepy head, come lay with me." I shuffled over and when she curled herself into my side, I let out a sigh, again admiring the feeling of peace she brought forth. Heading into the stadium this morning for a few hours was far too long to be away from her but I was pleased to find her still sleeping when I returned.

"Sorry. I haven't really slept much over the last week and your bed is just so bloody comfortable. Maybe even more so than this chest." Her words were muffled as she rested against me and I laughed at how despite everything, including another unexpected dinner with my parents, she still had her sense of humour. "What are you thinking about sitting here all by yourself?"

"I was thinking, when I retire I want to run a training camp for kids who want to play professionally." I answered honestly.

"Huh! That is both unexpected and amazing." She said before adjusting herself to sit up against the sun lounger. "Tell me more things." She squinted at me as the sunbathed the balcony and I moved to shield her face from the bright rays.

"You know, I've never told anyone that. It's been my dream for a while but I was always worried people only asked about me so they could say they knew me. I was always just a means to show off to someone else." I huffed.

"Honestly, you're bloody lucky you met me, plus I come with all of this." She said as she gesticulated up and down her body. I barked a laugh and she smiled, the amusement lighting up her entire face.

I moved to face her, swinging my legs to rest on the ground next to the seat.

"Can't disagree with you. If you were a vegetable, you'd be a cute-cumber." Arna closed her eyes and cackled. I watched in awe, ready to hear that sound every second of every day.

"Shit. Honestly, you duck to the clubhouse for the first time in three days and return with the worst love declarations in history? I thought you were meant to be the Hearts ?"

I reached for her hand and smiled, again adjusting my head to block the sun from her eyes.

"Okay, fine. Let me try another one?"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, but this is your last chance or you retire from all love declarations. Deal?"

"Deal." I grinned, knowing this one was going to be my best yet. "But no more games. No more dares, okay, only truths."

"Finally," She joked.

"My truth is, I can't imagine or bear a life without you. You're strong-minded, ambitious and above all else, you are fucking kind. I was a dumbarse to think you were anything else and I'm sorry it took me so long to realise. I don't think I appreciated you enough even before, but now that you're back here, in our space, with your loud laugh and bright demeanour – I can see everything so much clearer.

"One of my favourite quotes is by a man named Roger Bannister. An English bloke who was the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes. Anyway, he said, ‘ the man who can drive himself further once the effort becomes painful, is the man who will win '. And it really makes perfect sense, so in every situation I have always done my best to live by that motto. Whatever the circumstance, it has nothing to do with the odds stacked against you but how hard you push and the opportunities you make for yourself. And I won't ever let another chance pass again, especially when it comes to you."

I stood and came around to the other side of the chair holding my hand out for her. Taking her hand in mine I motioned with my head for her to follow me into the living room.

"Do you remember our first kiss?" I asked once we were inside and Arna stepped towards me, pressing her lips to mine.

"Mmhmm." She said, her mouth firmly planted against my own. "It was right here."

"Yes, it was. And I can't walk into this room without thinking about you. About the way I thought I was finally going to taste you. And it was going to be soft and sweet but before I knew it, your hands were in my hair and I could barely believe I had waited so long." I kissed her again, getting a little lost, before I remembered my end goal as I stepped back, reached into my pocket and dropped to one knee.

Arna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as I opened my palm to the ring Jay designed. The perfect ring, just as she deserved.

"Oh my god. I take it back. Your love declarations are everything." She squeaked, her eyes shining and I did my best to stop my own tears from leaking.

"Arnabelle, my love, you've been the editor of my heart since the minute I met you." She giggled and I grinned up at her. "You've polished every chapter we've shared and it took me far too long to realise how much better my story is with you in it. And now, I won't miss an opportunity. I will never take you for granted." I paused, squeezing her hand. "And so, I'm asking you, if you will continue to edit our lives together, one pun at a time. As my wife?"

She burst into laughter, tears of what I hoped were joy, falling freely as she gave me her answer, repairing any of the cracks which were still left in my heart, with a resounding, "YES!"