Willow's Struggle

Picnic With Evan

    I woke up the next morning to a light breeze blowing on my ear.  Half asleep and thinking I was alone, I rolled to my side as I groaned then mumbled, "Why is the window open?"

    Suddenly I heard a chuckle followed by a voice huskily saying, "The window isn't open, kitten."

    I immediately sat straight up while frantically looking around.  When my eyes landed on Evan, I skeptically asked, "What are you doing here?"

    He laughed then said, "Don't you remember?  You invited me in, then we fell asleep while cuddling."

    I thought about it for a minute, then remembered us cuddling before I feel asleep.  Instantly my cheeks turned a bright red as I mumbled, "Sorry, I'm not awake yet and you startled me."

    He laughed then pulled me back down on the bed so that I was laying with my head on his bare chest. I thought about sitting right back up, then decided what the hell, it's not like I have to get up and go to work today.  Savannah had agreed to give me Saturdays off since I was preforming on Friday nights.

    While he played with my hair, I ran my fingers up and down his abs.  "I could get used to waking up like this," he lazily said.

    "As much as I hate to admit it, I could, too," I replied back to him.

    After a few minutes, he moved his hand from my hair to my side and lightly ran his fingers up and down my side.  Without even thinking about it, I started playing with the soft hairs of his happy trail.  A second later he smacked my ass then he huskily said, "I wouldn't go any lower unless you are trying to get something started."

    I giggled, then continued to play with those soft and tempting little hairs.  He went back to rubbing my side, but slowly worked his hand down over my ass and gave it a squeeze.  As if on instinct, I swung one of my legs over him.   As soon as I trailed my hand down his hip and leg, he rolled me to my back, then hovered over me for just a second before he smashed his lips on top of mine.  I responded and let him kiss me for a few minutes before I shoved him off of me and jumped off the bed.

    "Well, I was not expecting that," he said as he laid his head back on the pillow.  

    "Sorry, but it's going to be a while before I give that part of me to you again," I deadpanned in all seriousness.

    "Fair enough, but try not to tease me too much. Okay, kitten?" he asked.

    "I will try not to," I said as I smirked at him mischievously, then I gave him a wink and ran down to my kitchen.

    It was nearly five minutes before he joined me in the kitchen.  I had already poured myself a glass of orange juice and made myself a bowl of cereal.  When he walked in I smirked at him again then said, "It took you long enough."

    He sighed and rolled his eyes, then said, "Sorry, kitten, but you kind of left me in a predicament up there."

    I giggled then turned back to my cereal and continued to eat.  I was standing at the island while I ate and it wasn't long before he was standing behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.  I tried to shrug him off of me, but he just chuckled then nipped at my earlobe.  This earned him a hard jab from my elbow into his rib cage.  He gasped and immediately let go of my waist.  

    I spun around to see his face and burst into a fit of laughter.  He had one hand gripping the counter, while he was bent forward holding his rib cage and groaning in pain.  I know I should have felt bad, but instead all I could think was, that serves him right for f*****g with me when it was obvious I wanted to be left alone right at that moment.

    He snapped his head in my direction and glared at me for a second before he started laughing with me.  When we stopped laughing, I asked, "Did you learn a lesson?"

    He smirked as he said, "Of course not."

    I shook my head at him then went back to finishing my cereal.  I offered him a bowl of cereal but he declined claiming to not be hungry.  As I rinsed my dishes and put them in the dishwasher, he cleared his throat and asked, "What are your plans for today?"

    "I hadn't made any definite plans.  Why?" I responded nonchalantly.

    "I was wondering if you would be up for me taking you another date tonight?" he asked as he flashed me a boyish smile.

    "Hum...I wouldn't be against it," I responded.

    "So, is that a yes?" he asked looking at me hopefully.

    "Yes, what time should I be ready?" I asked in return.

    "I will pick you up at five this time," he said with determination.

    "Okay sounds good," I said then walked to the living room and sat on the couch.  

    He followed me to the living room then said, "I have some things I need to take care of before our date.  I will be back by five."

    "Alright, I will see you then," I replied a little surprised by his decision to suddenly leave.

    He leaned down and kissed my cheek, lingering for a few seconds, then he left and I was by myself.  I decided to go through my music and pick the songs for my next gig.  I have a lot of songs, so I spent about an hour debating, but finally settled on four country songs, one reggae song, and one rock song.  

    After lunch, I took a long bath letting the hot water sooth my aching muscles.  I wrapped a towel around me so that I could add styling gel to my curly hair before it got too dry.  When I was satisfied with the way it looked, I rummaged through my closet.  After about ten minutes, I settled on a black pencil skirt and a light pink blouse.  I applied a light pink eyeshadow and lipstick and called my make-up good.  After grabbing my purse and heels, I went back downstairs and sat on the couch while I waited for Evan.

    After I heard him knock, I stood up, feeling a wave of excitement hit me, I took a deep breath, then walked out the door.  I turned around to lock the door and out of the corner of my eye I could see Evan smirk as he eyed me from head to toe.  I turned to face him as I said, "I know, this body is sizzling."  I walked to his car leaving him standing behind me with his mouth wide open in surprise.

    When I reached his car and realized he was still standing on the porch staring at me dumbfounded, I leaned against the car and asked, "Are you coming or what?"

    He shook his head like he was shaking water or something off, then grinned as he sprinted to his car.  By the time he got to me, I was already closing the passenger door so he went straight to the driver's side and hopped in.  He quickly started the car and back out of the driveway.

    He took us to the same park but instead of leading me to the bench we had sat at previously, he walked us down a trail.  We walked for almost ten minutes before we came out in a field.  Immediately I noticed a picnic table set up with tableware and what looked to be a picnic basket.  As he held my hand, he pulled me with him toward the picnic table.  When we got to it, he cheerfully said, "I brought you here for dinner.  Please have a seat."

    I did as he suggested and watched him pull out five different containers from the picnic basket.  As he pulled the lids off of them, I noticed they contained cucumber slices, strawberries, cheese cubes, brownies, and a few sandwiches.  When he was done setting everything out, he sat across from me and smiled as he said, "Make you a plate."

    He didn't have to tell me twice, I immediately filled a plate up and started enjoying the delicious food.  The sandwich was a classic peanut butter with grape jelly and I was delighted to eat it.  I love pb&j sandwiches.  When we were finished eating, he pulled a little box out of the picnic basket and handed it to me as he said, "I got you a little something."

    I looked at him skeptically then opened the box.  Instantly I gasped as I stared at a beautiful gold bracelet.  When I pulled it out of the box, I noticed on the outside 'I love you' was inscribed on it.  On the inside 'Evan + Willow' was inscribed.  There was no stopping the ear to ear grin that formed on my face.  Evan chuckled then asked, "Is it safe to assume that you like it?"

    I stood up and walked over to him.  As soon as I got close her enough, he wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him.  As I hugged him back as I said, "I don't just like it, I love it.  Thank you Evan, it is beautiful."

    "You are most welcome, kitten," he said sincerely.

    After a few minutes of hugging each other, I pulled away and sat back down.  I held the bracelet and my wrist out to him and he immediately knew what I wanted him to do.  I took the bracelet and secured it onto my wrist.  When he was finished, he continued to hold my hand while I gazed down at the bracelet that was now decorating my wrist.  

    After a few more seconds, I looked him in the eye as I said, "You didn't have to get me anything.  That is not what I expected nor is it what I meant when I said you have to prove to me that you have changed."

    "I know, but I saw it and I wanted you to have it, so I got it for you," he said nonchalantly as he shrugged but continued to smile at my lovingly.

    "So what now?" I asked out of curiosity. 

    "Whatever you want," he said as he winked.

    "I want to watch the sunset, then go home because I have an early shift tomorrow," I admitted.

    "Okay, we can do that," he replied as he started putting all of the containers and dishes back into the picnic basket.  When he was finished he hooked one arm through the basket and his other with mine as he led me back to his car.  He put the picnic basket in his trunk, then we walked back to the bench at the pond.      

    As we watched the sun set, Evan asked, "Would you mind if I stayed with you more often at night?"

    "I don't know to be honest," I responded.  After a few seconds I continued, "I really enjoyed waking up with you this morning, but I don't want to get used to this and then you f**k everything up again."

    "I understand where you are coming from and I promise, you can trust me," he declared then pulled me to him and hugged me tight.

    "Tell you what.  You can come back to my house tonight and hang out for a while.  We will see what happens from there," I responded earning another squeeze from him as he continued to hug me.