Donnie's story, part 2

"We're supposed to be divulging secret stories, right? Well, then there's more," Donnie continued. He looked at Olivia, his eyes asking her if it was okay to go on. She smiled at him.

"If you're going to continue, Donnie, I'd like to get a bit more cozy. After all, I'm a character in this story, aren't I?" she asked.

Donnie nodded. Olivia nudged Donnie into the corner of the sofa, and leaned back against him, her back along his chest. She stretched her long legs out sideways on the couch, her left leg dangling off the front. Donnie's right arm rested along the back of the couch, and his left arm wrapped around Olivia's upper body, his hand resting on her stomach. Her left arm also dangled off the edge of the couch, and she casually stroked the sides of Donnie's legs.

"After the ice cream, after a couple of times going for drinks and dinners, we started to, you know, well I started to think more about things and wondered if this might get more serious." Donnie periodically checked in with Olivia, maybe waiting to see if she would counter any part of the story. She kept rubbing his leg, showing no contrary reaction. He felt her breathing under the hand resting on her stomach. He also became more aware that his upper arm was across her breast.

"I had this summer job on a beach. I was a lifeguard, and sometimes worked at a snack shack. Wow, it just occurred to me that I had a cooking gig before you did, Liv. That's kind of funny."

Olivia smiled. "I learned everything from you."

"Right. Well, it was a great gig, nice people, and a summer on the beach."

"How come none of us were invited?" asked Isaiah.

"I didn't know you then. I didn't start playing ball until the next season, and hadn't met any of you. But that summer, I obviously knew Liv. And she came to visit."

Olivia smiled, beginning to remember more details of the visit. "I had never gone to see a boyfriend in the summer time like that before."

At the word "boyfriend," Donnie felt a flutter in his heart. He continued. "Well, Liv came to visit. I had this tiny apartment I shared with another lifeguard, but he was always at his girlfriend's place, so I was usually alone. I told Liv should could come stay with me for a few days if she wanted to."

"I wanted to."

"I picked you up at the airport. I didn't really know what to say, honestly. We had had these wonderful dates back at school, but this was different. It felt so foreign, and you seemed so different."

"Did I?" Olivia looked up at him. She brought her right arm up to the back of the sofa, and intertwined her fingers with his. He started to feel self-conscious of the hand on her stomach, so he moved it just a little bit, kind of the way she was touching his leg.

"You had a suitcase. I never saw you with a suitcase."

"I needed clothes!"

"No, I know what it's for. But I didn't know this non-school version of you. Anyway. I picked you up at the airport. I held you, kissed you, and gave you flowers. I was so happy to see you. I'll just say it, I was in love. I thought I was totally in love, and I couldn't believe that Olivia was there. It was amazing."

Joshua said, "that's sweet, Donnie. Really sweet. And who better?" He glanced at Olivia who was gazing up at Donnie's face.

"That can't be the whole story," said Henry.

Donnie smiled. "Well, no. We went back to my apartment. Olivia unpacked a little bit. It was early in the day and she wanted to go hang out at the beach. She had this mint green bathing suit, god that color was stunning on you --"

"I think you mean that I was stunning in that color?" Olivia corrected him.

Donnie laughed. "Of course. You were stunning in that color."

Olivia suddenly remembered the apartment. "There were no doors. There were no doors in that apartment, were there?"

"No," said Donnie. He smiled at her.

"When I went to change into my bikini, you --"

"No," said Donnie, stopping her. "I wasn't like that."

Olivia giggled. "It'd be okay if you were. I did look awfully good back then."

"It'd be okay if I watched you change?"

Olivia shrugged. "Sure. I think it'd have been okay."

"Well, if you're sure -- then yes, I did watch you change."

"I knew it!" she snapped back, laughing.

"Come on, Liv. Look at you! I was so crazy about you. I kind of had this fantasy at that moment that I'd watch you, and maybe you'd catch me watching you. But you'd be all cool about it, maybe even like it a little bit, and that one thing might lead to another, and ... you know."

Olivia smiled again. "I would have been cool about it. You should have said something. And for the record, one thing did lead to another."

Ben sat up. "Hold on, this story is going along like a Hallmark movie, and one thing leads to another? Get to the good stuff!"