Free Fight 2 by M Dauphin

hoping that we make it in time, but not complaining.
    “It’s a surprise,” I say as I turn and grin at her, her eyes curiously scanning the people and buildings around us.
    Turning the corner I breathe a sigh of relief that we are early, so I walk us over to a stand to grab a hot chocolate for us to share and find a bench to sit down on. We sit in silence, watching the people moving around us. A comfortable feeling comes over me, enjoying how easy it is being with her.
    “Watch over there,” I say as I nod my head towards the Bellagio fountains.
    The lights start dancing, the water flows from the ground, and the music starts playing. I watch Red, in awe of her pure beauty and innocence as she takes in the show. I never thought I would have someone like her, I didn’t think I wanted it. My entire life was built around not finding someone like her, and I’m glad I did it, because had I not built those rules for myself I would have never found her when I did. I would have never known how happy I could be with someone. I would have never fallen in love.
    “This place is so magical,” she whispers, still watching the show. “It’s beautiful, Eddie. Thank you.” She moves in and kisses me. I smile and kiss her back, tasting the sweet chocolate on her lips.
    “I wanted to show you something amazing before we left.”
    “Oh, Eddie, it’s breathtaking. Who would have thought of you as being a romantic?” She smiles, her eyes twinkling, then turns again to watch the show and the water dances and sways to the music.
    The lights on the Eiffel tower are twinkling in the background and the show is slowing to an end. My heart is hammering in my chest, waiting for the show to be over so she can focus back on me. I have to tell her. It’s not like me to get nervous, but this is new to me. This feeling is so foreign, I don’t want to fuck anything up. I practically told her in no certain words last night, but when she whispered those words to me after she thought I fell asleep I had to stop myself from kissing her senseless. I don’t know why it matters, she thought I was sleeping, but I have felt like an ass all day without having told her back.
    Finally she turns to me, smiling. Her face is lit up by the surrounding lights, she rests her hand on mine, and smiles the brightest smile ever. She’s so beautiful, and she doesn’t know it. I try and picture her as the blonde hair, preppy girl from the pictures, but this is the only personality that fits my Red. Suddenly I’m thankful for all of the tragedy in our lives, because we wouldn’t be here, we wouldn’t have each other, without it.
    “Thank you, Eddie,” she whispers.
    “I can’t imagine anyone I would have rather spent it with. I know we just met less than a month ago, and before you, I never wanted anything to do with a relationship, but now... fuck, now I want it all, Red. And I want it with you. I love you, Red.”

Chapter 10
    Gwynn
    His hazel eyes match mine, his smile is hesitant, waiting for me to respond.
    I need to respond.
    “I love you, too, Eddie,” I finally manage to whisper through the tears that are threatening, causing a knot in my throat.
    I watch him visibly relax and sigh. He shakes his head, as if he can’t believe any of this. I can’t believe this, so I find it hard that he’s used to the idea of finding the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and knowing it’s them one hundred percent, no questions asked, within a few weeks.
    From the time he stormed into my life that night at the bar, when he stopped me from beating the shit out of Jase’s girlfriend, Eddie has captured all of my attention. No longer do I need to fight to feel the stress release. No longer do I crave the infinite amount of pain that tattoos bring to forget about the pain in my chest, because I don’t feel that pain anymore. All I feel is warmth. Warmth for the man that I’ve fallen head over heels in love with. Sure, I think about my dad