Only for the Week

by Natasha Bishop

“Do you make it a habit to sacrifice things that make you happy for others’ comfort?”

I just think sometimes we lose ourselves in our compromises and forget that ‘no’ is a full sentence.”

“Are you gonna watch the plane land?” My lips split into a wide grin. “I sure am. There’s a method to my madness. I always watch the takeoff from home and the landing at my destination, but not vice versa.” “Because the landing at your destination means you’ve reached your safe haven away from whatever plagues you at home. Takeoff from your vacation spot symbolizes the end of peace and landing at home means watching your problems take center stage again.”

If it were me, I’d never dare to occupy the throne while my wife-to-be sits in the number two position. She’d sit on the throne while I guard her back. I shake the thought away. Not my business.

“What’s your favorite drink?” I take a moment to study her, gliding my gaze down her form, lingering a second too long on those God damn waist beads, and then back to her face. “I haven’t had it yet.”

Resisting Janelle is like resisting the urge to breathe. It tears you apart from the inside out until there's only fragments of you left. Quite frankly, I’m tired of trying.

Can’t I have the freedom to just…be? To love myself enough to be comfortable in my own company?

“You have this energy about you that puts people on high alert. When you walk in a room, everyone knows they’re in the presence of greatness and for some, that can be overwhelming.” “Does it overwhelm you?” She asks, tilting her head further. “Not at all. I’m just happy to exist in your orbit.”

Then give me one week. One week so we can go into wedding week with a little less weight on our shoulders.”

“If that’s what you want to call it. Be selfish with me. Give me all your yes’s this week and I promise I’ll take care of them. And you.”

To be honest, I know one week with her isn’t going to be enough time. Now that I’ve had a taste of her, I’m insatiable. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll be able to be around her next week and not want to fall into her warmth.

I take my finger, still coated in her release and dip it in my drink, stirring it around. Her eyes widen at the sight and when I hold my glass up to her and wink, her jaw goes slack. The taste of her is exactly what this drink was missing.

“You…you rented an entire yacht…just so I could read by the water?” He holds up the tote bag he packed for me and hands it over so I can see my Kindle and both paperbacks I packed resting comfortably inside. “I did. You ready?”

Me: No it’s me telling you plainly I’ll get you whatever you want and need whenever you want and need it

“Sometimes the people who are supposed to love you the most are the ones who hurt you the worst. They don’t get a pass just because they’re family. Choose yourself.”

Once we dip below the surface, I am bombarded by the beauty of this underwater world. When surrounded by the expanse of the sea, you realize just how small you really are.