and gives it a squeeze.
“Come let’s get going ” I smile back at him no need to alarm him; he puts his arm around me and tucks me close to his chest.
“ Oh Aria you smell so good, it is the smell of home to me” Romance is what I wear by Ralph Lauren, Ian bought this for me and said it reminded him of me, clean, fresh and innocent…hmm well any who he is Polo all the way, simple, classic and uncomplicated, he could be the model in the ad, he is so adorable, tall, dark hair, dark eyes, in high school he looked like the Karate Kid, he got teased a lot as we all called him ‘Daniel son’.
I kiss his neck and inhale , Ian is always calm, composed and sincere, I guess it’s the professor in him. Something new to have in my life, is his regard for me, he lets me know that I am without a doubt top priority on his list, he holds me close, I always feel protected and secure, sometimes I feel or sense his apprehension, it does plague me that he is afraid I will leave him, but I think that is because he knows about my past relationship, he was witness to my spiral demise as well as my lack of better judgment to even be involved in something so horrific.
At times I feel that what I went through has ruined me for other men, so for me to be engaged and moving on with a man in my life this is a total shocker, I was never the girl with dreams and aspirations of marriage, I was always the go getter girl with dreams and ambition of becoming a designer or a corporate raider Ian knows all of this we have spent years conversing over all of this but for some reason he picked me to settle down with.
Looking up at him, I don’t want him to go away; this is the first time we will be apart since we got engaged. He points at the tall sailing ship on the river going by as we wait for my car. I look out at the crowd as they gather to watch the tall ships parade by as the river traffic is filled with all sorts of traffic, it’s a great time, all the venders along the river, it’s like a huge carnival or festival with food in the streets, great bands to enjoy, it’s a good time to be in Cleveland in the summer.
The way this city has always thrown a party brings out the crowds, Ian has not been here for a while so all of this is new to him, he is like a kid when he sees the growth and the direction Cleveland has made, we have top notch restaurants, the best of the life on the lake which is boating and the islands as well as the top hospitals in the world right here in our own backyard.
I can’t hide my feeling s of anxiety over Ian leaving we have spent the past month together every single day, it’s like he is my right arm, and I know I don’t use my right arm a lot because I am a lefty but for the past month he holds my right hand, he sleeps to my right, I caress his face with my right hand and it just feels so right to have him right beside me, I don’t want him to go.
“ Aria I will be back Sunday night at 9:45pm” He holds up my chin and kisses me sweetly.
I smile and nod ok, he holds me against his chest and I take him all in. I never had a boyfriend who cares for me, respects me and watches over me, it is still going to take some getting used to, but what I love is when he holds me like now, against his chest and close to his heart, the smell of his cologne, the feel of his long arms around me we are in our own little world as we watch the world go by, we are two people frozen in time, even if it’s just for a moment, it’s the moments like this that last a lifetime, he is better than anything I have ever known.
Chapter 2
QUANDO, QUANDO,QUANDO
We walk towards the exit and Ian hands the valet his ticket. Ian holds onto the lapel of my jacket and pulls me close to him, again he has never shows affection in public or private so for him to display these emotions, his adoration for me is touching and maybe that is why I am so apprehensive about him leaving town.
“Are you gonna