The Space Between Us(46)
“Bit, we’re here.” I heard his voice as I felt him gently shaking me awake. I fluttered my eyes open and felt my lung expand, filling with the frigid air around me as I sucked in a surprised breath.
We were in a small clearing, surrounded by trees with white twinkle lights dangling from the limbs above. In the center of the clearing, was a swing set. Just a small one with two swings that you could buy at almost any store, but a swing set none the less. A few feet from the swings was a tall propane warmer and I could see the heat radiating off of it. The last thing I noticed was a cooler.
“Let’s go play,” Asher said, climbing down from the carriage, holding a hand out for me to join him.
“How did you get a swing set out here?” I asked, baffled at how much effort must have gone into this surprise. I stepped off the wooden step and he held me tight until I was safely on the ground, our chests pressed together.
“Mountains, Bit. Mountains.” He took my hand and tugged me towards the swing set and I heard the carriage begin to move.
“Where are Stan and Utopia going?”
“They’ll be back. I wanted you alone for a little while.” His words sent shivers all over my body.
“Ok,” I stammered. I wondered to myself how long he would be able to affect me this way. Would his suggestive voice and words ever lose their effect? I hoped not. He led me to the swings and turned me around letting me sit down. The chains were cold and I immediately wished I had brought gloves. I pulled the sleeves of my coat down over my hands and used the fabric to shield my hands from the freezing metal of the chain links. I watched as he walked over to the cooler and brought out a giant metal thermos. He poured steaming liquid into two small mugs that also appeared out of the cooler, brought one over to me, and I was enveloped by the sweet scent of chocolate.
“You brought cocoa?” I asked, smiling and excitedly taking the cup, willing it to warm up my hands.
“Well, I orchestrated the cocoa to be here for us. Long story,” he answered, dismissively. I didn’t care where it came from. I was just glad it was there. I took a tentative sip, not wanting to scald my tongue, but found it to be the perfect sipping temperature. Asher brought a cup with him over to the swings and sat down on the empty seat next to me. I used one hand to pull on the chain of his swing, bringing him close to me, and placed a kiss on his cheek. “This is so wonderful, Asher. I’m not sure how you pulled it all off, but it is amazing.” I brought him closer still and kissed his lips gently, tasting the hint of chocolate left there by both of us.
“You didn’t think I’d let Christmas go by without getting you a gift, did you?”
I shrugged. “You don’t need to get me anything; you know that. But this is perfect. Thank you.”
“What? This?” He motioned around with a hand to our surroundings. “This isn’t your gift. This is simply the setting for the gift,’ he said matter-of-factly. “Bit, how long have we been together?” He asked me, surprising me with the change of direction.
“Uh, officially, I guess we’ve been together for about four years now.”
“No, I mean, how long have we been together?” He asked again, as if the distinction was clear.
“Since we were fifteen,” I answered, still unclear how the two answers were any different.
“Charlie,” he said with a little more gruffness to his voice. He grabbed the chain of my swing and pulled me closer to him so that our faces were just inches apart. I could see our breaths condensing as we both exhaled, the fog we created mingling together. “How long have you belonged to me?” I felt my stomach hollow out and I tried to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat.
“Forever,” I whispered, my eyes darting down to his lips.
“Exactly,” he whispered back. “And that’s also how long I’ve belonged to you, Bit.” That was something that was undeniable to either of us. The possession we felt towards one another was limitless and all-encompassing. Not only did we belong to each other but, in the end, we were one. Sure, in years to come there would be plenty of time to tie ourselves to one another in more traditional ways, but as far as we were concerned, there was not one part of me that was not tethered to him. Where I ended, he began. I never felt truly alone because I always had him.
“So,” he continued, letting go of my swing, sending me swaying back and forth. “Although there’s nothing in the universe that could keep me from making you my wife eventually,” he said as he started reaching into his pants pocket. My heart rate skyrocketed and my mouth was immediately dry. “I know we’re not ready for that step quite yet. But I don’t want there to be any confusion.” He pulled out a little black velvet box and held his hand out, palm up, presenting it to me.
“Asher…” I squeaked out, unsure of what I should say next.
“Don’t worry. It’s not an engagement ring,” he said with a smile. I let out a small breath, the relief coursing through my veins. I was not, at nearly nineteen years old, ready to be engaged. “But it is a promise ring.” My eyes darted back and forth between the ring box and his eyes, which were lit up with the most charming smile.
“A promise ring?”
“Yeah.” He pulled his hand back and opened up the box. I focused on his eyes, trying to figure out what he was doing giving me a ring. I felt him pick up my left hand and slide the ring on my finger, but I still couldn’t look down. When his eyes met mine I found a little comfort in the familiar gray pools. “Do you have any doubts about us?” His question caught me off guard.