Defying Him

Chapter Three: Flow Course

Myles drives a Mclaren. The flat road made the drive smooth and the view outside was nice. Today is my first time trip around the town since I came here. And there I was thinking the beach was amusing. You should see the buildings and the climate here.

"If you travel often, then how is it do you maintain your house?" I asked, since the quiet was getting awkward and I want to hear him speak, provided he had this husky and smokiest voice that he managed the volume softly and calmly.

"I always lock it and leave." He smiled, but he didn't look over at me. I want him to notice me so badly that I rearrange my sitting position, leaning against the door while I face him completely. Don't get me wrong, I like the view outside, but I am in love with the view in this small space.

"Where do you train?" I asked again.

He glances at me this time with a tender smile tugging at his lips, which gives emphasis to a couple of dimples in the space above his lips. "Today is cardio workout and training, which I missed. So we are going to the gym."

"Your team has a gym?"

"I think is necessary." His eyes thinned.

"But it shouldn't be necessary if you have a gym at home. Brayden does."

He chuckles compassionately and glances over again. "As a team, we need to stick together."

"That makes sense. It's called a team for that specific reason, I guess." I chuckle at the algorithm and he smiles while his eyes are on the road. He was steering the wheel with a single hand. It was a turn-on.

He drives so effortlessly, leaning his body comfortably, his other leg resting on the seat. His free hand frequently rubs the back of his outstretched muscular neck, and every time he angles his head, my eyes get stuck on his sharp jaw. Which throws jealousy upon me recognizing I would never get to know how strong those jaws would feel under my touch.

"You and Autumn." I blurted unexpectedly, surprising myself as well.

He tilts briefly with a dazed expression, furrowed brows, and then concentrates back on the road. "What about us?"

Don't humiliate yourself, a voice warned me in the back of my head. So I thought of the easiest way to navigate this subject. When it rushes into my head, I ask, "When did you two meet?"

"Probably two weeks back or one." He casually answered, still focusing on the road.

I didn't have to turn over and look at him as I should, given I am is surprised since in this circumstance, I am already finding it hard to stop gawking and I know he is aware of the inappropriateness of my attitude, but it isn't affecting him somehow. Probably because he must be used to coming across awkward fan girls like me. However, my mouth drops instantly as he admitted to being serious with a neutral face. Like what he said was normal.

"You're kidding right?"

He laughs when I gasp. It was too charming; it became music to my ears.

"It was three weeks, I guess." He assured. Nodding to himself as though he deserves a trophy for remembering when he met his fiancee.

He has to be kidding, though. He probably wants to get some reaction from me.

"Stop messing with me," I whined.

He glances over, deadpan for a nanosecond. "No, I am serious." And I froze.

"You can't marry someone you met for that short period."

"And why is that?" He questioned when the car stops.

Have we arrived at our destination? I look forward through the windshield. We are in traffic.

Perfect.

When I avert my eyes back to him, he is staring at me, his fingers scratching his chin. The urge to do it for him was too tormenting. I scratch my thigh instead.

"Why shouldn't I marry Autumn?" He raised back the question, and I think my breathing stops.

I wonder if it is me, or did the time actually stop when our eyes met?

His perfectly conscious eyes are unblinking. They are gemlike emerald, sparkling and changeable at some point while I got lost in their bottomless beauty.

"Because it's a life commitment. You shouldn't just jump into it without being sure."

"Time doesn't matter when you want something. We just fool ourselves that we need it. I can marry you now and love you for the rest of the time." He didn't even flinch while he delivered those heavy words when, on the other hand, I am struck by them, and my entire system immobilizes. I've never been grateful for the green light sign of the traffic as I am at this moment when impatience drivers began blasting their horns behind us and Myles had to divert his breathtaking stare away from me. That way, I find air in my lungs again.

It was then, when I can breathe again, that I put together his statement. He meant he is going to love Autumn forever. An ache built up in my chest at the harm of the thought. I switch back to a proper sitting position and stare into the distance, blinking away the tears.

For the rest of the drive, I remain quiet, pondering on how much I can take before I break, having to watch someone I love with another woman.

After he parked, he taps my shoulder, and I felt the spark run through me but, sadly, he feels nothing.

"We are here." He announced when I dart my eyes at him.

"Okay."

Upon arrival, I immediately put together that this place isn't a gymnasium.

"You train here?" I gaped at the vast park with a beach at a distance.

He spins and walks backward, facing me. "No, it's your first time out of the condo. You deserve some memories. Let's create some for you."

I am astonished by the unexpected change of plans. I exhale a shocking laugh and follow with a head ready to explode when he grabs my hand.

Ohmygoal. He grabbed my hand.

We head for the skatepark where young people and adults were enjoying intense rides. I had never skated, so I didn't know how to maintain my stance on a moving board. Back home, the boys who skated at school were those constantly reaping detention hours, and that is somewhere I've never been to. So I ruled out skating as a bad thing to do until now when Myles rents a board from some teenage boys that suddenly recognized him and ask for a photo.

"I will hold it." I offered, and take the board from the boys, but Myles collected it back and hold it to his chest while the boys poses around him for the pictures.

One of the little boys told Myles that he wants to be a basketball player, but he can barely aim at a hoop.

"I think you just need more practice and devotion. I used to skate often in middle school, I didn't know how to handle a ball, but I advance to high school and find it compulsory. It was wrestling or basketball, and there was no way I was going into fighting. So instead, I sign up for basketball and intimidate the intimidating seniors just when I was a freshman."

The boys were all in awe at the story as I was.

Watching Myles with fans, mostly these young boys, was a beautiful thing I wouldn't mind beholding for a whole day.

"I will sign in when school resumes." The boy excitedly decided. Myles lifts his fist, and the boy bumps his knuckles into Myles's. It was adorable.

"Okay, I have to go now. Remember not to give up. You'll inspire the world someday." He told the beaming group.

"You're a natural." I laugh when we walk arm by arm toward the skatepark. "Are you that inspiring every day?"

"They're young people. They need all the motivation from the people they look up to." He remarked passionately.

I nudged his arm playfully, while I am giggling, "That's not what I asked."

We stop at the edge of the extension, and he faces me, placidly smiling with lips sealed and magnetic bluish eyes that are daring, "What about I ask you that later?"

I look down at his chest and agreed with a nod.

"Can you roll down the flow course?" He jerks his head toward what looks like a drained pool and my fear incites at the depth.

I glance up at him and shake my head.

"Okay, come." He didn't make a joke or mock me, as those boys from my school usually do at my expense.

I am caught up in admiration until I feel my legs leaving the ground.

"What are you doing?" I panicked.

"Do you trust me?" He asked in my ear, as I clung to him, with my legs wrapped around his waist and my hands around his nape.

"Yes, maybe." I rushed my reply and squeeze my eyes shut. The fear of depth and falling dominates my heart. I failed to care about the fireworks in my stomach at the fact that I am clinging to Myles Cameron's perfect body and breathing into his masculine scent.

"Hold on to me tightly." He advised, and I feet us discharge down, my hair flowing through the wind and flying to my face while I scream, anticipating the fall that never happened. Then we slowed down, and he laugh out loud. His body shakes along as the seductive sound continues in my ear.

He is warm and cozy. He smells too good to be real. I tighten my arms around his neck, but not too much. I feel him loosen up. We continue moving for a long while, but I can guess with my eyes close, that it was on a horizontal surface. He didn't bring up a conversation, and neither did I attempt to step down from his nurturing body. And when he brings his hand to my back, a smile spread over my face.

There is a connection in the serenity. I can feel every bit of him, his breath, and his heartbeat, as he is steady and peaceful. Can he feel it too?

The funniest thing is, I didn't learn how to skate today. I just snuggle in my crush's arms for the rest of the time and enjoy an endless ride around professional skaters. It is the first time since my best friend's burial that I feel an ounce of hope.

We stop by a hotdog stand and finish three at once. I didn't know I have the stomach to absorb such a limit until Myles claimed he was faster. Despite my effort, he still prove himself right, he was quick and competitive. He won in less than a couple of minutes, if not one, given I didn't focus on the time.

On the drive back, we talk about the palm trees by the side of the road and my scream when we descend to the flow course on the skateboard.

While I laugh as he imitates my scream, some locks of hair fall over my face. Before I can tuck them back, I feel long warm fingers brushing them away and hooking them behind my ear.

I didn't look over at him. He can't see the blush on my face. I bite my bottom lip and stifle an ecstatic smile as chills run down my spine at the contact of his skin against mine.

~

At the condominium, we advance for the elevator side by side, our fingers touching, I wish he would turn over his hand and nuzzle my fingers in his, but even here, it seems like we are heading towards heaven until a man call Myles's name from behind and we promptly pull our hands away simultaneously. I don't know why.

When we turn over, I meet a middle-aged man in a black suit. His hair is gelled.

He smiles awkwardly at me like it's forced, and he didn't say a word.

"Cali, this is Nelson, my manager. Nelson, Cali is Braydon's sister." Myles introduced us.

I know that is the proper way to address me, but despite that, it didn't stop me from wanting more.

"Oh." The man only said.

There is silence. It is my cue, so I told them goodbye and headed to Brayden's floor.

I still have a smile on my face as I reminisce about the skatepark when I walk into the apartment.

"Where have you been?" The familiar voice startles me.

I jump and shoot my brother a glare. He is standing in the kitchen, preparing something.

"Do not give me that face." He scolded.

"Chill. I was at the skatepark. I am allowed to have fun and socialize. Wasn't it the point of changing my environment?" I rolled my eyes and headed for my room. He follows. Annoying me more.

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't pick up your phone when I call. Or leave at least a note with your location on the table."

It is now it occurs to me I have a phone and I haven't cared for it the whole day.

"Okay, mom." I slurred when I reach the room and push the door close to block him, but he stops the door from closing by just pressing his hand on the other side of the door.

"I am serious. It might be fun here, but that doesn't mean it's always safe." He professed solemnly.

"Okay, I will let you know of my whereabouts next time." I heave a sigh and he still holds the door, his expression still not satisfied.

"I promise," I vowed with my palm up. That works. He sighs and lets go of the door.

I lock it instantly and speed over to my box, snatching out my diary, where I write every moment of the time I spend around Myles Cameron, the Greek God.