Once Upon an Arizona Sunset

Chapter 3

I hadn’t been excited to go on a date with anyone in a very long time. Not since I was 14….. I didn’t want to dwell on that experience. I could tell tonight was going to be different. Chuck would be a gentleman guaranteed. No way Liam would be involved with a guy who didn’t look after women. I was standing in my underwear, my hair up in an intricate bun applying my mascara when Connor barged into my room. He was drunk, I could smell it. Mom and dad had tried to put him into rehab. But we were 18 now and he had refused to go. 

“Wow, don’t you look like you are planning on getting laid.” He commented looking at me. 

“Connor, get out. I’m trying to get dressed.” I said, we were twins. We knew one another better than anyone. It wasn’t like I was uncomfortable with him seeing me in my underwear. I just didn’t want to deal with his bullshit right now. 

“Why?” He asked, spreading out on my bed. I looked over my shoulder at him and shook my head. 

“Because you're drunk and I don’t feel like dealing with you.” I said. 

“That’s rude.” He scoffed. I chose to ignore him. 

“I’m your twin.” He said, trying to play that card. But I was done with that card. Connor needed to get his s**t straight. I continued dressing ignoring him. 

“How’s Olivia?” He asked me. I looked over my shoulder. Spraying hairspray on my hair. 

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” I commented, really it wasn’t she had made it pretty clear she wasn’t having anything else to do with him. 

“Well, yes actually it does since she’s carrying my baby.” He said. Crap. She had told him? She hadn’t run me down with this information. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do here. I thought for a moment. Walked to my closet and pulled out a simple, elegant black dress. I stepped into it and zipped up the side. Walking out of the closet I looked at him,

“Actually she is carrying Liam’s baby, not yours. She’s great. They're in Vegas right now on vacation.” I said. He glared at me. 

“It’s mine Peyton. I don’t know what she’s trying to tell you but it’s mine.” He said, raising his voice. I nodded. 

“Maybe biologically. But you were shooting heroin. Do you really think any court is going to agree with you? Liam is going to adopt that baby. It’s his.” I finished. He didn’t argue. He must have agreed with me. 

“What are they doing in Vegas?” He asked. I knew more about that than I should too. Liam had called me yesterday to tell me his plan. He was going to propose and I was so excited. I grabbed some earrings from my jewelry box. While I was putting them in I looked at him. 

“I’m assuming they are seeing the sites, seeing some shows and spending a lot of time horizontally.” I said, 

“Now get out of my room. I’m leaving.” I said ushering him off the bed. 

“Pfft. Horizontally, yea right. She’s a lousy fuck.” He said, smiling as he walked out of my room. I grabbed my shoes off the desk. Closed and locked the door behind me. We had started locking rooms so he couldn’t steal our stuff to pawn for drugs. 

“You sure she was the lousy one?” I said, walking up to him then bending to put my shoes on. 

“Whatever Peyton, you have no idea.” He said walking into his room. I walked down stairs. Grabbed a jacket out of the closet and walked into the kitchen where my parents were. 

“You look beautiful Peyton.” My father commented looking up from the island. I smiled at him. 

“Thanks daddy, I have a date.” I said. He smiled, 

“Is he nice?” He asked me. 

“He’s Liam’s best friend.” I said. Just at that moment the doorbell rang. What the hell? I thought he’d text me and I could just meet him in the car. 

“I better go!” I said jumping up but my dad motioned for me to sit. Oh boy, a boy had never come in to pick me up ever. I heard the door open. 

“Good evening sir.” I heard Chuck say. I looked at my mom, mortified. 

“Oh my god, Peyton he sounds very polite.” She giggled. Dad walked in the room with Chuck under his arm. He was so handsome. His dark brown hair, those eyes. It felt like they looked into my soul. He had flowers. Oh my gosh flowers. 

“Good evening ladies.” He said nodding to my mother. 

“I’m Chuck. I was hoping it would be ok if I took Peyton out this evening?” He asked my father. 

“Of course Charles,” My father said to him. 

“Peyton, you look beautiful.” He commented. Then he handed me the flowers, to my surprise he had two bouquets and he handed the other to my mother. She smiled at me. 

“You kids have fun!” She said, ushering us out the door. He held my coat for me while I slipped it on. 

“Absolutely stunning.” He commented. Then he held his arm out for me to slip mine through and he walked me to the car. He held the door as he slipped me in. He drove a cute Jeep, the roof was on right now. It was a bit of a chilly night as far as Phoenix went. When the door closed I looked at the house. My mother was waving through the window. Oh my god. Embarrassing. 

“I hope your not too hungry.” He said as he got in the other side. I just smiled at him. 

“I booked something for before dinner, during the sunset.” He said smiling at me. 

“Sounds like fun.” I said, flashing him my most endearing smile. We drove for a little while, then he parked and helped me out my side. This time taking my hand. He led me out into a field where a hot air balloon lay, it was just starting to inflate. 

“What?” I said, getting very excited. I had never done this. He smiled at me. 

“Howdy there.” Said the man setting everything up. 

“You chuck?” He asked. 

“Yes sir.” Answered Chuck. 

“Well hop on board.” He said, opening the door. We stepped inside the basket. The balloon above us slowly increasing in size as the operator pushed hot hair into it. 

“How high will we go?” I asked him. He smiled, 

“Around 2000 feet miss.” He said smiling. I nodded. Then he gave us a slight run down. 

“The balloon will rise slowly. We have to go where the wind takes us. So when we land, wherever that may be. Someone will come and pick us up. It’s a still night so we won’t be going very far.” He finished. I nodded, then I turned to smile at Chuck.

“This is kind of scary.” I whispered. He chuckled. 

“Don’t worry, I’m here for you.” He said smiling at me. When we lifted off it was so gentle, so slow that it almost felt like we hadn’t lifted off at all. 

“Wow.” I commented, We rose slowly. For one brief moment I thought about the fact that the only thing holding us in the air was a giant balloon. But the thought quickly escaped me as we rose so high I could see way past the city. I leaned over the edge to see more. Chuck stepping beside me and gripping my hand. I felt at ease beside him. We soared across the sky. The balloon gliding softly through the air. We drifted gently along, hardly moving with the lack of wind. The sun was setting on the horizon. It glowed, pink and orange behind the red sonoran desert. Chuck threw an arm around me. We stood together, gazing out at the scene in front of us. This was comfortable. I felt like maybe this was where I belonged. I heard the operator let some air out of the balloon. I took my chance. I turned to face Chuck, he turned to me as well. Then I brought my lips to his. I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought his mouth down to mine. Gently I toyed with his mouth. Dipping my tongue softly inside. He met me with the same gentle prying. After a minute I broke away. 

“Thank you.” I whispered. He kissed me on the cheek. 

“Thank you for coming with me.” He said, pulling me into a tight hug. We lowered a little more. Bit by bit, our height decreased. 

“When we touch down it could get rough.” The operator said. 

“Ok.” Chuck said. Pulling away to grip my hand. We touched, it was rough. Suddenly the basket tipped over. I fell into Chuck, we toppled out onto the ground. I giggled like a school girl. His arms around me, laying in the grass together. He rolled me over onto my back. Then he jumped up and offered me his hand. Helping me up off the grass. The operator was already up. 

“Sorry about that, it happens quite often but I try not to.” He said. We thanked him for the ride. A car took us back to the Jeep and soon we were sitting down at a restaurant for supper. 

“Would you like an alcoholic drink?” Chuck asked me. I smiled at him. 

“Wine, if you see one you like.” I said. He ordered a bottle and poured me a large glass, a small one for himself. 

“I don’t drink much if I am driving.” He said when I raised my eyebrow. I nodded. 

“Tell me something.” He said smiling at me over his wine glass. I looked at him, waiting for the question. 

“If you could get on a plane right now, where would you go?” He asked me. What in the world does that question have to do with anything? I wondered. But it was an ice breaker and really I had no idea what to talk about. 

“I want to see Europe.” I said, taking a sip of my wine. He smiled at me. 

“Where in Europe?” He asked me. I thought for a moment. 

“One day, I want to do a month of Ireland, Scotland, Whales and England.” I said. He smiled. 

“Great countries, It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.” He said. 

“Did you love them?” I asked him. He nodded. 

“Particularly Ireland, I love the pubs and the museums and the scenery. One day we should go.” He said. I smiled at him. 

“I think I would like that.” I said smiling at him. The waiter came back. 

“Ready to order?” He asked. Chuck looked at me. 

“Can I have the pan seared salmon with a side of rice and extra lemon please.” I said. He jotted down my order. 

“I’ll have the 8 ounce steak, a baked potato on the side and season veggies.” He said to the waiter. He nodded and walked off to place our order. 

“Where’s home?” I asked Chuck. I knew he and Liam were from somewhere in the eastern part of the states. But I wasn’t sure exactly where. 

“Bardstown, Kentucky. Actually just outside of town.” He said, 

“You?” He asked me. 

“Right here in Phoenix my whole life.” I said smiling at him. He nodded. 

“I should have known, your tan is perfect.” He said. I looked up at him, those blue eyes piercing through my soul. 

“I love your eyes.” I said, smiling. He blushed a little. 

“I’m a little bit nervous about this date.” He said, looking down at the table. I smiled. 

“Me too.” I admitted. 

“I honestly haven’t had a good date in years and I really like you.” I said. He smiled 

“Me either. I haven’t had a serious relationship in three years and it ended badly.” He said. I nodded. I wondered how, but I figured we would get to that. Just at that point our meal arrived. I was starving after our balloon adventure. I dug in, little talking happened until the waiter cleared our dishes. He offered us desert but we were both full. Chuck went to pay the bill. 

“You don’t have to do that.” I said as he pulled out his card.  He smiled at me. 

“Peyton, I want too. I will buy you every meal. I’m old school. I know you're capable, I know that you can pay. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t let me buy you things.” He said, I smiled and put my wallet away. After he had paid he stood up and took my hand. 

“Ok, off to our next adventure?” He asked me. I nodded and followed him along. He drove us to Scottsdale parking at the butterfly conservatory. 

“Butterflies?” I asked him, he smiled. 

“Too cheesy?” He asked me. I shook my head, leaning to kiss him gently. He kissed me back. 

“Well shall we?” He asked, pulling away from me. I nodded happily. He opened my door. Then he took my hand and led me in. Once again paying for our tickets in. The conservatory was lit with tiny little twinkle lights. The fountains lit up while they danced. We walked, hand in hand through the butterflies as they flew around us. Skimming me with their wings while the waltz around us. 

“Oh, Chuck this is beautiful.” I said, when one landed on my arm. Then my leg. My nose. Soon I was covered in butterflies. He smiled at me. Those blue eyes sparkling in the lights. I was giddy with happiness. When they left my body he pulled me into a deep kiss. His arms around me. His warm mouth on mine underneath the twinkling lights. When we broke apart I was breathless. My body tingling with want. My heart was beating fast. A photographer walked up and tapped him on the arm. Handing him a card, 

“If you want to buy any pictures of you I took a few they are on the card.” He said then he walked away. Chuck pocketed the card. We walked along through the gardens. When we came to the end Chuck handed his card to the lady at the photo booth and paid for the photo. He actually got two and handed one to me. I glanced at it. We were wrapped in one another's arms, twinkle lights and butterflies all around us. The photo was beautiful. We walked out to the jeep and drove to my house. I didn’t want to. I wanted to make love to him. He parked on the road, kissing me deeply. 

“I don’t have to go home.” I said to him. He smiled. His thumb on my chin. 

“I would love to take you up on that Peyton, I really would. But I want this relationship to start out perfect. I want to take our time.” He said, kissing me deeply again. He was right. Jumping right into s*x wasn’t the best way to start a relationship. It had never worked for me before. This time, I would do it right. I could get used to being treated this way. He hopped out of the driver's seat. Walking around to my side and opening my door. Taking my hand, holding it while we strolled up the drive. When we got to the door he pulled me into another kiss. Stoking the fire within my belly. I longed to drag him up to my bedroom, pull his shirt over his head. Stop it Peyton. Stop it. I couldn’t think though, his mouth was melded to mine. His tongue twirling with mine. His scent mingling with mine. When we finally broke I was literally weak in the knees. 

“Good night Peyton. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He whispered giving me one last peck. Then he walked back to his Jeep. I waved at him, he waited until the door closed before leaving. I leaned against the closed door. A smile on my face. My father walked out of the kitchen.

“Well?” He asked me. I smiled at him. 

“Oh daddy, he’s perfect.” I said to him. He kissed me on the cheek, then walked me up the stairs. 

“Well I appreciate that he brought you home and walked you to the door.” He said, I smiled again. 

“He’s a gentleman dad.” I said, then I closed my bedroom door and did a quiet, dorky happy dance to myself.