"Oh, well in that case." I walked over to the edge of the pool beside her. "And since you lied during truth or dare..." I grabbed her hand and jumped into the water, pulling her in with me.
Her laughter was drowned out by the sound of us splashing into the water. I had never swam in shoes before and definitely not a suit and bowtie. When I emerged from the water, I was greeted by her smiling face.
"I was actually going to say we should skinny dip," she said as she wrapped her arms around the back of my neck and hitched her legs around my hips. "But this is way better."
"Especially since your dress is virtually see-through when it's wet."
"What?" she said with a laugh as she looked down at the front of her dress. "Oh my God."
I hadn't been lying. You could clearly see her nipples through the tight red fabric.
She pressed herself more firmly against my torso to help hide herself. "I have a confession to make."
I slid my hands to her ass. "And what is that?"
"I don't think Vegas is really for me. I like wearing jeans and tank tops. And watching a movie or reading a book at night. This place is insane. And I really just wanted to come out here because it's way too bright inside."
God this girl was perfect for me."I agree with all of that. Except I'd probably be wearing sweatpants and no shirt."
She smiled. "I think I could get used to that."
And her words broke my heart a little. Because I could get used to it too. I wanted to come home to her every day.
"Tyler?" she said, batting her wet eyelashes.
"Hailey?"
She smiled. "You do realize that whenever we both get wet we end up in each other's arms?"
"I've noticed."
"I don't want tonight to end." She pressed her forehead against mine. "I just want to stay in this moment forever. I want to stop time."
I took a deep breath. "Me too."God, me too.
"Then let me change your mind." She pulled her face away from mine. Her eyes had suddenly grown teary. And it killed me. Because I wanted her to be able to. I wanted to be able to hold on to her. But I couldn't be that selfish. I would never do that to her.
"I can only give you tonight, Hails. That's all I have left."
Missing Pieces - Chapter 37
Hailey
Wednesday
I searched his face. That wasn't true. He had more than just tonight. He had his whole life. Three years wasn't that long. "I'll wait for you."
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I don't want you to."
I knew he was being kind, in his own way. But the words sounded harsh to my ears. Maybe if I was someone else he'd want me to wait. Maybe it was me. I unwound my legs from his waist and unclasped my hands from his neck.
"Hails." His face looked pained. "That came out wrong. I just...I couldn't live with myself if I made you wait."
"You wouldn't be making me wait. I'd be choosing to. And it's not like I wouldn't get to see you for three years. You get leave. We could talk on the phone."
"I can't, Hailey."
"Some girls are married to men who are enlisted. You're blowing this out of proportion. People do this all the time."
