By the swing

Waiting for Sunny was torture so I needed a distraction. I decided taking out the trash would definitely kill some time so grabbed as many bags as I could. Out back I piled the bags into the large containers and thought I might finally throw out the old and broke porch swing. Al promised years ago he'd fix it but probably forgot and it's been gathering dust since. As I reached down to grab a piece to throw away I heard a voice and jumped back in surprise.

"What ya doing stranger?", I spun my head to see Sunny leaning out the back window watching me. My heart pounded in my ears I almost forgot to respond.

"Sunny", I cheered and coughed collecting my excitement, "I was just getting ready to throw this porch swing away". Her eyes widened in shock.

"You're throwing it away? But it's so pretty can't it be fixed at all", she rushed to say, advocating for the swing.

A mischievous grin crept its way to my lips as I thought about teasing her. "Ah well you see it would take lot of time and it's really not a one person job", I sighed trying to hide a chuckle brewing underneath.

"But I can help!", she explained exasperated, "I'll come over ever day till it's fixed!". Sunny was talking so quickly and frantically, she clearly wanted me to save the swing. Her words settled in my head, she wants to come over every day and fix this … with me? I haven't said anything yet, I was suppose to ask her on a date now it looks like I've made her busy for weeks! Ah I'm so dumb.

"So can we please keep it pleaseeee?", she stretch herself forward with her hands lifting herself on the windowsill. Suddenly she fell forward and began to topple out of the window. I dropped the wood swing and ran to beneath the window which had a small but noticeable distance to the ground. Sunny was already close to the ground as I got there and I managed break her fall. Her hands hit my chest with an open palm and her arms were tucked in close by her side as I embraced her tightly. As we collided I fell back and held her close until I let out a sigh of relief that I had made it in time to stop her from getting hurt. We laid on the ground in the tight embrace for moments or minutes It's hard to say because my mind was buzzing with her taking hold of almost all my senses. Her head rested gently on my chest as I breathed in deeply I could smell her silky auburn hair. Her hair smelt like fresh strawberries, the smell twisted and danced in my brain until I was dizzy.

"Oh no!, are you okay?", she tilted her head from chest to see I had broken her fall. "I'm so sorry are you hurt?", she hurried to sit up beside me and placed her hand my cheek. I lifted myself to sit with her, slowly bringing my hand up to her face and softly stroking her cheek and brushed the her hair behind her ear. She blushed a rose petal pink lightly as I touched her face.

"Me I'm fine, are you okay?", I reassured her placing my hand on top of hers on my cheek and taking in my hand. The feeling of her hand in mine made me feel so shy all of a sudden. My eyes darted around, I couldn't look at her too long because I started to get to nervous.

"What's that then!", she said looking at me with a stern but worried look. Glancing around I couldn't see anything, she could see my confusion so pointed to my arm where I had scratched it on a stone when I hit the ground.

"That's nothing, I've had worse from a cat", I laughed to ease her worry, it didn't hurt all that much anyway it only stung a little.

"Let me see it please", she instructed, without an answer she had already let go of my hand and took my arm in both of hers. She took out an unused tissue from her pocket and delicately dabbed the scrape. I watched her intently as she tended to my wound like nurse caring for a patient. She reached into her pocket once again and this time pulled out a bandaid.

"I'm sorry I only have this one with flowers on", she sighed holding it up to show me the blue bandaid decorated with daisies. I beamed a delighted grin at her.

"It's perfect! I love it so much", I held my arm up ready for my treatment as she smiled sweetly and turned her head away to hide her blushing face. Once my arm had been treated she looked at it carefully to make sure it was all done. She then leaned closer to me and brought her lips to my arm, she kissed my arm slowly and tenderly once where I had been injured.

"Does that feel better now?", she spoke softly looking up into my eyes so apologetically. I smiled and winked at her playfully to ease her worry. "I'm so sorry I fell on you I should be more careful, I didn't hurt you anywhere else did I?", she raised both hands to mime show me in a fill in the blanks kind of way. I felt that mischievous grin return and couldn't help but push my luck.

"Now you mention it, I think I bumped my head too", I explained rubbing the back of my head with my hand tussling my hair around. Her face flashed to a look of concern and distress as she reached towards me and held my face in her hands.

"I'm so sorry for this, where does it hurt?" She moved in closer to look at my head and face and I could feel her breath on my cheek. I started to get very red and my cheeks were burning as I thought about how much I wanted to kiss her. My head got scrambled with thoughts and all I could think to do was point at my forehead. She instantly pressed her lips to my forehead and kissed it quickly and repeatedly all over. I lifted my head so my face met hers and in her hurry to kiss my forehead better she placed one on the tip of my nose. She dropped her hands from my face and touched the tip of her fingers to her mouth and giggled.

"You are telling me fibs aren't you! If I didn't know any better I'd think you're trying to steal a kiss", she sat with her arms folded with a half smile she tried to mask to look annoyed. I bowed my head and looked up at her as the mischievous smile showed itself again.

"Okay you got me, my heads fine, your kisses are just too sweet to resist", I leaned towards her, my lips parted longing for the caress of hers. Placing my hand under her chin I reached her face and my lips drifted to the tip of her nose. I kissed it as tenderly as she had kissed my arm closing my eyes for a moment as my heart raced. Her cheeks flushed red in an Instant and her eyes closed just as mine did. I pulled away slowly smiling widely as I looked at her adorable expression as she looked at me and then away.

"I'm sorry I told a little lie but does it feel better now?", I asked almost in a whisper as I touched her nose with my finger. She half smiled again this time rolling her eyes at my playful admission.

"Are you really okay now? Truthfully", she asked with a heartfelt and sincere tone. I nodded and stood up holding out my hand for hers. She took my hand and I helped her to her feet. We held hands whilst we spoke outside laughing and joking about what had just happened. So much time had passed Al called from inside to check I was alright and at that moment our hands parted.

"Wow it's gotten so late, Al is gonna grill me if there's customers waiting", I realised and became flustered.

"Gosh I'm sorry, I'm distracting you from work, you can't spend all day out here with me", she started to ramble looking a little guilty for keeping me. "Please tell Al it's all my fault and I'll come help fix the swing to make up for it", she said still very frazzled.

"Sunny I would love for you to come by every day, and we'll fix the swing if you want to", I said taking her hand to calm her nervous energy. "Now I think it's time you had a sweet treat, since you already gave me one", I winked whilst pointing at my forehead. I led her from the garden through the back room and kitchen to the dining area, our hands didn't part until she was in her booth where she first sat the first day we met.

As I reached the kitchen my heart skipped, bouncing around in my chest like a fireball. Touching my arm on the bandaid she had given me made my mind rushed to the feeling of her lips and how I had been to scared to kiss her earlier. I pulled my apron on tight and with a determined voice I said to myself, "next time".