Read Teach Me for Free Online Page B

my emotions turned from amazement to love. I need Ali to know what she means to me, what impact she has had on my life. To have her know that I’m never going to stop loving her no matter how much distance it put between us.
                  The sun was just starting its nightly descent into darkness. Her hand is in mine, and I can’t help but notice how it just fits there. Ali keeps looking at the big orange sun, and I can tell she is deep in thought. Maybe now I can get her to open up to me.
    “Hey,” I finally say as I bump my shoulder into hers, breaking her silence. Not brilliant, but it was the first thing that popped into my head and made it out of my mouth.
                  “Hmm,” was her response, which made me laugh. It was like she had forgotten I was there.
                  “Where did I lose you?” I stopped walking and turned her toward me, holding her shoulders in my hands.
                  “We are racing the sun,” she mused. I arched an eyebrow, trying to follow her train of thought. “Like in the end of Dracula . They raced the sun too, but it was so they could kill the count.”
                  “Okay,” I said slowly. Ali blushed and looked down.
    “One romantic walk on the beach—check. One incredibly perfect guy—double check . One moronic girl who doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut—overabundant amount of checks.” I shook my head and kissed her nose.
                  “And that part of the book reminds you of us now?” I forced a smile, still trying to understand where she was coming from.
    “No.” She shook her head. “I feel silly for saying that—all of that. No, just how that was the only book I finished while I was here, and at the end, the sun closed that story . . .” Her voice trailed, and her gaze averted back to the sun.
                  “Hey, Ali,” I say, shaking her slender shoulders in my hands. “When this sun sets, it’s not our end. Okay?” I nodded, hoping she understood. “ Dracula is fictional, and we are real people.” I kiss her quickly.
                  “Part of me feels like this isn’t real,” she says sheepishly. “That tomorrow I will wake up and all of this would have been a dream.”
                  “It would’ve been a good dream then.” I pull her to my chest and hold her there, wanting this moment to never end.
                  She sighs and kisses my shoulder. “The best dream I’ve ever had,” Ali says into my shirt. We just stand there, holding each other as we watch the sun simmer as it dipped into the Pacific Ocean. I want to tell her how much she means to me. How I never thought I could meet someone like her. Someone who can make me a better person and see the world in a whole new way.
                  “I have a surprise for you,” I whisper into her ear. I take her hand and start to lead her to the tree line.
                  “What is it?” Curiosity and excitement are leaking in her question.
                  I keep leading her forward. “A surprise,” I answer, stopping and turning her so she can’t see what is set up. “This is where I first saw you,” I tell her, “where it all changed for me.” She nods, looking around, and I can see that she is holding on to her emotions as best she can. I can see Sean; he has pulled through for me, and he gives me a thumbs-up. “Close your eyes.” Ali tilts her head to look at me suspiciously but does what I have asked of her. I wrap an arm around her slim waist and put my hand over her eyes.
                  “What is going on here?” She grabs my arm at her midsection and pulls me closer. It is almost dark now, and I can see the hard work Sean did pulling this off for me. I put my lips on Ali’s neck.
                  “A surprise,” I answer with a kiss. She turns her face, and I