The Ocean’s City

The sun burned me from laying out in it and pouting. I drank my cocktail and conversed concisely with Dannie as she sat awkwardly beside me, and we watched the boys play volleyball. The sun gave me a nice glow that complimented the dress I now put on, a royal blue dress that went to my knees and covered most of my chest. One of the few dresses that covered so much.

There was a knock at the door, followed by Dalton stopping in his tracks and staring at me in utter awe. He liked the dress on me.

“I was going to suggest one of the other dresses, but… you look amazing in anything.”

I looked back at the mirror, examining the dress. It tempted me to change into something else just to piss Dalton off, but all the women’s clothes were dresses and skirts and short things. Things I didn’t want to wear in front of him. It was hard to choose, and tonight wouldn’t go well if I tried to wear his shorts and tees out. Especially since he was already dressed in a tux.

He watched me as I went to grab a pair of ballet flats. He shook his head and walked towards me. “You will wear the heels.” He said close to my ear, giving me shivers. He pointed to the heels he wanted me to wear, and I obediently grabbed them. His hand patted my arm. “Let’s get going.”

I put the heels on, and he examined me again before taking my hand and escorting me to his car. We drove farther than expected, at least 30 minutes of a drive.

The place was fancy, and someone greeted us as Mr. and Mrs. I cringed at the sound, but Dalton seemed to embrace it as his hand found the lower part of my back and took us to an intimate window seat that overlooked the ocean. A server came pouring us champagne immediately, and I downed it in one go.

Dalton looked at me in shock, and I thought he was going to send the server away, but he waved for the server to pour me another glass. Then, with a warning, he spoke, “May this one last a little longer than three seconds.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I was still tipsy from the cocktails and sunshine. A violinist played a beautiful tune in the background, and I watched the sea as the sunset behind it. I ignored the server as he brought over bread and appetizers.

“You should eat,” Dalton spoke in a more lighthearted tone. I just sighed, taking another sip of my drink.

“Tell me something, Dalton…. Are you an artist?”

He took a bite of his bread roll dipped in garlic. “Why do you ask that?”

“Because this sunset is breathtaking.”

“Thank you.” His response shocked me. I stared into his eyes, and he gave a slight warning before lifting his glass for a toast.

I felt like I had overcome a massive obstacle with him. I decided I would play nice, and I toasted along with him. I knew I shouldn’t push too much, so I searched for what else I could get from him.

It was challenging to decide what to ask him, and before I could ask another question, we had a salad come out to our table. I realized the server would come over routinely.

“Is orange your favorite color?” I asked him and was delighted he returned my answer.

“No, it’s blue.” I looked out the window again, seeing how the sunset’s colors brought out the blue in the sea. And how even when the storm clouds roared, the sea remained a steady blue instead of taking the grayness of the sky.

“I guess I could see that.”

“And you?”

“Me? Oh, I don’t know, maybe pink?”

“You don’t know your favorite color?”

I shook my head, and he laughed. Then, the server brought over soup and took away my untouched salad. He looked pointedly at my meal, saying I should eat, but I just kept drinking instead.

I finally ate when the lobster came out.

“That was a nice meal, thank you.”

“I could think of a way for you to thank me properly.” He said, dabbing his cheek with a napkin.

“A man buys me dinner, and I should sleep with him to thank him for it? Not very gentlemanly.

“Although I expect you to do that one day. I’m willing to make a bargain with you.”

“And what’s that exactly?” I said, with my eyes narrowing.

He pulled out a ring. “I will wait until you are ready to be intimate with me as long as you wear this.”

I stared at it, feeling a pang in my stomach. I had always wanted the grand proposal, the big wedding. This wasn’t right. “You will wait regardless of what I do.”

“Silvestia,” there was no anger in his voice.

I looked at him, searching for answers. “You want me to be married to you without a wedding? No dating, no flirting?”

“Those are things that can come later… but yes. Only except it’s not that I want you to. You are already married to me, Silvestia. I want you to wear the ring.”

I stared at the ring as I got a nasty pitted feeling deep in my gut. “I don’t feel good about it,” I spoke honestly, then finished my glass.

“Wear the ring, or let me sleep beside you in bed.”

“How about I wear the ring, and you sleep on the couch from now on?”

“Deal,” he said, putting out his hand to shake mine.

I looked at it wearily, then reached out my hand. “Deal,”

I let him shake my hand, then hold it still as he placed the ring on my finger. There was a contrast to the ring’s coldness and his fingers’ warmth. It fitted perfectly, making me feel claustrophobic.

Its sparkle gave me a sense of dread and a reminder of my situation every time it shined, but it was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.

It caught me in a trance as I looked at my hand in his. Then, there was a clatter of silverware falling and the gasps of others in the restaurant with us. There was a scream and then another shout.

“Someone get Dalton.” he dropped my hand and rose from his table to see the scene unfold.

A dainty red-headed woman lay on the floor gasping for air as she shook and foam filled her mouth. Her eyes locked with Dalton’s, and she reached out to him. He just stood there, completely emotionless. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and she became motionless. Everyone was staring at Dalton with fear in their eyes.

Thanks for reading the ninth chapter of The Ocean’s City. Let me know what you think! Grammar Nazis are welcome!