Chapter 2: Chapter Two
Through bites of food Corbin said, "The ferry line is going to be forever long." He looked at the dashboard clock. "My guess is two hours. What's yours?"
It was a long running game. Whoever guessed the wait time, didn't cook dinner. Ivan smiled. "I say two and a half."
There are only two ferries that trek people and their vehicles across Galveston bay to Crystal Beach, a small island half an hour's ride from the main Galveston Island. Ivan had lived in the area his entire life and was well accustomed, as now was Corbin, who grew up closer to San Antonio than Houston, to the waiting line to board the ferry.
"Ha!" Corbin said in triumph as Ivan shut the engine off once they'd pulled onto the deck of the ferry. "Looks like you're cooking dinner."
Ivan laughed. They had waited just under two hours. "It would seem that way, wouldn't it? Wanna come count the jellyfish with me?"
Corbin smiled happily at him, his eyes shining brightly in the sun. "I'd love nothing more."
Making sure to leave the window down far enough to allow Juno enough fresh air, they wandered to a less crowded part of the boat and looked over.
"They're everywhere today," Corbin said pointing.
Ivan wrapped his arms around him and kissed the side of his neck. "I love you."
Corbin smiled, bringing his hands to grip Ivan's forearms. "I love you, too." And he did. He'd never loved anyone before this man. He'd never love anyone after. Corbin pushed that particular thought away and focused on this moment they were engaged in. He knew eventually this honeymoon life he'd been enveloped in to would end and he would have to face reality; but that time wasn't now and he was determined to memorize every moment with this man, because he knew the promise of forever would be much shorter than Ivan anticipated.
"Hey, you okay?"
Ivan's voice jerked him from his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, kinda got lost in my head for a minute."
"No need for apologies. Anything you wanna share?" He knew the answer but still, he'd never stop trying to get Corbin to open up.
"No. I'm going to go check on Juno." Disentangling himself from Ivan's hold he walked back in the direction they'd previously come.
Ivan watched him go knowing by now he needed an allotment of time to gather himself back together. He sighed and once Corbin vanished from view, turned back toward the water, the jellyfish no longer keeping his entertainment. Ivan knew that by the time he reached the truck that Corbin would seem to be in better spirits, his smile back on his face, though his eyes...his eyes will always hold that hauntingly haunted, even if slightly hidden, expression.
Once the shore was in view Ivan returned to the truck. Corbin stood by the driver's side leaning against the backdoor, rubbing Juno's ears and face. Ivan leaned against the driver's side door. "Hey."
Corbin closed his eyes before looking over at him. "Hi. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, my love. I just wish you'd let me in." He stared at him a moment before lightly sighing. "Come on. We should get in the car, we're about to dock. Corbin," Ivan called as he turned to round the rear of the vehicle. Corbin turned but didn't say anything. "I do love you, you know."
Corbin nodded slightly and half grinned, though the expression did not reflect the usual light that accompanied those words. "I do. I love you, too. I...I really do."
The ride to the beach house was short, but quiet. As they drove past oil rigs and beach houses, palm trees and small convenient stores, Ivan reached out and clasped Corbin's hand. Corbin took it, squeezed tightly and held his position. Ivan didn't comment on the needlessly firm grip.
They pulled up next to the beach house and exited the truck, making their way up the stairs to the front door. Beach houses on Crystal Beach are all built on high stilts to withstand the flooding of a hurricane or tropical storm. Juno entered the house first, asserting that she actually ran things and her people did her bidding.
Ivan threw their bags down by the back door with every intention of putting them up at a later time. "Corbin." Ivan turned him around to face him, his hands lightly gripping the other man's shoulders. "I love you." He brought one hand up to cup Corbin's cheek. "I would do anything for you. We've been together for some time now and you mean the world to me. You know that don't you? I mean really know that." Corbin nodded slightly, looking down. "You've never told me about your past," Ivan said in low tones.
Corbin looked up, his eyes taking on a look Ivan hadn't seen very often within their relationship. "Ivan." There was warning in his voice.
Ivan continued speaking. "And I'm not going to press you. I know something terrible happened, that much I have been able to deduce on my own. Vague as a conclusion that it is. But I want you to know, and I'll tell you as often as I need to to get you to believe me...I. Love. You. And that means I'm here. It means if you ever decide to tell me what happened, I'll still be here. I'm not going to leave you because of it." Corbin didn't reply. He didn't look Ivan in the eyes. Ivan sighed and kissed Corbin's forehead and took a step back.
"I..." Corbin began and paused. Ivan turned back to face him completely. "I've never told anyone. About any of it. I...I just couldn't. I can't."
"Love, like I said I won't press the issue. You'll come to me when you're ready. But when you're ready, I'll be here. And I'll still be here. I'll still love you just as much if not more so afterward."
Corbin looked up. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I love you." Ivan kissed him gently, drawing his knuckles down Corbin's cheek. He smiled at him and kissed his forehead. "You wanna go play on the beach until we get hungry enough for dinner? Or we can go fishing off the rocks."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone