As the plane set down on the tarmac I tingled with anticipation. Not only was I about to get off the plane and take my first step in beautiful far away Australia, but I was about to meet my best friend of 10 years.
How does one meet their best friend you may ask? It all started 10 years ago when I was 15. I was not a very popular kid and spent a lot of time on the internet. Luke and I met in a (don't laugh) online Pinochle game. I played one game with him & when we realized we were the only people in the online game under the age of 50, we bonded pretty quickly. We both frequented the rooms pretty often and before we knew it, we had become friends.
We started chatting outside of the game room – almost every day in fact. It went on this way for 5 years, until we finally got up the nerve to have our first cross seas phone call. We talked for hours. I can't tell you how much that first phone call from Australia to my home in NY cost, but I'm sure it was a small fortune. Our friendship has continued on the phone and on the internet ever since.
After 10 years of talking, Luke finally convinced me to board the long plane ride to see him in Australia. Call me crazy, but I figured after 10 years, even the most dedicated internet serial killer would have given up so he must be safe. I knew Luke better than I knew pretty much anyone and when he begged me to accept the trip to visit him as my 25th birthday present I couldn't refuse.
As the plane finally rolled to a stop and the seatbelt sign turned off with a ding, I unfastened my seatbelt & stood up to pull my carry-on out of the overhead bin.
At 5'11'' I easily reached up and pulled out the small Vera Bradley duffel. I set the bag on my seat and pulled out a small mirror to examine myself. My brown eyes shown with excitement and my long brown hair had survived the 16 hour flight fairly well. My blue knee length dress was a size 10, but looked almost svelte on my slim torso and long legged frame which at my height carried the couple extra pounds I had pretty well.
I shuffled off the plan and, looking at the signs in the terminal, made my way towards the baggage claim. I shivered with excitement. Would I know Luke when I saw him? I had seen many pictures over the years. I knew he was tall, about 6'2'' and slender with sun bleached blonde hair that would come to his ears if he didn't style it up in a spiky style. His eyes were green and on the rare occasion he wore glasses.
I hadn't needed to worry. As soon as I entered the baggage area, my eyes were riveted to one man. I immediately recognized him as Luke and nearly stopped breathing at the site of him...he was a GOD! His skin was tanned a golden bronze. His dark jeans and crisp white polo shirt perfectly molded to his athletic frame. He was running his long strong fingers through his tousled blonde hair while his other hand gripped a bouquet of gorgeous pale pink lilies. He shuffled nervously, and when his green eyes hit mine they lit up like a Christmas tree. A sexy smile crossed his face and he started walking towards me.
I quickly walked towards him – so excited to finally meet my friend.
"Lillian?" he asked quietly, almost in a disbelieving voice as we reached each other.
I nodded, not able to speak. His smile lit up even brighter (if that was possible) and to my surprise he grabbed me into a huge hug, lifting me off the ground.
"I'm so glad you're here," he whispered into my ear with a hot breath.
My heart raced as he held me tight against his muscular chest. He smelled like heaven...that sexy virile man smell that no cologne can reproduce.
He set me down gently, and handed me the flowers.
"My favorite!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Thank you!."
"I know." He responded with a wink and a wicked smile. "Let's get your bags and get you out of here."
It only took a few minutes for Luke to grab my suitcase and wheel it towards the door. I walked behind him a couple steps and couldn't help myself from sneaking a quick peek at his butt in those just tight enough jeans ...luscious was the only word for it.
He stopped for a second and turned slightly, waiting for me to catch up to his strides. By the silly grin that came across his face I think he knew what I'd been looking at.
"Come-on beautiful," he winked at me again.
I blushed and took the few extra steps to join him.
"Marcus is waiting for us with the car."
Marcus is Luke's boyfriend of 6 years. Over those years of my conversations with Luke, I'd also had quite a few conversations with Marcus and we'd grown to be almost as close as Luke and I.
He was Luke's total opposite in both looks and temperament. Where Nick was blonde, lithe and sun tanned, Marcus was dark and muscular with an olive skin tone. Interestingly enough, however, his personality was the lighter of the two. Where Nick was more strategic, less emotional, more serious and assertive, Marcus was gentle, more considerate, soft hearted and always quick with a joke. They were as different and night and day, which seemed to make their relationship work well.
We exited into the bright Australian sun and walked towards a dark colored SUV. Against it leaned one of the sexiest men I've ever seen.
Holy shit.
In pictures Marcus was definitely a sexy man, but in person he was drool worthy. A black T-shirt was stretched over his bulging chest and arms. His jeans were tight in all the right places. As we walked towards him he pulled off a pair of dark sunglasses and placed them into his black hair, revealing a pain of piercing dark brown eyes. Upon seeing Luke and I, a huge toothy grin broke out on his face.
