She looks amazing in the cream, cowl-neck sweater and black tights that she’s paired with calf-high riding boots.
For once, the temperatures have dropped here in Texas this morning, so her outfit fits the weather. But no matter how beautiful she looks with clothes on, I want to see her out of them.
“How’s Shanice?” I ask out of true concern, but also to get my mind off of devouring her while she’s trying to eat her breakfast.
Ellyn pauses to wipe her mouth and sighs. “Some days are better than others. I think Christmas has distracted her from the bulk of her sadness, though. Meghan coming into town really upped her spirits.”
She smiles over at me.
“Randy and Charlotte love their aunt. And she’s so great with them. She says her only goal in life is to be the ‘cool, rich auntie’.”
We both chuckle at that.
“They’ve been spending a lot of time together, though. Meghan and Shanice. I overheard them late last night talking. I didn’t want to intrude on their alone time, so I just went to my bedroom and closed the door.
“But later, Meghan came bounding into my room and climbed into my bed.”
I chuckle at the incredulity in her voice.
“She refused to get out even after I reminded her that she was a grown woman. I told her there was no way I was letting her sleep in the bed with me.”
I roll my eyes skyward and then look at Ellyn. “Which means you let her stay, and by the time you left this morning she was still in your bed snoring away.”
“Of course,” she grumbles.
We both laugh.
“It’s not like I’ve had it easy myself. I’m sure there’s an indent in my ribcage from Amelia falling asleep on me while I tried to introduce her to the joys ofA Charlie Brown Christmasyesterday. Little thing kicked me in her sleep.”
Ellyn covers her mouth with her napkin as she guffaws at my pain.
“Isn’t she a little too young for that movie?”
I furrow my brows. “You’re never too young.”
She holds up her hands in defeat. “If you say so.”
“Thank you.” I give a confident nod.
“I’m not the one with a toddler-sized footprint in my ribs so what do I know?”
My eyes go wide as I watch her lips twitch. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
“No!” She shrieks when I begin tickling her ribs. “I’m not finished eating,” she says, through her laughter.
“Fine. I’ll let you finish first.”
She nods. “Thank you. Because this chicken sausage is too good to leave sitting on my plate.”
Ellyn pops another piece of sausage into her mouth and chews, savoring the flavor. I turn away to keep myself from pouncing like a damn wild animal.
I have to remind myself that Ellyn is not the first woman I’ve dated since my wife died. There have been more than a handful. But none of them held my attention the way she does.
Just last night, I laid in bed missing her, so I pulled up my phone and spent an hour watching her YouTube videos to see her face.
“What are you staring at?” Ellyn begins wiping her mouth and face with her napkin, as if thinking I’m staring at crumbs on her face.
“You,” I answer honestly. “I can’t stop staring at you.”
