“I’m sure she would prefer to do this now instead of waiting for Thanksgiving…or Christmas…or abirthday.”
“Okay, okay. I get your point. Might as well do thisnow.”
“Yes.” He wears a charming smile, as though he’s trying to keep itlight.
“I’ll bethere.”
“Fantastic! Maybe bring like five bottles of Chardonnay with you? I’ll bring another ten, and we’ll have an amazingnight.”
We savor a laugh together. As muddied as it all is, Ty handles this shit so well, but sure as hell there’s never been a dinner I’ve wanted to go to less than thisone.
6
Eric
Jesse restshis head against my chest. He’s totally out, his arm locked around me as his unique snore becomes almost agrowl.
I keep my breathing steady, hoping not to rouse him before his alarm goes off. It’s taking all my willpower not to run my fingers through his hair or stroke my hand up and down his back in the way I might do when he lies against me like this while we’re watching amovie.
Finally, that familiarbuzzfills theair.
As he’s shaken from his peaceful state, I want to reach over to the nightstand and smash the phone for disturbing him. Can’t my man have a minute to catch up on somerest?
I set my hand on the back of his head, fondling gently. Turning, he looks up at me, his eyes narrow, his face illuminated by the streetlight that filters through the windowblinds.
Oh, myJesse.
This man I risked so much to be with, who I would have risked even more for, had I known from the start how phenomenal he would prove to be to me…forme.
He slides up my body. “I’m sotired.”
“You want to get a few more minutes? I’ll make sure you’re up in enough time to get to work. I’m not going to be able to sleep much this morninganyway.”
We’ve played this game more than a few times, where I keep watch so he can get some more shut-eye before I give him a nudge to make sure he can get ready for work intime.
“Something keeping you up?” heasks.
“You worry about me toomuch.”
“I like worrying aboutyou.”
“I like worrying about youtoo.”
“No worrying about anyone this morning. I’m gonna get this day started. Can’t get too comfortable now, or I’ll just want to spend the rest of my day pressed up against you likethis.”
“Justlikethis?”
“Maybe a little more.” He winks and kisses me before forcing himself out of bed and heading into the shower. Since I’m not planning on going back to sleep anytime soon, I turn on the TV and change channels for a bit until I stumble ontoFixer Upper. It’s an enjoyable, mindless way to pass thetime.
When Jesse heads back in, a towel around his waist, he spies the hosts, Chip and Joanna, and snickers. “You have aproblem.”
“They always play this,” I say, in defense of how many times I’ve happened to settle on this programbefore.
“And your fingers force you to turn over toHGTV?”
“Okay, I have a slight problem,” Iacknowledge.
Jesse crawls into bed, still a little wet from his shower. He props himself up on his elbows beside me, his attention still on the TV. I can tell by the earnest expression on his face that he’s zoned out, the way he sometimes does when he’s totally captivated by afilm.
