“Nah, it’s the clubs,” he says, “I’m just borrowing it for the week. You like it?”
“Hmm… I prefer your bike, but I won’t say no to some luxury this week.”
“Good,” he says, starting the ignition and leaving the parking lot.
We make it back to my apartment and I start to settle in, taking off my shoes and dropping my backpack, it’s only then that I notice he also has a bag with him.
“What’s in the bag?”
“Stuff.”
I chuckle. “Helpful, what kind of stuff?”
“Stuff that might help you feel better.”
He removes the items, placing them on the table: a hot water bottle, chocolate, big fluffy socks…
“What the fuck?”
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I raise my hands, “I’m just surprised; didn’t have you down as the type of guy who knows what to get a girl when she’s on her period.”
“Yeah well,” he says, looking down at the contents of the bag, “I Googled it.”
“You Googled it?” I ask, breaking out into another laugh.
“Yeah, I Googled it, why the fuck are you laughing at me?”
“I’m sorry, you’re right, I shouldn’t laugh,” I say, bringing my hand over my mouth. “What exactly did you Google?”
I’m desperately trying to keep a straight face.
“How can I help my girlfriend when she’s on her period?”
“Oh my god.” I pull him into me and look up at him. “You’re adorable.”
He rolls his eyes. “Fuck you, do you want this shit or not?”
“Yes, I want it. But come here first.” I pull him into a kiss before leaning back and whispering, “I can’t believe you told Google I’m your girlfriend.”
“Alright, alright. Take your fucking chocolate and your fluffy socks and get into bed, I’m gonna make up this hot water bottle. Put some girly rom-com shit on your laptop to watch.”
I’m laughing, but I also can’t get over how unbelievably sweet he’s being. As I snuggle down into bed with my new socks, season one of Heartstopper, and some chocolate, I watch him wait for the water to boil and can’t help but think how lucky I am.
Diablo
It’s nearly 3 a.m. on Friday morning, and I’m waiting in the car for Elizabeth, looking at a picture of us on my phone. I’d taken it after her Monday shift, when we were snuggled down in bed together to watch stuff, with her new fluffy socks and the chocolate I’d brought, a hot water bottle nestled between us.
It was the first time we’d been in her apartment and not ended up having sex, but we were still having an amazing time, even if she’d laughed at me for Googling how to help her when she’s on her period.
I know it’s probably stupid, a man in his mid-twenties not knowing how to look after his girl during her time of the month, but I’ve never had to think about that shit before, and I wanted to make sure I was treating her right. When it comes to relationships, I don’t exactly have the best rolemodels; there’s no way in a million years Frank would have ever bought my mom chocolate or a hot water bottle, I want to be better than him.
This picture of us makes me so fucking happy, I wish I could set it as my lock screen, like the other guys do when they have a girlfriend, but we’re still keeping us quiet. In the photo, we’re lying on our backs with the camera held above us, she’s looking up into the camera smiling while I’m nuzzling into the side of her face, my eyes closed, completely happy. She loves it too, so I sent it to her, and knowing that she probably looks at it makes me smile.
The passenger side door opens, and in she sits, a huge grin on her face.
“Hey,” she says, leaning over the center console to kiss me.
