She smiles, standing from the chair, taking her plate and glass and heading in the direction of my kitchen. “You’ll have to wait and find out. We need to do the dishes first.”
“You’ve turned into quite the tease, freckles.”
“I learned from the best,” she says, turning back to offer me a wink. I watch the sway of her hips with a groan as she strides into my kitchen.
53
THOMAS
Hannah
You stole my blanket last night
Me
I did not.
Hannah
Yes, you did! I woke up and you and Arson were hogging my blanket! I thought that’s why we had separate blankets, so we don’t have this problem anymore.
Me
Apparently I need to get myself a weighted blanket too.
Hannah
Yes, you do. I’ll add a second one to my cart now.
Me
Thank you baby. Still on fortonight?
Hannah
Yes, though I would be more excited if you told me what we’re doing. You know I don’t like surprises.
Me
I know, but this is a good surprise. I promise. I’ll pick you up at your house at eight.
Hannah
Sounds good. Gotta go
Idon’t question the abrupt end in conversation, both of us are constantly being called away for work, so it’s not unusual for one of us to not respond for a few hours at a time, or send a text half crafted.
A jitter rolls through my body today as I think about what I have planned for this evening.
I’ve held off long enough, but it’s time to tell Hannah I love her. Sure, I could have told her long before now, I mean we are still technically engaged to the outside world, and practically live together, and we have a plan to discuss it again in the near future, but we’ve never taken things at a normal pace. We’re different, and that’s not a bad thing. I do know that I can’t hold back from saying how I feel about her for much longer, though. That’s why, tonight’s the night.
I have my trusty Iron Man underwear on, and a mental plan of how I want tonight to go. Sure, things don’t always go to plan, but it can’t hurt to be prepared.
Hannah left before I did this morning, so I was able to get my living room all set up. I have tea-light candles placed delicately around the room, and blankets organized in a comfy pile, and I have snacks and bubbly champagne in the fridge. Maybe it’s a bit much for a confession of love, butwe’ve done things a little bit backwards in our relationship, so I want her to know how special she is to me.
My radio beeps on the dash, pulling my thoughts away from plans for tonight.
“Possible overdose, 918 East Longview Avenue, age twenty-three.”
