It didn’t appear that Rory was going to be making any moves.It looked like his ‘big move’ was the literal move of relocating.Ihad to kiss him first.I had to offer him half my bed.
Apparently I was going to have to undress him, too.That was ok; I had a plan.
With a silly grin on my face, I shook my head mentally.Not only did he help around the house, but he helped clear my mind of everything else because just like that, worry over a test I had in two weeks was pushed to the back of my mind.
It was still there, but it was no longer the forefront of my thoughts.
I knew I was a bit of a freak about studying but this degree was a big deal to me.Yeah, the job came with a lot of zeroes behind the dollar sign, but more than that it was a career that I knew would keep me on my toes.While I didn’t want my hands literallyina surgery, I liked the idea of helping out during traumas and run-of-the-mill surgeries.
“Wearegoing to San Diego,” Rory said, his back still to me as he futzed with the stove top.I sat at the high top style kitchen table and watched him.His back muscles flexed under the fabric of his shirt and I wished I could put my hands on them.Unfortunately, we weren’t to that point in our relationship…friendship…whatever you wanted to call it.“But first, we’re going to Flagstaff.”
“What’s in Flagstaff?”I reached up to gather my hair but when I went to put it in a high bun, I realized I didn’t have my hair tie on me.Dammit Rory.I let my hair go and twisted it in a long coil, rolling it and twisting it into a true knot at the base of my head.
“Snow.”
“So we’re going to stop in Flagstaff on the way home for Christmas, forsnow.”
“Mmhm.”Rory took the pot off the burner, shutting it down.He brought the hot pot to the sink to drain the water and I lifted my chin up to try and see what type of noodle was in the pot.Rory was pretty consistent with what he cooked.
Marinara only went with spaghetti or angel hair noodles.Alfredo or pesto only went with fettuccini.Macaroni was, obviously, mac and cheese, but Rory baked that.And rotini was buttered noodles.
Rory made a lot of noodles, but I didn’t have to cook so I wasn’t complaining.
Looked like buttered noodles it was tonight.
“When did you plan on telling me we were making a stop on the way?”
He transferred the noodles into a large bowl and walked to the fridge, pulling out an entire stick of butter.My eyes widened in fear he was going to use the full stick.
Only half went in.
Only half.I smiled to myself; because that was so much better.
“It’s just a night, Em.”He stirred the noodles and butter, the movement bringing my attention to the muscles corded in his forearm.The very first weekend he was here, we went up to Sedona and did the tourist thing; it had been a lot of fun!Shortly after that, the man tattooed the red rocks on his arm, saying tattoos were meant to be personal and that it signified a big life event for him.It was hard not to look too far into that.I mean, I knew his intentions; he hadn’t been quiet about that when he scared me in my garage last spring but hearing him say things like that did things to a girl, you know?
“Thought it would be a nice change,” he finished, turning to his spice rack—yes,his, because I didn’t do much beyond salt and pepper—and grabbing two glass jars.“It was meant to be a surprise but…” He didn’t measure the spices as he put them in.
Surprise, my left foot.Rory would be more upset if his “surprise” was ruined.
“I see,” I answered, a small smile on my face as I nodded slowly.Rory had something more up his sleeve, but what?“So what time are we leaving?”
“Probably ten?”Next he went into the fridge, pulling out a shredded white cheese mix.
I really enjoyed Rory’s buttered noodles.Garlic, salt, cheese…the works.
“Hey, can you do me a favor?”he asked as he finished mixing everything together and grabbed two bowls.“Double check the reservation.”He tipped his head toward his laptop.
He totally had something up his sleeve.
I stood and walked over to the counter where his laptop was set up.On the screen was an email to a client and it gave me warm fuzzies inside.Arizona was a big fitness place so it was definitely the right place for him to work on his own brand.He’d been doing extremely well the last few months and I loved listening to him get excited about it.The best parts though were when he got excited for his clients’ victories.Rory was no longer the self-centered guy he was two years ago; just another reason why I was glad I decided to give him his chance.
“Where am I going?”I asked, my hands poised over the keys.
“Just my email.Double check that that email is saved though first then in search, find ‘confirmed trip.’”He started splitting the noodles into two bowls and I did as he asked.When the confirmation email appeared, I didn’t click into it, simply saying, “It’s there.”
He looked over at me before bringing the pot to the sink.“Open it and double check the time?”I swore I caught a cocky grin on his face as he turned his head away from me.
Although my eyes narrowed, I did as he asked.Quickly, the email loaded and soon the screen was filled with what had to be the most gorgeous one-room cabin I had ever seen.
