What a whirlwind morning it’s been, but I somehow feel like I must’ve done something right in my lifetime to be experiencing this. A year ago, I would’ve done anything to spend time with Demi. I’ve been hopelessly, pathetically, crazy about her since the day I laid eyes on her, and any time I thought the feelings would pass or subside, that day just never came.
“I wouldn’t last five seconds in an ice bath…you must be crazy.” She chuckles to herself, a delicate hand covering her mouth as she chews.
“It’s really just the initial moment. You get in and you’re immediately thinkingthis sucks, get me out. But once you get past the first few seconds your body adapts. There are a ton of benefits to ice baths.”
“Well, I believe you, but I know myself. I’d get in and hop out immediately.”
I lift my shoulders in a shrug. Maybe one day I can convince her to take a dip in mine.
We both finish our omelets, and she leans back in the barstool as she crosses her leg over her knee.
“So, what are your plans today?” I ask, pulling our plates into the sink and leaning my back against the counter.
Her arms cross over her chest, and I subconsciously mimic the motion.
“I have today off, so…” she says, leaving her sentence open-ended.
“Me too.”
We hold a stare for a few moments. A Yellowcard song streams in the background from my phone near the fridge, and I find myself internally toying with the idea of asking her to hang out. No expectations. Nothing unsavory. Just time together.
If I’m being honest with myself, that’s really all I’ve ever wanted with her. More time to get to know her. To see what makes her tick, what makes her happy, to know what fills her cup, and even things that make her see red. I know there are layers to Demi outside of what she lets people see.
And I don’t know if I’m right—I hope I am—but I just feel like she might let me in.
“Well, how do you feel about being off today—together?” I hold my breath at the end of that sentence.
“You want to spend your one day off with me?”
I push myself off the counter and circle the island, bringing myself to her side. God, I fucking love her hair like this. Her face. Her dimples when she smiles, and the depth in her eyes under those dark brown eyelashes.
“Dem, if I had only one hour off, I’d want to spend it with you.”
Her gaze on me softens, and I see the tiniest sliver of hope behind her eyes. She moves off the barstool, both hands clasping together in front of her as she fidgets for a moment.
“Sure,” she finally says as her shoulders relax. “Show me what an off day for you looks like.”
I smile softly, taking two steps closer to her. I half expect her to step back, but she doesn’t and I’m close enough to lean down and kiss her again. Something I’ve thought about doing again since the second the last one ended.
“I don’t typically leave my apartment on off days.”
“Starting off strong.” She pulls at the sleeve of her cardigan.
“Honestly?” I chuckle, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “I’ll couch rot all day if I’m able to. A movie,Grey’sreruns, binge a new show, naps. If I need a break from that, I’ll do a puzzle.”
“I did read somewhere that you puzzle a lot in the offseason.” She giggles, her cute nose scrunching as she does.
“You read right. You want to do one with me?”
She swallows and her eyes shift from locking with mine down to my mouth. She doesn’t try to hide it at first. It isn’t until she probably catches herself staring that she shakes herself out of it and takes a step to the side, placing a hand on the countertop and her other on her hip.
“I might need a second cup of coffee first.”
“I can order us some,” I offer. “Anywhere you want. I’ll have some delivered.”
“Or I can go next door and grab some café con leche from my kitchen.”
“That sounds even better.”
