I stepped behind her, kissing her cheek. She giggled, the sound lighting up the room.
“How can I help?” I asked.
“Grab plates from that cabinet,” she said, nodding toward the kitchen island.
I followed her instructions, then poured coffee for us, remembering how she liked it.
“I know you have a sweet tooth,” I teased as I placed her mug on the counter.
She smiled, a little shy. “Bad addiction.”
“I like it,” I said, watching her as she plated our breakfast.
We sat at the counter, eating like we did this every morning. It felt easy, natural, like a life we could have together.
My phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me out of the moment. It was a text from Blake.
Blake: Hey baby, just thinking about you. Hope your headache is better.
I wanted to ignore it, to stay in this bubble with Natalie, but she noticed my hesitation.
“You can respond,” she said softly.
“It’s okay,” I replied, setting the phone down. She didn’t push, but I could tell she knew exactly who it was.
After breakfast, we cleaned up, and Natalie suggested a trip to the farmer’s market.
“I thought we’d spend all day in bed, naked,” I said with a smirk, picking her up and carrying her back to her room.
She laughed, and we tumbled onto the bed. The rest of the day blurred into naps, a movie, and more moments of lovemaking and laughter.
We must have fallen asleep. By the time I checked my phone again, the sun was hanging lower, and it was almost 5:30. Blake had texted three more times:
Blake: Just checking to see if you’re okay.
Blake: I’m starting to get worried.
Blake: Are you alive?
Will: Sorry, I lost my phone in the Uber. Just got it back.
I was turning into a lying asshole.
Her response was immediate, followed by a photo of her in lingerie:
Blake: Thank goodness. Call me later if you want to come over.
I knew I wouldn’t.
Natalie stirred beside me, stretching her arms over her head. “
“What time is it?” She asked sleepily.
“A little after 5:30.”
“Oh no, I need to get up. I have a girls’ night to get ready for.”
I smiled. “Sounds hot.”
