“Great. If you’re still here when it stops raining we can go by the apiary,” Ginnysays.
“Oh! You guys keep bees?” I can’t hide my excitement. During the Dorrit case, the science of all things bees was all that kept my interest during all the longnights.
“Sure do,” Mayasays.
“Well hopefully this weather clears upsoon.”
We say our goodbyes to his friends, then I help Silas clean up the kitchen table. “I reallylike
them,” I say as I put the few leftover beers in the fridge. It dawns on me then. For the first time in a long time, I’m kind of happy. I find myself smiling when I turn around to faceSilas.
“They loved you, so now they are going to want to hang out with you the rest of the time you’rehere.”
“They are better company than thedogs.”
“You hear that, Honey?” He squats down beside the half asleep puppy who parked it by our chairs a few hours ago. He makes a show of lifting up her ears. “She doesn’t like youeither.”
“Hey, I never said that! I like Honeycrisp just fine and Joe doesn’t seem to be bothering anyone. The other three are just always staring atme.”
Silas stands and fixes me with a cold look. “Please use his given name. He’s lived too long to be reduced to justJoe.”
“I can’t believe you named your dog JoeNamath.”
“Ididn’t.”
“Oh.”
“Enough about the dogs. I’m gonna get to mybed.”
“I suppose I’ll join you. Two head injuries in one week are enough to wear a girlout.”
“Huh?”
“I broke the guy’s nose with the back of myhead.”
He whispers, “Fuck,” under hisbreath.
“Yeah. Good times. Let’s go tobed.”
“After you,” Silas moves out of the way so I can head down the hall. I hear the light switches flicking off in the kitchen behind me. Only Honeycrisp and Morty follow us to the bedroom. Honeycrisp hops up in her chair, probably waiting for us to get settled before she wiggles her way between us. Morty sits in the corner waiting for the next part of the evening to begin. Hopefully he won’t be staring at us while we sleep. I go over to my bag to grab my sleep shorts, and when I turn around Silas is standing on the other side of the bed holding a box of condoms and a small bottle oflube.
“I’m not trying to imply anything. And I know the boyfriend/girlfriend part of the night is over. We’re not pretending anymore,” he says. “But I figured it was better to be prepared just incase.”
“Just in case what?” I ask slowly. “Just in case we decide to do more thankiss?”
“Yeah,” he says. All that’s missing is the “DUH!” He tosses the condom and the lube in the center of the bed, like he’s throwing down the gauntlet. It’s one thing to ensure enthusiastic consent, but he really isn’t joking when he says he’s terrible with women. I’ve been with some awkward men in my life, both personally and professionally, and I’ve had some pretty strange propositions, but this is somethingspecial.
I sit on the edge of the bed and reach for the condoms and lube. The extra large condoms are definitely necessary, but I’m almost laughing at the thought of what I’m supposed to do with this tiny bottle of lube. Not that we’ll actually need it for what I think he has in mind. I’m still wet. I turn it over in my hand, then look up atSilas.
“I was dreaming that we were having sex last night too,” Iadmit.
“Youwere?”
“Do you want to have sex with me now, Silas?” Iask.
He stares at me blankly for a moment, like I just asked him a question that’s caught him off guard. I wonder if he forgets that he just tossed sex accessories in my direction. He blinks and then heresponds.
“Yes. Ido.”
