“I see.”
“So again, who’s the lucky girl?” he repeats, sitting down and kicking his feet up on my desk.
He looks calm and doesn’t seem to know who I was talking to, which is good. Maybe I can talk about her without giving her away. I can’t exactly brush it off like it was nothing. I called herbaby.
“Just someone I met recently. I’m trying things out to see where they go,” I say, giving a half-truth.
“Well, tell me about this person.” I just stare at him for several seconds. “Come on, you gotta give me something. You haven’t used pet names on anyone…ever.”
I think about his comment for a moment. He might actually be right. I honestly don’t think I ever have, either. I’ve had relationships, but none of them were ever that serious.
“She’s special,” I admit.More than he’ll ever know.
“Must be, when do I get to meet her?”
“Not ‘til I’m more serious about her.”
“It’s already pretty serious if you’re using pet names and talking about getting off work early to go see her.”
“We’re just figuring things out right now.”
“Well, I’m happy for you, man. I’ll let you get out of here so you can go get your lady.”
I nod. “I’ll see you on Wednesday?”
“Yeah, see you then.”
With that, he gets up and leaves, taking his suit coat with him and shutting the door behind him.
I take a deep breath and run my hands through my hair.
That was a close one.
Too close.
When I get home, Sloane and Mocha are curled up on the couch, both of them fast asleep.
It’s not late, a little bit after six, but she stayed up late last night with Mocha ‘cause he was whining.
I take her laptop off her lap, remove her glasses, and I set them on the coffee table.
She mumbles, and I kiss her forehead.
“It’s ok, just sleep, baby,” I whisper, grabbing a blanket off the armchair, draping it over them. Mocha’s curled in a ball on her chest, his little face buried in her neck.
I watch them sleep for a few more minutes before going to my room. I change out of my work clothes and into something more comfortable.
I head to the kitchen and look in the fridge to see what she grabbed. I smile as I see some thick steaks and some potatoes.
I pull them out and begin prepping dinner. I wash and wrap two potatoes in tinfoil, place them in the oven, then head outside and turn on the grill. While the grill is heating up I season the steaks. I smile when I see that she grabbed a little steak for Mocha, I assume. I leave his unseasoned, take them back out, and place them on the grill. After going back inside, I begin to prep the toppings for the baked potatoes.
I hear her get off the couch, but I pretend not to, even when she’s right behind me, and she buries her face in my back, her arms wrapping around my middle.
“Morning, sleepy head,” I tease.
“Hey,” she says, pressing a kiss to my bare back.
There’s a little bark near my feet, and Mocha licks my foot.
