18
Alex
Eventually, Savannah’s caffeine cravings drive us to get dressed and leave the apartment. It’s a beautiful late spring day, and Manhattan sparkles in the sunlight. When she told me earlier that her plan for the day was to go to the shelter to take Molly out, I asked if I could join her. I’m not ready to part ways, and the joy she expresses when she’s around that dog is infectious. Given how readily she agrees for me to join her, I’m satisfied in knowing she’s happy to be with me as well. There’s no awkwardness between us despite last night.
And so, I find myself doing something I’ve never done before. Sipping coffee, strolling down the sidewalk, hand in hand with a woman I’ve had incredible sex with. And last night was yet another first for me. I have never spent the night with a woman, but falling asleep with Savannah in my arms felt natural, and to deny myself that pleasure would have been the worst form of torture.
My heart is light, my stress is low, and I’m simply enjoying this moment with her. There’s a peace inside of me that is new, and welcome. A sense of belonging, as if she is who I am meant to be with. And instead of running scared from that thought, I want to lean into it.
When we arrive at Forever Grey, I hold the door open for Savannah, my hand finding the small of her back as we walk in. She glances at me with a small smile, and I take pride in knowing those little acts mean something to her.
There’s someone else behind the desk, not the young woman who was working the last time we were here, but Savannah greets them pleasantly and they seem to know who she is. She grabs a leash, and we head into the kennel space to collect Molly. She really is a beautiful dog, with her brindle coloring and kind eyes. The connection between Molly and Savannah is an obvious one and I wonder why she is so intent on denying any assistance with adopting Molly. Hell, I could adopt this dog for her in an instant. I want to, I want to do lots of things to take care of Savannah. It didn’t escape my notice that all she has securing her door is a single deadbolt. For a single woman in Manhattan, she needs far better security in her home. Perhaps giving her a dog is too much, considering how new our relationship is, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let her live in an unsafe apartment. While Savannah gets Molly ready for a walk and signs her out, I take out my phone. I set a reminder to myself to speak with her landlord about the locks. Then I order a coffee maker online to be delivered to her apartment first thing tomorrow.
We take Molly to the nearby park, and wander around leisurely, letting her sniff each bush. People are enjoying the day all around us. Kids are playing. Other dogs are barking. It’s quite remarkable to me how such a simple experience as this can feel so fulfilling. And I know it’s because of the woman by my side. The sunlight bounces off her hair, which she left cascading loose down her back. Her eyes sparkle with the joy that I knew I would see in her with Molly around.
There are very few moments in my life that are memorable for me in an emotional sense. Winning my Olympic medals, seeing the first time my bank account hit seven figures and knowing I had managed to reinvent my life, opening a successful second location with Brayden, and now this moment right here. This is the first moment that will mean something to me, not because of my own achievement, but simply because of who I’m with and how I feel.
When we wander past a hot dog vendor, I pull Savannah to a stop.
“What are you doing, it isn’t even lunch time!” Her laughter hits me, bringing out a chuckle of my own.
“I’m a New Yorker. And I’m hungry. Aren’t hot dogs what we’re meant to eat?”
“Not at eleven am,” she retorts. “Besides, your accent gives you away as one hundred percentnota native New Yorker.”
I force my voice to be as American sounding as I can. “Whadaya talkin’ about?”
Savannah giggles again, and when she goes to take a bite of my hot dog, I let her, affection bringing a smile to my face. She’s changing me, in the best possible way.
The next morning, the text I was anticipating arrives as I’m sipping my own coffee and reading the morning paper.
SAVANNAH: Alex, why was a very expensive coffee maker delivered to my door this morning?
ALEX: Because I can’t bear the thought of you going without good coffee each morning.
SAVANNAH: I said I would buy some instant. You didn’t need to do this.
ALEX: But I did.
SAVANNAH: Alex…
ALEX: Savannah…
SAVANNAH: You can’t just swoop in and fix all my problems. I can handle them myself.
ALEX: It’s just a coffee maker.
Given her reaction to what I consider a small gift, I decide not to tell her about the locks I’m having installed for her on Tuesday. Perhaps I should, but I would rather beg for forgiveness with my body than ask for permission with my words.
I find out what a rookie mistake that is when she comes storming into my office Tuesday afternoon and flings the door closed behind her.
“Seriously Alex? You went behind my back and got my building super to install locks on my door? What the hell?”
She’s fuming and I shouldn’t find it such a turn on, but damnit, the woman is stunning when she’s fired up.
“I certainly did. Your apartment is not secure with just one flimsy deadbolt. It’s a travesty that it hadn’t been dealt with ages ago. I asked him to put new locks on Mrs. Ruskov’s door as well.”
I see her eyes soften slightly before she puts her hands on her hips and glares at me. “You didn’t think to ask me before doing this?”
