Page 83 of Tito

“You’re cute when you cook,” I said. “You always sing when you’re doing it.”

She laughed. “I don’t know why, either. I’ve always done it.”

I was fascinated by Reggie and was embarrassed to admit it. Everything about her brought a smile to my face. The way she squinted when was trying to make a decision. Watching her rifle through her clothes in the morning, incapable of deciding what she would wear. How she sang every time she prepared a meal or fixed her hair.

“You sing when you fix your hair, too,” I said.

“Yeah. Maybe it’s a focus thing. You know, some people hum when they’re focused. Maybe I sing.”

“Well,” I said. “It’s cute.”

“I don’t want this to sound like some cheesy line from a book, but I look around now, and I can’t believe this is my life. It’s almost like I can’t fathom that I deserve you.”

“You wonder if you deserve me?” I coughed out the words. “I feel the same way about you. I was just thinking how every morning when I wake up that I roll over and look at you just to make sure you’re still there. Waking up beside you is so much better than waking up alone. It’s going to take some getting used to, though.”

“You’re not used to it yet?”

I couldn’t get used to holding her hand when we walked wherever we were walking, but not holding it seemed like a crime. Sleeping with her was going to take some serious time to get accustomed to.

“I’ve been sleeping alone my entire life,” I responded. “It’s going to take a while.”

“Haven’t you had a live-in girlfriend, or anything?”

I squeezed her hand. “Nope.”

“Never had a girl sleep over from time to time?”

“Not once.”

She gave me a look of disbelief. “You never had a girl fall asleep in your bed?”

As hard as it was to believe, I hadn’t. I shook my head. “No, I haven’t.”

“Wow.” With my hands held in hers, she spread her arms wide, pulling me close to her chest in the process. “I’m flattered.”

I kissed her. “So am I.”

She pushed me away and gave me a puzzled look. “What have I done that flatters you?”

“It’s sad to admit that a man’s world is this way, but it is. A beautiful woman has doors of opportunity open for her that an average woman will never have the chance to walk through. Those opportunities are apportioned by men. A beautiful woman with a shitty personality can get a date with any man she wants, because the primary concern of most men is satisfying the desires of their eyes.”

“So, men are superficial pigs?”

“Yes, they are,” I replied. “In fact, most men are blind to what a woman really has to offer. I’m with you because of your values, your wit, your intelligence, your willingness to stand up for yourself, and how you make me feel when we’re intimate, not because of what you look like. That doesn’t diminish the fact that you’re beautiful. Because of that beauty, you could have had any man you want. Of the countless option before you, I’m the man you chose.” I grinned a guilty smile. “I’m flattered.”

“I don’t even know what to say,” she said.

“Don’t say anything,” I responded. “Just keep on doing what you’re doing.”

“Which is what?”

I kissed her. “Allowing me to wake up beside you.”

“I really do love you,” she said.

I laughed. “Opposed to not really loving me?”

“You know what I mean.”