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Holly: Sorry, but I can’t read to you today. Too much to study for finals.
BEN
I get her text just as I’m setting out all the materials I need to hook myself up. The words send my stomach twisting downward.
Another day without Holly.
It’s the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and yesterday, she told me, if I started my treatment after her work shift, then she’d come by tonight.
We haven’t seen each other in a week, and I’m getting jittery. It’s like, without regular doses of her, I go into withdrawal. I’m even considering if I can push my treatment off until tomorrow, so I can go find her right now. I just want to hold her against me, hear her scold me for being irresponsible, and then kiss her long and slow until she forgets my bad behavior.
But she needs to study, and I don’t want her to think of me as a distraction.
I thought I’d have to be on my own in Denver, but Holly told me to call her when I was hooked up. So, I sat in that depressing place, surrounded by people in the same shitty situation as me, and followed her directions. She proceeded to read to me over the phone for almost the entire three-hour session. Then, she did it again two days later.
Even though I knew I was being a leech, I greedily accepted every minute of time she offered.
Now, I’m here, dreading the thought of sitting with these stupid tubes in my arms for hours with no Holly to talk to or listen to or look at. In a way, her coming to my treatments has made things worse. Now that she’s shown me how easy it can be when she’s around, getting my dialysis without her makes me want to tear my hair out and then take a bat to the machine.
I resign myself to the distraction of a movie, navigating through the digital downloads until I find Die Hard 2. Maybe some gun fights and explosions will drown out my restless thoughts.
Doesn’t work.
Instead, my mind starts developing worst-case scenarios.
Does Holly really have to study? Could she just be looking for a break from me? Am I asking too much of her? When will she get tired of me? Has she finally realized I’m broken? Why do I think I deserve her?
I’m going in circles, asking myself these unanswerable questions, when I hear Holly’s voice.
“Well, it looks like someone started without me.”
And there she is, framed in the doorway with wind-mussed hair and an armful of textbooks.
“Holly! You’re here.”
Confusion and amusement sweep over her face as she unloads her bag and stack of books on the floor next to what I’ve officially dubbed Holly’s Chair.
“Yeah. I told you I was coming.” When her coat is off, she steps up next to my seat and leans down.
She’s aiming for a kiss on my cheek, but after a week apart, I need more. My head turns at the last second, and I capture her lips. When she responds with a happy sigh, I wrap my free arm around her waist and pull her into me. Her lips curve in reaction to my antics, but she lets me hold her close, wrapping both her arms around my neck. Slowly, with great relish, I savor her mouth.
I swear, every time, the taste is even sweeter than before.
Holly eventually breaks the kiss with another sigh and untangles herself from my clutch. “You’re not being fair. I told you, I need to study.”
As she straightens, I realize her clothing is different than usual. Instead of the casual leggings or jeans, she has on a tight-fitting skirt with a dark green blouse. And heels. When she bends over to pick up a book off the floor, I’m treated to the glorious sight of Holly’s pert ass encased in the charcoal-gray material, which ends just above her knees, and her shapely calves wrapped in sheer black tights. All this leads to black heels with little straps that wrap around her slim ankles.
“You’re trying to give me a heart attack right now. You really are.”
She glances over her shoulder at me in the same way she would if I had her on my bed, taking her from behind. Somehow, I suppress my groan as that mental image overlays with the very real one in front of me.
“What do you mean?” She straightens, book clutched in her hands, worry on her face.
“This outfit. You’re like a business sex kitten.”
Holly glances down at herself, smoothing her hand over her skirt. “This is how I always dress for my internship. It’s a business office.” She goes to sit in her chair but stops when she spots her treat.
Satisfaction fills my chest as she snatches up the brown paper bag, plunging a hand into it and coming out with a chunk of flaky pastry. Now, she sits, eyes closed and lips curled happily as she munches away.
