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Twenty-One
Shaw
Baskingin the newness of a relationship that has taken it to the next level was short lived. While I would have loved to be wrapped up in bed naked with Summer for the rest of the day, she had a business to run and I had a site visit for my summer GED classroom and a meeting with one of the administrators.
We showered together, and as soon as I made sure that Summer was properly cleaned, I dirtied her up again for the excuse that I missed a spot, so I should just start all over again. I made her come twice in the shower and I know and now I was sure that I knew what pure happiness was.
There was no awkwardness from the morning after that I can tell and from our interactions from this morning, we’re the best we’ve ever been.
After a boring day, I just wanted Summer to come back and for us to go back into our cocoon, except she was closing the store tonight and I was properly worn out.
I was asleep on the couch with the television on when Summer came home from her day. She didn’t wake me, but covered me with a blanket and retreated to her room. I woke up in the middle of the night to a dark house, rolled off the couch, then stumbled down the hallway. I walked past the open door to the room that Summer was staying in, to it being empty. I took the few extra steps to my bedroom and was relieved that there, in the center of my bed, laid Summer. She hugged my pillow to her and took up more than half of the bed, but I was happy to see her here rather than in the other room. When we were both fully awake, we would need to talk about what this relationship now means for the official sleeping arrangements of the house, but for right now, I pulled off my sweats and shirt to climb in beside her. Slowly, I replaced my pillow with my body and as she snuggled into me; I smiled at the feeling of how this whole relationship has made me feel.
The early morninglight shone in from the blinds and my bed is missing a beautiful brunette who was here when I came to bed last night. I slowly move to a sitting position and grab my shirt off the floor. I step into my sweatpants and go in search of Summer.
She isn’t anywhere in the house and when I peek out the front door, her car isn’t in the driveway beside my own. I wander through the house in confusion.
It isn’t time for the bookstore to open, and I don’t see any notes anywhere that I can see. I run my hand through my hair, and retreat back to my bedroom to grab my towels to start on my day.
I come out of the shower to find Summer sitting on my bed looking contemplative and staring at the blank wall across from where she’s sitting.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Huh?” she looks up in confusion.
“Is everything okay? You weren’t around when I woke up,” I ask her, sitting down beside her in my towel.
“I went for a jog,” she says simply.
“A jog? You don’t run.”
“Okay, so I went for a walk. I woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep, so I went for a walk,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “You know me too well.”
“A walk. Is this because of what happened last night?” I ask.
“No. Yes. No. I’m happy. It’s nothing about you and me. That’s all alright. I just had a lot on my mind and I thought that walking would clear it right up.”
Unsure of where she’s going, I decide to see if she will confide in me a little more.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask.
“You remember my staff who never showed up and I had to go back to the store that one night?”
I nod.
“Well, if you’ve noticed, I’ve been working a little more. She still hasn’t returned any phone calls, so I’ve been trying to brainstorm what my next move is. I obviously need to hire someone else, or I’m going to spread myself too thin.”
“So, you went on a walk?” I say in a question.
“I hoped that it would get my blood pumping, in turn get my mind moving and coming up with a plan. You know that if I’m in planning mode, I need to be moving,” she says.
“Figure any of it out?”
“Not a single bit. All I know is that I will need to hire someone in place of her and will need to work more until then.”
“I can call my mom, you know she loves books and would be a helpful person to do some stuff in the shop.”
She looks at me, her eyes warming, and takes an audible breath while running her hand through her messy hair.
