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By the time I was done, Dan was already sleeping on my king-sized bed.
I sighed and pulled the covers over my side of the bed. I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his lips.
No response.
“Good night, babe. I missed you so much,” I whispered.
A soft snore was my only reply and I tried to hide my disappointment.
He’s just tired from his business trip, I told myself. After all, he rushed all the way back, trying to make it to Elle’s wedding, without stopping to rest.
As my eyes fluttered close, I wondered if Oliver would have done the same, or would he have stayed awake just so we could talk a little more before we fell asleep.
My bath might have managed to keep thoughts of Oliver away but my dreams, unfortunately, were all about him.
* * *
It was past seven when I opened my bleary eyes to the world. I stretched my sleepy muscles for a bit and my hands felt the cool sheets beside me.
Dan was already gone.
My heart sank in disappointment as I hastily put on my robe and rushed downstairs, hoping to catch him and have some coffee for a bit before he left. He had been really busy the past few weeks, but I supposed it came with a job that pays well.
I found him standing by the doorway, putting his shoes on. He was already fully dressed and this time, I couldn’t keep the disappointment from showing on my face.
He looked up and gave me an apologetic smile. “I had to get up early and I didn’t want to wake you up,” he walked over and pressed a light kiss on my cheek. “You looked so peaceful, I just didn’t have the heart to.”
“But you just got back,” I didn’t mean for my voice to sound so whiny. “Will you be home for dinner?”
He sighed. “I don’t know, babe. We’re working on a really big project right now. It could get late, so don’t wait up for me.”
He reached for his briefcase but Buddy, who probably heard us talking, was already by my side and snapped at his fingers. Dan drew his hand back with a disgusted face. “Let me just get my suitcase, you stupid dog!”
My arms immediately went around Buddy, who was still growling as Dan closed the door behind him. It was rather mean of me, but for a while there, I kind of wished that he’d managed to bite his fingers so he’d have to take time off work as I took him to the hospital.
I sighed and just sat there for a while as Buddy licked my face. I tried to understand Dan—I really did—but sometimes, I wished he had more time for me. Lately, it had been all about his work and when he got home, he was always too tired to hold a decent conversation with me.
His relationship with Buddy—which was never the best to begin with—deteriorated as he became more hotheaded. My dog, who’d always been spoken to with love and affection, returned his treatment with equal rancor.
If it had been Oliver, though, he wouldn’t have snapped at Buddy the way Dan did. Oliver loved dogs and he adored Buddy.
But Oliver is in the past!I chided myself again.
A past with a great ass, the devil snickered on my shoulder.
Almost unbidden, the memories of our stolen moments from so long ago filtered into my mind. We had been teenagers, then. Inhibitions weren’t part of our biological makeup and we had…done stuff thatI shouldn’t be thinking about now that I am in a relationship with another man!
I sighed in frustration and went back to my room to prepare the things I needed, stopping by to check the big, brightly colored notebook where I had written down my plans for my students. It was a bright and sunny Monday morning, but I was feeling so out of sorts with Oliver coming back and Dan hardly beingpresent.
“It’s the first day of the week and I’m already going crazy, Bud,” I told him as we made our way to the kitchen. “Maybe we can go to the hill later, hmm? We can unwind for a bit before we come back home. You’d like that, right?”
Buddy let out an excited bark and I laughed as I prepared some breakfast.
Hopefully, my sanity will be back in working order after we’ve both eaten.
* * *
The day went by surprisingly well, considering how badly it started. The kids, refreshed from the weekend, were especially lively and I enjoyed today’s class immensely.
