Chapter 10

Some unidentified sound crossed the barrier of deep sleep and, still with her eyes closed, Lou grunted unhappily, not ready yet to join the living world. She wanted to carry on sleeping and squeezed her eyes shut more tightly. The alarm of her table clock had not gone off yet, so she guessed she still had some minutes to spend in bed. However, even though she tried, she was already awake, and little by little her senses were coming back to life, and she sensed something was out of ordinary. The mattress felt different, and even the background sounds were alien to her ears. So very timidly she opened her eyes, and pushed her trunk up. Sitting on the bed she looked around. Definitely she was not in her apartment in Bay Ridge. This was a different bed, a different bedroom, different furniture… a different place.

Casting her mind back to last night's events, she remembered leaving the diner with Kid. They had gone to his apartment, he had cooked, and after dinner, they had moved onto the sofa. Kid had suggested they could watch a movie on his DVD, and he had played 'Braveheart'. Yet, neither had seen a single scene of Mel Gibson fighting the English since almost simultaneously they both turned to each other, eager to have a taste of the dessert that Kid had promised they would have. They kissed hotly, their hands frantically eager to feel and explore every single inch of each other's bodies. At some point he had been overcome by an inconvenient coughing fit and he had gone to the kitchen, and while she waited for him to return, her eyes had apathetically glanced at the television screen on which a violent battle between the Scots and the English was taking place. That was the last image she could remember, and she realized right at this moment she had foolishly fallen asleep.

Lou looked down over her figure. She was wearing a man's pajamas top and no pants. She did not remember getting out of her clothes either, so she imagined Kid had taken the trouble to make her comfortable for a good night's sleep. It did not surprise her she had not woken up at all, because when she was as tired as she had been last night, she could sleep so soundly that an earthquake could not disturb her. It was sweet of Kid to take the trouble to undress her, but at the same time she felt mortified by the idea that she had crashed in a situation where she should have been more 'aroused'.

For a few moments she remained in bed as she took in every detail in the bedroom. One could learn a lot just by having a look at somebody's bedroom, the most intimate place in a person's life. And this room oozed Kid's personality and his circumstances perfectly. She could really identify his touch in every corner. Everything in the room was in perfect order, but for a few details that broke that harmonious order like half-closed drawers and a couple of garments left carelessly on top of a chair. The furniture was decent enough. In any case, his place was nicer than hers, which meant he could afford to live more comfortably, without having to share his vital space with someone. Nobody could deny the bedroom belonged to a man. The curtains, the bedding, and most other decorative objects were too masculine, and showed that no woman had a hand in it, which Lou was glad about. She was no fool, and knew that there must have been women in Kid's life in the past ten years, but despite this knowledge, she was relieved not to perceive any evidence of his loves…no framed picture of a former girlfriend or any other painful tokens.

Wondering where Kid was, Lou finally slid out of bed. Barefoot, she ventured outside of the bedroom, and headed for the kitchen since she could hear the sound of the radio wafting from there. There he was, sitting at the table and reading the newspaper. Lou cleared her throat and as Kid noticed her, his face lit up. "Good morning," he said as he turned down the volume of the radio.

Lou silently walked towards him, and perched her body on his lap. "I fell asleep," she whispered sheepishly.

Kid smiled, clasping his left arm around her waist while his right hand rested on her thigh and stroked her bare knee. "Yes, you did. I didn't have the heart to wake you up…you looked so pretty sleeping…"

"And because of me, we missed our dessert," she said with a pout as her fingers toyed with the undone button of his shirt collar.

Kid grinned. "Oh well, I saved it for tonight, and we have all the time in the world for that," he said, his hands unable to keep still, which rubbed up and down her back. "Would you like some breakfast?"

Lou smiled, and bringing her face against him enticingly, she looked into his eyes. "Well, if you have time, I would like to have a bite now," she whispered, finishing the sentence by seductively nipping at his right ear.

Her comment made him laugh heartily. "I mean real breakfast!" he exclaimed in amusement. "Come on, I'll make some for both of us. Can't let you starve," he added, giving Kid a gentle, playful slap on her bottom as he rose to his feet.

Louise made an unhappy face, which was meant for jest, but actually expressed her very real disappointment. She did not care for breakfast; she just wanted him. How could he act so detached when all her insides were burning for him? Her shift started later today, but he would probably be leaving for work in a few minutes. How was she supposed to endure the whole day without him? Right now she hated work and the responsibilities that stood in her way to do what she wished. All she wanted was to spend the day with him, doing whatever they felt like. Maybe they could both call in sick. She never missed a single day at work, so why couldn't she break the rules just this once? She was tired of being so responsible, and she really thought the occasion was justified. Yet, she did not voice her desires and silently helped him with breakfast.

The coffee started brewing and as Kid took a couple of mugs from the cupboard above them, Lou exclaimed, "Oh my God! I can't believe you still have this!" She had snatched one of the mugs from Kid's hold, and stared at it with wide eyes. It was the cup she had given him for his birthday many years ago. They were not even a couple yet then, but Kid had invited her to his party, an invitation she had to decline because of her responsibilities that night. But she had bought him the mug as a token of friendship and gratefulness.

"It's special… just like you," he whispered and Lou blushed at the compliment. "I remember the day you gave it to me as the most wonderful day in my whole life."

"Because you got to see the Bills in the field?"

Kid chuckled. "That was good, especially in your company. But what really made my day was the end of it… the first time we kissed. I was convinced I had no possibilities with you, but thankfully I was wrong. And this mug represents that moment in life, a wonderful moment, and you can even say that over the years my first coffee in the morning was with you… and your memories."

Lou smiled, pleased by that shared moment in their past. Kid was just describing her own feelings back then. She had never thought she would end up dating a guy like him. In those times boys had been just part of the landscape for her, and she had not dared to have romantic fantasies like the girls her age. She had very special circumstances, and most boys did not have the patience to deal with her. Kid had proved to be different, and she had fallen for him almost without noticing it. They got on well, and really made a good match, with their ordinary ups and down. Lou knew that if other elements had not disrupted their relationship, they might have continued walking the same road together.

Louise shook her head to get rid of the bad sensations her memories arose. "Kid, I thought we were supposed to forget about the past. We made a deal, remember?"

"But we can't ignore we have one," he added, not understanding why she was so intent on erasing the past. It was true there were memories he would rather forget, but he really believed the good moments outweighed the bad ones. "And I wouldn't delete it for anything in the world."

Lou smiled, still eyeing the mug in her hand. "But at least, you should throw this thing away. The paint is faded and there are cracks all over it."

"Leave my poor mug alone," he replied in a light tone, snatching the mug from her grasp. "It's mine and I like it."

"I'll buy you a new one."

"Your offer is very generous, but no thanks. It wouldn't be the same," he said stubbornly, as he finally poured the coffee into the two cups. Lou shook her head in amusement at his pigheaded attitude, and Kid added, "Don't you keep any of my presents?"

"What presents?" Lou asked mischievously, making eyes at him. In the cheerful mood they were in, his hands reached for her waist, pressing on the exact points he knew would tickle her. Lou shrieked hysterically, and kept thrashing playfully in his hold. Soon enough the laughter died away as they engaged in a hot, sultry kiss. His hand started to crawl up under the shirt he had carefully got her into last night, but it stopped midway, as the phone ringing interrupted their moment.

Lou made a disappointed face when he moved away from her to answer the call. She plunked down heavily on a stool, nestling her coffee mug between her hands while watching him, pacing up and down the kitchen as he talked on the phone.

"Yes, it's me. Thanks for calling back…" he was saying and there was a long pause during which Kid tentatively listened to the person on the other end of the line. "Well, to tell you the truth, right now I don't have all the information… I first wanted to know what possibilities there are to get a go-ahead from you." Kid paused again, and then added, "Would it be okay if I dropped by in half an hour?... All right then, Ms. Fergusson, and thanks." Kid hung up and before he could say anything, Lou piped in.

"Are you leaving already?"

"I'm afraid so, honey. I need to go to my bank before work… I have to see to some matters."

Lou rose to her feet and approached him. "Can't you go tomorrow?" she asked in a husky tone as her fingers toyed with the buttons of his shirt.

"I'm afraid this is important and can't wait."

Lou lowered her eyes in obvious disappointment. "I see… something more important than me."

Kid placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head towards him. "Lou, nothing's more important than you, but I really need to do this. I promise I'll make it up to you tonight." He paused and after rummaging in one of the drawers in the kitchen, he fished out a bunch of keys, getting one out of the ring. "Take this key… it opens the front door. Make yourself at home, finish your breakfast, have a shower, and stay as long as you need. I'll come find you at the diner tonight, all right?"

Lou simply nodded. With a heavy heart she saw him grab his jacket and get ready to leave. "See you tonight," he said from the door, as he blew her a kiss, and then he just left. The sound of the door closing reverberated in the place, and she suddenly felt a huge and deep emptiness permeating all over her soul. Everything was so strange. Kid had just been a sweet memory for the last eleven years, and now after just two days she already felt his absence too much, even when he had only been gone for a few seconds. What was about him that drove her crazy? She needed to get a grip of herself and see things from another perspective. Tonight. They would be together again tonight. The idea did not sound as hopeful as it should as she thought she now had to wait more than ten hours to see him. This was going to be a real torture. Wasn't love supposed to bring nothing but happiness? She knew there was some truth in it, but she also knew that when love hurt, it hurt so much that she wanted to be dead.