Tomorrow is Friday. Thank god.

The house is quiet when I get back. The soft grays of your décor glow like fog in the late afternoon light. Jasper wanted to come along, but I told him no. All I really want to do is find that little bubble within your arms, but you're nowhere to be found. I feel so out of place creeping down the hallway, looking for you.

Then there you are with sleep-tousled hair, rubbing tired eyes with lazy hands. Standing in your doorway, your sleep pants hang low on your hips and your chest is bare, proving that older men really can have nice bodies. I've caught you mid-yawn, and I laugh as you try to catch it.

"Hey," you say with that smile I love. "I thought I heard you. How was school?"

"Same as ever." I shrug my shoulders. "I couldn't wait to get back here though."

Those gorgeous greens seem to study me for a bit before you open up your arms. A true smile dons my face as I rush into them. You pet my hair as I lay my cheek against your heart, the soft pitter-patter soothing to my frazzled nerves.

"Thank you so much," I whisper.

"For what?" you ask.

"The lunch. It was awesome. I haven't had one like that in so long."

I feel you smile against my hair as you press a quick kiss to the top of head. "I'm glad you liked it. I just want to make you happy."

I rub away imaginary tears across your chest, and your arms tighten around me. "You do. So much. I'm glad I have you after everything."

We stand there in the silence. It isn't tense like the silences I experienced at school. This one is love, all consuming love. You've been in my life for so long that it's hard not to love you, but I can feel it. Here and now. Something has changed. That love has changed. Morphed into something new.

And you know it too. I can tell by the way you still keep your arm around my waist as you lead me into the kitchen. When you grip me by the hips and help me into the barstool. When you cup my face and rub my cheeks with tender thumbs, saying, "Wait a second. I'll get you a snack."

You move so fluidly as you cut up the celery and spoon out the peanut butter before placing the raisin along the log. You lick at a bit on your finger and wink when you catch me watching. You pop a few raisins into your mouth and say "no way. You wait" when I try to take some too, and when you finally place the plate in front of me, my tummy is grumbling with so much desire that I can't help but scarf down the healthy-ness of it all, much to your approving gorgeous greens.

While my tongue battles the sticky in my mouth, you walk around the kitchen island until you're standing behind me. You sweep my hair off my shoulders, gently pulling it into a low ponytail and then sweeping it to the side. I can feel your breath on my exposed neck as you lean in close. Your chin rests near my ear as your arms come around to lay against my satisfied tummy.

And then you say, "Eat up, baby girl. I want you to grow big and strong."