08.14.08

Megan's soft, steady breathing told Auggie she was still sleeping. He kind of couldn't believe how easily she'd fallen asleep, and how soundly she'd remained that way. In television and movies, new lovers were always waking up from a sound post-coital slumber with well-rested grins and perfect makeup. In reality, Auggie had always found it difficult to share a bed with a woman (for sleeping, that is). Having another body in his bed felt extra strange to him now, since he'd been single so much longer than was normal for him. He'd gotten sleep in small intervals throughout the night, waking often when Megan would move or sigh. At one point, she'd gotten up to use the restroom, but had returned to the bed after only a minute and was out again shortly thereafter. Auggie envied her ability to do that.

But to be honest, he'd been worried that he'd have a nightmare and freak Megan out...or worse. The nightmares had become less and less frequent, but they still happened. He'd heard stories of vets coming home and attacking their wives or girlfriends in their sleep, and he was terrified of hurting her. Especially with what she'd shared with him the night before, it was probably better if he didn't rest too deeply.

So he'd dozed off and on, wondering what time it was each time he woke. But his watch was in the bathroom; he knew he just needed to get in the habit of wearing it all the time, but he'd never been a watch guy and it was hard for him to remember. And he didn't dare use the alarm clock's talk button. That'd be a hell of a thing for Megan to wake up to, he thought with a small smile, another woman's voice loudly announcing the time.

Suddenly Megan's breathing changed and he felt her shift in the bed next to him.

"Hey," she said, her voice raspy from disuse.

"Hey," he replied, shifting to face her.

"What time is it?" she wondered.

"You tell me." He pointed over her head to indicate the alarm clock on the nightstand behind her.

He heard her turn. "Oh my gosh," she groaned. "It's 7 o'clock."

He was surprised by her tone. "You in a hurry to get somewhere?"

"No, it's not that. It's just...I just crashed your life last night."

Auggie chuckled. "No, you didn't."

"I did."

"It was nice."

"'Nice?' I blue-balled you," she wailed apologetically, and Auggie laughed out loud. A cold shower had sounded pretty good for an hour or so after she'd halted the forward progress of their night. But he'd gone a long time without it; he knew he could go longer.

"I'm sorry I kinda threw a lot at you there," she said quietly. Then, "I told you I was a Lifetime Movie. This one: Girl moves back to her hometown and meets up with her first love, only to end up weeping like a psycho the minute they hit the sheets."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," he responded. "It's not the first time you've been a psycho." He heard her inhale sharply and imagined a look of indignation on her face: brown eyes wide with shock, lips forming an "O."

"What - " she sputtered.

"I'm recalling a night at Dan Spencer's house when you slapped me because...well, actually, I don't remember why."

It was Megan's turn to laugh out loud. "Oh my goodness, I'd forgotten that! Hm...you were talking to another girl, I think."

"Sounds about right," Auggie acknowledged with a nod and a grin.

They both chuckled over their shared past, and then lay there in a relaxed silence. After a minute, Megan spoke again. "I really am sorry. I don't know what came over me last night. I, I, I'm just in a weird headspace right now. And seeing you brought back so many great memories. But...I just couldn't. I'm not ready. I'm so sorry," she repeated.

"Hey," he objected. "Stop. Don't worry about it."

"Thank you for being so sweet to me. For taking care of me," she said meekly. "I'm sorry I'm so screwed up."

"We all got bruises," he said quietly. "Besides, it was kinda nice not to be the one who needed taking care of for once."

"What was it like?" she asked out-of-the-blue.

"What was what like?" he responded, perplexed.

"Being in Iraq, getting - " she stopped mid-sentence, and they both froze. Someone was walking up the stairs to his apartment. "Are you expecting someone?" she whispered frantically, and he could hear her fumble with the bedclothes, presumably to cover herself. She wasn't wearing anything but a bra and underwear.

"Not that I know of," he answered tensely, patting the comforter in search of his shirt.

"Here," she said, pressing the shirt against his shoulder.

"You put it on," he commanded, grabbing it and handing it back to her.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Just then the door flew open wide. "Rise and shine, Birthday Boy! Time to hit the water!"

Auggie felt the wetsuit thump onto his bed, as Andy realized what he'd just walked into. Or what it looked like he'd walked into, anyway.

"Oh dude, I'm sorry," he backtracked. "Yikes," he muttered as he swiftly shut the door.

Auggie dropped his head into his hands and he and Megan exhaled twin groans. "I'm so sorry about that. I forgot we're training this morning."

"Training?" she sounded surprised. "For what?"

"Chicago Triathlon," he answered as he got out of bed and felt for his pants, which he found on the floor by his desk.

"The triathlon? And today is your birthday? It's the 14th already?"

"Yep."

"Well, you're full of surprises this morning," she remarked.

Auggie laughed.

"The tattoo is new, too," she added. "I like it - it's sexy."