Chapter Twenty Two – Under Covers

They made it back to Jess' house around 10:30.  As Will walked into the house, he felt incredibly awkward.  The previous evenings, he had felt quite at home.  But this evening was different.  Maybe it was because he was carrying a duffel bag full of clothes, a toothbrush, and a big can of mousse.

Jess was already headed down the hall towards the bedroom.  Will fidgeted a bit before calling to her, "Uh… Jess?"

"Rory!"  Jess shouted from the bedroom.  She had to warn him about that every night.

"Sorry.  Uh, Rory?"

"Yeah?"  She stuck her head out of the bedroom to look at him.

"What should I… uh… where do I …" Will held up the duffle bag like it was a dead rat that he'd just found.

"Oh," Jess giggled at his naivety.  "Just, bring it back here, Will."  She disappeared into the bedroom.

When Will walked into the bedroom, Jess was in the bathroom changing clothes.  She hadn't bothered to close the bathroom door, and Will was able to see her bare back reflected in the mirror.  He was so startled to see flesh that he dropped his bag.  Nothing except her bare back, but Will still felt like he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing.  He turned his back to the bathroom and looked around the bedroom trying to find something to take his mind off what he'd just seen.

"This is nice," he said and then berated himself for being so lame.

Jess came out of the bathroom.  "It's okay."

He turned to face her.  She was wearing a loose fitting, gray tank t-shirt, and loose fitting, boot cut, black exercise pants, hanging low on her hips, showing off her midriff.  She was barefoot.  She was reaching up to pull her hair into a ponytail, which made the tank shirt pull up showing off even more of her midriff.

Will swallowed hard, hoping that she didn't see his eyes travel down her body.  "So, this is my bedroom?"

"It's our bedroom, Will," she said.

Will momentarily forgot what his name was.  "Uh… we… you… I…" he stuttered.

Jess laughed.  "Will, for a reporter, you sure seem to be having a hard time finding words this evening."

Will blushed, but smiled.  "I guess, this whole thing is just making me a little nervous."

"It's okay, Will.  Seriously.  We're going to sleep in the same bed for the same reason I insist that you call me Rory all the time," Jess explained.

"Right, I just…"

"Will, you'll be safe, I promise," Jess said smiling.  As she walked past him she grabbed his bicep and squeezed it playfully trying to get him to relax.

He followed her with her eyes.  "Yeah, but are you safe?"

"Funny, Will!" Jess said as she walked out of the room.  "You're a funny guy!"

Will got comfortable, and went to find Jess.  She was out in the garden.  The landscape lights provided just enough light to make out her form.  He recognized what she was doing.

He walked through the sunroom and onto the patio.  He paused at the edge of the cement to admire her 'Proud Warrior'. 

"Hey," she said without breaking her pose.

"Hey," Will responded.  "Mind if I join you?"

Jess stopped and released her pose.  She looked at him as if she were seeing him for the first time.  "You do yoga?"

"Yes, kinda… I mean, I studied it several years ago, but I sorta lost track of it," Will responded.

Jess didn't try to hide the fact that she was examining him with her eyes.  Broad shoulders holding up his navy t-shirt.  Surprisingly defined biceps and triceps.  Loose fitting, gray sports shorts.  Lean, chiseled quads and calves.  Bare feet.  When exactly had he developed that physique she wondered.  And why hadn't she noticed it before now?

She looked into his eyes and smiled, "Well, then, lets get you reacquainted with it."