2. The Bread, Dog, Cat, Orange, Sun, House, Love, Cup
Delphine eventually picked out some sweatpants and a large t-shirt, warning Cosima that they would probably be too big. After Cosima closed the door to the bathroom, Delphine retrieved her laptop from her desk in hopes of providing a little more direction, if possible, for the woman.
The woman who was undressing in her home.
She couldn't seem to rid her head of the troublesome and unwelcome craving for Cosima to stay as long as possible. Delphine was promptly brought back to reality when the bathroom door creaked open and a much dryer-looking Cosima stepped out. Delphine couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth in a poor attempt to muffle the sound. Cosima looked like she had draped a long grey blanket over her shoulders and wrapped the rest around her legs. Granted, she was wearing some of Delphine's loosest clothing.
"Yeah yeah, laugh at the shorty," she scrunched her face in the cutest expression of contempt. Cosima sauntered over to the couch where Delphine sat, who barely squeezed in a half-hearted apology through waves of giggles. She dropped down on the couch as Delphine wore herself out of her laughing fit, only made worse by Cosima's adorable smirk.
"I, em, I thought maybe your destination could be easier to find with the assistance of technology that isn't currently incapacitated," Delphine gestured to her computer with the browser opened, but Cosima just looked at her, gaping and causing Delphine to blush slightly.
"Dude, like, how long have you lived in America?"
"Almost four years, why?"
"Your English is impeccable. Sadly, much better than most people who have been here their entire lives," Cosima said with a grin but shaking her head in disappointment at her fellow nation-mates.
Delphine couldn't help the pink tint that seemed to be making a comfortable home on her cheeks. She stuttered a few indiscernible noises in response and quickly looked back to her laptop's screen. "So…do you have the address to…" Delphine pointed to the browser, trailing off.
"Oh!" Cosima grabbed her phone from her small bag, but paused when she saw the cracked face, reminding her of her unfortunate blunder. She looked back up at Delphine slowly with an apologetic look in her eyes, "Uh, I think it's, like, apartment 12…or maybe 21 somewhere…in town? That's all I got".
"Oh, well I guess we'll just have to wait so you can call your friend," Delphine laughed nervously, secretly happier than she should be about the delay. Why was she so giddy? This poor woman was lost and in a stranger's home (out of desperation, probably), and she was delighted at the presence. She felt rather greedy. "I will go bring your clothes to the dryer downstairs. You can find something to watch if you like". Delphine got up and headed to the basement with the heap of soaked clothing, not missing the matching lace undergarments that somehow got just as soaked as her shirt.
When she returned, she saw that Cosima had found an old, very cheesy, Hallmark channel holiday romance and was engrossed enough to miss Delphine's return. "I didn't know they were still playing Christmas films this time of year," Delphine said with a trace of teasing in her voice.
Cosima whipped her head around and eyed Delphine playfully, "Don't judge, French Toast," she looked back at the t.v., "their love is deep and profound".
"They're arguing. And…French Toast?"
"They're in a passionately heated discussion. And yes. French. Toast," Cosima stuck her tongue out in the most adorable way. Delphine covered her smile with an eye roll, still perplexed by these nagging emotions. "I secretly love Hallmark. Don't tell a soul or I'll have to kill you," Cosima flashed her a brilliant smile and patted the seat next to her, "Come enjoy the magic of Christmas romance in the deep South".
How could she resist? Delphine kicked off her shoes and wandered over to the reserved cushion next to Cosima. "And why do I have the privilege to know your secret?"
"Well, mon amie," Cosima (poorly) accentuated the French accent, "I currently have nothing to give you in return for your generous services. So, I'll pay you with my most secret secrets," she finished with a wink. A wink?!
Delphine shifted in her seat, blushing and pulling her lip between her teeth. "I thought you couldn't speak French," Delphine managed to redirect.
"Shh! They're about to make up," Cosima grabbed onto Delphine's wrist and focused on the television. Delphine, however, could only pay attention to the warm, gentle grip embracing her skin and how she never wanted it to stop. This woman had made herself perfectly comfortable in Delphine's home, which is something Delphine would normally take issue with, but welcomed it from Cosima. She was fascinating, she had to admit. And what was with her hair? Delphine had never seen such a style before.
Apparently, she was caught staring – again – with Cosima giving her a knowing smirk. "Never seen dreads?"
"I, em," Delphine stuttered, trying to regain composure with Cosima's hand still around her wrist and those big dark eyes staring into hers, waiting. "Dread…you are scared? I promise not to murder you".
The woman laughed and let go of Delphine's wrist, leaving her feeling deprived of a warmth she never really had ahold of. She pulled at the long dark locks that were now out of her bun and dangling from a large hair tie. "Dreadlocks. These things".
"Oh, no. I've never seen hair do that," Delphine felt the down the length of a lock Cosima stretched in her direction. She thought she saw Cosima shudder faintly and grinned to herself. She squeezed the rough tendril and several drops of rain water ran down her knuckles. She chuckled as she withdrew a few more drops, "You are so wet". Delphine's smile drops when she realizes the double meaning behind her words.
"It's not something I can control, French Fry, given the circumstances," Cosima replies with a pleasant grin, eyebrow raised.
Delphine blushed a violent red and her eyes widen as they stare at Cosima. "The c-circumstances?"
Cosima's smile grew as she pointed to the window behind them, rain still pouring loudly outside. "Hard to stay dry when that's happening".
"Oh," Delphine let out a rather forceful breath of relief, "The rain, yes". Delphine rose from the couch, turning her embarrassment to the kitchen. "How did you manage to soak everything you were wearing? Did you just stand out in the rain as soon as the storm began?"
"Oh, that, well…it's possible I may have fibbed slightly about how my phone broke". Delphine turned back to see Cosima awkwardly smiling. She crossed her arms and shrugged her shoulders so Cosima would continue. "My phone did actually face its demise in a gross pothole, the only thing I forgot to mention was that I may have accompanied it".
Delphine contained her laugh, but a large grin took place on her lips. "You poor thing. Charmant, mais maladroit".
"Don't know what maymaladwa means, but as for charming," Cosima replied with a devilish smirk again. "Well, I'm flattered". Caught off-guard once again, Delphine floundered for a moment before turning again and making her way to the kitchen.
"Do you want anything to eat or drink? I just went to the store – oh you already know that. I, em, have food and wine, and fresh baguettes. Are you hungry? I can make something, if you want," Delphine pauses, out of breath from rambling. This was not helping the hotness in her face one bit.
She felt more than heard Cosima's snicker, a short wave of air hitting the back of her neck and sending goosebumps down her back. She froze, realizing Cosima must have followed her into the kitchen and was now directly behind her. "You know, I think the problem here is that your just not French enough," Cosima stuck her tongue out as she turned herself in front of Delphine, making it necessary for the blond to look down at her, only inches away.
"I-I'm not…what?"
"Wine…baguettes. Get yourself a poodle and beret, I might believe we're actually in Paris".
Delphine's heart raced at their proximity and all she could manage was a breathy, "Oh," finding herself unable to take the much-needed step back. "I…suppose you're right," Delphine added nervously.
"I'm kidding, French, uhm...braids. Let's have wine," Cosima said excitedly with a large smile plastered across her face, clapping her hands together, and finally putting some space between them.
"You're welcome to call me Delphine, you know," Delphine said with her new semi-permanent grin, retrieving a couple glasses from the cupboard. She poured their wine and handed Cosima a glass, shivering once again as their fingers brushed. She thought she saw a smug expression flash across Cosima's face out of the corner of her eye. What was she so smug about?
Cosima took a generous gulp of her wine before replying, "When I run out of this killer French material, I think I'll be able to handle calling you Delphine". Cosima squeezed past Delphine to continue enjoying all that Hallmark had to offer, calling back to the Frenchwoman, "That's a beautiful name, by the way".
Delphine, surprised by the unexpected sincerity, held the cool glass up to her cheek for a moment, trying to bring down the rosy wash before following Cosima to the couch, "Merci. Your name is lovely as well…Co-si-ma. Unique". The dark-haired woman giggled again, a sound that was quickly becoming one of Delphine's favorites.
After finishing her second glass of wine (adding to the remnants of intoxication from the party earlier), Delphine felt much more relaxed around the girl. She wasn't sure why she was so tightly-wound in the first place. Cosima seemed to be more at ease as well, not that she needed any help. She was absorbed in the film, half-way over now, but would still turn and chat with Delphine frequently. Delphine didn't miss the many times Cosima's eyes flitted to her lips, or when her innocent touches lasted half a second more than they should. Delphine didn't mind, though. In fact, she felt herself yearning for another half-second of contact each time.
Delphine's body was growing warmer. She told herself it was from the alcohol. Admittedly, she had drank more than she usually did, just to calm the nerves that were at full attention when in the proximity of Cosima. Cosima seemed to be getting sleepy, probably a combination of the wine and the fact that it was fairly late. Even though Delphine really didn't want her time with this fascinating new woman to end, she forced herself to go check the dryer for Cosima's clothes.
When she unlocked the basement door, the dryer was quiet. Delphine was never so displeased to have laundry be finished. She shuffled over to the machine and started taking the clothes out when she discovered they were still soaking wet. They felt no dryer than when she had put them in. She glanced up at the coin slot and tiny screen that was flashing the words PUSH START and let out an exasperated sigh. She felt like an idiot for, once again, forgetting half the steps in a two-step process. Coins in. Push start. Though, she did realize that this postponed Cosima's departure. Maybe she did it subconsciously? She reluctantly pressed start and practically skipped back upstairs.
When she swung the door open, Cosima jumped, startled by the sudden noise. Delphine looked at her droopy eye lids, catching on quickly that she must have fallen asleep. She smiled to herself for no particular reason.
"You really want me to stay that bad, huh?" Cosima crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows at Delphine with that devilish grin. When Delphine only responded with half-hearted stutters, Cosima elaborated, "You've returned empty handed".
"Oh," Delphine said with a nervous laugh, "They…they were still wet, so they'll have to dry for a bit longer". Technically it was true. She was already jittery enough around Cosima, she didn't need yet another humiliation. Additionally, Cosima seemed to enjoy teasing her and providing more ammunition didn't seem wise.
"Are you gonna come watch the ending, ma chérie?" Cosima wiggled her fingers over the cushion beside her.
"I distinctly remember you saying you couldn't speak French," Delphine ventured without moving, feeling more comfortable again, "And I also distinctly remember you speaking French several times tonight – awfully". She smirked as she took a few cautious steps toward the couch.
Suddenly, Delphine felt her arm being grabbed and pulled downward, another hand grasping above the first like it was a rope being climbed. Cosima dragged her all the way to the couch until Delphine nearly collapsed on top of her, just barely catching her fall by kneeling on the couch over Cosima, bracing herself with her hand on the back of the couch. Cosima giggled, clearly at least buzzed if not drunk, but the only thing Delphine could comprehend was the closeness of their faces, noses almost touching. She could feel her heart racing, forsaking the calmness that the alcohol had brought her. A whispered string of words made it to her ears, "Le pain…chien…chat…orange…soleil…maison…amour…tasse," noses brushed, "I'm practically fluent, wouldn't you say?"
Delphine felt light-headed. Maybe this is what the Americans talk about when they hear French. It was her native language and held no significant feelings for her, but Cosima made it sound seductive, even if she was just listing off a random slew of words in a clear English accent. The American backed up a few inches and guided Delphine to a sitting position next to her, and for that, Delphine was forever grateful. "C'mon, there's only like ten minutes left of the movie, ma baguette. Enjoy the magic of Christmas love!"
And so, she did. She sat next to Cosima in a daze, watching her slowly drooping eyelids. She didn't have time to register that Cosima had fallen asleep, as she fell asleep less than a minute later, letting the credits roll into commercials on the television.