Chapter Seventy-Seven
When I hear the alarm go off early Monday morning I keep my eyes closed, so I don't have to deal with it yet. I reach out my hand and run my palm on the ruffled sheets on the empty side of the bed next to me. I loved waking up next to him the last two mornings, and the memories we made still live vividly in my mind.
During the few weeks living together, I've realized that it actually has no downside, other than waking up without him on certain mornings. Since I never really lived with a man, I assumed sharing my private space with one constantly would cause problems for me. But it isn't the case with him. On the contrary. His closeness always fills me with calmness, he means safety, when his arms are around me, I never want them to let go. He simply is home.
On second thought, I silence the alarm, quickly get out of bed, put on a robe and rush down the stairs, assuming he could still be in the kitchen, so we might be able to share a couple more minutes before he leaves.
"Morning," he smiles at me from his seat with coffee in hand and I approach to place a kiss on his lips that taste just like the brew.
"I was hoping you'd still be home." I smile as I fold my arms around him loosely from above, craving the contact between our skin.
"I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye," he reveals his similar thoughts to mine and he slowly emerges from his seat, turns around and places his arms around my waist.
"We are pathetic." I chuckle, trying to hide my gaze from him, until I hear his voice.
"Nah, we are in love," he explains and my eyes find back to his again, reflecting the same feelings.
Our lips unite in a loving kiss that we only break off when we hear some noise coming from upstairs.
"I have to go." He distances himself from me, but reaches for both my hands to keep some contact. "Will you call me after you talk to the doctor?"
"I promise, but I have a feeling it will be alright." I kiss him again briefly.
"Me too."
With one hand he reaches for his mug and finishes the rest of his coffee, while he's still holding my other hand.
And instead of letting go of his hand I follow him to the door and say goodbye with another kiss. When the door closes behind him, I lean against it with a smile on my face. My week couldn't have started better.
o-o-o
"Diane, what a nice surprise." Alicia's welcoming smile leaves no doubt that she is happy to see me at their door and I greet her with a hug.
"Hi, hope I'm not disturbing?" I ask even though she already answered my question earlier with her reaction.
"Nonsense, you know that you're always welcome," she reassures me, closing the front door behind us, while I look around, trying to find the person I'm here to see.
"Is Will home?" I turn to my friend again. Her husband and I didn't have a chance to talk at the school during the day and when I tried to find him later he'd already left.
"He is helping Millie with her homework," she explains as we enter their living room.
"Did he tell you anything about Friday?" I turn to my friend nervously.
"What do you mean?" She doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about, so I decide to fill her in.
"I think I unintentionally offended him, so I've come to apologize," I explain my probably very unusual behavior.
"He didn't mention anything like that." Alicia reassures me with a smile that I return for a split second.
"I really need to speak to him, it won't take long."
Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but I feel it's the right thing to do. He is not only my closest colleague, but also a dear friend, and he didn't deserve my moody reactions, even if I was able to justify them under the circumstances.
"I'll go and get him."
She rushes up the stairs and soon I hear different steps coming back down.
"Hi, " I greet him insecurely, "sorry for the interference, I promise to be quick."
Now that he's standing in front of me, I feel a bit embarrassed for my possibly immature reaction.
"Is everything all right?" He doesn't seem to know what my visit could be about.
"Yes, I just wanted to apologize for Friday," I reveal, but I still don't see any reaction on his face.
"What for? I don't remember anything," he reassures me that whatever happened on Friday, he already moved on as I probably should have as well. But I couldn't, and now that the reason behind my bad mood back then completely disappeared, it is easier to come clean to him.
"I was just nervous because my family made me go to a full check-up at the hospital last week and the doctor called me Friday during the conference and I couldn't reach him later. I'm sorry, I just didn't want to talk about it, not until I knew the results." It feels good to be honest with him now.
"You really don't owe me an explanation," he reassures me, but I can already see in his eyes that he appreciates me opening up to him.
"I think I do." I stand his gaze with a smile.
"So the results are good?" He guesses right.
"Yes, they seem in accordance with my age, they didn't find anything out of the ordinary."
After talking to the doctor this weight that had been there for a week was finally off my shoulders and I could just go back to my previous state of mind.
"I'm glad." His honest smile is all I need to see to know we are all right again.
"These are for you. Kurt made them yesterday." I take out the box of cookies from my bag that I brought along as a peace offering, not that I really needed to.
"Thank you, both." He takes the box of sweets happily and opens it to grab one right away. "Do you have time for a drink?" He suggests something I have a hard time rejecting, but I have no choice.
"I would, but he's waiting for me in the car. Raincheck?" I offer, because I would hate to disappoint him again, even though I know he understands.
"Of course. Tell him I say hi and that the cookies are delicious." Chewing on one of the cookies he doesn't seem disappointed at all.
"And you please say bye to Alicia for me. See you tomorrow."
I leave their house in a rush, hoping I didn't make Kurt wait for too long, but I see him patiently sitting in the car and the sight puts a smile on my face as I approach him.
"So are we celebrating tonight?" He turns to me when I get into the car next to him.
"Well…, the doctor said I should exercise regularly." I remind him as I place my palm on his thigh daringly.
"And what kind of exercise do you think he had in mind?" He looks from my hand to my eyes, stressing the word to make sure I know he's aware of what I mean.
"He didn't say." I slowly pull my hand back and turn from him, but I instantly feel his hand on my thigh, making me shiver.
"I can think of one that we could do together," he explains, as he runs his palm down my inner thigh and I can already feel what I started is a dangerous game to play in the car, in front of my friends' house.
"Then you better drive us home quickly."
