Page 90 of Body Shot

“You have to rest tonight. Not like last night.”

We both chuckle since we hadn’t done much sleeping the night before.

“I will. Don’t worry about me.”

There’s a poignant silence between us, as if we’re both painfully aware of how little time we have left together, and I’m suddenly resentful of my mother for imposing this on us. I wanted them to meet him, but not at the expense of our time together.

“It’s okay,” he says quietly. “I’ll be back for Thanksgiving.”

“That’s five or six weeks away,” I say with a sigh.

“Yeah, but time will fly. You’re blowing through your training class and pretty soon you’ll be done with your probation and can work from wherever I am.”

That’s a cheery thought.

“Yes. We need to figure out Christmas too, because flights are getting more and more expensive. I think I could fly out on Christmas Day, in the evening. We usually celebrate on Christmas Eve. We have family over and open presents at midnight. We have brunch in the morning and then it’s usually pretty lazy the rest of the day. So I could fly to Lauderdale and stay with you until you have to travel or whatever.”

“Let’s figure out the exact dates so I can buy the ticket for you.”

“You don’t have to—” I start to say.

He holds up a hand. “Don’t do that. You’re just getting started in your career—I’m quite a few million dollars into mine. I can buy my girlfriend a plane ticket for the holidays. Please don’t be stubborn about things like this.”

I want to protest, but at the same time, I don’t.

Ilikethat he wants to spoil me.

I like the feeling that we’re already in a serious relationship and making plans for the future.

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll be gracious about things like this. Just know that I kind of like the idea of paying my own way. At least, sometimes.”

“And I’ll let you. But you’ve barely gotten a month of wages. Take your time and settle into your spending, budget, etc. I know you’re smart and have a good head on your shoulders, but it probably feels like a lot of money, and you should spend it on things you want.”

“I want to spend time with you.”

“And we will. But let me take on stuff like this so you can buy your own car. Deal?”

“Oh. Yes.” I smile. “Deal.”

He nods. “Good. Now, let’s get inside. The sooner we get the dinner-with-parents portion of the evening over with, the sooner I can take you back to bed.”

“I like the sound of that.”

We get out of the SUV and head inside.

“Hello!” I call out. “Anybody home?”

“Hi!” Mom comes out of the kitchen holding a towel. “Welcome!”

“Hello, Laura.” He hands her the bottle of wine he’d picked up earlier. “Claudia said we were having pot roast, so I thought red wine would go with the meal.”

“Thank you!” She accepts the bottle of wine with one hand and hugs him with her free arm. “That was very thoughtful.”

“No problem at all.”

We walk into the kitchen where Dad is getting a beer out of the fridge and proffers him one. “You a beer drinker, Anders? I have Labatt’s and Sam Adams.”

“I’ll take a Labatt’s,” Anders said, taking it from him. “Nothing like a good Canadian beer.”

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