Page 50 of The Sky in Summer
One step inside, I spot the reason he didn’t come to the door. He stands in the tiny kitchen, hands covered in flour and what looks like dough.
“It smells great in here.”
“Look what I made! I cooked!”
He looks adorable with the kitchen towel tucked in his waistband, and the ingredients and pans spread out on the counter.
“You are a man of many talents.”
“I attempted these little cobblers Scarlett told me about. But shit! It doesn’t look exactly like her pictures did. Do you think it makes a difference?”
“No! They smell too good to taste bad.”
“Plus, I had to open two taped boxes to find the right tools. What do you think?”
Tossing my purse to the couch, the one place to sit, I walk into the kitchen. But it is not the oddly shaped cobblers that draws my attention. I hold back the laugh that wants to come out.
“You have a crumb on your lip. Let me taste.”
His body relaxes into the idea, and messy hands try not to touch me as they wrap around my waist. When we lean in, there is a feeling of happiness, so strong it brings smiles to both our faces. We take the kiss.
“Well now, my entire presentation is blown so I can attend to your sexual needs. These cool fast and I like to cook slow,” he proclaims. “They will be cold by the time we eat them.”
“No worries. They can be warmed. By the way, Pepe Le Pew, we have more time than I thought,” I say, accompanied by one raised eyebrow.
“Really? How much more, my sweet?” He says it with a French accent and Pepe’s unmatchable desire.
“David and Tyler are spending the night at Ken’s. They’re all going to his parents’ tomorrow for a family brunch.”
I say it casually, as if it happens all the time. In reality, we get very few opportunities to spend the night.
“You buried the lead! Can you stay the night?”
“Yes,” I say, breaking out in a happy dance.
He joins me, acting as if he hears the music too. Taking my hand, he spins me then brings me close. It segues into a slow dance, complete with whispered endearments.
“I like holding you.”
We sway to the imagined tune, and I float above the scene. I’m such a fool for him. And happy to be.
“Let’s go in the bedroom and stay there till Sunday.”
“At least cover the cobblers. You did all this work. And I want to taste them!”
“All right. I’ll take care of it. Go prepare yourself to be ravaged, woman. I will be in shortly, and you can taste me.”
With a slap on my ass, I head for the bed anticipating the happy meal.
A bedroom devoid of much furniture or any artwork could look cold. Not this one. Wherever Van is, I am okay with. We could be on an ice float, and I would be smiling as we drifted away from the continent. This place is the only home of his I have known. Even though it isn’t one in the strict definition of the word. He had already sold his condo and stored most of his belongings by the time we reconnected. So we rarely stay here, and hardly stay at my place either. There have been more hotel rooms than our time together would suggest.
But tonight, there is a wide welcoming bed. Although even without one we would make do. Aurora’s loan of a card table, and a decorative plant stand doubling as a side table, two mismatched lamps, and the framed photograph of the selfie we took of us laughing on the Fourth of July, makes a perfect love nest. There I go with the L word again. Well, it wouldn’t work to call it a friends with benefits nest. It doesn’t flow.
Laying my clothes over the one chair, I slide into the bed, arranging the pillows behind me.
He bought these beautiful sheets for us to use until he leaves for Paris. Maybe in a month I will ask to keep them. It would drive me crazy to think some French woman would ever feel the softness against her nakedness. I don’t know. It might sound too creepy. It would be a shame to leave him with the memory of a clingy, needy female, who previously had only wanted friendship but now requests his used sheets.
That is not who I am, regardless of what is going on inside my head. It is a different woman who resides there. That one realizes, as bad as it is all going to end for me, I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Thank God he doesn’t have access to my deepest thoughts. He would head for the airport tonight.
