“Hey,” he said.
“Meow,” Boo said.
“I brought Boo,” I explained unnecessarily. “I hope that’s all right. He doesn’t like the way Nick serves his breakfast.”
Vance grinned but didn’t say anything. I decided to take this as an all clear for the uninvited feline houseguest.
“Learn anything?” Vance asked.
“I learned that Luke hogs all the action,” I replied.
Vance’s grin turned to a smile.
I was standing by the dining room table and it seemed that Vance was far away.
I felt weird. I’d never had a sleepover at my boyfriend’s (or whatever) house. I mean, I did have a sleepover but that was a break-up/make-up session that included a rousing fight, unbelievable sex and a heartbreaking misunderstanding. I hoped this wasn’t going to be the same (though the unbelievable sex wouldn’t be unwelcome).
I needed him to make a move but he seemed happy where he was.
Hmm.
“I’m going to take a bubble bath,” I announced.
The vibe changed, his tractor beam flipped on and I felt my body lean towards him.
Finally he walked toward me, grabbed my bag off my shoulder and then walked away. I followed him to the bedroom. He dumped my bag on the bed and then he lay down, picked up his book and started reading.
Okay then, tractor beam malfunction.
I got my stuff, took a long bubble bath, lotioned up with cucumber melon and put on my new nightie, soft, pale lemon silk with an edge of peach lace that hit the tops of my thighs. I yanked on my new lacy, white hipsters. I’d bundled my hair in a lose knot with a ponytail holder at the top of my head. I left my bathroom stuff where it was, gathered up my clothes and went to the bedroom.
The house was dark but the light was on in the bedroom. My bag was now on the floor, Vance was under the covers, Boo lying on his stomach, making himself at home. Vance’s chest was bare and he was up on pillows, reading, his fingers rubbing Boo’s neck.
When I entered Vance’s eyes cut to me. I rushed to my side of the bed trying not to look like I was rushing. I dumped my clothes, climbed in and confiscated Boo for a cuddle. Boo had been comfy and protested.
“Hush, Boo. Mommy wants a cuddle,” I told him.
“Meow.”
“Hush.”
I felt like an idiot talking to my cat, taking a bubble bath, having a boyfriend.
I was kind of flipping out.
This was normal stuff that normal girls do.
I’d never been normal. I’d always been kind of a freak.
And anyway, Vance was hot. I often forgot how hot he was, what with us arguing most of the time. He was just as beautiful lying in bed reading as he was kicking bad guy ass. Being reminded of that fact without him moving inside me or in a heated discussion with me made me feel… unsure.
We’d not had many quiet, normal, mellow times, hardly any. I found I couldn’t handle it.
“I can’t handle this,” I told Vance, letting Boo go. Boo hustled to the end of the bed, plopped down on his side and gave me a glare.
“What?” Vance asked.
“This,” I threw my arm out. Boo had given up the glare and started cleaning his face with his paw likely washing away cucumber melon lotion residue.