Sully
By the time I finally got home, it was after midnight. I cracked the door and whistled softly. After a moment, Ranger came barreling through the room as he raced to meet me. Opening the door wide, I let the dog out into the night to do his business. Maggie had never owned a dog, and I wasn’t sure if it would have occurred to her to let him out, much less feed him. I knew what the end of the year was like for Maggie, and if I hadn’t, Emma had called to remind me. I hoped she went to bed early because I was certain that growing a baby wasn’t going to help this scenario out.
Watching my dog race around the backyard, I stared up at the night sky. The stars were out in full force and made me feel insignificant for a moment. We really were just a speck in this world. A breeze blew out of the west and brought a chill to the air. In a month or so the crops would be much taller and would cocoon the farm from any outside noise.
Ranger raced up to greet me, business complete. I gave him a good rubdown, and we moved back into the house, locking the door and turning off the lights as we went. Hitting the kitchen, I saw the note that Maggie had left on the island for me.
Dinner was amazing. Leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry. Thanks again.
M-
I looked over the note. There was only friendship there, which was fair. My notes to her were similar. I briefly wished for more, but didn’t want to rush her. Maybe when she was comfortable. Maybe after a few weeks when she felt more secure.
Ranger whined from over by the couch. Glancing in his direction, I saw the top of Maggie’s head sunk down into a cushion. Moving over, I came around to the front and took her in. Her strawberry blonde hair spilled over the pillows in waves. She was curled up on her side, with a wide band of skin at her belly exposed. Just taking in all that she was made my dick jump to attention. She was wearing leggings in some kind of headache-inducing print, but they left little to my imagination. And her tank top had tiny little straps, one of which was sliding down her shoulder. Good God, resisting her like this should earn me some type of award.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, I whispered her name. “Maggie. Mags.”
She rolled from her left side to her right, now facing the back of the couch and nestling into the pillows a bit more.
I thought briefly about leaving her here on the couch but she’d rest better in bed. Resignedly, I leaned down and scooped her up in my arms and headed for the stairs. Before I reached them, however, I made an abrupt turn for my room. One, taking her upstairs meant I had several chances to whack her head on the banister and the wall. Two, I really didn’t want to take her upstairs; let’s be honest here.
Entering my own room, I moved to the bed and laid her down, scooping the quilt out from under her and then covering her with it. Moving over to my closet, I quickly shed my jeans and T-shirt, leaving them in a heap on the floor. If I’d been alone, my boxer briefs would have joined the pile. Tonight, I figured, that might be pushing my luck.
Moving back to the bed, I slid in across from Maggie, Ranger settling on the foot of the bed on Maggie’s side. I rolled to my side for a moment, watching Maggie in the moonlight. Just over a month ago I’d brought her home to this very bed. Our actions the next morning had changed the course of both our lives. And now she was back here with me.
Rolling to my back, I looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. While I wasn’t a very spiritual guy, I still took a moment to say a prayer of gratitude right then and there. The odds that had been against this baby even being conceived were ridiculous. But this little bean, as Maggie had taken to calling it, had brought us together. And even though it was under the guise of friendship, Maggie was here. We were going to be roommates. I was damn grateful to her. Everything wasn’t where I wanted yet, but I felt like we were slowly taking some steps toward our future. I just had to make sure I was ready for it.
Closing my eyes, I tried to make sure to give her space. I’d love to have Maggie in my bed every night, wake up with her every day. But that wasn’t where she wanted us. She hadn’t flipped out when we’d slept together at her house that first night after we’d found out about the baby, but if she woke up and I had a raging hard-on pressed into her back, she might be a bit offended. It could truly be one of those two-steps-forward-one-step-back scenarios. And I didn’t want any more steps back.
Glancing to my right one more time, I lightly ran my hand through her hair, brushing it back from her face, and simply whispered, “Thank you,” before closing my eyes and falling asleep.
* * *
Maggie
I woke with a start. It was dark, darker than I ever remembered in my room, with a sliver of moonlight providing light instead of the annoying street light I was used to. It took a minute before I remembered I was at Sully’s, not my place. My momentary confusion grew when I remembered I’d fallen asleep on his couch. I’d been reading a great romance book on my phone and thought I’d take a quick nap before he came home. I thought I’d wait up for him, see if he wanted me to warm him up some food or just to talk after work. Emma and I’d occasionally crashed at his place over the years after cookouts or family parties, and hanging out in the late-night hours was always a blast. I’d hoped that reminder of what we’d been would keep me remembering that the two of us belonged in the friend zone.
Coming back to my current reality, I could feel Ranger down by my feet. That meant I could be in only one spot, Sully’s bed. Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the first time. I rolled over to face him and was grateful he was out cold because I definitely sucked in a breath at the sight of him. The quilt was low at his waist. It was dark, but his chest and arms were visible in the low light. His dark hair was tousled on the pillow and the stubble on his chin looked like it had been at least three days since he last shaved. Part of me wanted to run for the hills. Part of me wanted to snake a hand below the covers and really wake him up. All of me wanted to lean over and kiss him, just to see what would happen.
Get a grip, I told myself.
My body acted without waiting for my mind to catch up. I slid across the bed and curled against his side. It had been a long day. One week ago I’d found out that the last time I was with this man I’d left with a bigger reminder than just some memories. Yes, I wanted Sully. More than I cared to admit. But more than that, I just wanted the comfort of him, the feeling that I wasn’t alone. His warmth flooded my body.
I stretched one arm across his stomach and laid my head in the crook of his arms. My top leg draped across his, and I felt his arm curl around my back, pulling me into him in his sleep. My entire body relaxed as I sank into him and drifted off, feeling calmer than I’d felt in a long time. Maybe we could be roommates that were just friends after all.
* * *
Sully
I swung off my bike and headed up the walkway to my parents’ place. Waking up next to Maggie this morning had been unreal. It was like a dream. Before I got two steps from my bike, I felt the vibrations from my phone in my pocket. Pausing to tug it out, I saw a text from Jake.
Jake:You sure it’s cool for me to take off today to head over to Knobs Brewery? You were here late last night too.
I thought for a minute about what to say.
Me:Not keeping score, man. You’re going there for work too.
Jake:Okay. Planned on hitting their space next week, but they had something going tonight that they wanted me to see.
