“Don’t sniff my hair.”
“I didn’t.”
“I heard you sniff.”
“Your hair smells good.”
“My hair smells like barbecue smoke and beer.”
“Two of my favorite things.” He squeezed my waist, causing me to spill coffee down my chest.
“You brat.” I used the sheets to dry myself off. “How are the animals?”
“Fed, watered, and happy.”
“Just like me.” I smiled.
He kissed the top of my head.
Intertwining my fingers with his, I said, “I feel like we wasted so much time. If I knew loving you was going to feel like this, I’d of done it years ago.”
“That’s the thing, it’s all about timing. A few years, shit a few extra days and this could have gone very differently.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m just thankful for right now.” Shifting my body weight, I mounted his lap. “I’m ready to talk if you are.” A flutter in my stomach filled me with dread. We were content in the impregnable bubble we’d curated for ourselves. In which our days were filled with laughter, music, and impromptusex. Negotiating plans threatened to disrupt the peace we’d created.
Edison’s body froze, and he examined my face. “One last kiss.”
“Not the last.”
His lips were soft against mine, not too eager, but filled with longing. Edison slid his hand down my naked back and my skin pebbled with goosebumps. I exhaled, melting into his frame, my hips slowly grinding because when he kissed me, I couldn’t help myself. Moaning into my mouth, he abruptly pulled away. “We’re supposed to be talking.”
“Yeah, for sure I agree,” I whispered breathlessly. “Where should we start?”
“How about location.”
I was hoping to start with something less complicated like being granted use of a few drawers in his bureau. “Okay, you go first.”
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang. Edison’s doorbell sounded like a rooster crowing. The sound made me cringe. I’d never noticed before because he hadn’t had any visitors during my stay.
“What the fuck is that?”
“I know, I ordered a new bell, it just hasn’t arrived yet.” He was stepping into his jeans.
“If I’m going to live here, I don’t want to hear cock-a-doodle-doos every gotdamn time someone rings the bell.”
Edison tossed a hesitant glance in my direction. “Live here?”
“Or not,” I said. The rooster bell chimed loudly again, and Edison left the room, still pulling on his T-shirt. I sunk into the bed. Maybe suggesting me moving in was too soon. Realistically it hadn’t even been three weeks. For me I’d fallen harder in these string of days with Edison than I ever had for any man. I wantedto invade his space, take up room in his thoughts, his home, and his future.
When I loved you, that was it. I didn’t do half in and half out. I fell fast, but with Edison I knew I wanted to linger. This wasn’t a passing fancy. I wasn’t just visiting, I was ready to plant roots. And until just now it never occurred to me, maybe he didn’t want the same. Maybe he’d considered the possibility and decided a long-term relationship would be difficult to maintain.
Maybe he’d had his fun fucking his dream woman and by this time next year, he’d be married to Willa and announcing the pending arrival of baby Birch. The thought made me want to crash out. Who the fuck did he think I was? I was prepared to live in his house of cheese, what right did he have to express reservations?
Edison’s foot falls caused the stairs to creak as he ascended each one. When he stopped at the doorway, his face was ashen.
“What?” I shot straight up.
“It’s Darla.”
