twenty
In the morning, I open my eyes and quickly realize that I am not starting my day with flashbacks of shitty dreams from a night of terrible sleep.
Starting a day with some kind of peace is unfamiliar and so needed.
I’m way too comfortable. On the couch, curled into Danny’s chest, his arms holding me against him.
I take in the fact that we fell asleep together and try to figure out what that means, if anything.
But after breathing in and out deeply more times than I can count, I get it. My heart sinks a bit, but I get what’s going on here.
Danny is protecting me, as he protected Mary Ann.
He sees how vulnerable I am. How much I’m hurting.
He’s the guy who saves people. I’m another person on that list.
He makes a sound when I roll onto my side and face the dingy, broken fireplace, but his arms stay around me, and he pulls my back against his chest.
“How are the polar bears?” he mumbles.
I laugh lightly. “It’s too early to know. Three hours earlier in California.”
“That blows. Do you know their names?” His morning voice is even hotter than his regular voice. So scratchy and masculine.
“Kalluk and Tatqiq are the brother and sister. Chinook is the third bear I told you about.”
“That’s a lot to remember. I’ll try. Complicated names and shit.”
I smile. “I know.”
“But I’m on board. Bookmarking that link today, for sure.”
“Not to give you any spoilers, but when you see the bears sniffing like crazy? It might be one of the times that the zoo releases smells from diffusers, signaling what kind of treats they will be getting the next day. Like a lemon scent means that boiled eggs will be showing up in the mock eagle nests.”
“So, if I smell lemon wafting from your house, it means eggs Benedict is coming up? Because I think I smelled lemon the other day.”
I laugh. “We’ll see about that.”
We stay quiet for a bit before he says, “So, Wakefest will be here soon enough.”
“I remember hearing about this.”
He adjusts his hips and his spot on the couch. Yet he keeps me in his hold. “I’m thinking that we always need volunteers. Are you willing?”
“Of course. Whatever you need.” I stay still, not wanting to interrupt whatever he is doing. “What do you do at this Wakefest?”
“Nothing major,” he answers. His hands start to move. Just a bit.
Maybe his touch is nothing; maybe it’s something.
Suddenly, the front door opens, and a groan roars through the house. “Oh Christ.Youtwo? I’ve got a hundred projects to deal with, and this kind of canoodling is not going to fuckin’ help.” Paul stomps in and marches around, shielding his eyes. “No canoodling, understood?”
“Yes, sir!” Danny sits and tries to smooth back his hair. “And nobody was canoodling!”
I hop up and straighten my shirt. “No canoodling!” I agree. “Nothing like that.”
“Fine. Whatever. Up off the couch, you two! Danny? I expect you outside within the hour. This roof is not going to finish itself. And, Callie? You want to be a tile queen? You’re laying tile ASAP. Today. I’ve got a guy coming to hang the wallpaper tomorrow, so no dawdling. Also, windows? Stair stuff to deal with in the upcoming weeks? S craping and painting the house? Happening this week. Sleeping and working only, okay? No weird…whatever this shit is!” Paul waves his hands around, frowning, and whips out the front door.
