“Damn, I did,” I had, in fact, forgotten all about Missy being off for her family’s visit. It seemed like I would have to spend some more time with Mr. Houston after all. Me wanting to and feeling the need were different. Nothing excited me more than watching him work, but I knew it would only pique my interest more. Not to mention I wasn’t used to his cold demeanor, so this would be a long three days
“We on patrol tonight?” Missy asked speaking of our nightly ritual of sitting on the phone watching the show Live PD together. This was another reason why I loved Missy. She didn’t require a lot from me, and I didn’t require a lot from her. We loved simple shit, making vision boards, watching TV, and cackling like old women.
“Nah, girl I just opened this wine, you know I’ll be sleep soon.”
“I’m writing that ass up for insubordination,” she laughed.
“Bye.” Hanging up, I showered and prepared for the next three days of watching Houston work on pipes that weren’t mine. In no time, I was asleep and drooling over thoughts of him using those strong arms to lift me up and use me as a bench press.
Houston
Today was day three of the job at Mothering Medicine. Teaghan had been around each day but was missing today. Secretly, I was looking for her. I was looking forward to her smile, her hairstyle of the day and that majestic walk. Teaghan made me jittery like I consumed countless amounts of coffee. Her smile drug you in holding you hostage. Her exotic skin tone made me proceed with care. The way she spoke to me was thoughtful. She was sure to not speak too fast, but she wasn’t slow to speak her mind
“Hey, you got a minute?” I heard her ask from the door. Raising my gaze, I knocked my head on the sink. “Lord, are you ok?” she asked coming closer. Today she had a ponytail on each side like Princess Leia. She was so carefree and cute. Her style was impeccable, and I anticipated seeing what she would pull off each day. The job ending worried me. I doubted we would see each other much after this. The closer we got, the more I pulled back, and I knew she
was probably fed up with my shit. Hell, I was fed up with my shit. It was just the other day that I promised to stop holding myself back.
She still had to work with Malone, but I figured there would be no room for me. My mind said leave well enough alone, but right now, making sound decisions was the furthest thing from my mind. She wasthe call to action my heart craved. It called for me to do something, unlike anything I had ever done before. Be more than I was. I was great by myself, but with her, everything seemed attainable.
“Yeah, I’m almost finished,” I answered, wiping my hands with a rag from my back pocket. She smiled coyly. I watched her reach behind her back and reveal a picnic basket.
“I brought lunch, did you miss me?” Fear was creeping in, and I was doing my damnedest to fight it off. She deserved for me to be just as fearless as her. She stepped up to the plate with everything and that let me know I had been living in my own shadow. It was time to step out and meet her where she was. If not for myself, then for Malone.
“I did actually, you been missing all day. I might have to dock your pay, sweet tea.”
“Sorry about that, duty called today,” she responded rubbing her neck with a small smile. Over the last couple of days, we spent a lot of time working together. She was here every day helping me, bringing me water and keeping me company.
“Let’s eat,” I mentioned washing my hands.
“Oh no not here, I did something for you,” I raised my eyebrows because she was full of surprises today. I wasn’t used to anyone doing anything for me, so shock washed over me. Compiling my tools, trying to be more considerate of her condition and space. She was trying to romance me, and I appreciated it more than she knew. Then I felt bad because it should be me doing the romancing.
Following her through the back door, she had a blanket laid out for us and soft music playing from a rock speaker that sat in her garden. Things were just beginning, but I appreciated her kind nature and that she thought about me. I was hard at work making sure she could open back up tomorrow. Her complaining that she felt lost without work kicked me into high gear. A woman that worked was something to acknowledge. There was no way I would make it hard for her.
“This is nice, you didn’t have to do this,” I commented with reserved eyes. I was trying to process who she was. I had learned a few things about her over the last few days, but nothing prepared me for this. Nothing prepared me for her generous gestures.
“I know, but you’ve been working hard, keeping your messcontained and giving me something to do. It’s nothing compared to what you deserve, but it’s a start.”
Today she had on black leggings and a Bob Marley hoodie. Her midriff showed a little, but nothing too revealing. But the focal point of her body was her smile, and it was on full display. Time passed by as I stood eyeing her flawless body in the springtime. “At least tell me you like what you see instead of staring at me.”
Teaghan was so full of herself and confident. It made me insecure. I had never been that open and honest about my feelings and thoughts. Her fearlessness spooked me and made me want to retreat, but I couldn’t because she had a way of bringing it out of me. Around her, I was like a fish on a hook, stuck with my doom nearing.
“You know you are a beautiful woman, you don’t need that from me,” I said, massaging the back of my neck. I was starting to get nervous all over again. It didn’t matter how much I tried to keep her at bay she came right back even harder.
She huffed and rolled her eyes before taking a seat on the feed your vibe blanket. The sun was shining and heating up the atmosphere for a perfect picnic. The hummingbirds hummed as they indulged in the nectar she had out for them. Her garden was starting to sprout. One would say we were meant to be due to her being good with her hands, but I wasn’t so sure yet, but I made a note.
“You are a deflector, you know that, right?”
“How?” I asked taking up a seat next to her on the blanket. She handed me a Snapple, and I grabbed her hand before she could take it away “Teaghan LeJune you are beautiful inside and out. You know that. Excuse my forwardness, I promised I wouldn’t tell you, you the shit today, but tomorrow’s uncertainty puts the urgency in what I’m about to say today.”
Letting go, she continued to remove the contents of the picnic basket as I sat quietly studying the side of her face. From the side, her nose had a distinct point. Her eyes glistened in the sun and her mouth turned into a smile.
“‘Illest Bitch Alive’ lyrics. Let me find out you do listen to music but act like a monk around me,” she laughed causing me to blushunderneath the sun. “Houston, you continue to surprise me. Listen, I hope you don’t mind, I cooked, nothing is store bought.”
“Why would I mind a beautiful woman cooking for me? And actually, I seen it in the breakroom and decided I would look it up. It’s been on repeat,” I admitted. Shit, only a fool would be upset about that. I loved a home-cooked meal. And her preparing added a little more value to it.
“Because you don’t know how I live. I personally don’t eat everyone’s food, but if you cool I’m cool,” she responded making my plate. I watched as she placed salad, bread, and spaghetti on the plate. My mouth watered at the sight of a home-cooked meal. I was sure it would taste better because care went into it, and it was Teaghan; in my head, she was capable of doing anything. I could kid myself all I wanted but Teaghan had me enamored. She was the epitome of illest bitch alive. I would never call her that personally but shit she was.
“I trust you, sweet tea,” I replied with a wink. Trusting Teaghan was becoming easier by the day. She didn’t give up on me when she had every right to. I wasn’t trying to rush love, but I wasn’t going to wait a minute longer to tell her that I wanted to explore the option of us getting to know each other a little more. A better setting, a better version of myself. One not so weird and downhearted.
