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Hm. He didn't text me first or anything to tell me he was here. We step inside, and I'm slammed with worry over his surprise visit. Is he here to break up with me? Or does he just want sex? What couldn't be said over the phone or wait until tomorrow? I really hope he's here for sex. That I can easily deal with, and I could go for some sex. Why am I freaking out? I never freak out. See what has happened to me?! This is what my thinking does to me. I need to know what he wants from me, from us. Sooner rather than later.
“Are you going to keep trying to figure out why I'm here or are you going to let me tell you?” By Gabe's tone, he's obviously trying not to laugh.
I send a glare his way before going into the kitchen to grab something to drink. “Do you want anything?” I ask sweetly.
“No, thanks.”
Removing the bottle cap and leaning against the kitchen counter, I finally ask, “Okay. Tell me why you're here.” I watch him as I take a big swallow of drink.
Gabe walks over, rests his hands lightly over my hips, and I gulp. “Do you have any plans this weekend?”
“No. Why?”
“Want to make a trip to Raleigh?” His eyes light up, thinking about the art museum. I'm surprised when I feel a surge of excitement to see more art, and I squeal a yes. This is perfect timing, especially since I was just thinking about going to see the painting again. Gabe laughs, kissing me quickly. “You don't know how excited it makes me that you are just as thrilled as I am about this,” he says.
“I can't help it. What time do we leave?” I wish we could leave right now, but I doubt the museum is open tonight. That place is supposed to be huge, three stories high according to their website. I was curious about it and since I was thinking about the fire painting during my class and was bored, I looked up the Raleigh museum. I can just imagine all the fantastic pieces that will be there.
“Around one. We can hang out in Raleigh tomorrow and then go to the museum on Saturday, coming home Sunday morning. Does that sound good?”
I nod. “Do you know what would sound even better?” Gabe raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. “If you stayed here tonight.” Now that he's here, I don't want him to go, even though I'll see him tomorrow and spend the next two days with him.
Gabe grins. “I was hoping you would say that.” He laughs and adds, “I took the liberty of packing my bags already because if you didn't ask me to stay, I was going to ask if I could. If you said no, I would be a very sad man having to drive back home.”
Laughing, I shake my head at him. “Well, I don't know about you, but I've had a super long day, and I'm tired. Go get your things. I'm going to take a shower.”
He nods, gives me another quick kiss, and then heads to his car while I head to the bathroom. It feels like this is quite a step forward for us. I'm not sure why, but it seems like since we're taking a trip, even if it's only a couple hours away, that our relationship is getting more serious. It shouldn't be too different, though, I wouldn't think. I mean, we have spent weekends together before. This time we're going to be away from home and in a hotel. At least no one will be able to barge in on us.
When I get out of the shower, all ready for bed, Gabe is already laying down. The blankets stop at his hips, leaving his chest bare and yummy with his hands behind his head. I took extra time to dry my hair, so I half expected him to be asleep already. Wearing shorts and a cami, I slide into bed next to him. I scoot closer, laying on top of him, returning his smile, and wanting nothing more than to kiss Gabe. So I do.
Gabe pushes my shirt up a bit to lay his fingers flat on my back. For minutes, we kiss before he playfully bites my lower lip and then kisses me fully again. I can't help my sigh. Gabe pulls away a bit, grinning.
“What?” I ask, my lips feeling a bit swollen.
“I love when you do that.”
“Kiss you?” I question, confused as to why he would interrupt our make-out session to tell me that.
Gabe laughs. “Yes, but that's not what I meant. I was talking about that little happy sigh of yours.”
Oh. Anchoring my arms on either side of his head, I bend my hands so I can play in his hair. “This one?” I sigh breathlessly, but end up laughing at how ridiculous it sounds. Gabe grins, but he nods anyway. “Good to know.” I kiss him once. “We should get some sleep, right?” Before he can answer, I give him another kiss, parting his mouth with my tongue.
“Mhm,” he hums.
Reluctantly, I pull away, sliding off to lay next to him. I rest my head on his chest and attempt to fall asleep, but it's impossible. Why did Gabe pick this weekend to go? Or what made him decide earlier tonight that he wanted to go?
“Hey, why are we going this weekend? It's kind of last minute. Not that I don't want to go, but I'm just wondering.”
“I need a break, and I wanted to leave here for a bit. Work has been stressing me out, so with two days off back-to-back, I figured I better make the most of it. I booked the hotel this afternoon. You going with me was the only thing I wasn't sure would happen. And just so you know, I expect at least one bubble bath while we're gone.”
“We can make that happen.” I smile. “Let's go to bed for real this time,” I add, closing my eyes and falling asleep much quicker than I expected.
* * *
It's Friday and once we got to Raleigh, we pretty much just loafed around. We walked around, did some shopping, and held hands all day. I truly felt like Gabe's girlfriend. We were a couple. It sounds weird to me. I almost don't recognize myself. I'm still me, sure, but something is different. The thought nags in the back of my mind as we walk around the museum.
We've already been here for an hour and haven't even made it to the second floor yet. Each painting grabs my attention, begging me to look at the texture the brush strokes made, to examine every piece, and to appreciate the beauty each one offers. This place is much larger than the one back home. I can't absorb everything in one day! But I'm trying. Who knows when I'll be here again. None of the paintings captivate me quite like the fire one, but I do find a few more favorites.
Some are landscapes, which turns out to be Gabe's favorite kind. I love listening to him tell me bits of information about either the paintings or the artists, but it's not much. Just things that he's learned along the way. There are a few particularly haunting paintings that I see and love immediately.
