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“Oh, I don’t know. I’m more comfortable at my own house, I guess. I’ll be back in the morning.”
But the truth was, she was uncomfortable playing house with Leon. It just didn’t ring true. There was something holding her back, a sense of loyalty to someone who was no longer living, but she couldn’t admit it to him.
“I really moved to make it easier for us to be together, and now you’re telling me you don’t want to stay with me. I don’t get it.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to stay with you, Leon. This is your place. I’m a visitor when I’m here.”
“I didn’t feel that way at your house,” he said. “So what’s the difference?”
“I’m not sure, but I just don’t want to spend the night here. It’s not a big deal.”
“I like waking up next to you in the morning.”
“Come to my place, then.” She stood in front of his dresser, combing her hair. He watched her place the brush in her overnight bag that wasn’t going to stay overnight.
“See, that doesn’t make any sense. I gave you drawers in the bathroom for your makeup and it’s empty.”
“I use the same stuff all the time and replace it when it’s old. I’d have to keep replicas here, and then I’d be replacing two sets. I’m just cheap, I guess.”
She walked over to the bed and bent down to kiss him. “Don’t be angry.”
“I’m not, just disappointed.”
Having to make plans for each day was not what he’d counted on. If she was there, they’d be together and that would be enough. Now with her going home, they’d have to discuss her place or his? Staying in or going out? And all he wanted to do was relax and enjoy the weekend.
“I’ll call you in the morning,” she said, standing over him. “Get a good night’s sleep.”
“You too.” He lay in bed, watching her leave, and a big empty yearning washed over him. “Wait a minute, Ava.”
Pulling the sheet around his body, he ran after her before she could leave.
“Leon, it’s okay. You’re overreacting.”
“Ava, I love you. I want you here, in my bed, at my place. If we have to get married to seal that deal, then let’s get married.”
“Oh, Leon, you don’t want to marry me,” she said, slumping against him teasingly. “You’re just lonely. There’s nothing lonelier than being alone with a baby.”
“That’s not the only reason. I wish we could get some time alone without the baby. I’ll hire another nanny if I have to.”
“No, don’t do that. Look, go back to bed. She’s going to be waking up in less than an hour for her baba. I’m beat. I just want to get home and be in my own bed, okay? No malice intended.”
“Oh, alright. I forgot to ask you about Thanksgiving though. Roberta will be on the phone first thing, hounding me. You’ll go there for dinner, right?”
“I was thinking of going back East to be with my family.”
The news surprised him. In the weeks they’d been together, she had never mentioned her family or brought them up in conversation. He wasn’t aware that she was even thinking of them. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to bring them up after all.
“Oh, well, we can talk about it later.”
“Finally!”
It was on the tip of his tongue to call her a smart-ass, but he wisely let it go, not wanting their first argument to take place in the middle of the night.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said, suddenly wanting her gone.
He wasn’t savvy about relationships, but he did have a certain amount of self-respect and felt that what she was doing leaned toward the disrespectful. Either she loved him and wanted to be with him, or she didn’t. He wondered what had changed in the days since his move.
“Goodbye again,” she said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
