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Without asking,Ian checked out of the hotel and grabbed his bag, tossing it in the car. Then, he went through a drive-thru, ordering three massive hamburgers with bacon and extra cheese before flying out tomorrow – and she understood.
He was trying to get in all the ‘home’ he could before leaving. She was so shocked at his boldness, his sense of urgency, that she just sat there. What did you say to someone before they were going off to the battlefield, feeling completely unsure what to say. After all – she married him, and had barely scratched the surface of knowing who he was on the inside.
He probably thought all of this was normal and perfectly okay. He was prepping for a long flight back to a place very different from the United States, but a part of her wondered if this was to him just another day.
Was it?she mused nervously.
He claimed it was okay to wait, but now he was basically inserting himself into her life - deciding on what he wanted for dinner, what they were going to do, and where they were going… and to be honest?
It was a little unnerving.
Especially when they walked into the door of her place. He set down his bag, scooped up Gigi, who was a bundle of energy, panting and wagging her tail like a possessed little creature, while Ian crooned to her.
“That’s my girl. Who’s my poochie? You’re my poochie! My sweet little poochie-coochie-coo…” he said in a baby voice to the puppy that was licking his face.
The big, tough soldier was completely unmanned by a Teacup Yorkie puppy.
She laughed softly behind the duo, causing Ian to smile openly at her.
“Your puppy mama is jealous that I’m cuddling you, isn’t she?” he whispered to Gigi, kissing her fur several times, before putting their bag of food on the counter. He moved the console like it weighed nothing, allowing Gigi access to the rest of the house without asking. “There, so both my pretty girls don’t have to struggle with that console blocking your entry. Do you need anything? Can I get you anything?”
“This is my home,” she began and hesitated, feeling abruptly rude as his smile faltered. He was trying, and had no idea how to do any of this either between them. “I can get it. Do you want some iced tea or water?”
“June,” he started and hesitated, before speaking openly in a very quiet voice. “I know this is your place and I’m not trying to be pushy, but I’m also trying not to panic. I’m not ready to leave yet. There are so many comforts that you miss over there, you know? I just want to wallow in a little happiness for a few hours before I have to leave.”
“I figured,” she murmured.
“You’re probably going to see the worst of me – and if you can handle all that? Then I think we’ll be okay,” he smiled shyly. “I thought about dragging you back to our house, wanting to kiss you again, but I don’t want to ruin anything between us. I just really want to eat a greasy hamburger or two, watch some television while cuddling with my new bride, play with our puppy, and sleep in some really cold air-conditioning… speaking of? Do you have extra sheets? I’d like to take the couch, if that’s okay with you?”
“Oh! Um, yeah… I do.”
“Perfect,” he smiled nervously. “Relax. You are safe. I’m not going to rabidly attack you like some nefarious sex-fiend who can’t wait. Trust me, while I’m thrilled at the idea – the last thing I want to do is leave here and have bad feelings between us. I’d rather hold you close, talk, and have you miss me, than to have a few moments of heaven in your arms… which is why we aren’t going by the house. You are too tempting, my beloved Minx.”
She looked at him in amazement.
That was probably the most incredible thing he could have said or offered, because she wasn’t ready for any of this yet. The marriage was a bond between friends on paper, or so she told herself, but had conveniently pushed this part aside in her mind.
“Thank you.”
“You’resoooonot welcome,” he beamed – and winked at her. “Now, if you change your mind and want to get your freak on? Say the word, and I’m game.”
“Oh my gosh,” she muttered, looking away and chuckling nervously as he laughed boisterously – and Gigi barked several times, chiming in.
Twenty minutes later, at Ian’s insistence, they had both changed in order to get comfortable. He donned his running shorts and a t-shirt… and she had changed into her pajamas with a robe over the top for decency’s sake. He had plopped down in the middle of the couch, putting two iced teas on the coffee table that had seen better days, and was waiting on her to eat his burger.
Turning on the television, they ate silently… and she fed part of her meal to Gigi – while Ian scarfed down the other two burgers in almost a horrifying manner before leaning back with a heavy sigh, putting his hand on his stomach.
“Ohhh, I’m gonna regret that later,” he muttered, making a little moan of distress. “So good – and so deliciously greasy.”
“Do you need some Tums or something?”
“Nope. It’s sitting like a lump in my gullet,” he admitted, smiling at her. “Sit back with me, and let’s watch a movie or something.”
Hesitantly, she sat beside him and he urged her to his side… where she curled instinctively.
“That’s nice,” he breathed, kissing the top of her head as she sat there pensively thinking, realizing it was indeed wonderful to be held once again, to have someone that was so outgoing, so easy to get along with, that she felt she could be free to say or do anything. “I just want to sit like this and hold you for tonight.”
And he did.
