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“What’s the issue then?” she presses. I know she won’t back down, either. It isn’t her style, and, to be honest, it isn’t mine either. Neither of us would ever let the other sit quiet over coffee when there is something clearly weighing down the other’s thoughts.
“What if Barrett doesn’t like me anymore?” I murmur, saying the words out loud for the first time.Geesh, my hair hurts.
“Come again?” she asks, her eyebrows raised in my direction.
“I know he likes me. I know he loves me. But what if we are too into our boring routines of our humdrum life that we can’t focus on each other and put the rest of it behind us? What if we’ve become one of those couples whose relationship is built solely on the kids and everything else? I can’t tell you the last time we made out like teenagers on the couch just because. Or even cuddled. I miss the intimacy. I miss the innocent touches. I really miss the sex…” I groan. I was feeling borderline pathetic at this point, and I prayed that she understood what I was trying to say.
“Oh, hon. I get it. I really do. You two have just lost focus of why you fell in love in the first place. We all miss those butterflies we get from the early moments in relationships. You’re not alone there. But don’t think for one second that Barrett isn’t one-hundred percent in love with you,” she said, holding up a hand to stop my argument.
“And yes, in like with you, too. He likes you a whole lot more than a little.” She laughs.
“I KNEW you saw that on BookFace, you dork.”
“I admit it. That was a good one. Dammit. Cute little penguin. But, trust me. That man’s as smitten as he was in the beginning. Life is just getting in the way of the woo.”
“Ugh. The damn woo. I swear the damn woo is gonna be the death of me. Or lack of, anyway. I can’t remember the last time I felt wooed,” I admit and choke back the tears. “It’s just been so long since Barrett showed me more, you know?”
I see the look on her face. The look that said I had confided in the right person. The look that said she had ideas rolling around in her crazy head, ideas that said that Barrett should probably block her number. I know she and Josh haven’t always had it easy either. But they are basically empty nesters already. Their twins, Brandon and Mia, are Cole’s age. Brandon works for the guys, and Mia is at the same college as Cole. With no kids distracting them at home, they’re like sex-starved hippies, willing to do it anywhere they see fit. I think they’ve been caught either well on their way or in the middle of doing it at the office at least a dozen times.
I can’t say as though I’m not jealous though. I’d kill to have that sort of sex life once again. The sound of that damn tweety bird chirping brings me out of my funk once again. I look at my phone and instantly feel lighter, happier. It’s a picture of Barrett. At Costco. By a giant boxes of condoms. I knew he needed to grab some supplies for the shop as well as the vegetables I’d asked him to pick up for tonight and by the looks of it, he apparently got sidetracked.
Me:What the…
Barrett:
Me:I don’t even want to know.
Me:Do I?
Barrett:Oh yeah, pretty girl, you do.
Me:I fold. What are you doing in the condom aisle?
Barrett:Looking at condoms. Duh. Seriously, pretty girl, I really thought you were more perceptive than this, darlin’.
Me:Oh my gosh. No, you dumb ass. I realize that you’re looking at them. What I wonder is WHY?
Barrett:If I must spell it out for you…
Me:You must.
Barrett:We haven’t done it in a… well a really long time.
Me:I’m aware :/
Barrett:And when we finally do it, I want it to last more than eee errr eee errr
I almost spit my coffee out on the table. He’s such a dork. Man, I love him.
Me:That would be most desired, yes.
Barrett:So I figured a layer between us will offer me some help in that department so I don’t blow at first contact.
Me:I think that’s the sexiest most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.
Barrett:IKR?
Me:Did you really just say IKR?
