24

 

Head on the edge of his pillow, Cali was watching him when he opened his eyes. Bedhead and freckles on full display, she was beautiful.

“You know, your bed is supposed to be a safe place, a sanctuary. Someplace where you can pull up the covers, hide from monsters and dream,” she whispered. “I’ve always been territorial about it. The one space I could claim as mine. My twin-size raft in an ocean of hell. It’s weird that it feels good to sleep beside you.”

“I like sleeping beside you too, but I’m glad that you upgraded to a queen size raft.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t completely hide her smile in the pillow.

“Sex with you was different too.”

He flinched away from the comparison. “I would hope so.”

“Shit! No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t mean Benny. I meant that I tried to get my shit together, to not let him win. I slept with a couple of guys to prove that I could. But that’s all it was. You’re the first guy I slept with because I wanted to.”

“Thank you for trusting me,” he said softly. “And you don’t have anything to prove to me.”

“It’s more about proving something to myself.” She smoothed the pillowcase, not meeting his gaze. “I still worry that I’ll be doing it and I’ll freak out like a spaz.”

“If that happens with us we’ll work through it. That’s what I meant by you have nothing to prove to me. Triggers are something I understand even if there is no way I can know all of yours. You likely don’t know all of yours yet.” He turned more onto his side and moved the veil of red hair aside so he could see her eyes. “Cut yourself some slack, baby.”

“We’ll see how chill you are if I flip my shit in the middle of things and leave you hurting,” she muttered.

“I’m not a little boy. Blue balls won’t kill me and if you’re that upset he’s going to lose interest in a hurry.” Catching a slight curve to the corner of her mouth he took it a step further. “Besides, I’ve been taking it in hand for a lot of years. I’m a professional with my tool.”

Her laughter made him grin and eased some of the tension.

“Nice.”

He shrugged, still grinning. He would play the fool to help her get through this shit. She moved closer, foot stroking against his leg under the blankets.

“It seems you know how to push my button too,” she whispered into his chest. “I’ve never … that was the first time anyone but me pushed me over the edge.”

“Even without everything else you’ve been through; the fact is that a lot of women don’t orgasm with just penetration.”

“Do you read Cosmo or what?”

He leaned back so he could look down at her smirking face. “Are you really going to bust my balls when you’re the one benefitting?”

Cali giggled. “When you put it like that …”

“That’s what I thought. You, me, whichever one of us that has a free hand, we just have to get your clit in the game and it should make for a very happy ending.”

“I like the way you think. Sports metaphors and all.”

“It’s a guy thing.”

“It’s cute.”

“I’m not sure that’s something a guy likes to be called.”

“I didn’t call him cute. I said your metaphors were cute,” she snickered, snapping the waistband of his shorts.

“Oh! I guess that’s okay then.” His fingers rubbed the silky lock of hair still in his hand. “It’s Sunday. We both busted our ass yesterday. I think we deserve a lazy day.”

“I think you might have busted more ass than I did.”

“I saw you keeping the coolers filled, picking up scrap, and I think directing dumbasses to the bathroom might have been a full-time job.”

“Either a couple of those guys over imbibed or they’re getting forgetful in their old age. I had to point the way more than once.”

“It could be either, or both, or maybe they just wanted an excuse to talk to a pretty girl.”

“Whatever,” she said with a self-conscious eye roll.

“What do you think about a lazy day?”

Cali shrugged. “We went grocery shopping Friday night and Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. Sounds like a plan to me. We even have leftovers from yesterday.”

“Perfect.”

His eyes dropped shut again. With the light already peeking in around the shade, it felt good not to be in a hurry to get up. He felt Cali shrug and then her body relaxed against his side. He’d half-expected Cali to backpedal this morning after not being able to tell him how she felt last night. Her confessions had surprised him. For someone who had been betrayed the way she had, the amount of trust the redhead was showing was nothing short of extraordinary. He wasn’t kidding himself that things between them would be smooth sailing from here, or even that there was a them yet. But last night had felt right.

Cali eased away from him, the air mattress squeaking. He let his arm fall away, but couldn’t help turning his head to watch her go. She hesitated, her expression guilty and a little desperate.  

“I really have to pee.”

He laughed. “Go!”

Her run was adorable. Flopping his arm over his eyes, he yawned. He wasn’t sure where the lazy day idea had come from, but he was glad Cali had bought in. He was exhausted. A whole day of nothing suddenly sounded like heaven. Who would have thought?

When he opened his eyes again, the sun was brighter and the smell of coffee and sausage wafted through the house. Stretching, he winced at the pull to his ribs. Would the damn things ever heal up? Moving carefully, he got to the edge of the air mattress and to his feet.

“I was afraid the smell of food might rouse you,” Cali said, scrambling eggs. “But I didn’t eat a lot last night and I’m starving.”

“You were too busy making sure everyone else had enough to eat and directing drunken, perverted Alzheimer patients to the bathroom,” he teased around a yawn.

“Nice. This is how you talk about your friends after they gave up their Saturday to help you put up a garage,” she said, sliding a cup of coffee across the island. “With friends like you who needs enemies?”

“Eh. They would expect nothing less. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Do you want some of this?” she asked, tilting the skillet toward him. “I cut up leftover grilled sausages and tossed some of the peppers and onions in.”

“Please. It smells great.”

Sipping his coffee, he watched her finish scrambling the eggs and dump the concoction on two plates.

“How’re your ribs feeling?” she asked, slipping onto the stool next to him.

“Good,” he said, taking a bite of the eggs.

She gave him a look. He shrugged.

“A little tender.”

She slid the bottle of painkillers toward him with her fork.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Cali stuck out her tongue. “I have to take care of my old man.”

“Why the hell do the guys use that? Would you want to be known as my old lady?”

“No. You’re the old one.”

“Four years.”

She shrugged, still smirking. He leaned to the side to look out the window over the sink. Cali leaned close.

“Don’t let it get you too excited. I don’t think you’re supposed to jerk-off for at least thirty minutes after eating.”

Jarek snorted. “I believe you’re thinking of swimming and it’s an hour, but that is a really nice garage.”

“Damn, it’s fun to blow you shit,” she giggled. 

“Glad I can entertain you.”

“In more ways than one.”

“Oh, so now I’m your toy boy.”

“You’re the older one. Wouldn’t that make you a sugar daddy?”

“Only if I was paying your bills. You’re giving me money.”

“Does that make you a gigolo?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I think right now it would make us roommates with benefits. Hopefully, it becomes something more.”

She looked down, twirling her fork. “Hope can be such a bitch.”

He knew what she meant. “It can. But if we don’t push it and keep being honest with each other, who knows.”

“Who knows,” she whispered, smiling a little as she looked up at him.

It looked like agreement.

“You cooked. I’ll clean up,” he said, shoving the last bite of sausage into his mouth and standing up. 

He dropped the door on the dishwasher and pulled the top rack out to put things away.

“Someone left that mug.”

“I think it’s Steve’s,” he said, pulling out the travel mug adorned with Superman’s emblem.

“You mean Steven?” she asked, mimicking Angel’s bitchy whine.   

“Yeah. He usually goes by Steve, and wasn’t she a joy?”

“Did you see her snakeskin stilettos?” Cali snickered.

“Was that what was causing the balance issue? I thought maybe she was blitzed. At least that would’ve explained a thing or two.”

“The scary thing is, I think she was sober.”

“She is always driving by the worksites, keeping tabs on him.”

“That woman has serious issues,” she said, rolling her eyes.  

“From the sound of it, they fight like cats and dogs. He’s always bitching.”

“She’s not all that. Why doesn’t he dump her?”

He shrugged. “No idea.”  

Cali stared out the window, turning the colorful serving bowl in her hands. “Life sucks enough as it is. Why stay with someone that makes you miserable? I’d rather live in a cardboard box.”

“Not all couples are like that.”

She flinched and turned away. “Sorry.”

“Why?”

“It seems like I’m always blaming you for the assholes of the world. You’re better than that.”

“If I ever sink to their level I hope you call me on it.”

Hand on the cabinet door, Cali turned to look at him. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“I do. You see that shit often enough and you begin to think that’s just the way life is. You don’t try to be any better. That’s why the cycle continues. I don’t want to be my past,” he said, clearing his throat. “Maybe that sounds like bullshit, but it’s how I feel.”  

“I don’t think it sounds like bullshit at all,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be my past either. I want to be better than that.”

Stepping close, he covered her hand on the handle. “Maybe we can be better together.”

“Seeing what you’re doing makes me think better things are possible for people like us,” she said, waving at the house.

“Imagine what we can do together.”

Cali nodded and pushed up to kiss his bottom lip. “We have two more stories to finish. That’s a lot of mud and paint.”

Jarek leaned in to whisper in her ear. “But if we stick to it, in the end, we’ll have three and a half bathrooms.”

“With super water pressure and maybe even a big bathtub for bubble baths,” she murmured is awe.

“I’ll let you pick out the tub for the master bath.”

Her eyes lit up and then she grinned. “One more reason to hope for more than roommates with benefits.”

“I’m not above bribery.”

“You have no idea what I would do to you for a trip to Bath and Body Works to go with that tub.”

A laugh slipped out. “I might not know, but I’m liking what I’m imagining.”

“I’ve never actually bought anything there, but I can spend an hour in the store just smelling everything.”

“We’ll have to splurge after we get the master bath done, if my imagination will let me wait that long,” he said wrapping his arms around her.

She slapped a hand on his chest. “Put it in neutral, stud. You have to get the tub first.”

“That’s the way it’s going to be, huh?”

Cali couldn’t hold her bitch face. “We might have to try some stuff out so we’re ready for the bubble bath climax.”

The ridiculous waggle of her eyebrows on the last word cracked him up. He cradled his ribs and groaned. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Yeah, yeah. Wimp. Come on and finish the dishwasher so we can start our lazy day. The couch is calling my name.”

 

 

The light from the TV flickered across Cali’s rapt features. It was cute that someone as cynical and tough as his girl could be sucked in by an animated classic. It was more fun to watch her face than the movie. He smothered a yawn. Their lazy day had flown by. Tomorrow they both had to go back to work. It felt like something had changed between them. It was a lot more than just the amazing sex in the backyard. They were making plans for the future like … well, like they were going to be together. He smiled in the dark. It felt damn good to look forward and picture someone with him. A little voice warned he was moving too fast, but it felt so right.

A commercial for a water park pulled his attention. Next Monday was July 4^th. That meant a three-day weekend. He hadn’t looked at Cali’s schedule. It would be fun to do something if she wasn’t working all weekend. He brushed hair out of the way and kissed her ear.

“Do you want to go to the beach next weekend and stay to watch the fireworks?”

She twisted, their noses bumping. “Really?”

“If you don’t have to work.”

“Believe it or not, I have all three days off. Serena asked what I wanted. She said it’s the benefit of being her favorite,” she said with a grin. “If you’re serious, going to the beach would be amazing. I love the water. And Lake Michigan is great no matter what time of the year.”

Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. It seemed he’d picked well. She flopped all the way over to sprawl on her belly, chin on his chest.

“I can make some sandwiches and pack those deli chips you love and some fruit along with the drinks.”

“That sounds perfect. I can’t think of a better way to spend the holiday.”

She kissed him. “I can’t either.”

Her thousand-watt smile was beautiful. He tried to swallow another yawn, but she was looking right at him this time. Busted! She twisted to check the time.

“Shit! It’s midnight. If I don’t get you in bed soon your stem is going to start showing.”

“Very funny, Cinderella. Are you sure you’re not just trying to take advantage of me?”

“You wish,” she said, the saucy delivery ruined by a yawn of her own.

“I better set a double alarm,” he said, picking up his phone. “It’s going to be a rough morning.”