The early morning light begins filling the room. I know this because I’ve been lying here for at least an hour before sunrise. Watching Minnie sleep. Not like a creeper. Okay, maybe a little. I didn’t plan on staying. I figured I’d cuddle for a few minutes so she didn’t think I was a major dick and then make an excuse to bail.
Only, I didn’t. I fell asleep. I only slept a few hours but the fuck if it wasn’t the best sleep I’ve had in a long time. This bed is like sleeping on a big fluffy cloud. A cloud that has a beautiful woman lying on it with her hair fanning out above her like a halo.
When my eyes opened abruptly, I was laying on my side with one hand under my head and the other on Minnie’s waist. I allowed myself a few minutes to watch her sleep. The first thing I noticed was how serene Minnie looked while she slept. Partially laying on her stomach and side, her hands were tucked under her face, her plump lips were slightly open, and the tiniest snore filled the room. She’d die if I ever told her she snored. Or maybe not. Minnesota Walker isn’t your average woman and, for all I know, she’d think it was funny.
I’m not certain how long I’ve been lying here watching her, but I need to get up and write her a note. I should get out of here before this gets all kinds of awkward. That’s what I need to do.
The moment I start to move, Minnie stirs and the sheet covering her shifts, showing a peek at her perfect tits. Fuck. Normally it would take more than a pair of tits to stir the beast under my share of sheet, but it is morning. And these aren’t just any pair of tits. No matter. I need to get out of here.
“Morning.” The sleepiness of Minnie’s voice is a direct shot to my dick and he’s at full mast. “What time is it?”
“Uh, early.”
“You stayed.” Pulling the sheet up to her chest with both hands, Minnie opens her eyes to look at me. She looks relaxed and comfortable. No sign of awkwardness in sight.
“Looks like it.” Wow, I’m quite the conversationalist this morning.
“I could sleep another few hours but I think you’re ready to bail from the look on your face.”
“What look? There’s no look.” There’s a look. It’s that of a guy who doesn’t do awkward morning afters.
“Don’t worry, if you leave now nobody will see you take the walk of shame. I’m going to sleep a little longer.” Without another word, Minnie rolls over so her back is facing me now. She can’t be serious. Is she dismissing me? I’m lying here with a fucking hard-on like I’m a goddamn sixteen-year-old and she’s dismissing me?
“Yeah, okay. I guess.”
“You don’t have to, but I know this is probably really awkward. I don’t want to make it more so.” Her voice is quiet. So quiet, if the television was on I wouldn’t hear her.
“Hey,” I say, tugging her shoulder so she faces me. She resists at first but I’m persistent. She finally turns toward me and I smile. “It’s a little awkward. I mean, I am lying here with the world’s most obvious hard-on and you’re basically telling me I should leave.”
“I won’t lie, I liked having you sleep next to me. I hate sleeping alone. It was nice to hear someone else’s breathing, to feel your hand on me while we slept. I just … I don’t want you to think I think this is more than what it is. Sex.”
I’m not certain what it is about her saying the word “sex,” but I’m pretty sure my dick thinks it’s some form of foreplay because it twitches. Goddamn she’s perfect. But I don’t do perfect. I should go. But, I don’t think I can physically move from this bed. She’s like a fucking magnet. Or her pussy is.
I scoot myself a little closer to her and place my hand on her waist. I’m starting to pull her closer to me when she pulls the sheet up to her face, leaving only her eyes uncovered.
“What are you doing?”
“Morning breath. You don’t want to get too close.”
I laugh. A full, loud, booming laugh, and lean over to place a kiss to her forehead.
“Babe, I drank and ate the same things you did last night.”
“I know, but I’m the girl. I should hold up the illusion of sexiness. I’ll be right back.”
Before I’m able to respond, she grabs my T-shirt from the floor and slips it over her head and pads into the bathroom, the door closing. I flop over onto my back, my forearm over my head. If we do this again, it’s still part of last night since I haven’t left. This isn’t like hooking up twice. It’s still technically the same hookup. Sure, that sounds reasonable.
Before I can start to second guess my reasoning, Minnie returns to the bedroom. In each of her hands is a cup. I can tell the smaller one is full of a blue liquid while the other, slightly larger, appears to be empty. I must look confused because she smiles at me and extends the blue liquid cup to me.
“Swish.” I raise up onto my elbows and take the cup from her and sniff it before tossing it in my mouth. Mouthwash. I swish around and before she thrusts the larger cup toward me. I assume this is where I spit. Once I’ve spit the mouthwash in the cup, she walks back into the bathroom. I hear the sink turn on and then she’s back.
I watch her as she walks toward the bed. The bravado she’s portraying is almost believable. I know Minnie is a confident woman, but regardless of how much confidence she has, I know she’s out of her element here. I don’t think Minnie is a one-night stand kind of woman.
I lay back on the pillows with an arm over my head. I watch as Minnie’s eyes linger on my abs before making their way down to the tented sheet. The left side of her lips rise into a smirk and a twinkle sparkles in her eye. I know she’s contemplating her next move. I let her. For some reason, I think she needs this control more than she needed what happened between us last night.
Minnie approaches the bed and climbs up onto her knees. She’s close enough that if I wanted, I could reach out and put my hand on her thigh. I don’t. She nibbles on her nail, an innocent look, but I know there is no innocence about her intentions.
“Minnesota,” I say as I watch her mind work. Her eyes fly up to mine, causing a wide grin to take over my face. “What are you thinking?”
“Honestly?”
“Always.”
“That it’s still last night and I’m not like a super ho if I attempt to seduce you right now.”
“I don’t think you could be a ‘super ho’ ever. But, I would be up for a little seduction. What’d you have in mind?”
She laughs and smacks my leg. My response is to reach for her waist and tug her on top of me. She settles perfectly on me, her face level with mine. I brush the hair from her face as she looks at me.
“This is a bad idea, Owen.”
“Probably. Should we talk about this?”
“I don’t want to talk and it feels like you’d be willing to pass on the conversation, too.”
“Ah, true, but I think we should at least see where our heads are at.” She raises an eyebrow at me. “Big head, not little.”
“I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”
“Good, neither am I,” I say while wiggling my eyebrows.
“Ha-ha. I like you, Owen. I feel comfortable with you and I think we can both agree there’s a mutual attraction.”
“I’m pretty sure we confirmed that last night.”
“As I was saying, I have my hands full with the girls and Dakota will be home soon. I’d like to be friends.”
“I can do friends.” I pause while I shift my hands to her ass and pull her to me to show her just how on board I am with this friends thing. Minnie’s breath hitches and I do it again for good measure.
“You play dirty.”
“Oh, baby, you have no idea. Anything else you have to say?”
“If I start getting girly and get a feeling or two, you have to stop me. And, please don’t ignore me again. It hurts my feelings.”
“No feelings and no ignoring. Got it. Now, I think one of us is wearing too many clothes.”
I don’t allow Minnie an opportunity to respond before I have her flipped on her back and the shirt is over her head. I allow myself a minute to send a telepathic thank you to Jameson for hiring this woman. A rockin’ body, a witty sense of humor, and a promise to keep feelings out of the equation—perfect.
I plan to show her for the next few hours just how fucking perfect I think this plan of hers is.
At least three times.
I’m a giver.
The Twins are playing and I’m once again pulling up to my dad’s place with a pizza. I knock once before walking in. Although I grew up in this house, I haven’t felt like it was my home for a long time. I always knock even though I don’t wait for him to welcome me in.
Dad’s sitting in his recliner wearing a Twins ball cap and drinking … water. What the fuck? I don’t bother commenting, maybe he just took meds or something. I set the pizza down in the kitchen and grab two plates. I’m pulling a beer for both Dad and myself out of the refrigerator when my phone signals a text message.
Minnie: Tell me why I agreed to go out with the girls to this paint night thing.
Me: Hell if I know. That’s a chick thing.
Minnie: You’re no help. Friends support each other unconditionally. You really need to work on your friend capabilities.
Me: Yeah well, I’m a guy. My friends are guys. We don’t need unconditional anything.
Minnie: You’re annoying. Gotta go. TTYL
Minnie and I managed to put what happened last weekend behind us without any awkward moments. Of course, it helps that I haven’t been in the office the last few days and she’s been busy with the girls.
“What’s got you smiling like that? A woman?”
I set the plates on the table along with the beer without answering my dad. Once I’ve sat on the couch, I grab my beer first and remove the cap, taking a long drink from the bottle. Damn this brew is good. I hope I can duplicate it because it’s a winner, that’s for sure.
“A friend. What’s the score?”
“Tied up at two,” he says, grabbing his plate and leaving the beer on the table.
“What’s with the water?”
“Nothing, just thought I’d cut back on the beer. Lose a few pounds.”
My dad has never, in all my life, ever used the words “lose a few pounds.” He must be driving across the state line to get edibles and getting high if he’s not drinking beer. That would be the only reason for him to drink water with pizza.
We sit in uncomfortable silence for a few innings. I have another beer while Dad has yet another water. I pull my phone to check the time when another text message signals.
Minnie: <Image>
I tap the image icon and a picture of what is likely a painting canvas appears. Only, this canvas looks like someone dropped ketchup all over it and then splashed mustard.
Minnie: I suck at painting.
Me: Yeah you do. What is that? Ketchup?
Minnie: Lol. It’s a sunrise. #Fail
Me: #Epicfail. Good thing you’re pretty.
Minnie’s response is two rows of the middle finger emoji. I put my phone back in my pocket, but not before catching my dad staring at me with a smile on his face. I ignore his unspoken insinuation and divert my attention to the game. The Twins aren’t playing their best game and superstition says I can’t leave until the game is over. It may be a long night.
The Twins pulled it out in the end. I thought my dad may have a heart attack the way he was yelling at the T.V. Thankfully, the win pacified him and he was headed to bed when I came down to check my current batch. Once I’m done, I head out to my Jeep.
I’m about to pull away from the curb and head for home when it occurs to me Minnie may have been drinking at her painting night. Tapping out a quick text to see if she needs a ride, I wait for a few minutes watching the three little dots dance across my screen.
They stop and start again. Finally, a response comes through.
Minnie: I’m already home and in bed. Thanks though.
Me: Are you in bed naked?
Minnie: Uh no. I’m actually in bed with a toddler who was having nightmares. She’s worried about a Zombie Apocalypse.
This I need to hear. I click the call button and am laughing when Minnie answers. I let her talk to me all the way home and up into bed. Before I know it, we’re both yawning and saying goodnight.