Nine of Cups
Page 7
Thirteen
Breakfast at HIS place had become the highlight of my internship. He was still sleeping, whilst I quietly made a tray for the both of us. Apparently he really liked strawberries, because he always had them in the fridge. I didn't know how to make waffles, so I cut them up and put them on white toast with sugar. The coffee machine would make too much noise, so I prepared tea with milk instead.
As a detail, I opened his iPad on the "Le Monde" site, so he could read the morning news like an old person. He was sprawled out over the bed with only one leg covered by the sheet. It was a wonderful sight to behold, so I took a moment.
Placing the tray carefully on the bed, I kissed him awake. He was surprised to see me up and ready with breakfast. He went straight for his mug and took a big sip.
"Mon dieu! Ce quoi ça?" His face scrunched up in disgust.
"Tea with milk, silly." Didn't everyone drink their tea that way?
"Can I please have coffee?" he begged.
"Fine, but I expect payment in full before I leave for work." I snatched the mug out of his hand. When I returned with a steaming cup of coffee, he was sitting upright.
"I told my mother about you." He made it sound like he was discussing the weather.
"What did she say?" I asked, after almost spitting out my tea.
"We chatted for awhile, but the conclusion was that whatever made me happy, made her happy. She said I shouldn't tell Papa till I was ready."
"Till you were ready for what?" I asked confused.
"You know..." he shrugged.
"I wouldn't be asking, if I knew. Do you mean until you are ready to admit you like boys?" Why did the shrug bug me so much?
He didn't seem to understand why I was bothered. "... until I am ready to present you to them officially! Papa does background checks on anyone I might bring home."
What the fuck? Background checks? Apparently my face did all the talking for me again. He actually laughed.
"I am just messing with you. Papa is old-fashioned. If I present someone to him, he expects it to be serious. My mother thinks that you are too young to stick around."
"Do you think I qualify for a background check?" I asked, sidestepping his unspoken question with a stupid joke. I slipped back under the sheets and leaned on my arm.
"I guess. No one has ever qualified before though!" He seemed nervous.
"Oh! Why is that?" I asked coyly.
"... because I was never in love before." He held my gaze in what was either excitement or trepidation.
Fuck! He had said it! What was I supposed to do now, say it back? Did I even know what it was supposed to feel like? I had never actually loved anyone before, so I had no point of reference. I loved my sister and Uncle Clive, but that was different. Jean Pierre had managed to fill a void, I never knew was there. Was that what love was?
The mess in my head stopped me from speaking altogether. Instead, I climbed on top of him and kept his body and mind occupied with a different expression of affection. I knew it wasn't the same, but it would have to do for now. We didn't have much time, but when I left for work he was still on Cloud Nine.
I switched off Vanessa's nagging voice in the back of my mind, as I pulled the door closed behind me.
***
I stood with a cup of coffee in the staff cafeteria. It was undrinkable shit compared to everywhere else, but it was caffeinated. My phone buzzed as I was about to put it back in my pocket.
"You available tonight?" HIS profile pic was a lock of hair sticking out from a white bed sheet. No one could recognise it but me.
"Sure." I typed with one hand.
"There is someone I would like you to meet."
"Sounds ominous."
"I am sure you will love her." Her? Wtf!
"Ok."
"Thai Gardens, 21:00?"
"Definitely