‘Do I need to lock my bedroom door tonight?’ she asked, flashing me a concerned glance. ‘You’ve gone all woman crazy today.’
‘No. I’m just trying to think of sexy women and what gives them that edge. Anything I can exploit to help me keep his interest.’
‘Christ, warn me when this striptease is going down and I’ll book into the Premier Inn and you can pay for my all you can eat breakfast. You’ll be at it all bloody night.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll do it at his, more room to move. Right I’m heading off to bed. Are you staying up?’
‘Yes I need a serious dose of male testosterone after all that girly action. I’m going to watch Fight Club again.’
‘Have fun Lex, see you in the morning.’
‘I find you trying to sneak into my bed tonight for some rug munching, our friendship’s off,’ she warned. I threw a cushion at her head and skipped out before she had a chance to fling it back.
It was nearly ten thirty when I got into bed. I looked around and the room felt cold and empty and I realised that the thing missing was Gabe. I checked my phone, no message, so I sent him a text.
Hope you had fun with Doug & Milo? My bed feels empty without you M xx
It started vibrating before I had a chance to put it back on its dock. I looked and saw it was a facetime call from him, so I accepted.
‘Hi baby you ok?’ he smiled.
‘Where are you? You look naked.’ I quickly scanned the background, hoping he wasn’t somewhere he shouldn’t be and sighed with relief when I saw the grey paint.
‘At home. I just got out of the shower after a swim and was heading to bed to try and get some sleep. I’m knackered.’
‘You look very sexy with your wet hair and pecs.’
‘You look very sexy with your bare shoulder peeking out of the duvet. How was your appointment?’
‘Facial was fab, wax was a bit painful. How’s your poor penis now?’
‘It hurts to pee,’ he said with a frown. ‘So I’m knocking back lots of water hoping it’ll help.’
‘Do you think it will hurt if you come?’
‘Where’s this conversation going?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘I thought you could teach me how to do phone sex and I could help you out.’
‘That’s really sweet baby, but I think I’d prefer not to try until I can at least pee without hurting first. Would you like me to help you out over the phone?’
‘No I’m good,’ I sighed. ‘I was only suggesting it for you. Can we try it when we’re both feeling better?’
‘We can try anything you want when we’re both feeling better. Hang on I’m going to ditch the towel and get into bed.’
‘Do you think you can sleep tonight?’ I asked, wondering how I would when I had the image of him freshly showered and naked running through my mind.
‘I don’t know. I lie down and my head starts racing and I miss not holding you, listening to you snore and chatter.’
‘You make it sound like I’ve got a real snoring problem. Will you record me one night? I want to hear what I sound like.’
‘Adorable,’ he said with a big smile.
‘Do you have unlimited broadband and data?’
‘Yes, why?’
‘So do I, we could keep the call going tonight and I could put it next to me on my pillow and it would be just like you were here with me.’
‘Or I could just drive over and physically be there with you Mia.’
‘That would be crazy.’
‘No what’s crazy is me lying here tossing and turning all night and then coming to you in the morning. I could be there in under twenty minutes, wake up with you in the morning, then go for our run.’ I chewed on my lip as I looked at his hopeful face and he sighed. ‘Baby, go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning at ten. Night.’
‘Night Gabe.’ I blew him a kiss and ended the call and lay looking up at the ceiling. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes again, what was wrong with me? I was so damn emotional at the moment. The thought of him unable to sleep, and me lying here missing him, was too much. I took a deep breath and sent him a text.
Gabe could you really be here that soon? I miss you, one night was enough time apart x
I wondered how mad he’d be with me. It was like I was ordering take out whenever I fancied it and he deserved better than that. I felt my phone vibrate and read his message.
Bootyless call accepted :-) See you shortly G xx
I had kisses on my texts again, I’d made him happy, not mad. I sat up in bed waiting and watching the time tick by, so slowly, on my phone. It felt like my first date with him all over again. I was so excited at the thought of seeing him, touching him, kissing him and even just falling asleep with him. I was out of bed in an instant when I heard the buzzer go, threw on my dressing gown and opened the front door. I leaned over the bannister to watch him race up the stairs two at a time. As he reached the landing and saw me waiting, his face broke into one of his happy smiles and I ran into arms and held him tightly.
‘I’m so sorry. I thought I needed space, but one night apart from you was enough to tell me I don’t. I’ve missed you so much.’
‘I’ve missed you too,’ he sighed. ‘Come on let’s go to bed so I can hold you and watch you sleep.’
‘You need to sleep too, you look so tired.’
‘I’ll sleep just fine tonight now. Thank you,’ he kissed the top of my head and led me to the bedroom. I hung my dressing gown back up and turned around to see he’d already removed his top and bottoms and he bent over in his tight jersey boxers to pick them up. I ran my eyes over his thighs and bottom and he turned around to see me staring at him, as I stood there in just my knickers.
‘Mia don’t, you’ve got that lustful look in your eyes again and your nipples are hard.’
‘Then stop bending over and waving your biteable backside in my face. You know what it does to me.’
‘Shit I’m hard already, will you just get into bed and cover your breasts up? There’s no way I want to come after this morning.’
I went to my chest of drawers and pulled on a loose fit t-shirt. He’d already got into bed and was sitting up watching me when I turned around. I stopped and stood smiling at him.
‘What are you smiling at?’ he asked.
‘My bed looks so much better with you in it Gabe.’
‘So are you over this ridiculous “we need to have time apart” rubbish?’
‘Yes, I’m sorry I think I just had a panic. I’ve never told a guy that I love them and it all just feels like it’s moving so fast.’ I climbed in and shuffled up next to him and he put his arm around me.
‘We are moving fast, but I don’t want it any other way, I hate being apart from you Mia.’
‘Me too.’
‘God then I’m really sorry,’ he said with a heavy sigh, ‘I didn’t know when it was going to be a good time to break it to you, but I’ve got go away Thursday and Friday night for a competition.’ I broke eye contact and looked down, playing with my fingers resting on my lap. I could hardly protest after the last couple of days. ‘Mia?’
‘What do you want me to say Gabe? Your swimming’s important to you, I get that.’
‘Are you disappointed?’
‘Of course I am. There’s a party in the student bar on Friday night and Lexi and I were going to go. I’d planned a very sexy outfit for you and was hoping we’d meet up after.’
‘Bloody great, the two nights I go away and you’re out with Milo on the one and parading around in a sexy outfit, drunk, on the other,’ he sighed as he pinched the top of his nose.
‘Hey, you’re going away for two nights with a load of women, one of whom happens to be your ex, so you don’t get to complain. Besides Lexi’s promised to be my guardian on Friday as she won’t be drinking.’ I looked at him and he sighed again, I knew he wasn’t happy, but he knew I wasn’t either. ‘How did you get on with Milo tonight?’
‘Fine.
Doug agrees that I can’t trust him around you though.’
‘Then trust me. You really think I want anyone else when I’ve got you?’
‘You’d better not Mia, it would be the end of us if you ever cheated on me. Come on, I’ve hardly slept since Saturday morning, I need to be on top form for Friday.’ He kissed me and I rolled over to turn off the light and decided to turn off the alarm on my phone so we could lie in. I snuggled down into the bed, sighing as he wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his firm chest pressed into my back and it was so comforting. I reached up and found his hand and wrapped my fingers around his.
‘Thanks for coming over.’
‘Thanks for asking me.’
‘I love you Gabe,’ I whispered. He kissed the back of my neck sending shivers down my spine.
‘Not as much as I love you baby,’ he whispered as he tightened his arm around my waist.
Wednesday
I woke up on my back, with Gabe draped across me fast asleep. It was already quarter past nine, but I decided not to wake him up and carefully wriggled out from under him, looking back as he shifted and moaned. His hand moved across the duvet as if he were searching for me, so I picked up big boy and put him under the duvet and smiled as Gabe sighed and put his arm over him. I snapped a picture of it on my iPhone and chuckled as I went to the bathroom.
I looked at myself in the mirror, despite two good night’s sleep I still looked pale and tired and had signs of bags under my eyes. I took my tablets and changed my tampon, which was full of blood clots. I was dreading this scan, I wasn’t sure I wanted confirmation of what was wrong. I went and listened at Lexi’s door, but there was no sound, I figured she was still asleep so I just made two coffees and when I returned Gabe was sitting up in the bed with a faintly amused smile on his face.
‘You think I don’t know the difference between my girlfriend and a giant soft furry panda?’
‘You didn’t when I took the picture of you cuddling him.’
‘You didn’t?’ he uttered, horrified.
‘I did. You make such a lovely couple. You can take him away with you if you need some quality alone time together.’
‘I need some quality alone time with you. When I get back will you come and stay with me for the weekend?’
‘I may still be on Gabe, sometimes it’s four days, sometimes more.’
‘Mia, how many times, it’s not all about sex. I just want to spend some time with you.’
‘Can I check with Lexi first? I don’t really want to leave her alone all weekend.’ I passed him his coffee and put mine on the side as I hopped back into bed.
‘Sure. You ok? You look really pale.’
‘I’ll be fine when my period’s gone. Are we still going running?’
‘I don’t know, you tell me?’
‘I’d like to go, but I don’t want to slow you down.’
‘I’m happy to go at your pace. I’ll go and do us some scrambled egg on toast and once we’ve eaten we can head out. Why are you getting out of bed? Stay there and I’ll bring breakfast to you.’
‘I’m never going to learn to cook if you keeping doing it for me Gabe. I want you to show me.’
‘Ok, see you in the kitchen. Get out six eggs and some milk and butter. Do you know what they look like?’
I threw a pillow at him and he dodged it laughing and shut the bathroom door. I took our coffees back in the kitchen and got out what he’d asked and he joined me a minute later wearing his grey jersey joggers and a tightly fitted white t-shirt, it was painted onto his biceps and torso. I wiped my mouth, positive some drool had just escaped and sighed, his body was just perfect.
‘God you’re so hot. I can’t wait until we can have sex again,’ I moaned as I ran my hands up his chest.
‘You and me both.’ He kissed me, squeezing my bottom tightly, then picked me up and deposited me on the countertop next to the hob and proceeded to show me how to make scrambled eggs.
‘Wow, that looks easier than I thought,’ I nodded.
‘Then you can do them tomorrow morning, if I’m allowed to stay over tonight?’
‘Most definitely if we have two nights apart. What time are you leaving Thursday?’
‘The coach is picking us up at 3.30, so I’ll miss some of English. It’s about a four hour journey there.’
‘Is Doug going with you as well?’
‘Yes, we’re the two fastest swimmers on the team. Come on breakfast’s ready.’
We sat at the table and ate and I downed some apple juice, while Gabe stuck to water.
‘So what do you see happening with your swimming?’ I asked between bites.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well you compete for Uni and Westhampton. Have you considered things like the Olympics?’
‘Qualified for the trials last time, but not quick enough on the day,’ he shrugged. I quickly ate another mouthful wondering if I should ask anymore. Gabe was pretty competitive and I didn’t want to piss him off by reminding him that there were people better than him out there, but I was really impressed he was that good and was interested to learn more, so I decided to risk it.
‘Gabe that’s amazing, you must be seriously good. Would you try out again? Or for any other games like that?’
‘I’m no Michael Phelps yet, but I’m above average,’ he shrugged. ‘I’d like to think I’d try out again, but it would mean masses of extra training and what with Uni and seeing you now, it’s a really big commitment that I’d really need to think about very carefully.’
‘I don’t want to get in the way of your dreams Gabe, I’d never want to get in the way of you doing something you loved, no matter how hard you’d have to work at it.’
‘Thanks baby, that’s really sweet,’ he kissed me, looking quite touched. ‘Right I’ll go and get my sweatshirt for this run, you want yours?’ he asked.
‘Please, I’ll clear up here then.’
‘Do you have your bracelet on?’
‘Always,’ I waved my wrist at him. ‘Why?’
‘I’ll want to take it with me when I leave, so I can add Sunday’s date on, it was then that you first told me.’
‘That I loved you?’
‘Of course it was, unless you want to take it back?’
‘No of course I don’t,’ I said blushing. ‘You’re quite sentimental Gabe, I’d never have imagined that about you.’
He grinned his boyish grin and I shook my head amused as he went to grab our stuff.
I made it about another mile further than the last time, before I had to stop and bend over with my hands on my knees to catch my breath.
‘Ok?’
‘Yes, just so out of shape,’ I panted.
‘You’re in pretty good shape considering you do virtually no exercise at all and eat crap. A few weeks of this and the gym and you’ll soon see a difference. If you need an exercise partner ask me, you don’t need bloody Milo for that.’
‘You’d want to do that with me?’
‘Why wouldn’t I? Working out next to a hot girl in tight lycra’s every guys dream.’
‘O I’ll be hot,’ I nodded. ‘I’m so hot now it’s dripping off me.’
‘I meant as in sexy hot, but hot skinned does it for me too,’ he smiled, as he reached out and ran his finger down my damp cleavage.
‘Why does that not surprise me? Ok let’s go again.’
‘Sure?’
I answered him by starting to run and smiled back at him over my shoulder as he stood with his hands on his slender hips and watched me. He caught up with me too quickly and we carried on for another fifteen minutes, before I headed to a bench and collapsed onto it with my knees up. He laughed and sat down putting my head on his lap.
‘Well at least you’ve got some colour back in your face.’
‘Hmmm and you haven’t even broken a sweat. So how did Doug enjoy Sunday?’
‘Loved it. He keeps asking me why Lexi won’t agree to go out with him.’
‘I think she actually wants to, but she wants to deal with her situation first.’
‘I get that, just having to lie to him about why she’s stalling isn’t the best feeling.’
‘I know. When I told mum about you on Monday, I felt awful not having told her before.’
‘Why didn’t you?’
‘I never really talked to mum about boyfriends much after Alex. I knew she’d know it was serious if I talked to her and I didn’t want to freak her out ringing her as soon as I’d met you.’
‘As soon as you met me? Wow you really liked my bum.’
‘Well it’s biteable,’ I smiled up at him.
‘So other than thinking I’m a babe, how did she take it? Is she mad at me for deflowering her beloved daughter?’
‘She’s happy that I’m happy. She just wanted me to be sure that beneath the passion is something more substantial and to be sure that I could trust you.’
‘So what did you tell her?’ he asked as he stroked my hair gently.
‘The truth, that while I trust you completely, I was scared that it was all just about the lust and you’d get tired of me.’
‘Do you still feel that way?’ he looked down at me with a frown.
‘A little, but I’m getting there.’
‘Good, because I keep telling you it’s not and I’m going nowhere, you’re stuck with me for life Mia Page. Come on we need to head back, I need to stop at the shop and want to fit in a shower. Ready?’
‘Yes.’ I groaned as I sat up, my legs were aching already. We set off and he slowed the pace down, so that this time I could make it all the way back to the shop in one go.
‘Stretch off against the wall while I grab more bread, eggs and milk, unless you’re going to have another stroppy about it in the street?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow. I pulled my tongue out at him.
‘I think I can cope with you spending a couple of pounds on me now and again.’
We got back and he put his purchases in the kitchen while I checked on Lexi who was still asleep, so we headed straight for the bathroom. He stripped off and got in the shower while I sat on the toilet lid and watched him.
Baggage & Buttons Page 26
