The morning after. Something that always sucks, you are trying to get out of bed without waking the other person you went in there with the night before. Hoping that they don't wake up and you have to make false promises of calling or maybe saying a friendly ‘good game’ before ducking out. Name it I’ve probably done it, but this here, laying in bed with Lee is something I have never done before. I am snuggled into his side with my hand on his chest and it feels peaceful like I could stay here forever.

“You sleep well?” Oh, I didn't know he was awake.

“Yes, you?” Propping myself up on my elbow to get a better look at his face. He looks damn good the morning after and I can’t help but want many more.

“Not sure, this smoking hot chick was screaming some guy’s name in my ear all night. Something like ‘yeah Lee right there’ ‘oh, don't stop Lee’ this Lee guy is one lucky bastard if you ask me.” I giggle like a little school girl at him. Then remember that there were other people in the house last night, oh shit. I cover my face.

“Do you think Rick and Shawn heard? Oh, my god, I'm so embarrassed!”

“I hope they heard, hell I hope the whole state heard. You’re mine and I want everyone to know it. Don't be embarrassed your screaming is sexy especially when you scream my name.” He says wiggling his eyebrows up and down, cocky bastard. We only had sex two more times last night but probably would have more if we didn't run out of condoms. That’s definitely something I'm going to carry around in surplus from now on.

“I'm going to go and take a shower, want to join me?” he asks while getting out of bed. He’s still naked and all I can do is stare at that perfect ass of his. “Linn, you coming?” He snaps me out of my daydream.

“Oh, yeah I could use a shower.” Hoping out of bed I shed off the tee shirt I was wearing, throwing it, not caring where it lands. He has the water going when I get in the bathroom and is stepping in not waiting. I watch him tilt his face up into the spray of the water scrubbing it in his hands. He turns his head toward the door searching for me, smiling when he finds me at standing there watching him. He doesn't say anything just jerks his head telling me to join him.

Stepping into the spray I wet my hair first then scrub the sleep off my face. Wrapping his arms around me he holds me tight to him and kisses my forehead, my cheek, then my lips. Pulling back to look in my eyes for a beat then dives back in and kissed me harder. When he is done plundering my mouth he slowly turns me around and I hear a bottle open then his hands are in my hair lathering it with shampoo. After rinsing it he finger combs the conditioner through to the ends then starts washing me with some fruity smelling body wash. His movements aren't sexual just comforting, loving. This feeling right now is something I haven't felt since before my mom died and at this moment I dare to enjoy it.

When he is done washing me I do the same for him taking my time.

“What is the date for?” I break the silence and ask about his tattoo. He is quiet for a moment and I think he may not tell me but he answers. “Just a date. A reminder.”

“A good date? Because it doesn't seem like a good one.”

“No, not a good one.”

“Why would you get it etched permanently on your skin then?” Why indeed?

“Torment I suppose. To never let me forget no matter how much you may love someone and trust them they still have the power to tear your heart out.” That’s deep. I suppose I may be able to relate.

“What did she do to you?”

“Not to me.” He kisses me. “Water is starting to get cold.” With that, he shuts it off and gets out wrapping a towel around himself. Handing me one when I step out. I guess I'm not the only one with secrets I don't want to share. “Gotta get back, stuff to do today.” He says gruffly then walks out of the bathroom leaving me to wonder who the hell broke this man’s heart.

The ride home is quiet, well except for the wind. When we get home he drops me off first. What the hell?

“I’ll call you, okay babe?” So much for the whole ‘you’re mine’ speech he gave me last night. I almost say don't bother but I can’t get the words out. I just smile and give him a quick kiss then I'm on my way into my apartment where I find a sad Cristal.

“So how did your date go?” the first date with art class guy went good enough that she agreed to a second one. The look on her face has me thinking this one didn't go as well. That guy had better not be the reason she is sad or so help me I will take out a contract on him. Well maybe not to that extreme, maybe.

“It was good, we went to some Italian place, nice place. The food was good conversation was good then I saw him.”

“Who?”

“Dez.”

“Dez? What was he doing there? That’s weird.”

“He was a waiter, our waiter. He didn't let on that we knew each other but Ron, my date, was so rude. He took one look at his tattoos and piercings and starting putting him down.” This guy sounds like a tool.

“So what happened?” I prompt her to tell more.

“He asked for another person to wait on us. Can you believe that? How rude can a person be?”

“What did Dez say?”

“That they were short staffed and that was why he was filling in and if we wanted another waiter that the Olive Garden was across town. Then turned around a left, but not before giving me a look like ‘this guy? Really?’ I was so embarrassed, I asked Ron to take me home. I text Dez this morning and told him I was sorry for the way Ron acted, he filially responded with don't fucking worry about it I'm just so shocked that he would say that to me. He was so nice when I got my tattoo and when we went hiking, granted I didn't really talk to him then.” So she admits she got one, I need to keep that knowledge and use it for later, right now isn't the time.

“Ron sounds like a dick and I hope you never see him again. Give Dez some time to cool off he likes you I know that otherwise, he wouldn't have given you his number. I know you took it by the way.” I say the last part with a wink. “Where is Shane?” I notice that the bad cop isn't here, only the good one.