Page 10 of Fiona
6
FIONA
The following morning, I wake up and my throat feels like I’ve swallows broken glass and my mouth is so dry that’s eaten chalk. I try to think back to yesterday and remember the food truck that I grab a quick lunch at. My stomach immediate rolls but thankfully there is nothing left inside me to puke up. I feel hollow.
A vague memory tickles my consciousness of Michael being here last night and me asking him to stay with me. Thank goodness that was a dream, who knows what other idiot things I might have said when I was half out of it. Like I want to hand you my v-card. I love you. Can I have your babies? You know, the normal stuff.
I walk into the bathroom, expecting to find a mess left behind from yesterday, but it looks all cleaned up. I must have at some point been able to clean up after myself in my delirium state.
I strip down and step under the cascade of hot water and let it cleanse me of yesterday. I take my time washing my hair and exfoliating. I need to feel like a new person when I’m done.
I stay in the shower until the water begins to cool. I turn off the water and reach out for my towel on the rack. Only there isn’t a towel there. I peek out from behind the shower curtain and remember that all my towels are in the dryer. I can just run out and grab one and dry off back in here.
I step out of the bathroom and walk down the cool hallway. The breeze from the air conditioner makes my nipples pebble. I turn the corner and stop dead in my tracks when I see Denny sitting on my sofa, smiling and wagging his tail.
“How did you get in here?” I ask him, but it’s the voice turns the corner of the kitchen that makes me scream.
“You let me in last ni—” Michael’s voice cuts off and his eyes widen in surprise when they take in my very naked form. I scream and grab a cushion off the sofa to cover me up.
It takes Michael a moment to get snap out of what trance he’s in to turn around and give me some semblance of privacy.
“What are you doing in my apartment?” I yell.
“We were supposed to have dinner last night.” He starts to turn around to explain but my shriek has him spinning back around. “I came to pick you up, but when I got here I found you really sick.”
“So?”
“So, I wasn’t about to leave you to try and fend for yourself.”
“I didn’t ask you stay.”
He turns around this time. “Yes, you did!”
Denny barks, like he doesn’t like that we are yelling at one another.
The memory of me reaching out for him last night and asking him to stay flashes in my mind. I grip the pillow in front of me tighter. I feel more exposed than just being naked with only this pillow to cover me.
“What else did I say?”
“What else is there?” he asks, his tone much lighter.
I shake my head, wishing I had Cherry’s ability to finally admit my secret.
“Is it because you’re still a virgin?” he asks.
It’s as if his words are a slap across the face.
“How did you know?”
“You mentioned someone named Cherry and last night I saw the sticky note on your tablet.”
“You read my book.”
“I’m glad I did. You weren’t about to tell me the truth. And it’s good to know that you were only using me for sex.”
“That’s not true. I mean, that may have been how it started but I fell for you that first night. That’s why I couldn’t stay. I knew I wanted more and I couldn’t have imagined that you’d want anything more with me.”
No it’s was Michael’s turn to look like my words slapped him. “Is that what you think of me.”
