Page 53 of Lessons in Love
“You’re on.” We flip our feet to the floor and start pulling on our clothes and shoes again. I peek over at her on the other side of the bed. She was lounging in sweatpants and a The Resistance T-shirt she got from their tour a few months back. I flicked the pic of the lead singer that covers the front when she talked about how hot he was live and she felt like he was singing just for her. I rolled my eyes and flicked her again before realizing I had actually flicked her nipple. After she said, “Ouch,” and rubbed it, she admitted it felt pretty good.
That was a happy side effect that I’d love to explore more with her sometime, but since our earlier talk, I need to back off. I also need to be careful or she’ll have me face over fist in deep shitfeels for her all over again. So naturally I immediately accepted her invitation to watch the movie with her in bed. That’s where she has her DVD player plugged in. I didn’t even know they still made DVD players. Don’t we just download movies these days?
Guess not.
She pauses the movie and stands up. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be. Where are you taking me?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
She’s so happy that I don’t want to burst her bubble by telling her I really should be going home. I don’t want to burst my happy bubble either. That seed is sprouting from hope to fate, and I believe wholeheartedly in destiny. It’s what I’ve used to guide my own life. Maybe I need to trust in it when it comes to my love life.
The doorman is surprised to see use when we exit the building. As if we’re a couple, Virginia’s arm slides around mine and our fingers weave together and we hold hands. “Your hands are fucking freezing,” I say, surprised her hands feel colder than a witch’s tit.
“Sorry,” she says like she’s not really that sorry. “You’re so warm. God, I need your hands warming my body.”
Big Richard stirs. “Please don’t say things like that. We may have gotten off but I haven’t had sex since I met you and words likewarmandhands on your bodykind of remind my dick that he’s not slipped into a woman’s sleeping bag in a while.”
“Ewwww. A woman’s sleeping bag? Gross.”
“I was trying to be polite. Would you rather me say pussy? Because I have no problem saying pussy.”
“Apparently, and you just did twice. Also, you sure didn’t mind saying it earlier.”
“Earlier I was eating your pussy. We were in the moment. Now we’re walking down the street, to who knows where in the world, holding hands.”
“Was that you romancing me, Hardy?”
“Nope. But if I was, would it be working?”
“Totally.” She leans her head on my shoulder, and squeezes my hand tighter. “Sleeping bags are cozy and comfy and warm, like sweatpants. And you know I like those.”
“See, I’m playing to my audience.”
“You’re generous like that, and you’re warming my hands up.”
Warming cold hands. Gloves are great for that. “Oh, I almost forgot.” I reach inside my coat pocket and pull out the gloves. “I got you these.”
Her feet come to a sudden halt and she takes the gloves from me. “You bought me gloves?”
“Yeah, earlier tonight.”
“You bought me gloves earlier tonight from Bendel’s?”
“I did.” I reach over and touch them again. “They’re cashmere.”
“Hardy, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just wear them.”
She pulls them off the hanger and slides her hands into them. “Oh my God. These are heaven. Heaven, I tell you.” Her body is clinging to mine, her arms wrapped around my neck cutting off my airway. “This is one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received.”
I loosen the noose of her arms, and cough. “They’re only gloves, V.”“You don’t understand. I was shopping today and every store was sold out. I was so disappointed, but here you are taking me to dinner at an impossible to get a reservation restaurant and pulling gloves from your pocket like they magically appeared after a wish. I don’t know where you came from, Hardy Richard, but I’m so fortunate to have you in my life. Thank you for the gloves. I love them.”
“You’re very welcome.”
She kisses my cheek and then takes my hand again. This time her hand is fuzzy and warm. Similar to my feelings right now.
