CONNOR
Morning light filtered through the glass windows into my room. Grace laid peacefully on my arm, sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to wake her up. It was a Sunday. We could wake up as late as we wanted since neither of us had any serious work to do.
Speaking of work, I reasoned I should make her quit her job. We were going to make it official soon and working in that sort of place wouldn’t suit her. Then there was the disturbing issue of leaving Laurel with people throughout the night just because of the peanuts they were paying there.
We would talk about that later, but for now, I was relishing the striking view before me. Her head had resting on my arms all through the night, and now I didn’t wish to move the arm, even if I was starting to feel really uncomfortable. I had to continue watching peaceful face, her long lashes sticking out from beneath her closed eyelids, her hair sprawling on my arms and on the bedspread and her lips parted slightly to giving her an innocent, delicate look.
She must’ve felt my stare heavy on her, because she finally decided to wake up on her own, blinking those breathtaking china-blue eyes open. She was more beautiful in her sleepy face, rubbing her eyes with the back of her palm like a child. My heartbeat became irregular as she smiled at me.
“Hey…” she said from a sleep-laden voice while trying to get up. “Good morning, how’d you sleep?”
“I slept well, Ms. Jones, how about you?”
“If I could remember well, I wasn’t allowed to get enough sleep by you-know-who,” she scowled at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I want to wake up next to her every day this way, I realized as I watched her wrap the quilt around herself. I knew she was about to ask for Laurel so I beat her to it.
“Let’s go get shower and go check on Laurie,” I said, removing the quilt from her and hurling her into my arms to the bathroom while she giggled telling me to let her walk. “Not a chance, miss”
I placed her into the bathtub gently and turned on the tap until the tub was full. I insisted on washing her body after which she washed mine and we emerged from the bathroom with her in my robe. She looked pretty in her wet hair and zero makeup, so beautiful I was forced to draw her in and kiss her.
She wrapped her hands around my waist and returned the kiss playfully. “We should really go check up on Laurie. I have to go home, there’s a whole lot waiting for me back there,” she pleaded and I disentangled from her grudgingly.
“Alright, alright at least eat breakfast,” I said firmly, “It should be ready by now.”
She was raising the quilts and bed sheets frantically with a deep frown on her face, “I can’t find my clothes, they should be around here!” she complained and then turn to stare at me questioningly.
“Granny Thais took it to the laundry and bought you new clothes and underwear,” I told her suddenly remembering the detail I didn’t think was important. “They’re in the bag on the bedside table, I hope you like them.” I added feeling suddenly awkward as she stared at me with her mouth wide open.
But her phone vibrated from her purse placed on the bedside table. She turned to get it, letting me off the hook.
……..
GRACE
Waking up beside Connor was like a dream come true. Not the dream of my older self but that of my younger self. There you have it, twenty-three-year old Grace, the thirty-year old Grace finally wakes up next to Mr. Chardonnay.
I felt relaxed, happy and safe. A sensation I couldn’t remember having for ages. Aside from everything that’s happened between us, waking up next to Connor Shelby was like waking up in heaven next to one of those beautifully made angels.
He was that good-looking. But I wasn’t okay with the fact that my clothes where moved to the laundry without my consent, and then even asking someone to get me new clothes. For one, how would he know what I actually like? (not that I have peculiar taste in clothings but then I didn’t mean I could just wear anything).
My phone rang when I wanted to start an argument. I wasn’t angry, far from it, I just wished he had asked me before letting a woman twice my age do my laundry.
Now I’m sounding angry.
I let it go and withdrew my phone from my black purse, with all the certainty in the world that they were texts and probably calls from my best friends, and I was right.
“Hey woman! I hope you didn’t come back home last night? (laughing emoji),” Jody texted the group chat of the three of us.
NK and I sent rolling eye emojis and then laughing ones. “How did the date go, Gracieee? Spare no details woman!” NK typed, sending a sweaty-faced emoji.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Connor was staring at me questioningly so I told him it was my friends.
“The two I met that night?” he asked, confusion on his handsome face.
“Yeah, that’s them,” I laughed and his expression eased up. He started getting ready, leaving me to my phone.
My phone vibrated again and this time it was from Jody, “I know you’re seeing this, don’t you dare ignore us!”
“I slept at his place, @Jody,” I replied Jody with a scowl on my face, “The date went absolutely great, @NK, full details when we meet, for now, I got to get dressed.” And the wow emojis kept coming in from my crazy friends.
“OOOOOh she got some last night!” Jody typed with more wow reactions. “I got some news also but would be when we meet, run along now, Ms. Budweiser…. (Laughing emoji)”
“Have more fun, Gracie, (Kisses emoji)” NK texted. “And Jody, Gracie’s place by evening. Call?”
“Call,” I replied,
“Call!” Jody texted in her usual excited manner and we all went off.