She felt my stare and a little grin formed on her lips. “Okay, so when you called I was reading a romance novel alright? Give me a break and just trust me. And don’t be an ass to her or I’ll never talk to you again.” She smiled.
We had arrived at the apartments and Sara pulled into a space. With a deep breath I opened the door and got out of the car. One last glance back at Sara, who smiled encouragingly, and I pulled my phone out and began walking to the front entrance, dialing Tanya’s number.
I had to call twice before she picked up. Her voice sounded tired but there was a hint of apology as she answered. “I’m sorry, I forgot I drove us both.” was her greeting.
Feeling my heart beating strongly I said, “Hey, it’s okay. Tanya, I know something’s up. I was an ass tonight and I apologize.”
There was silence on the other end. Sara watched from the car.
“You were an ass. At least you know it.” Tanya finally said.
“Yeah. Seriously. I’m very sorry. I’m, um… I’m outside. I got a ride here. I know the call you got was important and hurt you. I’m here for you. I know you might be angry at me right now and I deserve it, but I’m willing to take that right now if you’ll let me be here for you.”
Another silence. She was surprised. “You’re here?”
“Mm hmm.”
She sighed. “I don’t know if I want to see anyone.”
“I’m not going to press Tanya, but…” I swallowed nervously, “… I really do care about you. I mean it. I don’t know what’s going on and it might hurt… but I want to hurt with you.”
She waited another entire minute before speaking. When she did, my heart skipped. “I… I guess I do need you right now. I’ll come down to meet you.”
I was stunned and let her go on the phone. I cast a thumbs-up to Sara who grinned, and backed out of her space in the lot and drove off. A few seconds later I saw Tanya’s silhouette appear on the frosted window of the entryway. The door eased open and there she was – eyes red and puffy, hair slightly messed, wearing pajama bottoms…
She’d never looked as beautiful to me before.
I stepped up to her, looked into her troubled eyes, and we fell into each other’s arms. It wasn’t long before her tears were soaking into my shoulder. A few moments later she guided me up the stairs to her apartment – a stained glass dragonfly hanging from her door – and led me inside.
Nothing “happened” that night, but everything changed. We sat on her couch for hours, her under a blanket, as she told me that her grandfather had passed away and shared with me how much he had meant to her. She told me stories – both funny and painful – until the early hours of the morning. I held her as she cried, rubbed her back and encouraged her as best I could.
The last thing she did before falling asleep in my arms was to look me in the eyes, whisper “I love you. Thank you.” and tenderly press her quivering lips to mine in a kiss deeper than I could every have dreamed of with her. She sighed after that, curled tightly against me, and fell asleep.
Chapter 20
I was the first to awake, going through a quick moment of disorientation until I remembered where I was. Tanya still lay curled against me, her lips barely parted as she slept. I gently raised one hand up to clear my eyes and relaxed it on the back of the couch as I looked around.
During the night I had hardly turned my eyes from Tanya as we talked and I had not seen much at all of her apartment. I was surprised to find that the girls in my lap, the girl who so enjoyed working on engines, seemed to have a fascination with dragonflies and butterflies. They adorned her counters and shelves as wire, glass or clay sculptures, they decorated her walls in framed artwork, and were even sewn into the very blanket covering us.
It was just then that I realized that her earrings were also miniature dragonflies. I felt a bit foolish that I had not noticed this before.
The morning sun was shining brightly through one of her windows and I admired the hanging plants that she had somehow coaxed to bloom indoors. I also noticed a picture frame by the window with a man’s face – oddly enough the only picture in the room of a person – I realized it must be her grandfather.
It may have been a half hour later when she finally stirred and rubbed her eyes. She laid her hand on my chest and sighed, smiling, her eyes still somewhat closed. She stifled a yawn and stretched, then lifted her chin to look up at me. I smiled at her, loving the way a lock of her dark brown hair had fallen over her forehead. She made no effort to move it, and smiled up at me.
“Thanks for staying with me.” She said, her voice sounding a little hoarse.
“My pleasure. Thank you for letting me stay.”
She smiled again, then rested her head on my chest again.
“You’re the first guy I’ve ever had in my apartment.”
I ran my fingers through her hair, softly touching her head. “I’m sorry it was under these circumstances.”
I noticed her eyes dart in the direction of the window… and the picture. She let out a long sigh. “Me too.”
In a little while we both got up. Tanya came up close and gave me a tight hug, then slowly pulled me in to kiss me again, deeply. She didn’t mind as I wrapped my arms tight around her shoulders and seemed to melt against me.
She showed me to the bathroom so I could freshen up and I washed my face and neck, wet my hair and styled it as best as possible. I came out of the bathroom to find the living area empty, and walked towards where I figured the bedroom was.
The door was open halfway and I thought I saw her and stepped towards the room… and stopped. Tanya had stepped into view, facing away from me and was busy pulling her hair up in a ponytail – wearing nothing but a bra and panties. I stood there dumbly, watching her hair brushing back and forth across her nearly bare shoulders, drinking in the sight of her beautifully curved back, her waist, her legs… Someone has said that a woman’s body is a picture of eternity too great for a man to take in and that’s exactly how I felt as I looked at Tanya. Though not as thin as my sister she was built like a goddess – beautiful curves and lines… her body exuding grace in a way I’d never seen in her before.