NERTHUS
There are a few moments in my life where I could say that I nearly had a heart attack.
But I guess the moment I jolt awake because of the sound of a horn will definitely make it to my top three.
“What the fuck?!” I screech, hearing Danny cussing as he turns to bury his face into a pillow.
“Nice couch you have here.”
My heart skips a beat at hearing Arawn’s voice even before my eyes can find him.
“Are you insane? You woke up the entire house with that thing!”
He is just standing there with his phone in his hand, looking at me disparagingly as I hiss at him.
Pulling my blanket up to my chest, I look over to Danny. “He was just feeling lonely. Why are you like that?”
Danny groans about not telling him once again as Arawn clicks his tongue. “Sure, there is nothing better to cure loneliness than a pair of big boobs.”
“Wouldn’t you know?!”
I don’t get to gasp in time as he is already standing at my bed, tearing my warming blankets off me. “Out. I have things to do. Don’t let me waste time playing your babysitter.”
Danny groans, fighting himself out of my bed as I get up as well. Pushing Arawn slightly by laying my hands on his stomach, I gulp as I feel his abs.
Why does it have to feel this good?
“Let me make breakfast for him first,” I say purring, getting him to check his watch.
“Nerthus, it is 3 p. m.”
I chuckle, looking back at Danny, who sits back on my bed and is looking at me drowsy. “A late brunch, then.”
Danny throws his hands into the air with a ‘woohoo’ before he sprints to the kitchen.
Looking back up to Arawn, I find him already looking at me with his clenched jaw. I clasp the shirt on his sides as my hands are still lying on him. My gaze gets captured right away, blacking out everything else.
Goosebumps rise on my skin as he puts his hands on my arms, and he pulls me closer slightly by squeezing the back of my arms.
I’m about to lose myself, wanting to pull him to me for a kiss as I’m torn out of my trance by Danny calling for us from the kitchen.
“Do you want to eat with us as well?”
I feel a slight tug at my heart as he seems to get out of some sort of haze as well as he shakes his head. “No, I just had a long business lunch.”
“Okay,” I say with a smile as I step around him to reach Danny, who is already being hyper in the kitchen.
I know that he follows me, and I pull all of myself together to keep me from looking back at him.
“You have just the unfunny cereals!” Danny groans, making me laugh.
“Unfunny cereals? How dare you!” I take my oat flakes out of his hands, and he grimaces. “How about I make you pancakes?”
He beams at me, my heart blooming with his contagious joy. “Oooooh, I never get those for breakfast.”
“It’s 3 in the afternoon, Danny! This isn’t breakfast.” Arawn growls as he slumps into what seems to be his favorite couch chair.
I chuckle, lowering my voice. “Don’t mind him. He is just jealous because he already ate.”
Danny nods and scurries through my kitchen as I instruct him to make pancakes together.
It’s a real struggle to keep on acting as if nothing happened while I feel Arawn’s burning gaze on me. He must be observing us while he acts like he is absorbed by his phone.
Even if it’s actually fun to make breakfast with Danny, my mind keeps wandering off.
Maybe I should talk to him.
“Come on, Araaaaaawn! Amber made pancakes. You can’t miss that.” Danny stands in front of Arawn, wanting to tear him to the table that I’m setting.
Arawn stands up with a groan, following him to the table. He looks at the table with a disgusted look, and I push down my disappointment, convincing myself that it must be because he is full, and not because my pancakes are smelly.
“I can also just make you a coffee.”
He puts a hand on the small of my back, passing me with a click of his tongue. “I can make one myself.”
“Sure,” I chuckle as I sit down with Danny. “Be my guest.”
Setting up all the toppings in front of him, he starts to cover his pancakes in a colorful mess.
Thank God that I always have marshmallows at hand.
As Arawn gets back with his coffee, he takes a special interest in the toppings but doesn’t say a thing.
Maybe he is just bored.
“So, what are the things you have to do this urgently today?” I ask Arawn, making Danny push out a laugh with a full mouth.
“How about not playing a babysitter to an irresponsible soldier of mine.” Danny lowers his eyes on his plate while I hold my cup up to shield my face.
With a whisper, I get Arawn’s attention, and I shake my head. “Be nice. Please.”
But he just scoffs, emptying his cup of coffee. “I have to make a phone call. Hurry up, Dan.”
“Aam alrdy hwrrng.” Danny munches, looking like an abandoned puppy dog.
Leaning forward, I get him to halt while looking at me. “Don’t be sad. We can do something fun next time.”
He nods repeatedly, smiling happily, and I sit back up straight.
I think this will just cheer him up a bit, but he gets all other confidence instead.
“So, what are your plans now?” He asks Arawn as he gets back to sit at the table.
Arawn sighs but Danny doesn’t leave him much time to answer. “Come oooon, bro. It’s a Saturday Night. What will be more important than spending time with me and Amber?”
“Amber and me. But do you really want to start a fight right now, Danny?”
“See you are pissed. Some time off work will do you good.” I feel Arawn about to pop off, and I interfere by putting my hand on his arm.
“Don’t worry. I have a night shift anyway.” I smile at Danny apologetically, and he pouts.
“What? No! But I wanted to go to the arcade.”
Arawn clicks his tongue, looking at my hand on him and I immediately pull it away. “I’m sorry, baby. But like I said. Some other time.”
I start collecting the plates as I hear him whispering at Arawn, “Do something.”
“What should I do, Danny? I have to work as well.”
Danny gasps, slumping in his chair as I get the plates into the kitchen.
“You two are just so mean!” he shouts, making me jump.
Suddenly, he sprints past me, and I hear a door bang close. Arawn groans, passing his hand over his face.
“Well, must be the age, I guess.”
“Must be,” he murmurs, taking out his phone.
As I’m loading the dishes into the dishwasher, I chuckle. “Why don’t you go? I’ll take him to the bar. Maybe I can appease him with some soda and pretzels.”
I see him looking into the void, apparently lost in his thoughts. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, why?” He looks at me annoyed, and I shrug.
“Well, you don’t look like you are.”
He tsks, turning away from me. “I don’t think that’s something I will discuss with you.”
“I’m sorry. You are right. I am in no position to ask you something that personal.” I start the machine and clean the surface of my counter with a rag as I feel him step behind me.
My breath hitches in my throat as he lays his hands on the counter, caging me in.
“Please forgive me. I’m making us fight again.” He leans in, his whisper traveling down my spine. “It’s just that I haven’t slept in ages. And I’m irritated.”
“It’s okay,” I say lowly, feeling him breathing me in. “Didn’t the recording help you with that?”
My heart skips a beat as he finally laughs. “It actually made it worse. If you know what I mean.”
“Yeah. I guess I do.” I snicker, leaning back against his frame.
Closing my eyes, I hope that he can’t sense it as I enjoy his vicinity. Even if it feels like forever, it’s too early for me as he takes a deep breath, stepping back away from me. “I’ll check on Danny.”
“Thank you.” I keep my head low, acting like I was still cleaning.
Just as he is about to turn the corner, I can’t keep it in anymore. “A- Arawn.”
He turns around, looking at me with his brow raised, and my heart beats into my throat. “Thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful.”
He exhales, flashing me a sad smile as he turns the corner. “Yeah.”