Chapter 14
Willow woke up some time in the early morning hours. The warmth from Mel’s body still surrounded her. The floral scent from Mel’s shampoo was all Willow could smell. It had been too long since Willow had indulged in a night like this one.
She wondered what her time with Mel meant for them going forward. Their first night together had been happenstance. But the intimacy she felt laying beside Mel now felt very real. Willow turned and lay on her back looking up at the ceiling. It was strange being in someone else’s home. She realized the feeling of strangeness that accompanied being in unfamiliar surroundings.
Beside her Mel stirred rolling away from the cold and towards Willow’s body. Willow could feel a smile spread across her face. Mel’s hand slipped around Willow’s ribs, her fingertips lightly brushing the sensitive skin there. If she lived thirty more years she would never be able to manufacture another moment like this one.
“Mm, did I wake you up?” Mel purred into the darkness.
“No. I think I woke you up,” Willow said. She allowed her fingers to trace the path along Mel’s shoulder blade. She felt Mel shiver under her touch.
“Can I see you again?” Mel asked. Willow couldn’t see her face as they were shrouded in darkness. But she could tell from her tone that there was a hint of urgency.
“I would like for us to see one another again. I’m sure I’ll want to get out of the house as much as possible since my Mom is staying with me,” Willow chuckled.
“Oh, so am I just your excuse to stay away from your mother?” Mel teased.
“No. I would want to see you again regardless of my living arrangements. But I will definitely take any excuse available to spend time away,” Willow laughed.
“Surely your mother isn’t that bad?” Mel teased.
“She’s worse,” Willow said with all the seriousness she could muster.
“Should I be frightened? What am I about to get involved in?” Mel asked.
Willow tightened her grip, scooping Mel up to her.
“I guess you’ll just have to find out,” Willow suggested. Mel giggled into the darkness.
“Unfortunately, I should probably get home.”
“What? No. Stay the night at least,” Mel suggested.
“Believe me, I want to. But I’m sure my Mom will already have plenty of questions,” Willow said.
“Then what’s another few more questions?” Mel asked with a laugh.
“Hmm, you can be very persuasive.”
“Believe me I’m aware,” Mel whispered the words against the skin of Willow’s hips.
Mel had pretty much ensured that Willow wasn’t going anywhere. They were both adults and everything they were doing was completely consensual. If she was being honest with herself she was mostly worried about her Mom trying to interfere. Nothing could be less romantic than her Mom putting her nose where it didn’t belong.
“Mmm, you’re irresistible,” Willow sighed, she gave a small laugh under her breath.
“Does that mean I’ve convinced you to stay?” Mel asked.
“How could I say no?”
“That was the right answer,” Mel said, her hand skimmed the skin of Willow’s thigh as she moved upwards.
The next time Willow woke up it was to the harsh sound of Mel’s alarm. Willow startled at the shrillness of the alarm.
“Do you wake up like this every morning?” Willow asked, horrified.
“I never sleep in,” Mel offered as a way of explanation.
Willow grabbed her phone from the bedside table. She checked the time, it was already past eight o’clock in the morning.
“Shit,” Willow muttered.
“What’s wrong?” Mel asked.
“Nothing. I’m just running a little late,” Willow insisted.
Willow knew her Mom was an early riser. If she hadn’t realized Willow slipped out last night, she had certainly noticed by now.
“So, no time for breakfast then?”
“I’m sorry. Not this time. I have to get home before Mom rearranges my whole kitchen.” Willow scrunched her face up in a grimace. Mel chuckled at her expression.
Willow leaned in and gave Mel one final kiss on the lips. She gathered her clothes, and went to the bathroom. Willow dressed quickly then returned to the bedroom. The whole night had gone beautifully. Willow hated that she had to leave the world they had created together for the reality that awaited her at home.
“Can I see you tonight?” Willow asked.
“I work late tonight. So why don’t you come over here for dinner?” Mel suggested.
“Sounds great,” Willow answered.
“Great. What do you like to eat?”
“Don’t worry about fixing anything. I’ve got us covered,” Willow laughed. Mel arched an eyebrow, obviously curious.
“Don’t worry. I promise you’ll like it.”
“Okay. I’m taking you at your word,” Mel teased.
Willow stood in front of her front door. She drew a silent breath before turning her doorknob. To her confusion she could hear laughter coming from her kitchen. She poked her head around the corner and saw River sitting at the kitchen table with her mother.
“Hey there. Someone had a late night,” River teased. Willow felt her face blush a deep red.
“Hey, buddy. I wasn’t expecting you,” Willow smiled. Her face was red hot. Willow was sure she was several shades of red.
“Well, you had your first big date with Mel last night. Obviously, I was going to need a debriefing,” River offered.
“I made muffins,” Angela offered from the kitchen.
Willow’s head spun. The scene in front of her felt like she was living in a sitcom.
“Thanks,” Willow said as her Mom handed her a muffin.
Sushi had already adapted to having Angela around. Sushi lay beside the refrigerator where he could watch everything unfold.
“I’ll let you girls catch up. I’m going to go get ready for the day,” Angela smiled. Willow watched as her Mom walked back to her bedroom.
“Buddy, what have I missed?” River asked.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Willow smirked. River gave her an unamused look.
“Fine. My mom is going to be staying with me for a while.”
“What? Why? Your mom drives you crazy,” River offered.
“Trust me I’m aware. But she needs somewhere to stay. I can’t just throw my mom out on the streets,” Willow suggested. River only shook her head.
“This sort of thing only happens to you,” River teased.
“Oh, I know.” Willow rubbed her face with her hands.
“Enough about Angela. How did things go with Mel?” River asked.
Willow’s mind flashed through her night with Mel, it was a blur of activity.
“It was nice,” Willow said. She hoped that just this once River would leave well enough alone.
“Nice?” River questioned with an arched eyebrow.
“I’m still processing,” Willow whined.
“Can’t you at least give me some highlights?” River pleaded.
“Dinner was good, my Mom is living with me now which caused a bit of a stall, phone sex for the first time, then I went over to her place for actual sex, I’m making her dinner tonight,” Willow answered nodding her head.
“That is a lot to process,” River admitted with a casual grin.
“See? And you know new things put me off kilter.”
“Okay. Okay. But you like her, right?” River teased.
“No, I hate her,” Willow laughed. River shook her head and gave a pained sigh.
“Of course, I like her. I’m seeing her again tonight,” Willow said after a pause.
“But how much do you like her?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m still trying to figure out where she fits.”
“That’s fair, it’s only the first official date,” River said. She reached out and gave Willow a solid pat on the shoulder.
“You should invite her to come to Piper’s place for our next dinner party,” River suggested.
“Do you think Piper would mind?”
“I think we both know Piper would be overjoyed,” River said, her words genuine.
Willow pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Mel. She hoped that the invitation wasn’t too forward. Her phone buzzed half a minute later with a text from Mel. Willow felt her chest tighten as she clicked to read the message.
“Well, what does she say?” River asked.
“She says that she’d love to come,” Willow grinned.
“See, I told you. I think Mel is a good fit for you.”
“I hope so,” Willow admitted. River gave her another pat of the shoulder.
“I’m going to get out of here before your Mom tries to make me do yoga.” River wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“Better escape now. Yoga time will be…”
“Right now,” Angela interrupted. She strode into the kitchen with her yoga mat in hand.
“I have to get back to my run,” River said in mock apology.
“And I have to get started on my day,” Willow yawned.
Willow set her laptop up in its usual place in the living room. Today she had the added distraction of her mother doing the sun pose right in front of her.
“Are you going to tell me about your new friend?” Angela asked.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Willow smirked.
“Now, sweetie, I’m your mother. It’s only natural for me to ask about the people in your life. Whatever happened to Amy? I thought the two of you were serious.”
The last thing Willow wanted to endure during her workday was an impromptu therapy session with her mother. Willow took in a deep steadying breath.
“I thought Amy and I were serious, too. But she and I weren’t on the same page. She left me six months ago. The thing with Mel is new. Last night was our first date,” Willow explained.
“Will there be a second date?”
“Yes. I’m going over to her place tonight,” Willow answered.
“Well, I hope the two of you have fun,” Angela offered.
Willow knew that Angela went through stages of involvement with her life. Unfortunately, those stages were either gone without a trace, or overly involved. She could tell from her mom’s tone that they were about to enter the overly involved stage.
Willow was far too tired for the back and forth. She closed her laptop and gave her mom a smile.
“I’m going to work in the bedroom today. The light is better in there,” Willow said.
That was a lie and Willow knew it. The light always came in too hot through the bedroom window. It was still better than listening to her mother give her feedback about the woman she was dating. Willow settled onto her bed. She wasn’t surprised when Sushi nudged the door open with his snout and lay on the floor beside her. Willow opened her laptop and began her day for the second time.