To Be Seen is to Be Loved
The bed felt empty without waking up next to Spencer in it. I stretched out and pulled Dolly into me to snuggle her.
“I need to get a grip, don't I, girl?” She huffed at me and climbed out of my arms like I was an inconvenience to her. “Okay, rude much? I buy you food, treats, and toys, and this is what I get?” She jumped down off the bed and left the room in response.
“I can’t believe this!” Flopping my arms down onto the bed in defeat, I finally rolled over and grabbed my phone to clear out all my notifications before I got up to shower and get ready for the day.
Besides going over to Spencer’s later, I didn’t have any plans.
Emma would be starting her next stretch of twelves at the hospital, so we couldn’t hang out.
I decided to go ahead and do a deep clean of the house so I could have it done for the week.
I didn’t like leaving a mess if I went out of town, and I did have a pile of laundry that’s been sitting and waiting to be folded for a while now.
Finally pleased with how the house looked, I hopped in the shower before getting dressed.
I threw Dolly’s harness and a bandanna on, loaded her up in the car, and then went and stopped by Brewed Stories to grab us a couple of drinks.
I parked right in front of the front door, so I could leave the car running for the air conditioning and still keep an eye on the car.
The bell jingled above the door as I pushed it open. A blast of cool air hit me in the face, bringing along the glorious scent of vanilla, caramel, and coffee. I took a deep breath and wandered up to the counter.
“I’ll be right out, just one second!” A melodic voice rang out from somewhere in the back, followed by a loud bang.
“Oh, these stupid damn boxes, ugh!” A moment later, Austin, the owner of Brewed Stories, came shuffling out of the back, wiping her hands on a towel tucked into her apron.
I didn’t know her super well, but we were on a first-name basis since I came here so often in college.
She was always friendly to me and never seemed to care that I was there for hours sometimes.
“Hey there, Austin. You all good, girl?” She had dust covering her shoulders and some sprinkled on the top of her head.
“Oh, hey there, Allie. Sorry about that. I’m good, just got into a fight with a box of cups and lost. Fell right off the top of the shelf and brought god knows what with it.
” Laughing, she dusted herself off and stepped up to the register.
“What can I get you, babes? Want the regular? Although that could’ve changed.
I ain't seen you too much in here lately except the other day when you came in with that hunk of man.” She fanned herself while waggling her eyebrows at me.
“Oh my god, stop it!” A cackle broke free, and I slapped my hand over my mouth, which in turn only made her laugh harder.
“Clearly, I need to come around more because I forgot how funny you are. Yes, that hunk of man would be Spencer, my boyfriend.” I gently drummed my fingers against the counter while grinning like a fool.
“Well, you are one lucky woman, let me tell you. Sorry, I didn’t get to talk to you that day; we were swamped.
” Austin leaned her elbows on the counter, resting her head on her hands as she did.
She was a beautiful woman. Long black curly hair that hit right above her butt.
Her eyes were a steel gray, framed by long black lashes, and freckles dusted her face and arms.
“No, you’re totally good, I get it! I’m glad I had a chance to pop in before I head over to his house.
I thought I’d be sweet and grab us a drink, and Dolly a pup cup too.
But thank you, I feel really lucky. What about you?
Anyone new for you?” I wasn’t sure why I was asking her about her personal life.
We hadn’t had a lot of in-depth conversations, but something in me was telling me to ask.
She let out a long sigh and dropped her head down.
“I don’t think we have enough time to discuss the shit show that is my life currently, but thank you for asking. Life has felt a little lonely recently.” She gave me a small smile and patted my hand that was resting on the counter.
“Well, here, take my number. If you ever need anything, please text me. No one should be alone.” I snatched a random business card she had displayed and jotted my number on the back for her. It was hard making new friends as an adult, but this felt good.
Maybe I could let new people in.
“I may take you up on this, Allie. Thank you seriously. I’ve had my eyes opened to who’s in my corner recently, and well, let’s just say, that number has shrunk real damn quick.
” She pulled her phone out and shot me a quick text with her name.
“Now enough of that, what can I get for you and Mr. Muscles?”
Austin took my order, and we chatted some more while she worked on our coffees. She filled me in on the fall menu she wanted to roll out for both drinks and baked goods. She made me promise, as soon as it was released, that I’d bring my eye candy, as she called him, to try everything.
Grabbing the drinks and heading back to the car, I rolled all the windows down and opened the sunroof, enjoying the end of summer evening. I had my music blasting, and Dolly was hanging out the window with her tongue flapping in the wind. Whipped cream dried in the fur around her mouth as she did.
All day long, no matter how busy I kept myself, my thoughts were consumed with Spencer.
Every day spent with him, I could feel more and more pieces of my walls crumble down around me.
He was proving more and more that he wasn’t like any other man I’d be around.
Spencer was kind, caring, and attentive.
He listened to me and never made me feel small.
If anything, he embraced my loud and abrasive personality.
So far at least. That was what struck fear into the deepest parts of me.
Because what if he stopped and was like everyone else?
We hit a little traffic on the way, so it added an extra fifteen minutes to get to his apartment. I was currently trying to figure out how to grab everything plus Dolly in one go, when I saw him running out the front door. His curls bounced as he did, and he had a giant grin on his face.
“There’s my beautiful girl,” he said as he grabbed me, picking me up and twirling me around.
“Spencer!” I couldn’t help but laugh and toss my head back. He sat me down on my feet and pulled me into a kiss. I wasn’t sure I’d get used to being manhandled and tossed around so much.
“God, I missed you.” He kept me pulled tight to his body with my arms looped around his neck.
His hands rested on my hips while his thumbs snaked their way under my T-shirt to dance along my skin.
Running my fingers through the curls at his nape, he let out a small, almost purr, of satisfaction that made me smile even more.
“I know, I missed you too. Here, I got something for you!” Turning in his grip and reaching into the car, I snatched his coffee out, “The whipped cream got a little melted cause we hit traffic.”
“That’s okay, it'll still taste delicious. Thank you for thinking of me.” He pressed another kiss to my forehead. “I actually have a surprise for you too.”
“Oooh, what is it, what is it!!” I clapped my hands and bounced excitedly.
“Here, let me help you get everything so we can go in and see it. I’ll grab her, you just get your coffee and bag, sweetheart.”
“No, it’s okay, I can get it. I just need a second to figure out how to not drop everything.
I’ve got this.” I went to step out of his grasp, but he tightened his hold on me, not letting me budge.
This man. “Spencer.” Letting out an annoyed huff and crossing my arms, I leveled him with a glare.
I was more than capable of doing things on my own.
“Allie.” His tone was calm and collected.
“Let me help you. Please.” I shifted from side to side, uncomfortable with accepting the simple help he was offering.
Why was it so hard for me to let him help me?
This wasn’t even a huge task in the grand scheme of things.
Spencer continued to stare at me, his eyes almost pleading with me.
I let out a resigned sigh and handed him her leash, grabbed both bags, and followed him inside.
“Wait right there, okay?”
“You got it, boss.” I gave him a mock salute as he slid off Dolly’s harness and leash and set them all together on the table along with my bags.
“Alright, now that she’s settled, close your eyes and here—” He reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers together, and started to lead me through the rest of the apartment.
If my guess was right, we were in his office and gaming room, so now I was even more confused about what this surprise could be.
“Just another step… okay, perfect. Stand here and, oh, wait, don’t open your eyes yet—mean it.” His hand left mine, and I heard his soft footfalls as he took a few steps away.
“Okay, okay, I won’t, I promise.” My ears strained as I tried to hear any indication of what he was doing. A moment later, his warm body was pressed against my back, and I couldn’t help but sink into it. His strong chest and masculine scent were so overwhelming, but in the best way.
“And open.” His smooth voice gently caressed my ear as he spoke.
I slowly cracked open my eyes, and what he had set up made tears start to build.
I stood there in awe of the thought this man put behind such a simple gesture.
“I hope it isn’t too much. I wanted you to be comfortable when you’re here, and I know how much you love your reading. ”