Chapter Thirteen
Gigi
T he smell of coffee wakes me up. I glance around the dark room, a little disoriented, then I remember I’m at Marcus’s. I stare up at the ceiling, wondering what god forsaken time it is. Grabbing my phone off the charger, I see it’s 5:15 a.m. Why is he up this early?
I roll out of bed. Ethel doesn’t even wake up, so I leave her there for the time being. I walk out to the kitchen to see Marcus standing in front of the coffeemaker, in just a pair of navy plaid pajama pants. I slow my steps as I walk further, scanning his body from head to toe. I take in his tan skin, his sleeve of tattoos on his left arm. The muscles in his back and broad shoulders stretch as he reaches for a mug in the cabinet above. His dark curls hit the middle of his neck, somehow still perfect after a night’s sleep. He might be just a friend, but a girl can still appreciate a fine specimen of the male body.
I’ve often had to quiet my thoughts about Marcus over the past couple years. Being in a relationship, I never, ever let my mind see him as anything other than one of my best friends. He might appear grumpy to the rest of the world, but I know that’s his shield. When we’re together, when he’s around our friends, he’s one of the most caring men I’ve ever met. He and I are such opposites to the outside world, but we have always just vibed, sharing the same interests and understanding each other. Whether it’s watching a game or running around town, we’ve always been comfortable with each other.
How he is single is beyond my comprehension. He would treat any woman like a queen, I bet. And that body and those curls and tattoos. I just don’t get it.
Having had my fill and knowing I need to shut off all these damn thoughts, I shuffle my feet on the hardwood floors to create some noise so I don’t scare him. He turns and his brown eyes find me.
“I’m sorry, G. Did I wake you up?”
“The smell of coffee did. Smells really good.”
“Do you want a cup? It’s still early for you.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ll take one. I won’t go back to sleep.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“I did. Slept like the dead.”
“Good.”
He takes another mug from the cabinet and fills them, then goes to the fridge for the almond milk and tops mine off before handing it to me. I take that first sip, and it feels like it’s coating my insides with happiness.
“So, you still get up at an ungodly hour every day?” I peer at him over my mug.
“I do. Might make me a horrible roommate while you’re here.”
“Doesn’t bother me. I just wonder if you get enough sleep.”
“I do some nights.” He moves to the dining table, waking up his laptop.
I sit beside him at the table. I can still smell a hint of his cologne. “Yesterday doesn’t seem real. Like I keep thinking, ‘did that really happen?’”
He stops typing and looks up at me. “I never liked him, Gigi.”
I scoff. “You don’t have to tell me that. You made that pretty clear over the time we were together.”
He looks back down at the screen in front of him. “You deserve better than some guy that gives the bare minimum.”
“I’m not high maintenance, Marcus.”
“I’m not saying that you are. What I’m talking about is the emotional bare minimum. You had too many doubts. He didn’t make you feel special.”
I pause because I don’t have a comeback for that one.
“Well, it’s over now. Single like a Pringle!” I throw my fist in the air.
Marcus smiles as he takes a sip from his mug. “Welcome to the club.”
We both drink our coffee, him on his laptop, me looking through the spa’s socials.
“I think I’m going to call out today. I told Sabrina to get her stuff from work at two. I don’t want to see her face.”
“Understandable. I already told my team I’m working from home today, in case you need help with anything.”
“Do you have a lot to do today?”
He shakes his head no. “I’m going to the gym in a bit, then a call at nine. Should have my inbox caught up before that.”
My hands hug my mug on the table. “Want to do something fun later?”
He eyes me. “Sure. But I’m not going to follow you around a bookstore for two hours holding a pile of dirty books.”
I roll my eyes. “That was one time. I had a coupon!”
“People were staring at me.”
“Let them.”
“I’ll be done with everything around eleven. Think about what you want to do.”
“Sounds good. Is it okay if I set up Ethel’s dishes here in the kitchen?”
He shuts his laptop, taking his coffee cup to the sink. “Of course. I’m going to go get ready. There’s coffee left if you want it. Just shut it off when you’re done.”
“Will do, captain.”
He walks up the stairs, and I swear I hear him say something about another nickname.