Mia
“You know, it’s funny.” I stood over to Wrath’s side, watching intently as he opened the lid and carefully flipped the steak one last time. “We basically grew up together, but there’s so much we don’t know about each other. Like I had no idea you cooked.”
“First of all, cooking and grilling are two different things. I can grill a mean steak, but I’m not making any promises on the rest of the meal.”
“I’m sure everything will be great.”
“We’ll see soon enough.” He took the steaks off the grill, then placed them on a clean plate and started back inside.
“And as far as not knowing stuff about each other, you’re right.
There’s a lot about you I don’t know. Hell, I had no idea you were working with that photographer guy.
I figured you were still in school or something. ”
“Seriously?” I followed him into the kitchen as I told him, “I’ve been out of school for months.”
“I’ve had a lot going on. We both have.”
Wrath got to work on the vegetables. They weren’t anything out of the ordinary, just some roasted asparagus and a baked potato, but they smelled delicious.
When it was ready, he plated our food and carried it over to the table.
I sat down and smiled as I looked at the delicious meal he’d prepared.
“I have to say, I’m impressed. This looks amazing. ”
“Well, I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”
“Me, too, or you’re gonna have to break out the ketchup.”
“Not gonna happen.” He waited as I took a bite of steak, then asked, “Well?”
“It’s really good.”
“So, no need for any extra condiments?”
“No, it’s perfect.”
The room fell quiet as we both started to eat.
I was in heaven. The food was amazing, and seeing that pleased look on his face had my heart skipping a beat.
I was happy—happier than I’d been in ages, and that scared me a little.
I had no idea how Wrath really felt about what was going on between us.
I wanted to think it was a good sign that he’d invited me over, but I’d learned a long time ago not to put a lot of weight into signs.
I needed more than that.
We both did.
So, I continued eating my dinner and tried not to overthink things. It wasn’t easy with him sitting so close, but thankfully, I got a much-needed distraction.
I was just about to take a sip of my tea when I heard a cat meow. When I turned to look at the back door, I spotted a black kitten with a tiny white spot on the tip of his little nose. “Oh, my goodness. Who is that?”
“That is Shitstain... A stray that’s decided that he likes my back porch and my garbage can.”
“You cannot name this cat Shitstain.”
“I didn’t name him. He named himself when he strewed garbage all over my backyard.”
“You’re terrible.” I took a small piece of steak and carried it over the door. I dropped it at the cat’s feet as I told him, “He seems sweet. You should keep him as a pet.”
“He’s a dick.”
“Wrath!”
“Well, he is.” He gave me a light-hearted shrug. “I guess I’m more of a dog person.”
“Dogs are needy and way messier.”
“Cats are assholes. They don’t even like people,” he huffed. “Dogs are friendly and loyal.”
“Yeah, and they’ll poop all over your house.” I cocked my brow as I told him, “Cats use a litterbox.”
“Litterboxes smell like ass.”
“Fine, then you could make him an outside cat.”
“He is an outside cat, and he’s gonna stay one.” Wrath shook his head. “And if he gets in my garbage again, I’m gonna shoot his sorry ass.”
“You will do no such thing!” Being careful not to let the cat inside, I reached down and petted him on the head. “Just give him a little food, and then, he’ll stay out of your trash.”
“If I feed him, he will come back looking for more.”
“Oh, good grief.” I sighed with frustration. “He’s going to come back either way. If you have food for him, then he won’t get in your trash.”
“Hmph.”
And that was Wrath’s final response to the cat situation.
He got up and took the dishes to the sink, then started putting them in the dishwasher. I closed the back door before going over to the table to collect the rest of the dirty dishes. Once we had everything put away, he turned to me and asked, “What now?”
“What do you mean?” I looked up at him, and the second I saw the expression on his face, I knew exactly what he meant. This was a date—something he rarely ever did, so I suggested, “We could go for another ride or see if there’s a movie on that might be worth watching.”
“They’re calling for rain.”
“Then, a movie it is.”
I started into the living room, and Wrath followed after.
We both sat on the sofa, and Wrath offered me the remote.
I was hesitant, but I took it from his hand and started flipping through the channels.
I came across several romantic comedies but passed them by.
I wasn’t sure if Wrath would have any interest in them, so I kept going until I found an old Denzel Washington movie that my father used to love.
He and Wrath had similar tastes, so I figured it sufficed.
Surprise marked his face when Wrath saw what I’d chosen. “I didn’t know you liked football.”
“I don’t.” I giggled as I told him, “But I do like me some Denzel.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
We both settled back and started watching the movie.
It wasn’t long before Wrath got up and went into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, he returned with a couple of sodas and a big bowl of buttered popcorn.
He placed the drinks on the table, then sat down and put the popcorn between us.
“Look at you pulling out all the stops.”
“It’s just some popcorn.”
“Um-hmm.” I gave him a playful smile. “A regular Romeo.”
He scoffed, then tossed a couple of popcorn kernels at me as he grumbled, “You’re too much.“
I considered sassing back with something clever, but I didn’t.
Not because I didn’t enjoy our little exchanges.
I did, but I enjoyed sitting there with him, watching that movie, and eating popcorn with him even more.
So, I scooped up a handful of popcorn and settled back into my spot, and it wasn’t long before we were both enthralled in the movie.
When it was over, Wrath flipped it over to the news and checked the scores, and by the time he was done, I could barely keep my eyes open.
I stood with a yawn, then told him, “It’s getting late. I should get going.”
“Going where?”
“Home… to bed.”
“I have a bed here.”
Without giving me a chance to argue, he stood and took my hand in his, then led me down the hall to his bedroom. It was much bigger and felt more like him than his room at the clubhouse, but for reasons I couldn’t explain, I felt more nervous there.
He grabbed a T-shirt from his dresser, then offered it to me before starting to undress.
The next thing I knew, we were both crawling into his bed.
A torrent of emotions washed over me as I nestled beneath the covers.
I could feel the warmth of Wrath’s body beside me, and the sensation seemed to beckon me to move closer.
My heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness as I inched closer, tucking my head next to his shoulder.
This was new to me.
We hadn’t had sex tonight.
We hadn’t even thought about it.
We’d simply undressed and got into bed, and then, we talked—just talked, for what seemed like hours. And then, without warning, Wrath drifted off to sleep.
At first, I thought he’d just run out of things to say, but then, I noticed the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing.
He was completely out, and I was lying there feeling a little bewildered.
There was a certain rawness to the moment.
It was like I’d stepped into a new realm, a place where desire and vulnerability intertwined.
He wasn’t even awake, but the feeling of his skin against mine sent shivers down my spine, igniting a feeling that was much deeper than lust or desire.
The world outside ceased to exist.
It was just him and me, and I liked the feeling more than I cared to admit.
As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a strange sense of home, like I’d finally found my place in the world, but sadly, it wasn’t a feeling that lasted for long.
I woke up the next morning and found myself in bed alone. I took a quick look around and spotted a note on the side table. I opened it and sighed when I read:
I had to get to the clubhouse.
Be back when I can.
The vagueness of the note left me thinking that he expected me to wait there until he returned.
That wasn’t something I planned on doing.
I didn’t have clothes or my laptop, so I decided it was best to go.
I got out of bed and put on my jeans and boots.
I was about to change out of his t-shirt when I got the urge to just keep it on, so I did.
I went to the bathroom and cleaned up a bit, then made my way to the kitchen to grab my purse.
I’d just picked it up from the counter when I spotted the cute stray from the night before.
He was sitting with his back leaning against the door, and his little dark eyes were fixed on mine.
“Hey there, little guy.” I dropped my purse back on the counter and rushed over to the fridge.
I grabbed a couple of pieces of shaved ham and carried it over to him.
I eased the door open and placed it at his feet, and he immediately started chowing down. “You poor thing. You’re starving.”
I gave his head a little scratch as I promised, “I’m going to get you some real food and a flea collar. And maybe a bed that we can put out in the barn. What do you think about that?”
I was giving him some more love when I spotted Wrath’s neighbor standing in her driveway in nothing but a hip-length t-shirt and slippers.
She was young and attractive, almost intimidatingly so, and she was staring at me with a scowl on her face.
I didn’t want to seem rude, so I lifted my hand and waved as I shouted, “Good morning.”
She didn’t wave back. Nor did she speak.
She just stood there, glaring at me.