Invisible String
I rolled over and stretched my back out, already feeling a small cramp in the lower part of it.
Hello and thank you, thirties. I’d have to stretch it out or see if I couldn’t convince Allie to give me a back rub.
I personally liked the second option best. I cracked my eyes open, and the sunlight was pouring into the room.
Based on how bright it was already, we had to have slept in.
I reached for my phone and checked the time, and sure enough, it was after ten.
Last night was some of the best sleep I’d had in a long time.
There were no bad dreams or tossing and turning.
Sleeping next to her brought another layer of calm to my wild thoughts.
Her sheer presence calmed the swirling storm inside my brain that always wanted to strike when left alone at night.
I looked down at her serene face as she slept, in total awe of how this woman waltzed into my life so unexpectedly.
I ran my fingers across her cheeks, down her jaw, and she began to stir. She stretched her arms above her head and legs out, like a cat stretching in the sun, almost kicking me out of bed in the process. When she was content, she cuddled into my side and nuzzled her nose into me.
“Mmm.. morning,” she grumbled into my side.
“Morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?” I flipped onto my side and pulled her into me, wanting her closer. She grumbled a response back that sounded like “good.”
“You really aren’t a morning person, are you?” I laughed as I ran my hand over her shoulders and back.
“Nuh-uh. Mornings suck.” She tucked the covers under her chin tighter and moved in closer. She was so cute, I swear.
“Here, how about you stretch out, and I’ll go make us some coffee?”
“Oh, coffee, yes. I like that thing.”
Hopping out of bed—grinning like a love-struck fool—and pulling on my sweats, I made my way to her kitchen. It was starting to feel cooler in the mornings, so I opened the French doors from the dining room to the backyard, and let Dolly out while I worked on our coffees.
I picked out her favorite coffee mug and one for me, getting to work on my attempt at making her the best at-home coffee she’s had.
I topped it with a little whipped cream and caramel for something a little extra, threw two chocolate chip muffins onto a plate from her counter, and then headed back to her bedroom.
The closer I got, I could hear her on the phone with someone.
“Yeah, no, that should be fine. I’ll see you later, love you, bye.” She was hanging up when I walked in.
“Everything good?” I asked as I handed her the muffin and caramel-flavored coffee. She took a long sip, moaning as she did.
“First off, this coffee tastes amazing, thank you. Secondly, yes, everything's great. It was my mom asking if I wanted to come over for dinner since she’s making tacos. It sounds silly, but growing up, we always had tacos at least once a week. It started as an easy dinner for my mom, but it quickly became a favorite little tradition for us. No matter how busy we’d get or if we couldn’t all have dinner together every single night, and even after I moved out, we knew taco night was our family night.
” She took a sip of her coffee, lost in the memories of her past.
“Oh, that sounds like fun. What time do you need to go?” Being with someone who had a somewhat normal family dynamic was definitely going to be something to get used to.
Allie, her mom, and her sister were always checking in on each other in their group chat, or they would text or Facetime each other personally.
“Well, she said around five, but I was hoping that maybe you’d want to come with me? If you want, of course!”
“That sounds like a lot of fun, and I'll be able to get to know your mom a little more. She’s important to you, so she’s important to me.”
“I’d like that.” She said as she took another sip of her coffee. “Oh my god, this is good, just what I needed.” She scooted back into the pillows, making herself more comfortable. We sat there eating our muffins and sipping on our coffee, and talked till we both got up and ready for the day.
It was nearing the end of August, so the air in the afternoons was still hot and humid. I decided to go with a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt, and Allie had on a pair of those spandex biker shorts that hugged her curves just right, showcasing her beautiful, strong legs and tattoos.
Leaning against the bed, I took her in, still trying to work out in my mind how I ever got so lucky to love her.
It hit me then, watching her sing along to her music that she always had going, Dolly curled up behind me on the bed, and a feeling deep within that I hadn’t felt, I’m not sure ever, really.
That I loved this woman, and I would confess it right now to her if I didn’t worry it was too soon.
It scared me because nothing I’ve ever wanted has stayed.
Nothing in life has ever been consistent, but something deep down told me she would be.
After we finished getting ready, we hopped into my car and headed to her mom’s house. She decided to leave Dolly at home for this trip, so it was just the two of us, and suddenly, I wanted her there in case things got too overwhelming for me.
I’ve been around Carson's family plenty of times, but this was different somehow. He was an only child, and they had a front row seat to the shit show that was my life. There was never any pretense of having to pretend with him or his parents. They accepted me as if I was their own and never pushed. I didn’t want to fuck it up since her family was so important to her, and being in a “normal” family wasn’t something I even remotely knew. I felt so out of my element.
She reached over, turned the music down, and then grabbed my hand resting on my knee.
“Hey, what’s going on up there in that brain of yours? I can see your system going into overdrive.”
I blew out a breath because, of course, she could already sense when something was off with me. We may be in this new relationship, but it was like our bodies, our very souls, had known each other for a lifetime more.
“It’s nothing… I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your family.
You know mine was incredibly awful, and yours is so important to you.
” I shook my head because I knew I was overreacting, but I couldn’t help it.
What if I said the wrong thing and her mom and sister hated me? They wouldn’t want her to be with me?
“Oh, Spencer… You could never embarrass me, I promise. I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation, so if you want to sit this one out, I promise it’s fine and won’t hurt my feelings.
It’s just an impromptu dinner.” She squeezed my hand and smiled at me.
“You’re also important to me, and your needs matter too. ”
“You’re so perfect, you know that?” I brought her hand up to my mouth and kissed it.
“I want to do this, I promise. Your family seems very welcoming and kind, and I’d love to get to know them more.
I think before it felt easier because it was your house, and then the school play.
This feels more official, and I’m just overthinking it. ”
“As long as you’re sure.” She eyed me hesitantly still, searching my face for any trace of a lie, I’m sure.
“I cross my heart.”
“Hmm, okay, I believe you,” she said, her voice giving her away that she felt the opposite of what she said.
“I’m going to go ahead and apologize for anything that either of them says.
They aren’t exactly known for their boundaries or being subtle.
” She scrunched her nose up and shook her head.
“Since they’ve already met you, they more than likely won’t be on their best behavior. ”
We pulled up to her mom’s house a few minutes later.
She grabbed my hand, and I followed her up to the front door.
Her mom’s house was a large one-level brick home.
The low-sitting front porch had sets of rockers lined up on it, with pillows in each one, and giant ferns hanging from the ceiling.
It was as if you plucked the image straight from a magazine.
We walked in to the sounds of music playing, and Donna yelling at Olivia, “Hurry up and finish the living room so it looks like no one lives here!”
“Mom, come on, it’s just Allie, she knows we’re messy. SHE’S messy!” Olivia shot back with an attitude dripping from every word. Oh, teenage angst.
“No, her boyfriend is coming too, and I want it to look nice. Now, stop sassing me, Olivia Anne Roberts, and get it done. Now.” I would hate to be on the receiving end of that tone.
“Too late, Allie and said boyfriend are here,” Allie announced as we walked into the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear and trying not to laugh.
“You couldn’t have announced yourself sooner? Now I look crazy.”
“Ohhh no, and miss that? Absolutely not. You couldn’t pay me enough to raise a teenager. Plus, it’s good for him to know you’re crazy, mama.” She laughed as she walked up and hugged her.
“How is it you’re now twenty-nine and still a pain in my ass?” Donna poked her in the side but then hugged her back, both of them swaying from side to side.
“I’ll be forty and still a pain in your ass, so good luck.”
“Ain't that the damn truth,” Donna muttered under her breath. “Hi, Spencer, honey, I’m sorry about that. It’s so good to see you again.” She walked over and pulled me into a hug.
“It’s good to see you too, Donna. Thank you for having me.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, sweet pea. You’re welcome anytime here. I hope you’re hungry. I made a lot.” I looked over to the counters and saw she made different dips for us, lots of toppings, and then all kinds of different meats for tacos.