Chapter 26
Juliana
After dinner most nights, we chill on the couch together. Some nights we chat while the TV is on but with the volume turned down low. Only a couple of times has Kurt brought work home and spread it out on the coffee table, tonight is one of those nights.
“You sure this is okay with you? I thought I could finish up at work but some information came in later in the day and I need to make sure this case goes well.” Kurt explains as he sorts through the files on the coffee table. He stops and looks up at me to focus on me when I respond.
“Yeah, of course, it’s fine. Why haven’t you brought home your work more often? I thought that was something that happened more.” I lean back on the couch and kick my legs up, spreading out since Kurt positioned himself on the floor.
“It kind of feels rude bringing work home while you’re here. Like being on your phone while you have company. That sort of thing.”
“Ah. Well, no, it is totally fine.” I sit quietly behind him on the couch reading a book.
I like watching him work so I look at him every so often and a few times I catch him looking back at me. We smile each time we catch the other looking. I hope I don’t distract him too much. I try to keep my eyes focused on my book but I can tell Kurt is starting to get stressed.
Kurt leans his head back, his hair brushing against my legs. He sighs softly, closing his eyes. I keep reading but automatically reach my free hand out and start rubbing his head, almost absentmindedly. He keeps his eyes closed for a few minutes and when I go to turn the page in my book, he sits up and gets back to work.
Once I’ve turned the page, I reach back out and start massaging his neck. He tilts his head forward a bit exposing more of his neck for me to reach. We sit together silently, me rubbing his neck, occasionally turning the pages while I read and Kurt sitting on the floor in front of me, preparing his argument for court.
After a while, my hand begins to cramp up so I roll my wrist a few times then go back to reading quietly beside him. I hear him clacking at his keyboard.
“Oh crap,” Kurt says, turning back to face me. “Juliana?”
“Mm?” I look up from my book and give him a small smile then a yawn escapes my mouth.
“Yeah, exactly.” Kurt laughs and gestures to my yawning. “It’s late. We need to get to bed.” Kurt shuts his laptop and stands up, stretching.
“What time is it?” I look around the apartment and realize we have a lot of lights on which is probably why neither of us noticed that it was getting late.
“Almost 2:30 in the morning.” Kurt checks his watch to confirm then nods his head. “Come on, let’s get some sleep.”
Kurt lets me use the bathroom first to wash up and get ready for bed while he puts away his work and clears off the coffee table.
When he comes back into the bedroom, I’ve just exited the bathroom wearing a long t-shirt and my pajama shorts. I squeeze his arm as I offer the bathroom to him. I climb into his comfy bed and snuggle in.
“Hey, don’t forget that the party is tomorrow,” Kurt calls from the bathroom. I grunt and turn over to look at him standing in the light of the doorway, taking a minute to admire his physique.
“How could I forget?” I ask which makes him chuckle. “You ready for your neighbors, coworkers, and whoever else shows up to completely invade our private lives? Probably snoop around the apartment.” I giggle.
“I fully expect some snooping,” Kurt admits with a mouth full of toothpaste. “That’s why you moved in, isn’t it? But thankfully, most of the party will be out in the community room and pool.”
I shrug and snuggle into the bed. I have come to love this mattress and the whole sheets set in general. Whenever I have to leave, I might take a set home with me.
I’m almost asleep, even though I left the light on for Kurt when he comes back into the room and gets into bed next to me. I shift over, away from him because I know I’ve kicked him in my sleep before, even breaking through the wall of pillow between us. He hasn’t said anything but I am aware of my flying body parts.
“Juliana? Are you still awake?” Kurt asks softly a few seconds after turning the light off.
I turn over to face him and can see him through a gap in the pillows, the moonlight lighting up his face as it streams in through the top of the curtains. “Yes?” I answer quietly.
“Thanks for tonight.” Kurt looks over at me and our eyes meet in the gap of the pillows. I can see something in his eyes but I’m tired and I don’t want to try to figure it out tonight.
“What do you mean?” I yawn and close my eyes so I don’t have to see the way he’s looking at me. I feel him moving as he talks, his voice growing clearer.
“Just for being with me while I worked, and helping me when I got stressed. And for not being upset that I brought my work home with me.” Opening my eyes, I see Kurt watching me, the pillow wall no longer between us. I smile and then narrow my eyes because he probably threw them all on the floor.
“Of course, not a problem. I enjoyed tonight. Now, shh. Bedtime. Night night.” I speak in short sentences, tired and not wanting to address the absence of the pillows and what that means. I blink sleepily before giving up and letting my eyelids close.
“Goodnight Juli.”