Chapter Four #3
I leaned against the counter. “You just ate dinner.”
“I also had sex twice tonight.”
“That’s fair enough.”
She pulled out the container of berries from breakfast, ate one, then immediately reached for another.
She stole my food barefoot in my kitchen, her damp swimsuit bundled in one of my towels on the counter beside her.
She caught me looking.
“What is it?”
“I’m deciding whether any of that still counts as mine after you made the grocery list.”
Chrishelle held it out. “You can have one if you ask nicely.”
I took one.
“That’s very generous.”
“I’m known for my hospitality.”
She hopped onto one of the stools and tucked one bare foot onto the rung.
The kitchen felt different this late. No pans going, no knife in her hand, no meal giving us a reason to be there. Just Chrishelle eating berries in her hoodie while the lights over the island threw a warm circle over the counters.
I opened my water.
“When do you have to deal with whatever’s going on?”
Her chewing slowed for half a second.
“Monday. That’s as specific as I have.”
I drank again before asking, “Are you planning to leave before then?”
“I’m planning to deal with it before then.”
That was not the same answer.
Chrishelle paused for a second.
“I know how that sounds.”
“I’m not judging you.”
“Somehow that makes it harder to keep defending the strategy.”
I stayed where I was.
She took another drink of water.
“I’ll tell you what’s going on,” she said. “Just not tonight.”
“You can take your time.”
Chrishelle was quiet for a few seconds.
I didn’t add anything. After a moment, her shoulders relaxed.
“I hate how reasonable you are.”
“You seemed to like it earlier.”
Her mouth curved. “I liked several things earlier.”
I smiled.
Chrishelle set the container on the island. “You go back to New York after this weekend.”
“Soon after. I’ve got some flexibility, but not much.”
Chrishelle traced one finger around the cap of her water bottle. “And then camp?”
“That starts taking over pretty quickly.”
She nodded slowly.
I came around the island and stopped beside her stool.
“Monday doesn’t need to end this.”
Her eyes lifted to mine.
“Neither do I,” she said without hesitation.
Chrishelle set the water bottle on the island before continuing.
“I don’t know what my work situation is going to look like yet,” she said. “That’s part of the thing I’m not ready to explain. I’m not asking you to plan around that.”
“I’m not asking for your schedule.” I touched her knee and waited until she met my eyes. “I’m asking to see you in New York.”
Chrishelle was quiet for a moment.
Then she reached for my shirt and pulled me between her knees.
“I can do that.”
I put my hands at her waist.
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”
She smiled. “You say that like the matter is settled.”
“The part I asked about is.”
That earned me a kiss.
It was slower than the ones outside, without the urgency that had been driving us since she came back. Chrishelle rested her forehead against mine afterward.
“I should probably go home before it becomes tomorrow.”
I glanced at the clock. “It already is.”
Chrishelle followed my gaze to the display. It was 12:17.
She slid off the stool. “Apparently I’ve become the kind of woman who loses track of time at the hockey player’s house next door.”
“You were already the kind who got naked in his hot tub.”
Chrishelle found her sandals and gave me a look. “That was a completely different lapse in judgment.”
I laughed and picked up her damp swimsuit and towel.
“I’ll walk you back.”
Chrishelle slipped one sandal on. “You know I’ve walked that path alone after dark.”
“I know you have.” I held out my hand for the wet towel. “Humor me.”
She handed it over instead of arguing.
Outside, the air had cooled even more. Chrishelle pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt, and I carried the wet things while we crossed the short path between the properties.
At her rear door, she took the bundle from me but didn’t go inside.
“I’ll see you later?”
“I’ll be here.”
She smiled, rose onto her toes, and kissed me.
It wasn’t a quick good-night kiss. Chrishelle slid one hand behind my neck and kept me there long enough that I considered suggesting she skip the walk home entirely next time.
When she finally pulled away, she looked pleased with herself.
“Good night, hockey player.”
“Good night, trespasser.”
Her laugh followed her through the door.
I waited until it closed before turning back toward my house.
Saturday was easy. We had another day, and Chrishelle had already made it clear she planned to spend at least part of it with me.
Monday was where things got complicated.
She was still hiding something about her job and her family. I wasn’t going to drag it out of her, but I also wasn’t interested in pretending none of it mattered.
Not after tonight.
Chrishelle had said yes to seeing me in New York.
That was enough for now.
I headed back through the trees toward the house where I’d caught her naked Friday afternoon.
Back then, having Chrishelle next door had been the problem.
Now I was wondering what happened when next door wasn’t enough.