17. This is why I’ve sworn off men
Seventeen
THIS IS WHY I’VE SWORN OFF MEN
Liv
Ican’t remember the last time I slept late.
Like really slept.
I roll over and check the time. It’s almost 8:00 a.m.
“Wake up, sleepy-head.” The memory of my mom sitting on my bed, the sunlight streaming in around her, whispers in my mind. “It’s eight in the morning, Sunshine. You must have been sleepy.”
I can almost feel her pushing the hair out of my face. I press my eyes closed against the memory, shoving it back into the corner of my heart where I’ve tucked away those moments. With a shake of my head, I flip the covers off and sit up, looking for Sunny.
He’s sitting by the door, looking up as if watching it will make it magically open. Tail swishing, he looks over at me and then lets out a small meow before turning his gaze back to the door. Well, that’s new. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he wanted to leave the room.
“What are you trying to do here, cat?” I ask because talking to your pets as if they’ll answer is a normal thing to do.
He meows again, tail still swishing. I grab my glasses, pull on a hoodie, and slip on my flip-flops. I need coffee.
I pour Sunny some food to distract him from the door, which works, and then slip out.
The great room is busy with guests eating breakfast. My eyes scan the room, looking, searching, but he’s not here.
I’m not disappointed. This is fine.
I shuffle to the counter where the coffee and Mae Huffman are.
“Morning, Mrs. Huffman,” I say, reaching for a cup.
“Morning, dear.” She smiles. “Please call me Mae. I heard that cat of yours caused quite a stir yesterday!”
“Oh goodness, I’m so sorry. He escaped from my room. Luke found him snoozing on the couch! Hopefully, it doesn’t happen again.”
“See now, here we all are hoping it does!” She laughs as she wipes the counter down.
“It seems he was a wonderful host to our guests during lunch, greeting them and being friendly! No one seemed to mind him at all. One or two guests asked if he was the house’s new cat and if they might bring some treats for him later.
I told them he belonged to a guest, but I’d check to see if that would be alright with you. ”
Who knew Sunny was so social?
“Oh. Well, he’s in my room now, sitting at the door, actually, hoping to escape again, I think.” A self-deprecating laugh escapes me.
“Let him out if you like. He was perfectly fine yesterday, and we certainly don’t mind. We love having pets here!”
I knew they allowed pets, which was why Sunny could join us, but I supposed I assumed they’d expect me to keep him contained and under control.
“He’s only ever been an indoor cat living in an apartment. I’m worried he’ll find himself outside and lost, but he really seems to want to come back out.”
Mae stops her cleaning to look at me. Tossing the rag over her shoulder, she tilts her head slightly as if thinking deeply.
“In my experience, a cat is going to do what a cat wants to do. So, if you don’t let him out, he’ll get out on his own somehow—especially now that he’s tasted his freedom a bit.
” She laughs, shaking her head. “Cats are difficult like that. However, I also know that when they’re attached to a person, they never stray too far.
I think he’ll be okay, but certainly only do what you're most comfortable with.” Nodding, she turns and takes the milk out for me, pouring a bit in my cup.
This woman reminds me a bit of my Pop—gentle guidance and not too pushy.
“You know we used to have a cat here. Percy. He greeted all our guests and lazed about in the sun on the floor by the back doors. I wondered after a time if the guests returning to our bed-and-breakfast came because they enjoyed their stay or just wanted to see the cat!” Her eyes sparkle, then grow distant.
The same sadness I saw flash across her face the other morning flickered in her eyes before being wiped away with a well-practiced smile.
“Having your cat around makes me wish we still had ours.”
I take my coffee back to my room, marinating on what Mae said about Sunny.
How can I possibly willingly let him out knowing he could get lost, hurt, or taken?
And yet, how can I possibly keep him locked in my room when I know he was so happy to be out here yesterday? Is this what it’s like having kids?
I quickly check the Liv + Viv social media page only to find Cori has scheduled the content for the week. On a Sunday. I smile to myself. Maybe Viv was right.
Outside my room is a small personal patio, complete with two wooden rocking chairs and a small table.
Pink rose bushes are on both sides, providing privacy, yet still allowing a view of the dock and lake in front of me.
Coffee mug in hand, I slide the glass door closed behind me, easing into the rocking chair.
When was the last time I sat on a Sunday morning? Cori is on it—I can relax. My mind isn’t spinning in circles, and I slept last night. I really slept.
Happy Sunday to me.
“Holy shit!” a man shouts, and the sound of shears snapping shut startles me back into the real world.
I jump, spilling coffee all over myself. “Dammit.”
A face pokes around the bush, and Luke pulls his earbud out of his ear.
“Jesus, Trip, you have got to stop jumping out at me like that!” Shaking his head, he looks down at the ground and bends to pick something up.
“Are you serious? What did I do? I was having coffee. You’re the one who screamed, scared the shit out of me, and made me spill coffee on my sweatshirt!”
He stands straight again, holding a giant pink rose in his hand that he must have sheared off, smells it, and then holds it out for me.
“I’m sorry I scared you, beautiful. Forgive me?”
Is this guy for real?
“Have I stumbled into a magical land where sleep is a thing and gorgeous men call women in coffee-stained sweatshirts and glasses beautiful?” I tug my now-stained hoodie off and toss it over the back of the chair.
Luke clears his throat, diverting his gaze.
Gray-green eyes, as bright as a summer day, find their way back to me.
“One, I think those glasses are very attractive.” He holds out his fist, counting each statement on his fingers.
“Two, didn’t even notice the coffee on your sweatshirt.
Three, I’m glad you slept well. And four, you think I’m gorgeous?
” He smirks, pushing the rose toward me.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I was trying to be nice since you gave me a compliment first.”
I take the flower from his grasp, fragrance tickling my senses as I lift it to my nose and inhale. “My Romeo,” I mumble, a hint of sarcasm lacing my voice. It’s fully open, deep pinks in the center fade to softer pink along the edges. It’s stunning. My insides melt a little at the gesture.
“Forgive me?” The timber of his voice makes my heart skip. I contemplate his request. Luke lifts a hand to his chest, fingers splayed across his heart. His eyes go soft and his eyebrows scrunch. I suspect it’s his version of a puppy dog face, and dammit it works really well.
“I suppose I can forgive you. This is my favorite sweatshirt, though, so…” I gesture to the stained shirt.
“I’ll just have to make it up to you somehow.” His voice dips to a sultry tone, the sound zipping straight between my legs.
Luke walks forward and climbs onto my little patio. My eyes track his movements. His shirt clings to his muscular body, his skin glistening with a sheen of sweat. When he lifts his shirt to wipe his face, I’m graced with the view of chiseled abs and a line of hair that dips below his waistline.
Good Lord. The sight of his stomach causes tingles in all the right places.
Dropping his shirt, he sits down in the chair next to mine.
“Oh, okay, sure. Make yourself at home. I wasn’t having a quiet moment to myself or anything.” I wave my hand in his direction.
“Hey thanks! Very hospitable of you.” He smiles and leans back, rocking gently.
A comfortable silence fills the space between us. Me, sipping my coffee and twirling the rose between my fingers, Luke lazily rocking until he rolls his gaze toward me.
“Enjoying the coffee?”
“Solid small-talk effort. I’m impressed,” I tease. “But, yes, it’s really delicious. Tastes exactly like the coffee I get at home, so that’s nice.”
He laughs. “Yeah, small talk isn’t my strong suit. I’m not surprised it tastes just like the coffee you get at home.” He pauses for reasons I can’t discern. I arch my brows, waiting for him to continue. “I had to go all the way to Manhattan to get it.”
Pieces begin clicking into place. Seeing him at Bean she and I grew up together. You probably know her too, since it seems you go there often. Or were you just there hoping to see me?” The lightheartedness in his eyes is adorable and disarming.
“Seeing you there was a lucky coincidence.” Oh my God, I can’t believe I just said that. What is this man doing to me? I clear my throat and take a sip of my coffee, earning another panty-melting smile from Luke. He doesn’t call me on it though, and I’m grateful for that.
“I go there almost every day, either with Viv or by myself. Our office is right around the corner.”
Did I know Claire was the owner? I must have, right?
Have I been so consumed with myself that I didn’t pay attention to that detail?
She knows our coffee order by heart, and that I love her croissants and pastries, so the least I could have done was listen more carefully.
Guilt worms its way through me, burrowing deep.
“What’s happening in that brain of yours? You're thinking so hard. I feel like steam is about to come out of your ears.” Luke’s chair creaks as he rocks.