Chapter 19 #2
While I waited, I set things up in the TV room.
I noticed when I visited her house that she was situated in front of the tv. I too enjoyed watching tv while I ate.
So I turned on the big television and queued up a movie.
By the time the food arrived and I had everything laid out on the coffee table, I heard soft footsteps on the stairs.
Mars appeared in the doorway a moment later, still wearing my t-shirt.
Her hair was slightly messy, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
She stopped in the doorway and looked around the room before turning back to me.
"You ordered breakfast?"
I held up my coffee with a small shrug.
"I figured you might be hungry again."
Her eyes moved from the breakfast spread to the television where a newly released comedy was already playing.
"You even picked out a movie?"
"I remembered you saying you like to watch television while you eat."
A soft smile crossed her face.
"You've been paying attention."
"I try."
She walked over and settled beside me on the couch, tucking one leg beneath her before reaching for a cup of coffee.
The room felt quiet in the best way.
She took a sip before looking over at the breakfast.
"You ordered all of this?"
"I wasn't sure what you'd be in the mood for."
She laughed softly"I like taking care of you," I said, holding her gaze.
The words came out before I had a chance to think about them.
Mars didn't answer right away.
She looked down at her coffee for a second before a blush slowly crept across her cheeks.
She smiled to herself.
It was small, almost shy and I wasn't sure I'd ever seen that look on her before.
"What do you want to watch?" I asked, hoping to save her from having to respond.
Her head snapped up immediately.
"Anything?"
The mischievous grin that spread across her face should've warned me.
"Oh boy."
I handed her the remote anyway.
She laughed and immediately started scrolling.
After a few seconds, she selected a reality dating show.
"Match Made in Heaven," she announced proudly.
I looked at the screen.
Then back at her.
"I cannot believe you watch this."
She gasped dramatically.
"Don't judge me."
"I'm not judging."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You definitely are."
I laughed.
"I just figured you were more of a true crime person."
"Oh, I love true crime."
She settled farther into the couch and tucked her feet beneath her.
"I love a good romance too, but nothing beats a messy reality show."
I smiled as I watched her make herself comfortable on a couch I'd barely sat on before she came into my life.
Somehow she made my house feel more lived in without even trying.
The show started, and within minutes I found myself paying far more attention than I cared to admit.
I glanced over at her.
She was completely invested.
Her eyes stayed glued to the television while she pointed at the screen like these people had personally offended her.
"He's lying," she muttered.
"You know these people?"
She laughed.
I looked back at the television just as one of the guys walked into another conversation.
"Wait," I said. "Wasn't he just with Sam?"
Mars turned toward me with an expression that suggested I was finally catching on.
"Bryson?"
"I guess."
She nodded.
"Oh, Bryson likes to bounce around."
"So everybody just... accepts that?"
She laughed.
"They don't accept it. They fight about it every episode."
I looked back at the television.
"This is complete chaos."
"I know."
"And you enjoy this?"
"I love this."
I shook my head, smiling despite myself.
"I don't understand the appeal."
"You will."
"I highly doubt it," I said confidently.
An hour later, I found myself arguing with the television.
"Bryson is an idiot."
Mars burst into laughter.
"I told you!"
"I can't believe he picked her."
"I knew you were going to get invested."
"I am not invested."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You've asked me six questions in the last five minutes."
I opened my mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
She wasn't wrong.
I laughed and leaned back into the couch.
"I hate that you're right."
"I know."
She smiled before reaching over and stealing a piece of cantaloupe from my bowl.
I watched her do it.
She simply took it like she'd been doing it for years.
The funny thing was... I didn't mind.
Not even a little.
“I should probably get going soon. I have to go to my parents’ house for our weekly Sunday dinner.”
I leaned back against the couch, not wanting her to leave.
“I got you something,” I said.
She looked back at me.
“What?”
I nodded toward the hallway.
“Some comfortable clothes. Just in case you came back over.”
Her eyebrow lifted.
“Oh?”
“Figured you might want to shower after dinner or relax here later,” I said casually.
A slow smirk spread across her face.
“That was thoughtful.”
Before I could respond, she crossed the room and grabbed my hand.
“Come here.”
“Where are we—”
She was already pulling me up the stairs.
By the time we reached the bathroom she turned, laughing softly, and I scooped her up off the floor.
Her laugh turned into a surprised gasp as I carried her inside and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
The shower warmed the room quickly, steam rising around us as the water hit the tile. Mars stood beneath the spray first, pushing her hair back as the water ran over her shoulders.
For a moment I just watched her.
She reached for my hand and pulled me under the water with her.
We took our time talking and teasing.
Letting the quiet of the morning settle around us while the water washed away the last of the night.
At one point she rested her forehead lightly against my chest, looking up at me with that same look she had given me the night before.
The moment lingered there between us, warm and close.
Eventually the water cooled and the steam began to fade.
Mars wrapped herself in a towel, her hair damp around her shoulders as she stood at the mirror.
She smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
We oiled eachothers body in coconut oil admiring eachother through the mirror.
She looked absolutely perfect.
I handed her the clothes I’d left folded on the counter and she slipped into them easily and turned toward me.
“Comfortable,” she admitted.
I walked her downstairs a few minutes later, the house quiet again except for the soft sound of her footsteps across the floor.
At the door she paused.
“I’ll call you when I get home,” she said.
“You better.”
She stepped closer and kissed me, quick but warm, the kind of kiss that made it clear she wasn’t quite ready to leave either.
Then she pulled back, smiling.
“Try not to miss me too much.”
I leaned against the doorframe as she walked out to her car.
“Not likely.”
But when the door closed and the house fell quiet again, I realized something.
It already felt a little emptier without her there.