16. Lyra
Taran releases me from his hug, only to cup my face in his hands to drop a sweet kiss on my lips.
“So, it”s ok that I”m here, then?” I quip.
“Only because you brought Italian food, and your voice went a little adorably British again just then,” he scoffs playfully with a wink.
I hand him the bag of food that almost got crushed in his hug, and pretend to walk away with a sassy look over my shoulder, before he grabs my wrist and brings me into him again.
“It”s really great you”re here, Firecracker,” he whispers into my neck before pressing a kiss there.
This is incredibly outside of my comfort zone, so for him to be happy I”m here is making my knees almost buckle with relief. It seemed like he could use some company, since I know his only other family is in California. This is the closest hospital around here, and I just gave the Malloy name at reception, saying I was family. I barely squeaked in before visiting hours end. I explain all of this to Taran as quietly as possible, but both of our heads whip toward the bed when we hear a throat clearing.
“Not exactly the way I hoped to meet you, Lyra, but I”m very glad you”re here,” his mom says warmly, bemusement dancing across her face. I go over with Taran at my side, his hand a support on the small of my back, and she takes my hand to give it a gentle squeeze.
“It”s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Malloy, although I definitely wish it were under better circumstances, too. I”m sorry if I woke you,” I tell her, squeezing her hand back.
“The smell of Italian food can break through even my deepest sleep. You”re also meeting me while I”m in a flimsy hospital gown, I think we can dispense with being formal and have you call me Eve,” she replies, putting her other hand over mine to give it a pat. I love her already. Her humor seems like mine. She”s beautiful, and I see her in Taran. They have the same dark, thick, wavy hair, angular jawline, high cheekbones, and deep set eyes. Her eyes are a startling blue compared to his warm toffee, though. Taran is watching us with the cheesiest grin on his face, clearly loving that his mom and I obviously will get along.
“Are you all hungry? I know it”s a little early,” I ask.
“I’m always hungry,” Taran replies.
“I could definitely eat, I just have to be careful,” Eve says ruefully.
“I thought of that. I looked it up and fresh spaghetti aglio olio is a good choice. Nothing too fatty and nothing fried,” I tell her, pulling her container out of the bag, with that delicious smell of garlic and herbs filling the hospital room. She lights up, making hilarious grabby hands for it.
“Doesn”t seem like you”re a fan, I should have brought something else, huh?” I deadpan to her, and she barks a laugh.
“How are you feeling, Ma? You seem better than before your nap,” Taran asks
“Not awful, all things considered, son. Let”s eat before this wonderful food Lyra brought gets cold.”
Eve digs into her spaghetti, I reach for penne vodka with chicken, and Taran starts to devour the chicken parm. We sit in easy silence as we eat, while trying not to make a saucy mess. There is some small talk sporadically between delicious bites, with Eve and I eventually delving into endless back and forth about Italian food. It”s so comfortable being with her, she”s made me feel welcome from the first moment I stepped into her room. The shameful thought strikes me that I have never felt this level of ease and comfort with my own parents. It’ll be another super fun topic to talk about with Dr. Kirkfield.
After we finish eating, Eve is tired and wants to rest more. First, a nurse comes bustling in to take her vitals and check on her. Taran watches closely, making sure they all look good. They do, thank goodness. Then Eve kicks us out, telling us to go walk and talk so she can sleep. We amble down the hallway as Taran threads his fingers with mine.
“I’m really glad you”re here, Lyra. You made this awful day better,” he tells me, bringing my hand to his mouth to kiss it. I melt a little. “How long are you able to stay?”
“I have plans to go to dance class with my friend, and I”d feel bad ditching her. I”d have to leave soon to make it on time, the class is at 6:30,” I tell him regretfully. I want to stay here longer with him, but I also don”t want to be that person that ditches plans with one of the few friends I have for a new man. It was the dilemma I wrestled with on the whole way over here. We”re so incredibly new, kissing for the first time last night. Does he take priority now, in an emergency situation like this? Would I be too eager at this point if I cancelled my plans to be here for him? Even worse, what if I cancelled them and he didn”t want me here? It isn”t until I feel him start to shake with laughter and bring me into the fiercest hug I”ve ever experienced, that I realize with utter horror...I said all of that out loud. Fuck.my.life.
“Those are some hard hitting questions, Firecracker,” he says into my hair. “To answer them, we”ll figure out how to prioritize each other as we go along, you could never be too eager with me, and there is never a time I wouldn”t want you with me.”
“See, just like I told you. My mouth tends to outpace my brain. And why the hell are your answers to my stream of conscience questions so nice and perfect?” I bury my head into his chest to hide my reddening face. His chest starts to vibrate with more laughter.
“I like hearing how your beautiful brain works,” he tells me, and I feel his smile on the crown of my head.
“I’m glad someone does, because I think it would be wonderful if it would shut up sometimes and not let my mouth run off with every thought.” I”m so embarrassed that I want to disappear. It”s fine, though. I”m a mature woman who can own up to her awkward moments, I tell myself. I”ve certainly been way more embarrassed than this in my life, so I need to get my shit together. He lifts my chin with his fingers to look me in the eyes, his face completely earnest.
“Hey, it”s all good. I’m so happy that you came, and I understand if you can”t stay. You made my mom”s day by showing up, too. I may or may not have told her a little about you,” he tells me, a freaking adorable blush creeping into his cheeks on his last words.
“I kind of got that idea when she knew who I was with no introduction. I”m glad I could come by, if for no other reason than to see you blush over admitting you”ve told your mom about me,” I tell him playfully. At that, he quickly crowds me into the little alcove in the hallway we”re in front of, his hands bracketing my head. His face is not earnest and blushing anymore, it”s hungry.
“If my poor Ma wasn”t in a hospital room down the hall, I could think of some really great ways to make you much more than blush, Firecracker,” he whispers in my ear. My breath catches as his heat engulfs me, shooting straight to my core. Then just as quickly, he backs up enough to cup my face before he plants a kiss on my lips. It lingers, but not enough for any real heat to build. It”s sweet and longing.
“In all seriousness, I”m really glad your mom is ok and that I could be here,” I tell him, my voice a little breathy after the kiss.
“I am, too. What kind of dance class are you taking?”
“Belly dance with my friend from work, Savannah.” He groans and drops his forehead to mine
“You are absolutely killing me. You do belly dancing, too? Tell me you”ll give me a private show sometime.”
I lean up to whisper in his ear. “If you”re extra good, I”ll make it a naked private show.”
He slaps a hand to the wall behind me and lets out a small sound of pain as his forehead drops back to mine. Oh, this is heady stuff. I”ve never had this much of an effect on a partner before.
“You won”t have to worry about it now, because I am going to fucking die. Either you”re going to kill me right here, or I”ll die of embarrassment having to go back to my Ma with a raging hard on.”
“Good. Then at least I’ve done my job distracting you from what a rough day you”ve had,” I tell him, cupping his cheek and giving him another lingering kiss. “I better get going or I”ll be super late. Please keep me posted? Text me later?”
“Of course. Be safe driving, ok? It looks like it might rain.”
“I will. Bye, Taran.” We share another quick kiss.
“Talk to you later, Firecracker.”
I feel his eyes on me as I walk toward the elevator, all the way until I round the corner to get to it. Hauling ass to the dance studio, I run in just in time to quickly change and grab my finger zills.
I go stand next to Savannah right as the class starts to warm up with some ribcage and small hip movements. She’s looking at me curiously as if she knows something is up. We’ve chatted enough over the years that we know the basics about each other. She knows that my marriage fell apart, but not the gory details, or that I”m kind of seeing Taran. We”ve worked together long enough that she knows my tells, and I know hers. There”s not much opportunity to chat except for small water breaks during class, but I know she is going to ask what”s going on afterward. Still, I concentrate on the combinations we”re doing. As we warm up I feel everything start to flow. My arms move fluidly in easy connection with my abs, hips, and feet. There are zero delusions that I”m Shakira or anything like that, but my Lebanese Nana started teaching me belly dance when I was young. I love it so much.
Heat starts to rise up my chest, neck, and face, and it”s not all from the workout. My thoughts can”t help but stray to the idea of doing this naked for Taran as I move my body to the sensual music. Who even am I anymore to say that to him? I”m no prude, but it”s not like me. I have to say, I”m liking being a little more bold. He gives me that confidence that I’ve usually lacked. With all of my physical differences, health problems, and bullying growing up, I”ve never considered myself especially sexually appealing. Being so short meant that I was infantilized a lot too, even though I have forever been an old soul. The guys I have been with, Derek included, seemed to think of me more as cute, not exactly a seductress. Taran makes me feel like he wants me more than his next breath though, and it”s amazing.
The changing rhythm of the doumbek in the next track brings me back to the present, as it lays down a new steady beat for our next combination. The haunting, beautiful melody layers over that beat, and it all courses through me like a strong current of water. Every one of my intrusive, anxious thoughts gets swept away in that current. Our instructor always sets the mood beautifully. There is incense burning, fluffy floor cushions set sporadically around the edge of the room, beaded curtains hung up in the doorway, and a cart filled with waters and tea off to the side. The rhythmic chime of everyone”s zills fills the room as we all move, staying on perfect beat with the doumbek. By the time class is over, I am sore and sweaty in the best way. Savannah and I quickly shower in the onsite locker room, change, and make small talk with some of the other ladies while we have some water, before we head over to the sushi place in the same strip mall.
We have a great meal, although I just order one roll since I already had the pasta. There is a lot of book talk, gossip about work, whether we want to perform at the small belly dance showcase going on in North Jersey next month. I can tell she wants to ask why I was late, since she knows I am obsessive about being punctual. She doesn”t though, and it”s a relief. It”s wonderful to have someone besides Gina and my sister, and now maybe Taran, understand that I need to open up at my own pace. I”m still trying to wrap my head around what I feel about Taran, and where we might end up. Everything we’ve shared in such a small amount of time is intense, and I can easily see myself getting serious with him. There is still always that fear in the back of my mind, though. I wouldn”t even be able to explain it coherently to Savannah at this point. Down the road, hopefully I will. I”d like to get closer to her outside of work. I get home and take Brody out for a walk before I settle in for the night. I smile when I see a text come through.
TARAN
My ma”s already asking when she”ll get to see you again. She loved you
Spaghetti aglio olio has that effect on people. I really loved meeting her. How is she doing??
Everything still looks good, the nurses are happy with where she”s at. Hopefully they”ll discharge her tomorrow
That”s so great. Please keep me updated
I will. It really meant more than I can say that you showed up today...
I”m not sure what to even say to that without sounding either awkward or full of myself. So I keep it simple.
I”m really glad it helped
It very much did. Know what will help now?
I”m afraid to ask...
A full play by play of your belly dance class tonight
Sorry, you”re going to have to wait for the in person private show
As long as it”s a naked private show
That now familiar zing courses through me like it always does when he is being this shamelessly flirty. The most embarrassing little squeak comes out of my mouth.
That”s only if you”re extra good
Oh I will be so extra good for you, Lyra
This freaking man. I can imagine him saying that in his deep voice, and now my panties are ruined. I”m trying to take things slow, but he is making me want things quickly that I wasn”t sure I”d ever want again. I certainly wasn”t prepared to want it again so soon. This electric current that always seems to be humming between us, even over text, is nothing I’ve ever felt before. I’ve always felt silly trying to flirt with men, because I’ve never been someone men looked at a whole lot. Taran definitely looks at me, in ways no man has looked at me, and it makes the flirting so delicious.
Shameless
Always. It”s also true, though
*sigh* get some rest, ok? You”ve had a rough, tiring day. Talk to you tomorrow?
Of course. Have a good night, pretty Firecracker
Goodnight, Taran