Chapter 18 The Thing We Dont Plan #3
She leaned forward and kissed her.
Ling smiled into the kiss.
It was warm and soft and completely unhurried.
When they pulled apart, Orm laughed quietly.
"What?"
"You smiled."
"You did too."
"I always smile when I kiss you."
Ling's heart skipped.
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm happy."
Ling looked at her.
There was no clever answer.
No teasing remark.
Only warmth.
She touched Orm's cheek.
"I'm happy too."
?
The drive home was quiet.
Orm's hand rested in Ling's.
Every so often, their fingers moved against each other.
Neither wanted to let go.
When they reached Orm's apartment, she remained in the car.
Ling looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Then why aren't you leaving?"
Orm smiled.
"Because I don't want the day to end."
Ling's heart softened.
"It doesn't have to."
"It doesn't?"
"No."
Orm looked at her.
"We'll have another."
"Tomorrow?"
Ling laughed.
"You're becoming greedy."
"Maybe."
"I have work."
"So?"
"I can't spend every day with you."
Orm pouted.
Ling smiled.
"Although I might want to."
Orm's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good."
She opened the door.
Then stopped.
She leaned back inside.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Orm smiled.
Then she kissed Ling's cheek.
She started walking away.
Ling watched her.
Three steps.
Four.
Five.
Then Orm turned around.
"Ling!"
"What?"
"You forgot something."
"What?"
Orm pointed at herself.
"Me."
Ling laughed.
"You're impossible."
"I know."
Orm smiled.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She disappeared inside.
Ling sat there smiling.
Then her phone buzzed.
Orm: You didn't kiss me goodbye properly.
Ling laughed.
Ling: I thought you were leaving.
Orm: I changed my mind.
Ling: Clearly.
Orm: Come upstairs.
Ling stared at the message.
She looked at the building.
Then back at her phone.
She smiled.
Ling: Are you sure?
Orm: Yes.
Ling stepped out of the car.
?
Orm opened the door before Ling knocked.
"How did you know?"
"I was waiting."
Ling smiled.
"You could've told me."
"I wanted to surprise you."
"You surprised me."
"Good."
They stood there for a moment.
Then Orm stepped aside.
"Come in."
Ling entered.
Orm closed the door.
The apartment was quiet.
Warm.
Comfortable.
There was no reason to rush.
They sat together on the sofa.
Orm leaned into Ling.
Ling wrapped an arm around her.
They talked.
About nothing.
About everything.
About the bookstore.
The rain.
The cat.
The terrible coffee.
The food they had eaten.
The photograph Orm refused to delete.
At some point, Orm yawned.
Ling smiled.
"Tired?"
"A little."
"You should sleep."
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"Because then tomorrow comes."
Ling looked at her.
"And?"
"Then you're busy."
Ling's expression softened.
"I'll still be here."
Orm looked up.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Orm smiled.
She rested her head against Ling's shoulder.
"Okay."
Silence settled around them.
Not awkward.
Not heavy.
Comfortable.
Ling looked down at her.
She kissed the top of Orm's head.
Orm smiled without opening her eyes.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"I used to think love would make my life more complicated."
Orm opened her eyes.
"Did it?"
Ling smiled.
"Yes."
Orm laughed.
"That's not romantic."
"I'm not finished."
Orm waited.
"It made my life more complicated."
Ling brushed her thumb across Orm's hand.
"But it also made it better."
Orm's eyes softened.
"Better?"
"Much."
Orm smiled.
"Good."
She leaned closer.
Ling kissed her.
Slowly.
Softly.
A kiss without an audience.
A kiss without expectations.
A kiss that belonged entirely to them.
When they separated, Orm whispered,
"I think I like this version."
"What version?"
"Us."
Ling smiled.
"I do too."
?
Later, when Ling finally left, Orm stood at the door watching her.
"Text me when you get home."
"I will."
"And don't work."
Ling smiled.
"I won't."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Orm narrowed her eyes.
"You're lying."
Ling laughed.
"I'll try."
"Better."
Ling leaned forward.
She kissed Orm one more time.
Then another.
Orm laughed.
"That's two."
"I know."
"Why?"
"I wanted two."
"You're becoming greedy."
"I learned from you."
Orm smiled.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Ling walked toward the elevator.
Before the doors closed, she looked back.
Orm was still standing there.
Their eyes met.
Neither said anything.
They didn't need to.
The elevator doors closed.
Ling looked at her reflection.
She was smiling.
Again.
She couldn't stop.
Her phone buzzed.
Orm: I miss you already.
Ling laughed.
She typed:
Ling: It's been thirty seconds.
Orm: Exactly.
Ling shook her head.
Ling: You're ridiculous.
Orm: And?
Ling smiled.
Ling: And I love you.
The response came before she even reached the ground floor.
Orm: I love you too.
Ling put her phone against her chest.
There had been a time when she thought she would never be capable of this.
Of saying it.
Of feeling it.
Of allowing someone to matter this much.
Now she couldn't imagine going back.
Not to the careful distance.
Not to the walls.
Not to the pretending.
She wanted this.
She wanted the ridiculous messages.
The stolen coffee.
The arguments.
The long conversations.
The unexpected kisses.
The bad dates.
The good dates.
The ordinary days.
Especially the ordinary days.
Because somewhere along the way, Orm had stopped being the woman Ling was pretending to love.
She had become the woman Ling wanted to wake up beside.
The woman she wanted to tell about stupid things.
The woman she wanted beside her when work was difficult.
The woman she wanted beside her when life was easy.
The woman she wanted to annoy for the rest of her life.
And maybe that was what a real relationship was.
Not perfection.
Not constant butterflies.
Not grand declarations every day.
Sometimes it was simply choosing the same person again and again.
Even when the day was boring.
Even when the plans changed.
Even when the coffee was terrible.
Even when one of them talked too much.
Especially then.
Ling smiled as she walked to her car.
She opened the door.
Before she got inside, her phone buzzed again.
Orm: One more thing.
Ling smiled.
Ling: What?
Orm: Next date is my turn to plan.
Ling laughed.
Ling: Should I be worried?
Orm: Very.
Ling shook her head.
Ling: I'm trusting you.
A pause.
Then:
Orm: You really are in love with me.
Ling smiled.
Ling: Unfortunately.
The reply came immediately.
Orm: Liar.
Ling laughed.
She put her phone away.
And for the first time, she didn't mind not knowing what the next day would bring.
Because whatever it was, she knew one thing.
There would be Orm.
And perhaps that was the only plan she needed.