Going Full Throttle

Chapter 11

My body floated between two soft, heavy, clouds. I was in that magical state of consciousness as sleep slips away. When you are still asleep, but you're aware of your body peacefully stirring as light glows behind your lids; soothingly beckoning for you to wake up.

A weight draped over my feet is what eventually fully tethered me to the land of the living. It wiggled and shifted on my ankles, rousing me from my deep slumber.

"F-Finn?" I groaned as I blinked him into focus. I looked around through the slits of my puffy eyes and realized we were both on the couch. Me, trapped under three heavy blankets and Finn sitting happily on my feet watching cartoons.

"Good mowning," he said without taking his eyes off our small TV.

It took all of my strength to sit up and push the blankets off of my torso. I sighed in relief as cool air washed over my sticky skin. Looking down I realized I only wore a bathing suit and suddenly the night's events came back to me.

Did I zombie-walked back into the house and crash on the couch? Without even changing?

Thinking back though, I remembered how warm I'd felt tucked into Tyler's side. I remembered the relaxing sound of our quiet breathing mixed with the soft waves. I remembered his calloused fingers rubbing against my hip bone in hypnotizing circles. What I didn't remember was standing up and saying goodnight.

A flush crept over my chest and up my neck as I wondered if I had fallen asleep out there. Grace used to joke that I snored like a sailor. What if it wasn't a joke? What if he had to carry me inside while I sawed logs on his arm?

"Do you want breakfast before I shower?" I asked Finn in hopes of distracting myself.

After I received a distracted nod I peeled the blankets off my legs and went to the kitchen for food. My bathing suit stuck to my skin uncomfortably. I was abundantly aware of my body covered in lake water and sweat from sleeping under all of those blankets in the middle of a summer heat.

Well, I already slept in and let the kid fend for himself all morning—might as well really hit a homer and give him cereal on the couch for breakfast.

After tossing some Cheerios in a bowl with milk and delivering it to Finn in the living room I walked down the hallway to the bathroom. I left the door open just in case and quickly jumped into the shower then stripped off my bathing suit. I was so desperate to get clean I didn't care about waiting for the water to heat up.

As I waited for my conditioner to set in my hair I stuck my neck out from behind the curtain and called, "Marco!"

Without delay, a small voice from the living room called back, "Polo!" 

I nodded, content that Finn was still safe on the couch. I finished up quickly after that and stepped gingerly out of the shower onto the fuzzy mat. Wrapping a towel around myself I wiped off the mirror and looked at my reflection. The deep purple bags that had become a staple of my personal style were slightly faded. I must have truly slept like the dead last night.

Walking back across to my bedroom I paused at my door and once again called, "Marco!" down the hallway.

"Polo!" Finn called back with less enthusiasm this time. He didn't seem to appreciate me interrupting his show.

I left my bedroom door open and continued to get ready. I brushed my hair out properly for the first time in a week then left it to dry naturally. After a bit of moisturizer and sunscreen, I was ready for my first day off in a while. After the week I'd had, comfort was the most important thing today. With that in mind, I slipped on a sports bra and yoga shorts then went to my drawer to find a shirt to put over top.