His at Night

Chapter 27

Waking up on Sunday morning, I rolled over and reached out for Harper, just to find the bed empty. Opening one eye I looked at the clock on her bedside table, and it was already almost noon. I guess I can't be surprised that she was already up. Letting out a heavy sigh I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

I was finally starting to get used to traveling as often as I did. Harper and I both knew that me being gone more than being home was going to be hard on us. There is so much time apart, that it becomes the norm. I guess I thought it would be different than it is. I thought that if I was gone for several days, when I was home, Harper would want to be together all the time. That's not exactly how it's turning out. She just seems to be doing her own thing all the time.

Putting on a pair of work jeans, an old t-shirt, and my boots, I walked out to the garage and pulled out the lawn mower. Putting headphones in my ears, I started the lawn mower. When I was almost done, and in the backyard, I saw Harper come out onto the porch with a big glass of ice water, and a sandwich.

When I was done, I put the lawn mower by the gate, and ran my hands under the water of the hose. Walking up the steps onto the porch, I sat in one of the chairs at the table and ate. It was getting so much hotter now that it was well into summer, and it made me procrastinate working outside.

Taking off my boots, I left them outside by the door so I wouldn't track a bunch of grass inside. I didn't see Harper as I walked inside and into our room. Pulling off my clothes, I tossed them into the laundry basket and started the shower. I stayed under the water long after I was clean just enjoying the feeling of the water on my shoulders.

Putting on a pair of sweatpants, I grabbed a t-shirt and pulled it over my head as I walked out to the kitchen. Harper was standing at the sink washing the dishes, so I walked over to her and gently put my hand on her back.

"Thanks for the sandwich." I said as she turned off the water and stepped away from me.

"You're welcome." She said as she grabbed a dish towel and started to dry the dishes with her back to me.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked cautiously.

She gave a dry laugh as she continued to dry the dishes. Figuring that was a pretty obvious 'yes', I grabbed a beer from the fridge, and went into the living room to just give her space. She was like this most of the time now. Which made me avoid her most of the time. I would try to give her attention, and even try to initiate sex, but she just turns me down all the time now. The last thing I want to do is start a fight and have even more mad at me, so I just let her do her own thing.

Turning on the game, I sank into the soft cushions of the couch and kicked my feet up on the table. Opening my beer, I took a drink as I watched Harper go upstairs and into her office.

When the game ended, it was already well into the evening, and I hadn't seen Harper come out of her office. Shutting off the TV, I went up the stairs and softly knocked on her door.

"Come in." I heard her say.

Opening the door, I saw her sitting on the sofa under a blanket with a glass of wine. Her TV was on and she was watching one of those house flipping shows.

"What do you want to do for dinner?" I asked her, since it was already after seven in the evening.

Looking at her watch, she moved out from under the blanket, "I'll make something easy." She said as she turned off the TV.

"We could order something if you would rather do that." I said as she stepped past me.

"No, It'll take too long." She said as she went down the stairs.