Aftermath

11

He had been staying there since he came back. Opting to cancel the extended stay hotel and set up camp on the couch. Matthew refused to let Cal take the couch. Not that the air mattress was a huge step up. But most nights it seemed, both of them ended up on the mattress sleeping.

Calpurnia had improved enough for Meg to be off her back, but there were still glances thrown her way when Meg thought she wasn't looking. Mr. Delgado had closed the store for the holidays, he'd open it the second week of December when he got back from traveling but was still paying Calpurnia to go and shelve the donations.

Today, however, she wasn't working. Because things were changing. Out with the old, and in with the new. Cal couldn't help the smirk that stretched across her lips as she watched Mattie sleeping blissfully unaware. She had woken up a few hours earlier giving her plenty of time to plan her attack.

When the clock read 10, she decided it was time. He'd had plenty of time to snooze away the weekend. With a squeal, she ran and jumped on the empty side of the air mattress popping Matthew up abruptly. His brown eyes were wild when they opened up in a panic. Calpurnia couldn't help the giggles that escaped her mouth at his reaction.

Matthew had a mischievous glint in his eyes and he attacked her sides with his fingers. Immediately she started scrambling around trying to escape him as he tickled her. Shrieks of indignation and pleas spewed from her mouth and finally, he stopped so they could both catch their breath again. Matthew stood up and gave her a devious grin before two words left his mouth.

"Your turn." He seemed to fall onto the mattress in slow motion, but when he landed Cal flew up off the mattress way higher than she'd managed to get Mattie. She landed with a thud halfway on top of Matthew the other half hanging over the edge of the mattress. He was laughing so hard he couldn't get the words out, but she managed to make out he was asking if she was okay and she nodded fighting the smile threatening to show.

She admired him as he laughed, it was such a nice sight. The way his eyes crinkled around the edges and his nose scrunched slightly. Even his beard couldn't hide the single dimple that dented his right cheek. After a few moments, she poked him in the chest.

"I think you," she poked at him again, "popped the air mattress," she said, noting the slow deflation happening underneath them.  He calmed down and listened, and sure enough, there was a telltale hiss of air escaping. Before he could say anything though she said "luckily enough, I just finished saving up for a real mattress so now we have a project for today".

He swallowed, pushing himself up into his elbows, and nodded his head. In all honesty, he was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. The way his muddy eyes bore into her mossy ones as if she'd never have a secret from him. Calpurnia hadn't even known she was going to, but she leaned forward and pecked his lips quickly. Her breath was shaky against his mouth. She pulled away slightly waiting for his response but he didn't move. She could feel her cheeks burning and she waited with bated breath for him to make a move. Just before she pulled her head away from his, feeling tears burning her eyes, he grabbed the back of her head and pushed his lips against hers. This was not a peck, this was a real kiss. When he pulled back she could feel his heartbeat against her hand resting on his chest.

Cal smiled at him but quickly looked away, feeling shy and unsure of the emotions that were overwhelming her. But Mattie grabbed her cheek and gently pulled her face back to look at him.

"I never thought you'd do that" he whispered, moving his hand from her cheeks to the back of her neck pulling her towards him until her forehead rested against his. "Thank you." He whispered, pressing another soft kiss to her lips. She gently kissed him one more time before pulling away.

"So," she said, standing up and offering him a hand up from the flattened air mattress, "shall we?"

She could already feel herself caging up.

...

They had to leave the valley and go into the city to shop for Cal's mattress. Matthew drove with a soft smile on his lips. Calpurnia spent the car ride navigating and running the music. Every once in a while Matthew would reach over and rest a hand on her knee, squeeze it, and pull his hand away again.

Calpurnia knew she was playing with fire. She wasn't sure of her exact plan when she initiated the kiss. There is no way this ends well. She felt her resolve fading and turned to look out her window, hoping Mattie wouldn't notice anything.

The mattress shopping process was fairly easy, she just had to find one she liked. She went with the most cost-friendly but still comfortable option and opted to use the extra she'd saved up to get some new sheets and a comforter.

By the time they were back at Cal's apartment, they had enough time to figure out dinner before the mattress was supposed to be delivered.

"What sounds good to you?" Calpurnia called from the kitchen scanning the fridge. Matthew was wrangling the air mattress trying to deflate it as much as possible.

"I'm good with whatever," he huffed and then added, "why don't I just order something so we don't have to cook?"

"Are you sure?" Cal asked shutting the refrigerator door. She hated when people spent money on her and there was no chance he'd split the bill.

"Absolutely." He said standing up and brushing his pants off while admiring his handiwork. He looked to Cal who stood in the doorway of the kitchen and smiled. Calpurnia had never imagined they would be so domesticated. It wasn't like they were in a relationship, or they had a label or anything. But she never dreamed they'd be living together, even temporarily, making meals and buying beds.

He stopped in front of her and tucked a hair behind her ear. Something he did a lot, she noticed.

"What's going on in there?" He asked, tapping his finger against her forehead.

"Just thinking about Chinese takeout," she said, brushing him off and trying to shake off her thoughts as well. Calpurnia stepped back from the doorway in the direction of the bathroom. "I'm going to shower before we eat."

    Calpurnia switched on the vent and turned on the hot water before stripping off her jeans and sweater. She assessed her reflection in the mirror, taking it all in. The only thing left from her mother was the pesky yellow of a healing bruise on her thigh. Otherwise, the physical evidence was gone.

    She quickly scrubbed her body and massaged some shampoo into her hair. She jumped slightly when she heard a knock on the bathroom door.

    "Come in," she called, rinsing her hair and moving onto the conditioner. The door cracked slightly and cool air seeped into the steamy bathroom.

    "Food's here." Cal smiled excited for dinner, they had an unspoken routine of weekend movie dinners. "Also the mattress came."

    "Okay, I'm almost done," she said and hurried to rinse out the conditioner. When she had finished drying off she threw on some shorts and a big t-shirt and headed for the living room.

    As she entered the living room she saw something she never expected. A huge fort was built out of all the blankets and furniture Cal owned with their dinner spread out like a picnic. Matthew was standing on the far side of the fort watching excitedly as she took it all in.

    "This is amazing!" she exclaimed, running around the fort and throwing her arms around Mattie's neck. He caught her easily and squeezed her back lifting her feet off the ground then ushered her in to get comfy as they settled in for their movie night. When the movie ended Matthew helped Calpurnia make the bed with the new sheets before they both collapsed in it.