Bed & Breakfast

Ch. 7 Small Decisions Mean A Lot

*** Andie's POV ***

I woke up today with a killer headache, feeling like I was nursing the worst hangover ever. I barely remembered getting the guests checked in last night. Lou had saved me yet again by running interference with Paula. I knew I couldn't avoid her forever but in my foggy state last night, I was in no shape for a serious conversation.

Two things kept playing in my mind from yesterday despite the blur of every other detail. Running my car off the road because yikes, and then the fluttering warmth that filled me when Lou held my hand and spoke of my grandmother's influence on me. Even thinking about it now made my heart race. In that moment, I wanted him to pull me into his arms. I wanted to feel his lips meet mine, his beard scrape along my cheek, his breath catch as my tongue invited him to take more.

I woke up dreaming that he had taken that liberty, but I didn't really give him a chance. Apparently my subconscious was wishing that I had. But I didn't have time to sit and dwell on some fantasy with a temporary guest. I had a headache to treat, a house full of people to cook for, and my car to retrieve.

I pulled a coffee cake out of the freezer and preheated the oven while making my coffee. I popped some headache meds and jumped into the shower. As I stood in my kitchen, waiting for the coffeecake to come up to temp and cupping my steaming mug of coffee, my mind drifted again to Lou. His openness about his career-ending injury was what prompted me to open up to him. How had we even gotten into that conversation?

The buzzer sounded and I pulled the coffeecake out of the oven. I hurried back to my room to hang up the towel I had wrapped around my hair and for the first time in a long time, I scrutinized my appearance in the mirror. I looked tired and had no color in my face. While I would have liked to blame the previous night's events, I'm not entirely sure I looked much better most other days. I applied some moisturizer and lip gloss and ran my hand through my wet tangled hair. Better, although not great.

It would have to suffice. I quickly downed my coffee, thankful for the large mugs I used. Remembering that Lou had bitched about my grandmother's teacups, I snagged a clean mug from the cabinet. I took a moment to absorb the giddiness in my stomach. I was acting like a teenage girl with a crush and needed to calm my tits.

He was a guest. A temporary visitor. If I remembered correctly, Riley had mentioned he had a girlfriend. He was just being nice yesterday. And if anything, we had a fleeting moment of mutual vulnerability. And if I was being honest, I was probably overreacting because I was lonely. Maybe this was a sign that I needed to get out amongst the living more. Especially if they looked anything like Lou.

I was surprised to find the household awake and engaged. Coffee was brewed, little quiches and fruit were served. The table was full with Paula and her family and the new guests, chatting away. One person was missing from the fray. Paula spotted me and popped up to take the coffeecake from me.

"What's all this?" I asked.

"Lou thought you might have a pretty nasty headache this morning so we all pitched in to get breakfast served." She admitted.

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, although I was also grateful. "I greatly appreciate this, but I also feel badly. You are all guests too."

"Well, we're asking a lot of you under the circumstances and you had a rough night. Lou said you might have inhaled some fumes. How are you feeling?" Paula questioned, eyes scanning over me.