Matrimony Homies

16: Sunrise (Loren)

After tossing and turning most of the night, I roll out of bed when I spy the first inkling of light through the curtains. Having slept in the clothes Harry loaned me last night, I'm cosy enough. Grabbing my phone and my journal, I wander into the living room and press the button to open the pocket doors. They're less silent than I would prefer, so I only wait for a Loren-sized hole before I stop the motor and step outside, taking both the throw from the night before and the Bluetooth speaker.

Connecting my phone to the speaker, I scroll through my music until I land on the album that I want to hear as the sun rises this morning. Once the Eagles' 'Desperado' is playing, I settle onto the couch with my legs stretched out, wrapping myself in the throw and watching as the sun starts to peek over the horizon.

It's not long before I hear feet pad quietly over the wooden deck flooring, and I twist my head to spy Harry crossing the space with a pair of low-hung joggers and a bare chest as he wrangles a hoodie over his head. While he's loaned me one with his first name embroidered over the heart, the one he's chosen for himself has Treat People With Kindness emblazoned across the front in rainbow colours.

Before you ask, yes I watch. I'm not dead. Or celibate. The man has a body that's meant to be viewed in motion.

"Didn't mean to wake you," I mumble as he sits in the chair he'd occupied last night.

"I wanted to view the sun rise out here, Freak. Was on my bucket list."

Oh.

"Got it. Is the music okay?" I wonder when 'Desperado' (the song) starts playing.

"I adore the Eagles, so yeah."

We both fall silent as we observe the sun making its way above the water. When it's high enough in the sky that the light penetrates our little enclave on the deck, I take out my journal to start writing. Harry disappears for a few minutes, returning with cups of coffee for each of us and a journal of his own. Thanking him for the black gold, I sip at the liquid, holding the mug in both hands to transfer the warmth to my body. Setting the empty vessel on the table, I return to my journal and continue writing.

I hear the tent zipper, and I tuck my stockinged feet under me on the dock from where they had been dangling near the water (but not in it of course). Probably Anne getting up to check on me. I swear that woman is a saint. She includes me like I'm her third child, and I cannot imagine what I could possibly have done to earn her love, but I'm going to do everything in my power to not fuck it up.

But it's smaller feet attached to a smaller body that pad onto the dock next to me, and I know from the sound that it's Harry.

"Whatcha doing, Lor?"

"Just watching and listening, Dork. The morning time is my favourite. It's so quiet. Look over there," I point to where a deer on the other side of the pond is taking a drink.

"Woah...That's so cool!" His voice is louder than I would have liked, and the deer freezes before looking in our direction.

"Shhh," I admonish my young companion. "Don't frighten her."

"Sorry," he whispers. "I was just excited." With exaggerated slow movements, he plants himself on the dock next to me, wrapping his arms around his knees which he's gathered at his chest while his eyes roam the camping area.

"I know" is my reply. Harry can be the cutest when he's delighted by something. His whole face lights up, and the dimple gets deeper. I could spend hours watching his expressions. They're a sight to behold.

We sit in silence, and the sky turns dark red, then bright pink with a warm orange thrown in until the entire sky above us is decorated like a watercolour painting. It's a marvel.