After the storm [Finished]

8- On his hands

I remembered the moment I met him. It was the summer of 2014, I was still in college. I went to a bar with Lily and some other models after a long photoshoot. We sat at the only free table, it was near the stage. And there he was singing with his guitar.

Mike was wearing blue jeans and a black tank shirt. It was a great view to my eyes. His hair was short and his beard was a bit grown up. His thin lips formed a welcoming smile while his brown eyes had a seductive chant.

He approached me at the end of the night and we exchanged numbers. We started dating days after and a few months later we were officially a couple. It was all fun and love until one of my friends at the agency told me she saw Mike with a random girl the night before. I asked Mike right away and he admitted that he slept with her last night. In his defense, he said that he was too drunk and didn't realize what he was doing at the moment.

I let it pass.

The second time was last summer. He was acting strange so I kept an eye on him. Then he traveled to Los Angeles saying that he had some shows booked and he had to stay two weeks there. A few days after he left I got some days off and I decided to surprise him. The one who got surprised was me. When I arrived at his hotel room, a red-haired girl with huge breasts opened the door and he walked quickly after her to see the one knocking at his door.

Overall, our relationship was good. We didn't have too much time left outside work but we made every minute count. He'd take care of me when I felt sick and I'd cook for him every day so he didn't fill his stomach with junk food every time he was alone at home.

Mike was a sweet guy but he had this thing that made you feel that you could never be at ease.

I stared into his eyes and repeated his question in my head.

"Honey, one more time. Please". His begging eyes were getting the best of me. And he was using that hoarse tone he knew melted my heart. What else I could do? I couldn't resist him.

"Don't make me regret it, ok?" He smiled and kissed me tenderly.

We entered the apartment and he left his guitar next to my desk. I stayed in the kitchen and took two plates to serve the fried chicken.

"I'll be two weeks in New York. Can I stay with you?" He asked sitting on the bed.

"What about your apartment?"

"I sold it and bought a new one in LA last month". He announced.

"Oh..." I muttered. "So he really ended up moving". I thought.

"But I'll come to see you every time I have days off". He gave me a reassuring smile and I smiled back.

"I don't know if you can stay with me too long. I'm moving this Saturday; I'll be sharing an apartment from now on".

"Oh". He stayed silent for a minute and I turned to see him. "I'll stay with you until you move then. I can help you carry your things".

"That'd be really helpful". I walked to the bed with the plates served.

"Are we celebrating something?", asked Mike as he saw the fried chicken and French fries.

"I got two well-paid jobs and a place to stay for a bargain". I smiled and sat next to him.

"And you got back with me". He smiled putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah". I said not sure if I had made a good choice.

"What happens?" He asked noticing the vacillation in my voice.

"Nothing. I'm just a bit tired, a lot has happened today".

I felt strange. I didn't know what was happening to me. I had spent months crying over Mike, missing him but I felt like a stranger next to him.

I was eating while he was telling me about the songs he had been writing and the studio where he was working now. I looked at him while he spoke and something broke inside me the moment I realized something: I didn't love him as I used to.

"Honey, why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?" I shook my head and hugged him.

"I just missed you too much". I said while he ran his hand up and down my back.

Mike didn't say a word and just held me in his arms until I calmed down. He tried to joke around while we finished our dinner but he stopped when he noticed that I was not in the mood.

I started organizing my first suitcase with winter clothes.

"I'm not going to wear them soon anyway". I thought while putting my sweaters in it. In the mid-time, Mike was editing a song on his laptop.

"Honey, I'm going to sleep. Are you coming?" Mike asked getting out of the bathroom.

"Not yet. I'm going to finish some editing". I said turning from my sketchbook to my computer.

"Don't stay up until too late". He kissed my forehead and went to bed.

"I'm finally done". I stretched my back on the chair. "What time is it?" I looked at the time on the screen, it was 2 am. "God, time flies when editing". I said to myself. I looked at the cartoons I was finishing and smiled satisfied. It was worth it. I saved the project and turned off the computer. I turned in the chair and the first thing my eyes landed on was Mike. He was sound asleep. I had not noticed before but he shaved his face while in the bathroom. I had always thought that his bearded face suits him better.

The apartment was silent. The dishes from dinner were in the sink, the curtains were open and the street lights were the only thing that could be seen from the window. I could hear Mike's steady breathing. It made me feel nostalgic.

I decided it was time to go to sleep. I looked for my phone to set the alarm and just then, I remembered I turned it off. I had to call Lily too! I stood up quickly, grabbed my bag, and turned it on again. I had some missing calls from Lily.

"Sorry, I turned my phone off and forgot about it. The apartment thing went well. Call you tomorrow". I wrote her a text. She surely was sleeping by then, but she was going to see it the next morning.

I closed the curtains and went to sleep.