TBATE: A Hero's Return

Better All Make Sense

ARTHUR LEYWIN

Something wasn't right.

My eyes slowly opened to the dim grey of early morning. Just before sunrise, the light through the windows was no more than a haze against the skyline across Zestier. I blinked a few times as I took it in. It couldn't be any later than six in the morning.

But that wasn't what was wrong. I got up early for work most days.

I blinked again and snuffled a little as I pushed myself up, rubbing at my eyes as I did. God, something really felt off.

"Hey, Tess, what's —" My hand that I had just been stretching towards my girlfriend touched down on thin air and soft cotton. I looked over, only to find an empty space next to me.

I groaned as I rolled over towards Tess's empty space, pulling the covers tighter around myself.

"Tess?" I yelled into the apartment, towards wherever she had gone. "Are you here? Where are you?"

I rolled back over to find Tess staring at me from the bedroom door, an amused expression on her face. "You bellowed, my lance?"

I frowned. "It's cold. You left and it's cold."

With a giggle, Tess crossed over into the room to whisper in my ear. "I'll always keep you warm, Art," Tess whispered. Then she pulled back just far enough to brandish a steaming cup of coffee between the two of us. I melted at the sight of it.

With a dopey smile, I reached up and took the heavenly goodness. "Have I ever told you how much I love you and how amazing you are?" I asked as I closed my eyes to breathe in the scent.

"Not in the last thirty seconds, no."

I took a sip and hummed. "You were mean thirty seconds ago. You weren't here."

"Well, it was either a warm bed or warm coffee."

"We need a coffee maker on the nightstand."

Tess huffed out a laugh. "I will have the maids put one for you."

I took another sip of coffee and caught sight again of the early morning light outside the window. "Mind telling me why you're up making me coffee so early in the morning on our day off?"

"It's a surprise," Tess answered, a little twinkle in her eye.

"And what surprise would this be?"

"Well, you did tell me to distract you until we hit the twenty-four-hour mark. So." She shrugged, a bright grin spread wide. "I'll be distracting you today."

"I thought distracting me just meant a lot of sex."

Tess kissed my temple. "Not today, Art." She stood and held out her hand. I gave her one last glare before throwing the covers off with a sigh and took her hand so I could stand up, careful not to jostle the coffee. Tess wasted no time wrapping an arm around my waist. "Today is about more than just sex."

"Is it?" My curiosity was piqued. I tried to sound cavalier, but I wasn't entirely sure I was all that successful. Instead, I just gave in and said what was really on my mind. "You know, Tess, you could save yourself the trouble and just give me an answer. You could do that."

It had been eating at me since last night. I had asked Tess to marry me, and Tess wouldn't answer. She had this great need to wait until tonight for some reason. But the thing was, even if there was some big surprise, why not just put me out of my misery and then spend the rest of the day doing whatever it is she wanted us to do?

"I could do that," Tess answered. "I probably should do that, but, Art..." She pressed her lips against my forehead. "Something tells me I'm not wrong about this waiting thing. And you promised to trust me on this. Will you, please? It's so important to me."

Damn it. If she was going to say that, of course, I was going to listen. I took another big sip of my coffee, my brain distantly registering that pleasant sensation of the perfect temperature. Then I turned to press a kiss to the side of Tess's neck. "Whatever. You did promise to make it worth my while, so I'll play along."

Tess's face lit up in a manner I found adorable. "Really?"

"Just tell me where you want me and I'm yours."

"Perfect." She took my arm to pull me along. "First thing's first, you're getting in the shower. Get cleaned up, then we'll head out."

"More coffee?" I asked hopefully, my half-empty cup already making me sad at the loss.

She giggled at my antics. "I will make another pot as you freshen up."

"Then you get a pass."

"Good for something." Tess laughed before pushing me through the open bathroom door. "Shower quickly. We have a loaded itinerary today. Lots of travel."

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean 'travel'?"

Tess shrugged. "Not telling. It doesn't work that way today."

"It doesn't work — whatever." I waved her off as I turned toward the shower. "You're being really weird, Tess, and for your sake, it better all make sense!"

"It will, I swear!" Tess called out.

I just turned on the shower and silently prayed I made it through the day with my sanity intact.