Cinnamon, Blueberries, & Other Subjects to fill a Book of Poetry

Chapter 20: Questions

"How do you know if you're dating someone?" I asked, chewing on my straw as mini-Fran on the video call laughed at me

"What kind of question is that?"

"Mi vida, hush hush. Not so loud." Sofia's, significantly less chipper, voice called out. "Don't be mean. Or, be mean quieter."

"Sorry, Sofia." I lowered my voice despite not being the one bothering her.

"Right, sorry, Love." Fran's voice was nauseatinly sweet when she said it and I wondered for a second if that was how I sounded when talking to Reese. She'd lowered her voice when she spoke up next. "To answer your question, genius, you ask. That's how." I sighed,

"I was afraid you'd say that." Fran made various, borderline mocking, cooing noises of reassurance and I wasn't all that surprised when Sofia slid into frame beside her, all bed head and yawns. She seemed mildly annoyed until Fran placed a kiss on her cheek and then all was forgiven.

"Why're you so worried about labels all of a sudden, Sammy?" She asked, leaning heavily against Fran's shoulder. At least I didn't feel like I was bothering her now that she was participating in our little think tank.

"Did Reese say you're not a couple?"

"Oh, that little-" Sofia said something in Spanish that I definitely didn't understand, but her tone gave me the impression it wasn't a compliment. "I'll kick his ass."

"Hell yeah! That's my girl!" Fran pulled her into a tight side hug and I smiled, even if not getting a word in edgewise was a little irritating. I worried for a second that perhaps I had a habit of doing exactly the same thing and made a mental note to ask Reese later.

"No no! No. He didn't say anything like that." I said once they settled down, wringing my hands in my lap, "I just- we never really talked about what we were. I like what we have, and I'm still wrapping my head around how all this works, but.. if I'm doing this, I want to do it right."

"So, you want him to be your boyfriend?" I felt my face heat up and I nodded, only flushing more at the pair's cooes of encouragement and adoration. "Good for you. But, Fran is right, the only way to know is to talk to him about it. Don't worry, I saw how he looked at you, I'm sure he's smitten." I snorted, shaking my head. I could, and did, imagine Reese being a lot of things, but smitten didn't quite fit the bill. Still, they were right and I told them as much, thanking them and saying my goodbyes as Sofia tugging Fran backwards into their bed. They were a cute couple, I was happy for them. I want that. I go to take a sip of my smoothie, struggling as I realise I've chewed the end of the straw to shreds. I'm lamenting the fact that I'll have to get out of bed to get a new one when my phone dings. It's Reese and any lamenting over leaving my bed is swept away when I read it.

new mexican place opened
your side of town
the guys said it was good

I smiled, shaking my head. I knew this was his very-Reese way of asking me to go out with him. He liked to drop hints until I took the initiative, evidently. I never would have guessed that when I first met him, he seemed like the kind of guy to take charge. But I knew better now. From everything from ordering coffee to the bedroom, he prefered when I took the lead. It thrilled me that he trusted me enough to let me make choices for him.

We should go tonight!
If you're not busy, of course.
-Sam

I hardly had to wait for him to respond and, predictably, he shot back a thumbs up and let me know to pick him up from work. I was practically giddy at the idea of going out with him tonight, but then the worry started to worm it's way in. This would be a date, right? It would certainly be a date if we were dating. If we were boyfriends. But as my cousin and her darling partner had pointed out, I'd never have any answers if I didn't ask. So, I decided I'm going to ask him when I pick him up and just prayed my resolve wouldn't crumble on sight.

It was hard not to immediately put aside the idea once I pulled up to the auto shop and saw Reese. Asking for him if we were together meant the possibility of him saying no, which would definitely put a wrench in whatever this was. I didn't want anything to change. I like how things were going with us, and I definitely liked the grin that came to Reese's face once he saw me pull up. I shot back a grin of my own as he jogged over, leaning in my window.

"Hey, gorgeous." I felt my face heat up, unable to help myself as I glanced towards the open garage. As if reading my mind, he lowered his voice and put a hand on my arm, "relax, Sammy. Nobody down here's gonna judge you. They love me." I relaxed a bit at that and, after another quick check, leaned over and kissed him. He seemed pleasantly shocked as I pulled away, promising to be right back after he changed. He didn't take long and, true to his claim, his friends didn't give us so much as a second glance after saying goodbye. I talked about my day and he did the same, laughing when I told him Sofia's incomprehensible threat. I left out the part about it being in regards to our... situation. The food was good, as promised, but I was much more focused on the looks he kept shooting my way throughout the meal. I got a sneaking suspicion he had an ulterior motive to going out this evening and his offer for me to go back to his house only solidifed my guess. As soon as the door closed, his lips were on mine and his hands were tangled in my hair. He eas eager in a way he usually wasn't, almost desperatr, and I was in no position to turn him away. I didn't want to. So, I obliged, relishing in every new sounds and expression I drew out of him. It wasn't until later, him hugged tight to my chest as he traced shapes along my shoulder, that my previous worry even rolled back. My breath hitched for a second and he noticed, pulling back with a face full of concern.
"You okay, Sammy?" I smiled, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead that rewarded me with a smile.
"Yes. Well, no. Maybe. It's nothing bad I said quickly. He looked increasingly confused and more than a little worried, which only heightened my own nerves. "I just.. I was wondering.." I bit my lip as I trailed off, only returning my eyes to his when his hand found it's way to my cheek.
"Yeah?" He looked so genuinely worried that it made my chest tight and I felt a little guilty for making him to stressed over something so silly.
"Are we, umm, a couple? Dating, I mean?" He looked taken aback for a minute before he started laughin, loud and low and full of relief.
"Wha- seriously? Is that why you've been so weird tonight?"
"I wasn't weird." I defended quickly, earning a smirk and an eye roll in response.
"Sammy, we spend, like, every spare day together. We've slept at each other's houses more times than I can count. Hell, we've had sex, y'know, a lot. What do you think?" I felt my face heat up, shurgging as best I coule from our close position.
"I.. didn't want to be presumptuous."

"You're such a dork." He was smiling when he said it though and he sas definitely blushing before he buried his face in my chest. "Yeah, we're dating." I felt like my heart was doing a flip as soon as he said it, unable to stop myself from grinning like an idiot.
"So.. that's it?"

"That's it." He snorted at my eagerness

"You're- you're my boyfriend now?"

"Yes, yes, you're my boyfriend. I'm your boyfriend. We're boyfriend. Are you happy now?" He laughed, pulling back enough to give me an annoyed look that lacked any real malice.

"More than you can imagine, Angel." The blush returned to his face then, spreading to his ears, and he shook his head before pulling me into a kiss.