Hunger

September (part 1)

Frankie woke from a ray of sunshine hitting her face through the Venetian blinds in Harry's LA home. She stretched her body, and looked around the bedroom. Like everything else that had come into her life with Harry, it was grand. The room had huge floor to ceiling windows, expensive marble floors, and a view of the Hollywood Hills that would take anyone's breath away. The bed she was lying in was huge, and when she sat on the edge of it her feet wouldn't reach the floor. She rolled onto her belly and picked up her phone from the nightstand. There was a text from Harry.

'Went to the studio early. You looked like a dream sleeping naked in my bed.'

She smiled at the phone and felt her cheeks heat up. They had made up for the time lost ever since they got back from Wigan to London, and then again when they came to LA. The sex was more intense, deeper and with a feeling of never being able to satisfy the hunger, they had for each other.

Frankie had never been to America, but she was enjoying herself there so far. Never having been there before meant, she had the privilege of being a shameless tourist, and she could go see all the commercial sights, that no one went to when they were born and raised in, or residents of LA. Frankie sent postcards home and went to all the places she only knew from films and series.

Harry was working on his album and every now and again he'd invite her to the studio to see the magic happen, as he joked. Frankie loved seeing him do, what he was so exceptionally great at. His writing pals were really kind and funny, and they enjoyed having Frankie around. According to Harry they found her easy to get along with, because she never demanded any attention. She mostly sat and read or wrote postcards in the studio and never interrupted their work. She didn't get what the big deal about that was, but she learned, that other women Harry had been with, had gladly weighed in and took up a lot of space. Frankie couldn't help but find it amusing, that she undoubtedly took up more space than his ex-girlfriends had, but her nature hardly took up any space.

She spoke on the phone with her mum often. Mum had put the house up for sale and she was handling things really well. Frankie had never pinned her to be the independent type, but her mum was pleasantly surprising her repeatedly. There was a life for mum after dad, even if it had been difficult for Frankie to imagine. Mum had never really had time to make herself a project; first Frankie had been mum's priority until she left home, and then dad had taken over that role. It was sad to think that mum had not taken time to herself until her late 50's. She had a job at the local pharmacy that she had had since Frankie started school, and she still held the same position, doing the same thing every day. Much like Frankie herself. She had held the same job since she was hired after uni up until recently when she handed in her resignation. Her boss looked at her and asked, if she found something within the private sector instead. Frankie had been so ashamed to admit she was quitting to follow her boyfriend around, that she had lied, and said she got a job with a private firm. It wasn't a complete lie, she would probably eventually get a job in one of Harry's businesses, and that would be private. But yes, she lied and left the office feeling awkward, but free.

***

Frankie didn't want to distract Harry, so she often spent the days by herself exploring LA. Late at night, when she was asleep on the sofa in front of the TV, he came home and woke her with a kiss. He tenderly stroked her hair, and whispered her name, waking her gently. She smiled before opening her eyes, feeling happy to the core when he was near.

"Come to bed, Frankie," he said and helped her up from the sofa and up the stairs.

She changed into a top and a pair of shorts to sleep in, washed her face and brushed her teeth. Harry came into the bathroom and smiled at her in the mirror. Then he laid out a razor and got ready to shave his stubbled cheeks and jawline.