Between the lines of love

TLC

Shit, I was already running late. Where are my keys? I frantically scanned the cluttered kitchen counter, swiping aside yesterday's mail and an empty coffee cup. My heart pounded in my chest as I muttered to myself, "Come on, come on..."

Just then, my phone started ringing, breaking through the chaotic moment. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Penda.

"Hey baby," I answered, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

"Hey baby, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

"I'm looking for my keys. I was about to walk out the door when I realized I couldn't find them. How are you? You okay? Not working too hard, right?"

"It's a slow day," Penda replied, a hint of a smile in her tone. "I finished all my paperwork early, so I might call it an early day. It's Thursday anyway. How about we fly to Bali until Tuesday? We haven't been to our place there since last year."

Her suggestion made me pause. The idea of escaping to Bali, even for a few days, was incredibly tempting. "That sounds perfect, baby. But I want to have dinner ready by the time you get here. What time are you thinking of coming home?"

"Maybe in the next two hours," Penda said thoughtfully. "But you don't have to cook. I'm bringing something special. I want you to relax tonight! But if you feel up to it, you could make some cookies and brownies so we can have a movie night and chill."

I smiled, finally spotting my keys half-hidden under a magazine. "On it, baby. Love you, talk later."

As I grabbed my keys and headed out the door, I couldn't help but think about our upcoming movie night. "Movie night, my ass," I muttered under my breath. My cycle had been on for a week, and then hers came on right after mine. It's been two weeks since we had any real alone time. I'm gonna eat some cookies, alright.

Instead of heading to work, I was on my way to pick up a luxury bouquet of roses and a new Chanel wallet for Penda. I wanted to surprise her and make tonight extra special. I also wanted to give the maid time to clean the house thoroughly, ensuring everything was perfect for our evening together.

I drove to the high-end florist first, selecting the most exquisite bouquet of red and pink roses. The rich, fragrant blooms would be a beautiful centerpiece for our living room picnic. Next, I went to the boutique to pick up the Chanel wallet I had pre-ordered. Penda had been eyeing it for months, and I couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she saw it.

With my errands complete, I hurried back home, arriving just before the maid. I left the flowers and wallet in the living room and headed to the kitchen to start on the cookies and brownies. As the delicious aroma of baking filled the house, I popped some popcorn and set up the living room for our cozy picnic.

I also picked out the movie for the night—"Fifty Shades Freed." It was one of Penda's favorites, and I knew she'd appreciate the choice. By the time I finished, the house was spotless, and everything was ready for our special evening.

Finally, Penda arrived home, carrying a bag of takeout from the new gourmet restaurant downtown. She walked in and was greeted by the scent of fresh cookies and brownies.

"Hey, there you are," Monique said, looking up with a bright smile. "I thought you'd never get here."

"I had to finish a few things," Penda replied, leaning in to kiss me. "But now I'm all yours. What's this special dinner you mentioned I asked?"

Penda's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I picked up some gourmet takeout from that new place downtown. Thought we could have a fancy picnic in the living room."

We set up a cozy picnic area with blankets and pillows on the floor. As we enjoyed our meal, we talked about everything and nothing, just happy to be in each other's company. After dinner, we curled up on the couch with our cookies and brownies, ready for our movie night.

Despite the interruptions of our cycles and the hectic pace of life, moments like these reminded me why I loved Penda so much. We might not always have things go perfectly, but we always found a way to make the best of it.

"Love you, baby," I whispered as the movie started.

"Love you too," she replied, snuggling closer.

As we settled into the movie, I noticed Penda's breathing slow and deepen. I went to kiss her neck and realized she had already drifted off to sleep. Smiling to myself, I whispered, "Guess I'm gonna have to wake you back up," playfully running my tongue along her neck.