Marjoreece - Date Night

The Morning After

The next morning, Marjorie woke up to find Reeces side of the bed empty. As she rolled over, the smell of coffee hit her, and she noticed the mug sat on the bedside table waiting for her. She smiled to herself at his gesture. The small things like this that he just did automatically without thinking made her love him more. As she reached out for the mug, she found that it had obviously been made a while ago. It wasn't cold yet, but she could definitely just down it as it was, and if she'd been asleep much longer, it probably wouldn't have been drinkable.

She got up and started walking around the house searching for Reece, but he was nowhere to be found. She looked outside and saw his car was still there, so she knew he couldn't have gone far. She messaged him to thank him for the coffee and ask where he was. About 10 minutes later, she heard her phone ping. She rushed to grab it only to find it was Charlotte checking up on how last night had gone. She was just about to reply when Reece walked through the door carrying 2 coffees and a paper bag from the same coffee shop. The coffee shop was only on the corner, so she didn't think that was the only place he'd been. Also, as she took in his appearance, she noticed just how sweaty he was.

"Morning, where have you been?"

"Hey gorgeous, I went for a run and brought you your coffee. I brought back breakfast, too." He said, placing the coffee and bag in front of her.

"I'm guessing by looking at you, it wasn't a relaxing, steady pace jog you went for?"

"Um, yes and no. I mean, it wasn't my fastest... I did 5k out and back to the coffee shop in about 18-19 minutes, so I could have gone faster, then obviously walked back with the coffees."

She knew he went out running sometimes. He'd never done it when she'd stayed over, though. She figured it was something she'd need to get used to now that she lived here. Same with the gym he had set up in the garage. She'd never known him use it, but he must do because there's no way he just had a body like that without working out. "I was worried when I woke up and you weren't here."

"Sorry, gorgeous, I didn't think. I'll leave a note next time." He said, leaning down to give her a kiss.

"How are you feeling after last night?" She asked tentatively. She saw him freeze as she asked the question. He was obviously hoping to avoid talking about it.

"Hands a bit sore, but other than that, OK." He answered, trying to brush it off. "I'm going for a shower. Be back in a bit." He said, leaning down to kiss her again as he walked past.

He'd only been gone a few minutes when Marjories phone rang. "Alright, Char?" She said, seeing the name on the screen.

"Morning, Marjorie, I just wanted to check in after last night, and I got a bit worried when you didn't answer my text."

"Is he OK? Has he said anything?" Marjorie could hear Mia panicking in the background. She felt a small smile cross her lips. She may not like Mia, but she couldn't deny she definitely loved Char and made her happy, and she seemed to still really care about Reece and Autumn even after everything that had happened.

"I had a bit of a panic this morning when I woke up, and he'd gone, but he's not long come back, and he'd been out for a run. He's just gone for a shower."

Mia snatched the phone off of Charlotte and put it on speaker. "A run? Marjorie, this is really important. Was it a long or a short run?"

"What difference does that make?" Marjorie asked, confused.

"A run is the daytime equivalent of him disappearing to look at the stars. If he went for a long run, and I mean long, he could go out for hours and do marathon distances he's really thinking about something. If he goes out for a short run, it's usually that he wants to try and think about something and clear his head, but it gets too much, so he only goes out for a sprint instead."

"Well, he said he did 5k but that it wasn't his fastest time. He said it was 18-19 minutes."

"Wow, that is slow for a 5k for him. His dad made him run track among every other sport you can think of, and he's really good. He can do a 14-minute 5k and sub 3-hour marathon. That makes me think he was planning on a long run, but it got too much and so he sped up for a shorter one but couldn't make up the time. It's bothering him. He knows he needs to think about it all but is avoiding it. I think I've really fucked up this time. How was he when he last night and when he got back this morning? Has he said much?"

"No, it was hours last night before he said more than 2 words, and then it was only to say he loved me and to ask me not to leave. This morning, when I asked if he was OK, he said his hand hurt, but other than that, he's fine. No mention of what went on whatsoever."

Charlotte piped up at this point. "Maybe I should come over unannounced later and try talking to him. He did really well opening up to me when we did our mini therapy sessions before. Maybe he'll do it this time. He's got nothing to lose with me. He might be worried he'll say something to you, Marjorie, that will push you away. That's not a worry with me."

"If that fails, maybe a kick in the shins from Autumn will do it." Mia added, trying to diffuse the tension she knew was her fault.

"Amelia!!! This is not the time. Besides, you're one to talk. All three of you shut down when it comes to emotions because you've been raised to believe they are signs of weakness that you shouldn't feel or show. You'd be no better than him if the shoe was on the other foot."

Mia went quiet as she knew her girlfriend was right. She also knew on some level that, as responsible as she felt for all of this, in reality, it was mainly Rogers' fault. He started this whole thing, and over 20 years later, it still causing damage. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm just really stressed about this, I thought Reecey and I had gotten to a pont where we were friends again, almost like when we were kids and I was really hoping that soon, I'd properly have my best friend back, even after everything and now I've just pushed us right back square one."

Marjorie was listening to all of this in silence. She'd never heard or seen this vulnerable side of Mia before, and hearing her talk about Reece the way she was actually made her come round to liking her a little more. Although she knew the second Mia got in some dig about something from when she was with Reece to push a button of Marjories, she'd be right back to struggling to be civil.

"Look, we've got nothing to lose by trying it. Char, we haven't got plans today. I was just going to try and see if he wants to stay in and just spend time together as that's not really happened this weekend. Pop over whenever. Drop me a text before just so I can make sure we've not gone anywhere, and I'll act surprised when you turn up 'unannounced' OK?"

"OK Marjorie, I'll see you later."

"Bye, my love,"

They hung up the phone just in time, Reece came down the stairs just after dressed in joggers and a t-shirt. Convincing him to stay in was going to be easier than Marjorie thought. He obviously had no intention of going out again today. "Hey you, who were you talking to?"

"Oh, just Sorscha, she was just thanking us again for yesterday and said the shepherd's pie was amazing." She wasn't strictly lying... Sorscha had messaged that morning saying that, but Reece didn't need to know it was a message, not a call. "I was thinking. We haven't really had any time to ourselves this weekend in the end. How about we stay in and veg out on the sofa for the day watching tv. Just you and me?"

"Gorgeous, that sounds perfect. I really don't feel like having to deal with people today. I just want my gorgeous girl and to shut the rest of the world out for a few hours."

He sat on the sofa and held his arm out so Marjorie could snuggle into him. Before she did, she dropped Charlotte a quick message confirming they were going to be home all day, so just turn up whenever. As she moved closer to him, he pulled a blanket over her legs so she didn't get cold. She was still only wearing the t-shirt of his that she'd slept in last night, and she cuddled into his chest. She knew that all she could now was be here for him if he decided to talk and wait for Char to put in an appearance.