Hello Again

III

 Feeling really good and cheery, I open my eyes from the best sleep I've had in a long time. I lay there for a long time, stretch. I glance over at the clock when I turn my body this way and that. It is 10: 30! Jumping off the bed in a flash, I stop at the door-way. Luggage sits propped up behind my couch and I see folded sheets and two pillows on the floor next to the coffee table. Backing up, I walk backwards until I'm adjacent to my bathroom. Jurgis stands in there with a towel draped over his bare shoulder, boxers as his only clothing. His hair drips wet. He sees my reflection in the mirror and turns around, smiling with a foamy toothbrush in his mouth.

 "Morning, pretty girl." he says. I am glued to my spot at the sight of him. Just seeing him making himself comfortable in my apartment blows me away, but his bare chest? Not even contemplating the many ideas in my brain, I clear my throat, search for something to save me from destruction. Seeing the clock again, I look back to Jurgis.

 "Morning. Did you know it's ten- thirty? I slept in!"

 "I know you did. I came in and turned your alarm off before it went off. I made sure it didn't make a sound."

 I stare at him. After a few seconds, I whisper, "Why?"

 "You had a rough night last night. You had a lack of sleep which, my dear, is not healthy to do. You needed rest, so I let you sleep in."

 "But I have work to do." I stand my ground. He smiles and turns around to the sink, spitting and rensing his mouth out. When he is finished, he turns around completely and leans back against the sink.

 "And your work happens to be for me, or my mother if you prefer. So as half of your employer, I gave you half a day off."

 "Yes but my shop doesn't know that!"

 "You're working at my place most the time. You usually don't go to the shop until, what, later anyways?"Sighing, I fall back onto my bed. He's standing mere inches away from me in no time. I see his face above me. "I only did it thinking of you."

 Closing my eyes, I finally say, "Thank you."

 "So did you sleep good? Were my efforts put to good use?"

 Opening my eyes to see him as I answer, I say, "It was the best sleep I've had in a long time." He smiles and then walks away, not even touching me. Thank you.

 "Good."

 I hear him putting the towel to his head, rubbing away to get the water out, so I go to my dresser and take out a cami and shorts. "Mind if you close the bathroom door for a sec?" I call.

 "Sure." I hear him call back. The door closes and I pause for a second to see if he's just jocking and plans to open it. After a while I think he's for real and start undressing. When I have the cami on with the shorts, I hear his muffled voice. "You done? I need my own clothes."

 "I can bring them to you if you'd like."

 "If you want. Just bring me a pair of trousers and a shirt. They're all alike in there."

 "Alright." I go into the living room and kneel before his bag, the one on wheels. He's right, of course, that his clothes were all the same. I take out a white dress shirt and black slacks. At the bathroom door, I knock. When he opens I hold out his clothes for him.

 "Thank you." he says while taking them, his fingers brushing mine. Apparently he noticed too but turns away. "How's your finger?"

 "It's sore."

 "Want me to switch out the bandage? It needs air to heal as much as it needs to be protected from germs." He says this as he moves around to get his arms through the correct holes.