Finding Sage (Young Adult)

Twenty-three: Wait or Go

Kellan

I wake to my phone alarm and sounds of sirens on the street. I remember Kellan being in my apartment last night, but I don't remember exactly what happened. I'm sleeping in my bra and jeans, so I assume that nothing happened. Memories of Sloan sauntering through his front door make my stomach hurt.

Stripping off my clothes, I walk into the bathroom and turn on the water for the shower. I have to meet Gillian and Roxy this morning to help put a wedding timeline together. My head is pounding and I still feel a little drunk. I need some aspirin and water or else my entire day will be shot.  Opening the other door to the living room, I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. A chuckle comes from behind me, causing me to jump high into the air and spin around.

Kellan's head is resting on his arm, over the back of my new couch. "Good morning gorgeous."

I gasp and try to cover myself up with my hands, "Kellan! What and the, ever hell, are you doing here?"

"You don't need to cover yourself, darling. I already know what you look like." I know he is right, but I still feel very exposed.

"Yes, but I get to say when you see me like this, and this is not the time. Kindly, advert your eyes and tell me what you are doing here." He does not stop looking at me. His messy hair and boyish grin peek over my couch. "Be a gentleman and turn around, now, before I start throwing things at you." The mayonnaise and mustard from inside the fridge, are close to my sights. I'm ready to chuck both of them at his grinning face.

He chuckles and turns around. "You were saying a lot of things last night, but not really saying anything. So, I decided to stay and see if we could talk this morning. Will you come over here and talk to me? I have a blanket, you can cover yourself. Or, I can take off all my clothes and then we'll be even."

Charming. Damn him!

"I have plans this morning, that don't include the likes of you. Goodbye." I walk across the living room with my bottle of water, knowing damn well that he is watching me walk away and knowing damn well that I want him to.

The shower is still cool because I did not set it right, but I don't care, maybe it will cool me off.

In the middle of conditioning my hair, I hear something. I look out passed the shower curtain and see Kellan peeing. "Are you serious?" I ask him.

"I could not wait another minute and I did not think you would appreciate me peeing in your kitchen sink!" He smiles and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy taking in his smile.

"If you had left when I asked you to, then you could have peed elsewhere," I say, frantically shaving my legs that don't really need shaving but I can't really get out of the shower while he's standing there.

"I'm not leaving until we talk, so hurry up, love, or else I'll make you late."

Ugh! I finish washing, brushing my teeth and quickly applying a light layer of powder and mascara. I wrap myself in a towel. As I open the door to my room I see Kellan, lying on my bed, my made bed.

He made my bed?

"You made the bed?" I asked.

"Yes, I really just want to talk. You made it clear last night that you don't want me to touch you." I hear him swallow, and pain comes across his kind face.

I cannot recall the memory he seems to draw, but his expression makes me feel bad. "I'm sorry. What else did I say?"

"Lots of things, and nothing, at the same time. Sage, please, sit down and talk to me." He pats the bed next to him, but I am standing in my towel.