Engaged

Chapter 4: Spring Cleaning

After crying my eyes out, I decided to clean up this mess in my kitchen. Better yet, why not clean the house of his memory? Bag. I need a trash bag. A large one.

I tiptoed throughout the kitchen, careful to step around the ceramic shards adorning my tiles, and looked in the cabinet drawer for my box of trash bags. 

After pulling one out, I flopped it open and began the tedious task of putting the remains of the dishes into new grave. I smiled wistfully at the crazy colors, patterns, and engraved confessions that identified themselves with each set. I loved how he dated everything. Some of the dates were so close.

How could everything change so fast? Eli was always with me. How did Cecilia get him to love hers fast? I guess they were truly meant for each other.

Oh Goddess, when did I start crying again?

I thought I was out of tears. Doesn't matter. I'm alone. No one can see me. 

I picked up a larger piece of one of the cups and looked at it. 

Roses are red

nd is bl-

I chuckled at that memory.

This cup was just from last year. It was one of the mugs he made just for fun. 

I was in the kitchen, making Eli a lunch. I don't really remember what. Honestly, I've cooked for that man too much to keep up. I felt him as he 'sneaked' up behind me and covered my eyes with his hands.

"Guess who," he whispered sexily in my ear.

I already knew who it was when he pulled up in front of my house. But I decided to humor him.

"Aren. I knew you couldn't resist me," I smirked, tantalizingly leaning my butt into him. "Here for round two?"

He chuckled. "Want me to cuff your hands behind your back this time?"

I mock moaned. "Please do. You-know-who just doesn't seem into that kind of stuff. But I'm open to exploring." 

He dropped his hands away from my eyes, and I took the opportunity to turn around. Looking in his face, his eyes were full of mirth. I knew he was onto me. But I couldn't break character.

"Oh! Eli! Welcome home honey," I greeted him, raising on my tippytoes while trying to pull him into a kiss. However, he resisted, and I was stuck dangling, with my arms wrapped around his neck.

"Who's this Aren person?"

I gasped. "Aren? I've never heard the name!" 

Eli chuckled, wrapping his hands around my waist and grinding into me, leaning in to kiss my neck. I shivered. "Does Aren make you do that?"

I shook my head. He laughed and planted a chaste kiss on my lips. Before I was able to capture another one, he put me down on the floor, and turned away from me, leading to my high seated, glass, kitchen table. Completely leaving me and my antics curious, and immediately lonely in my little section of solitude, Eli turned around with a small, rectangle shaped cardboard box.

"Now, I know I gave you enough of these, but I know how much you love these little gifts I make you. I don't want you to us these for special reasons. I want you to use this every morning. I'm so sick and tired of you looking for a cup to use in the morning to drink your coffee, or hot chocolate. I thought long and hard, and decided to make you this."

By the end of his speech, I was brimming with excitement, wondering what kind of mug he made me this time. I mean, come on. It was obvious it was a mug in the box. He handed it to me and I may have squealed when I snatched it out of his hand.