When we touched down in California, I was exhausted. Before we took the very long drive back up to the house, we stopped at my house and we rested. I kept falling asleep in the car even after my nap and Lindsey would shake me awake constantly. I was so grumpy because of it.
"Let me sleep" I muttered, closing my eyes again. He shook me again and I started to cry.
"You told me not to let you fall asleep because then your neck would hurt. Plus, you just took a nap"
"It was too short and I had to get up and make sure everything I needed was back in the car. I have no energy. Let me sleep."
"Why? Just so you can yell at me when your body aches when we get back home?"
"Why do we have to live so far away, anyway?"
"You said you liked it" I drifted off again and once again, he shook me.
"Stop it!" I yelled.
"Fine. Suit yourself. But don't you dare ask me to rub your back or your neck when we get there"
"I wouldn't dream of it!" He laughed and I got really irritated. "Why do you have to be so fucking mean to me?" I cry.
Karen was sitting in the backseat, as she hadn't been to our house properly. We had plenty of room so she decided to stay a couple of days and help me get the house ready for the baby as we would have no time as our due date approached due to my projects.
"Let her sleep and let her complain later. She's almost five months pregnant"
"Fine" he says, calming down.
"I know she gets really mad at you sometimes and she cries at the drop of a hat but be easy with her. She's a really, really sensitive person in general but her hormones are going crazy right now. She cannot control how she feels."
He reaches out and strokes my hair and I stir. "I should probably apologize"
"When she wakes up, she probably won't even remember." He nods in response and continues driving.
The car stops and I wake up, but don't open my eyes just yet. My eyes flutter open slowly after a moment and I don't recognize where we are. The back door slams closed and it startles me and the baby. I stroke my stomach, sitting up from being slouched in my seat and my body is killing me.
"Are you hungry?" Karen asks, opening my car door for me. I nod. "We stopped to stretch our legs and get some food"
"Where are we?" I croak, my voice soft and rough from sleep.
Karen shrugged. "Lindsey said this place was good and you love Mexican food so I thought it would be a win"
I turn my head and see that he isn't in the driver's seat. "Where's Linds?"
"He went in to let the management know we were coming in so we could have privacy. Do you want help out?"
"Thank you" She helps me step down from the giant SUV on tired and aching legs. I instantly regret wearing my platform boots in the car and I'm dying to take them off. "Ow!" I moan, stretching my back gently. "Don't tell Lindsey. He will just say I told you so and I hate that stupid smug look on his face. Makes me want to strangle him!" I say, demonstrating my technique dramatically and she laughs.
"I promise" Karen says, making an X over her heart.
"Thank you"
We walk into the restaurant and we are taken toward the back in a separate room. We order food and they order these lovely mixed drinks and I'm having iced tea. We talk about anything and everything, laughing and having a really great time. My body is aching so much from sleeping upright in the stupid car, and I keep rubbing my back and my neck throughout dinner.
"Are you okay?" Lindsey asked me.
"Yes I'm fine honey, thank you" I smile at him.
"How is the baby?"
"She's great, my dear"
We wrap up dinner and we pile back into the car. I do my best to keep my eyes open but I keep drifting off again. I'm already in so much pain I don't care, sleep will be a relief. Next time I wake up, we are home and I'm so thankful. They tell me to go inside and they will bring in the bags. I grab an apple, peeling and cutting it, and make myself a cup of tea. I take my snack upstairs and sit in bed. The pillows are fluffy and I welcome the comfort. Baby girl is bumping around in there and I talk to her, soothing her wild movements. Lindsey comes up with our things and goes around putting our toiletries away.
I finish my tea and put my now empty saucer on the nightstand.
"Linds?" I call out and he pokes his head out of the bathroom. "Please don't say I told you so"
"About what?"
"You said you wouldn't rub my back if I went to sleep but I'm in so much pain."
"Oh angel, I'm sorry I was mean to you. I know you're tired. I'm sure it's hard as hell to be pregnant- you're making an entirely new person who wasn't here before" He cups my cheeks in his hands. "Do you need a back rub?" I nod. "Alright"
He sits on the bed and I get between his legs. He lifts my shirt to make contact with skin and I get instant relief from his skillful hands. A moan escapes my lips and he presses his hands into me with more pressure.
"Oh my god, that feels so good. Keep going! Ah...don't stop! Yes!"
He smirks behind me, rubbing up my spine then going to my neck as I hang my head forward and move my long hair out of the way.
"Jesus, you guys! At least close the door!" Karen yells, reaching inside the room for the door handle. "Oh" she stops, looking at us. "You're not doing what I thought you were doing"
Lindsey is laughing so hard that he stops rubbing my back.
"Please, don't stop" I whine. I take his hands and put them back on my body. I don't think I fully realized Karen was in the room or why he was laughing at all, as I was kind of in a deep trance or in some sort of meditation.
"Oh, hi" I say in a dreamy manner, finally opening my eyes. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, Stevie. Just glad you're enjoying your back rub" Karen says then leaves the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
