Witness to a Love Story

Twenty-Six: Labor Day

My eyes pop open to the sound of knocking on my bedroom door sometime in the morning hours. My brain is jolted into panic mode as I realize it's Monday. I pause and groan as I also realize it's Labor Day.

"Dumbass," I mutter to myself as I let myself fall back onto my comfy bed. Just as soon as my eyes begin to close to let sleep take hold, the knocking starts again.

In a barely cohesive sentence, I demand to know who's knocking on my damn door. A sudden nagging feeling comes to mind, but I can't put my finger on it. That is till I hear the voice on the other side of my door.

"Knock, knock." A deep voice says behind the locked door.

My eyes narrow then close. "Dreaming. Must be dreaming." I try to convince myself that this is some very stupid nightmare. I wrap my blanket tighter around me.

The knocking continues. "Kitty, you in there?" The voice asks. I can even picture him pressing his ear to the door for my response.

In a low growl, I give him the response he's waiting for. "Piercings, this better be a fucken dream. Otherwise, you will pay the price for stealing my sleep."

I can hear the smirk in Jay's voice as he playfully responds. "You'll have to open the door first to punish me, master." He makes sure to say the last word in a deadly sexy tone.

I groan audibly and make my way out of my nest of warmth. I can hear Jay chuckling as I put on a bra and open the door. "What you chuckling about, piercings?"

"Nothing much. Just how cute you are in the morning, kitty." Jay taps my nose to which I close my eyes and let happen. I really wish I had a better response system. Before I can protest or scold him, Jay continues speaking. "You said we were meeting up today. Or did you forget? Anyways, put some clothes on and I'll take you for brunch."

Jay gives me a genuine smile and I know he's looking me over. After all, he caught me in a state no one besides my family has seen. Me wearing an oversized tee with pajama bottoms that I lost the top to. I shove Jay back a little and slam my door shut as I realize the equally embarrassing and vulnerable state I'm in.

I lean against the door, listening as Jay walks down the hallway to my kitchen. I have to place a hand over my beating heart and take a deep breath before it jumps out of my chest. Rushing to my closet, I throw on decent clothes. All the while I'm mumbling the rant, "He saw me, he saw me, he saw me," like some witch casting a spell.

Once I'm half decent, I hurry my way to the kitchen, where my whole family happens to be. To my horror, my dad is in the kitchen. He's wearing a clean pressed suit, as always, and I can tell he is getting ready to go to work. Though currently, he has roped Jay into a debate about politics. Josh is standing in the doorway, eating cereal and listening intently. I face palm as I stand next to Josh. My twin elbows me. "That better have hurt you too." I say with an edge.

"Just my heart, dear sis." Josh says with that familiar charm of his. "FYI, this Jay looks like a keeper. I haven't seen anyone keep dad so on his toes in awhile. Not since mom left..." Josh trails off and he glances over at me with a look of worry.

Pretending not to notice Josh's concerned look, I stare ahead at Jay and my dad. "Thought we promised not to talk about that snake?"

Josh grimaces from the way I address our mother. "Slip of the tongue," he says in a depressed voice.

"LGBTQ communities and way of life are starting to widely be accepted." Jay says to my father, his passion towards the topic visible in his tone. The string of words catch my attention and I look over at them, curious where this will go.