8 years in the life

Chapter 41 - Fall 2013

Robert walked into his office, dropped his messenger bag on the floor, and slumped in his chair. It had been a good day. He loved teaching and also the first weeks of the year, discovering his new students, freshmen, graduate students. He relished sensing how they were reacting. He beamed remembering the guy who asked him if he was Pr. Semple's TA and wondered how long he would still get that. Maybe he should grow a beard to look older.

He glanced at his computer screen, 4:15 pm. Fifteen minutes to check emails and then back on the book for two hours before heading to Logan airport. He was determined, his motivation was to have a mind free of work during the weekend in order to only have quality time with Rory, even if he had this faculty barbecue party on Saturday.

While the plane was landing Rory could enjoy the New England Indian summer. It was definitely the best season to be in Massachusetts. It had been more than three months that she hadn't been back in Boston. She smiled thinking of his toiletries in her bathroom with a lot of his stuff at her apartment. Even though he was still officially living in Boston, since the end of the spring session he had spent most of his time in New York.

Rory didn't want to pressure Robert about the Columbia post, but she was kind of disappointed that even if he would get it, he would still have to stay at Harvard until the spring finals, which meant eight dreadfully long months. The call for the position wasn't even officially out yet and even if he had already met the head of the department, he would still have to be interviewed in February. She knew it was also difficult for him and since the Labor Day weekend, they hadn't been able to see each other more than two days per week. She felt guilty that he was the one making the change of work even though he had assured her that it wasn't a big deal. She was amazed at how many offers he'd already gotten. They had discussed it last weekend. If he wanted to move right away, he had corporate job offers. Nevertheless, it wasn't the kind of work he would have spontaneously chosen and even if they offered him a very good salary, she was afraid that at some point he would resent her. Not only did he enjoy research and teaching very much, but also, he was good at it. Most importantly, he would lose his freedom having to deal with clients. What was waiting for another eight months as they had already waited almost four years? At least now they were together, making plans together, enjoying life together.

# # #

They were watching Friends with Benefits. Robert really didn't mind the movie as long he was with Rory, able to smell her, feel her and that she was happy. At the airport, he'd immediately noticed that something was bothering her, but she kept saying that everything was fine. If it would have been a work problem she would have spilled it. However, there was this very fine line on her forehead making her look as she was going to growl like a lion anytime. It meant that it was something that she'd buried deep down.

He was resting in the meridienne armchair facing the TV, and she was seated up against his chest. His legs stretched out on either side of her, and her upper body comfortably resting on his, as he was her giant pillow. His arms were embracing her, their left hands' fingers intertwined. She had become addicted to being burrowed in that way, feeling she could get the most of him, and it had been their favorite seating position for a while.

Robert glanced down at her protectively, relishing the intimacy of the moment. She always had found comfort in his arms because it was him, only him, that could keep her in this state of bliss. She was wearing a powder pink V-neck wrap top tie-band and matching shorts. Were these pajamas? He didn't know and didn't care as he realized that she wasn't wearing any bra and that he would give him easy access to her skin to touch and taste.

At that point he wasn't focusing on the movie anymore, having her so close to him was just enough of a distraction. He had never been a fan of Justin Timberlake and he much preferred his girlfriend's blue gaze rather than Mila Kunis's. He had missed her, all his senses had missed her.