ethereal (k.l.)

•FORTY SEVEN•

•••

Another day waking up to the love of my life, another day waking up with a smile etched on my face. His arms were slung across my bare body, his warmth radiating onto me, making me never want to leave this bed. These past few weeks have been ecstasy in the purest form. Kian and I were finally able to be alone together, and we were taking full advantage.

His eyes slowly opened and met my gaze. A smile spread across his lips. "How are you always awake before me?"

I smiled at the sound of his rough morning voice. "I don't know, guess I just like to see you before you go."

He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear before reaching behind him and grabbing his phone, checking the time. "I have to go, D." His smile was replaced with a frown.

"I know." I pulled him closer.

Kian recently got a job at a tattoo parlor a few streets away from the apartment complex. He draws and sketches now, but they're teaching him how to tattoo, so he's spending five hours a day there.

I'm not complaining, it could be worse. He could've gotten a job farther away with more hours, one that he hated and couldn't stand to be at. But he loves the parlor and his shifts are short. If we miss some morning time together, that's fine, we have the rest of the day to ourselves.

As for me, I sent in an application to a Barnes and Noble that's just around the corner. I should be hearing from them any day now.

"I'm gonna hop in the shower." He said as he got up from the bed, his body completely exposed. "Wanna join?" He smiled cheekily. I bit my lip and nodded before he scooped me up and carried me to the bathroom as giggles escaped my mouth.

•••

Hours passed, and Kian wasn't home yet. I had tried calling him and texting him but I wasn't getting any response. Uneasiness swelled in my chest and before I could comprehend my actions, I found myself leaving the apartment and walking in the direction of the tattoo parlor.

When I walked in, Brad looked up from the counter with a polite smile. "Hey, Davina, what're you doing here?"

I couldn't smile back, I was too worried. "Is Kian here?" I asked without greeting him.

He shook his head, making my heart drop. "No, his shift ended almost an hour ago. He said he was going to see you." Brad's eyebrows raised in confusion.

I had a bad feeling, one that wouldn't go away no matter how many times I tried to tell myself that everything was okay. Where else could Kian be? He never went anywhere but home and work unless it was with me.

"Okay, I'm going to walk around and try to find him." I said to Brad.

"Haven't you called him?"

"Yeah, he's not answering. Let me know if he comes back here, okay?" I started to walk out of the parlor while Brad nodded, not being able to respond since I was already gone before the words could be said.

It'd be nice to have my own car, I thought as I walked down the streets of Bakersfield. Kian and I are together all the time so we always use his range rover to get places. Now that I think about it, it's quite inconvenient to only have one car.