As The World Turns

Chapter 31

Jodie rolled over, frowning when she found her arm came into contact with another body. Slowly opening her eyes she noticed that at least the body belonged to someone she knew and didn't mind sharing a bed with. However, the notion of how they managed to get into the bed without her realising was the question now bothering her.

Glancing over at the clock she read the time, 5 am, meaning she had to get up for work anyway. Normally, if Jodie got up before the alarm she'd turn it off, but since Marshall currently occupied the other side of the bed she decided to let it ring. It wasn't long before the shrill sound of her alarm echoed through the room.

With a smirk on her face, she watched as Marshall groaned and turned in his sleep. He flung his arm out feeling around the bed; it didn't take long for the realisation that he was an alone to kick in. 

''Jodie?'' He questioned his eyes squinting in the dark as he rolled over to come face to face with an empty side and a blaring alarm clock, ''fuck Jo...oh,'' the panic from Marshall's face disappeared when he noticed Jodie stood at the end of the bed with her hands on her hips.

''Mind telling me when and how you sneaked into my house last night?'' She questioned tapping her foot in front of her to try and seem made, all the while fighting back a smile.

''Well Taylor was still awake when I knocked on the door last night, ya know cause I promised I'd be round and well Dre and I worked later than I wanted and so by the time I got here you were in bed, but Taylor let me in any way and soo,'' Jodie was taken aback by the sudden rush of words that came flying from his mouth. It took her a good few minutes to take in what he'd actually said.

''Why didn't you wake me up?''

''You were just too beautiful to wake, fuck that's soppy sorry,'' Marshall cursed himself as he went to move the duvet off him.

''Nothing you ever say to me is ever going to soppy, cheesy or corny Marshall so stop beating yourself up about it,'' Jodie'd latched onto him hugging him around the waist as soon as he'd stood up.

''Yeah well I'm too manly to be saying shit like that Jo,'' he placed a couple of kisses on the top of her head, before stroking her behead hair down.

''Well I don't care how manly you feel you are, you look manly to me,'' her hands ran down his chest, they stopped momentarily on his tattoo before resting on the elastic of the joggers he's been wearing, ''how about you take a shower with me and I sure you what you mean to me,'' Jodie suggested poking her bottom lip out as she left her hands to rest back on his chest, while she looked up at him.

''Well I can't say no to that now can I,'' he grinned, making Jodie squeal as he hands squeezed her butt, getting her to jump up and straddle his waist, ''where's the bathroom?''

''Next door,'' Jodie giggled as Marshall, with her still wrapped around him, struggled to open the door to get out the room, ''maybe you should put me down?'' She suggested whispering in his ear.

''Nah I got it don't worry.''

+++

''Where's Blink?'' Marshall asked, leaning against the archway in the kitchen as he watched Jodie prepare her breakfast, with her still wet hair tied in a ponytail and her diner uniform.

''Probably in the living room why?'' Marshall shrugged. He was just wondering why he hadn't seen the black mass of fur wandering around. He'd also noticed that all the cat stuff from Jodie's room had been moved.

''Just wondering why that's all,'' Jodie nodded, laying her coffee and toast on the counter before hopping onto one of the bar stools.

''You gonna stand there all morning or what?'' Patting the seat next to her Jodie gestured for him to take a seat, ''you know you didn't have to come round, I figured you'd be busy,'' she spoke once Marshall'd settled himself down on the stool.

''Yeah, but I didn't want to disappoint you, I mean I'd been hostile to you when asking about Joe and I thought I owed you at least that promise,'' he stuttered spinning a little on the stool as he twiddled his thumbs in his lap.

''You don't owe me anything and I never what you to think you do ok,'' she reached out with her free hand to rest her's on top of his. Marshall cleared his throat, swallowing the words he was about to say because he felt he wouldn't win so he nodded instead, along with sending her a timid smile.

''So err what's the dress for?'' He asked, remembering the black garment bag he'd seen in her closet while they were getting changed after their shower.

''What makes you think it was a dress?'' Jodie's hands involuntarily start to shake. The subject of her cousins' wedding was something she 'd been avoiding, but knew she needed to address at some point.

''Oh is it not?'' Marshall frowned leaning his arms on the counter; he felt much more comfortable again now.

''No... I mean yeah it is. Um, it's for my cousins' wedding in a couple of weeks now actually,'' Jodie trailed off biting her lip, awaiting his reaction.

''Oh you want me to come?''

''It's in England,'' she blurted out.

''So?'' Marshall shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.

''You don't think it's to fast for us right now. I mean weddings fine, but in a different country it's like going on holiday for the first time together and I don't think I'm ready for that,'' Jodie explained honestly. She was looking into her cup of coffee the whole time so it wasn't until Marshall spoke that she found out how he felt.

''Well you know, if you change your mind I'll be there ok. But right now I better go or you'll be late for work.''

''Right I'll see you later then,'' she turned round to look at him this time, sliding off her stool at the same time he did.

''Yeah,'' then he left.

Jodie'd be lying if she said that him not kissing her goodbye didn't sting. What she didn't understand is that it was just a wedding, why was he mad that it wasn't a good idea for him to go. She thought he'd understand, but his reaction clearly showed he didn't and Jodie had no idea where she went from there.