Destined

Thirty Two

I woke up the next morning due to sunlight streaming in through slits between the curtains hitting my face. My head was comfortably nested on a pillow and I was covered in Vince's beddings. My eyes hurt and were probably swollen from my crying and part of me wanted to go back to sleep. I sat up slowly, aware of my sore back, and looked around. Vince was nowhere to be seen but I could hear him in the kitchen.

I swung my legs out of bed and frowned at them. Wasn't I wearing sweatpants last night? I pulled the comforter off the bed and realized they must have slipped off me at some point in the night. I went into his bathroom and washed my face. Needing something to do before I faced him, I made the bed. Then I went out to the hallway bathroom to find my clothes. They weren't there. I was stepping out of the bathroom when Vince appeared.

"You're up," he stopped in the hallway.
"Yeah," I stared at him. "Your rug is gone,"
"I put it away, last thing I need is you slipping again and breaking your neck,"

I slipped one time.

"I haven't been here in almost a month," I muttered.
He shrugged, "I expected...I hoped you would,"

He was sweaty and out of breath, like he'd just come from a run.

"So, you've been running without me," I stated, needing to talk about something else. Needing to not think that he'd once again done something to accommodate me in his life even though he'd basically kicked me out of it.
He laughed, "I'm sorry,"
"How often?"
"Uh....every week,"
"Is this your way of telling me I'm slow?"
He laughed again, "I love running with you, but let's face it, we're usually walking and talking,"
"So why take me with you?"
"Because I enjoy being around you," he walked  to me and kissed my forehead, lingering close to me. "How are you feeling?" He asked twirling a lock of my hair around his finger.

Professor Darke touched my hair. I tried not to think about it, to not react, but Vince noticed the way I stiffened and watched his finger wrapped in my hair, and released it.

"We have a lot to talk about," he said taking my hand, interlocking our fingers. "Come,"

We went back to his bedroom and he shook his head at the made bed.

"You didn't have to do that," he said.
"It's no big deal, I slept in it too,"
"Okay, how about you shower in here, I'll use the other bathroom, and I'll make breakfast, then we can talk," he suggested.
I nodded, "Where are my clothes?" I asked.
"In the laundry room, washed and put up to dry,"

I blushed again, he'd seen my underwear. Great. I couldn't even remember if I was wearing a nice set or threw on some mismatched ensemble with holes in it.

"I'll get them for you,"

I spent a while in his shower. The water was at such a great temperature and pressure that I couldn't help it. I used his soap, it was something herbal, pine, and made me smell and feel clean. When I got out of the bathroom, wrapped in one of his towels, I found my clothes on the bed. Underwear inclusive. Great he'd laundered my underwear too.

I didn't bother with the bra, but I put on my panties and shorts then draped myself in his shirt again wanting to surround myself with his scent. When I stepped out of the bedroom, I followed the scent of bacon to the kitchen.

Vince was at the stove cooking. And like the several times I'd seen him cook, I was in awe. He hadn't heard me come and was quietly humming to himself as he fried the bacon. The table already had plates of toast and eggs and a pitcher of juice. Just as I was thinking that he'd forgotten glasses, he turned around and smiled at me.

"There you are," he said serving the bacon. "Feel better?"

I nodded despite my sore back. The hot water had been a bad idea, now my skin was tender and I could feel the pain more effectively.