How I Met Henry (on hold)

Chapter 2

Groaning softly as I opened my eyes, I rolled towards the alarm clock on Henry's nightstand. I gasped when I saw what time it was. It was already noon. I had slept late. Henry had been right about his bed being a good one.

I could hear the TV playing out in the living room. It sounded like the news was on. Henry was up and moving about, too. I could hear him rustling around in the kitchen clear as day through the closed bedroom door.

"Fuck!" he snarled suddenly. Tossing something in the metal sink, he banged his fist down on the countertop in frustration. Whatever he had tossed in the sink clattered around furiously, echoing throughout the apartment powerfully.

While stretching and yawning, I wondered what Henry was angry about. I could hear him grumbling to himself. I decided to climb out of bed and find out. After opening his bedroom door, I quickly padded towards the kitchen. Stopping in the doorway, I pushed my knotty hair out of my face.

"What's the matter?" I questioned, my groggy voice showing interest in the cause of his little outburst.

Henry was leaning against the counter, one of his hands roughly scrubbing itself over his face. He was wearing the same type of clothes he had on last night, but they were different colors. I wondered where he had gotten them from if I had been in his bedroom all night. Had he come in while I was sleeping? If so, I hadn't heard him. That was extremely unusual because I was a light sleeper.

His anger softened when he heard my voice and spotted me through his fingers. Pulling his hand away from his face, he sighed and crossed his arms.

"Nothin'. I fergot ta buy milk while I was out earlier," he griped. "Just a lil pissed off at myself. That's all."

"Oh," I uttered, rubbing my crusty eyes.

"I found yer keys and a smashed pack o' smokes in yer jeans last night. Yer a smoker." He shot me a curious look. "Why didn't ya say somethin' last night? I would'a went and got ya some."

I shrugged. "Cuz I'm already invadin' yer space. I didn't wanna bother ya. Ya've been nice enough already. I didn't think askin' ya ta get me a pack o' smokes was necessary. I ain't that much of a smoker."

"Well..." Henry pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his t-shirt pocket and tossed them to me one by one. "Here. I got some while I was out."

"Thanks!" My face beamed as I caught them. "I been dyin' fer a smoke!"

"No problem." Grinning back at me, he watched as I pulled one out of the pack with a shaky hand. "I'm a smoker, too, so I get it." He gestured to an ashtray on the table that had a lit cigarette in it. "Sid'down. Ya hungry?"

"Mmm, hmm." I nodded slightly and lit my cigarette. "I prefer ta stand fer now." I placed the pack of cigarettes and his lighter on the table next to the ashtray.

"Suit yerself. I got coffee. I would offer ya cereal, but like I said, fergot the milk. Coffee ain't no good without milk either. At least, I don't think so." Henry had an apologetic look on his handsome face. "Take a look through the fridge and the cabinets. See if there's anything ya like. Make yerself at home."

"Yer so nice." I rolled my eyes. "I feel like a broken record." I smiled widely when he chuckled.

"We can go out and get somethin' if ya want. There's a diner close by. It'll be on me," he offered, winking. "Female killers get extra special treatment."

Blushing, I did a facepalm to attempt to hide my reddening cheeks. Was he asking me out on a date? Either way, I was sure that was his subtle way of flirting. The wink was a sure sign of that.