Category: Fiction

I’m breathing in these quick, short breaths now. My insides are twitching. My body is starting to shudder.

It’s date night, and you are wearing a gorgeous sweater, an amazing skirt – it seems like an odd combination, but it sure does work. I’m a #luckydude for sure.

“I think Pepper is happy to see us,” said Leah. “She hasn’t moved since we got home.”

It’s my turn to make dinner, I get to dream up something to make, get everything around and get it done while you take a bath, complete, of course, with a glass of wine. Or two.

Janine had been working long hours for weeks and had made sure her boss knew that she was going to be gone on the 17th for their anniversary. The plans had been made two months in advance and she reminded him at least twice a week.

We finally scored a great table on the ship – right on the railing, all by ourselves, just taking time to relax and enjoy our dinner. It was a long day on the water, and the sunset is just the perfect end to the day.

We’ve been enjoying a glass or two of wine this evening, waiting for our table, and then sitting here, we have that perfect blend of attentive, but not around, service. It’s really great.

She was still sleeping while he snuck out to the store to get some fruit, some orange juice and a cheap bottle of champagne. They’d been up late and he figured that he had time to make pancakes and mimosas before she woke up.

It was the third day she had been doing yoga. She wasn’t really into the spiritual side, but she thought it was a good way to start the new year. Who couldn’t use a little peace?

It’s always the same, always looking for the tape, the ribbon, the scissors. It seems like no matter where you put them, she has moved them just a bit out of reach. It’s almost a game to re-find them between packages.

We’re wrapping and sipping and enjoying the fire and this strangely relaxed evening of package prep, getting ready for the holidays and family and all that.

I *hate* wrapping. I’m not good at it, and she’s always responsible for making the packages look passable once they’re beyond “but they have paper on them now anyway” stage. Ribbons? Bows? Frilly decoration-thingies? Forget it.

But, of course, you DO know how to incentivize. “For every package you wrap, we’ll play strip-wrapping – I’ll remove one piece of clothing of my choice.” This. This has me fully engaged in this process, I must admit.

She was in the tub and he had run out to get some wine and a snack for them. She heard the electronic lock open and then a knock on the bathroom door.

“I am so over wrapping presents. Next year, everyone is getting an online gift card.”

He called towards the bedroom, “We’re going to be late. Are you about ready?”

Silence.