Page 29 of The Blessing

Grey emits a huge yawn and I smile down at his sleepy face. He’s as over this day as I am. While it’s barely past dinner-time, I want to lock myself in my bedroom, draw the blinds, and not come out until it’s daylight tomorrow. Ronnie seems to be on the same page.

“I think I’m going to head back to my place and call it a night.” I wish I could invite her over, but I’m sure she’d think it was inappropriate or far too soon.

“Can I stay with you? I just don’t want to be alone tonight.”

She’s not only on the same page as me, but apparently, she’s on the same fucking word, too. I won’t press her to do anything physical. After the emotional roller coaster of a day I’ve had, I’m not sure if I’m that horny anyway. Besides, she deserves to be wined and dined, and not a quick fuck after a night of watching me cry like a fucking kid.

“Of course. As long as you don’t mind a crying baby throughout the night.”

“I wouldn’t mind, Trev.”

She goes to the bathroom to get ready for bed and comes out in the cutest set of pajamas I’ve ever fucking seen. She blushes as she finds me watching her and follows me out of her apartment and over to mine. She doesn’t look out of place here, in fact, seeing her in her pajamas in my apartment feels as though it were something which was perfectly normal. It warms my fucking heart to see her like this.

“I was going to read Grey a quick story before he goes to bed.”

“Do you mind if I listen?” she inquires as she looks toward his nursery.

“Of course not,” I say, feeling embarrassed by the idea of her listening to me read a children’s book. “His favorite is Where the Wild Things Are. Usually by the time that one’s finished he’s sound asleep.”

True to my word, Grey falls asleep on my lap ten minutes later. Some nights he’s only able to stay awake through one book, but others he’s energetic enough to demand I read several to him. He’ll get fussy until I find another book from his bookshelf. I would complain, but I like the fact that he’s into books already. Hopefully, he grows up to be a smart kid because of it.

“See, right on cue.” I smile as I stand up and carry Grey to his crib.

“Do you want to order a pizza or something? I’m starving,” Ronnie asks as she reaches for her phone.

“That’s cool. I was too upset earlier to realize how hungry I am.”

She smiles at this and opens up an app on her phone. “Great story by the way,” she says conversationally as she orders the pizza. “I never knew someone could sound so sexy reading Maurice Sendak.”

I snort, thanking her. “Maybe I could read one of your books to you. I’m sure I’d sound sexy while reading about ‘throbbing cocks’ and ‘heaving bosoms.’ ”

Her eyes widen at this and she asks, “What books do you mean? I don’t have books like that.”

“Whatever you say my little liar. I checked out the books on your bookshelves the first night you had us over.”

“Well, I only read those every now and then.”

“For recreational purposes?” I ask, cocking my brow at her.

Now, it’s her turn to snort. “They happen to be great stories, thank you very much.”

“I’ve got no doubt about that.”

“I guess you can read them to me. You know, practice your oral skills.”

I nearly choke on my saliva at her comment.

“I ordered a pizza,” she says, smoothly changing the subject. “It’ll be here in about twenty minutes. Want to watch a movie or something while we wait?”

I’d rather do the “or something” but I’m sure my version of that and her version of that are two very different things. However, if her comments were any indication of how she feels about me, I’m sure she wouldn’t be too opposed to my version of “or something.”

We end up on my couch in front of the television, curled up as we watch the opening credits of The Shining. She shivers next to me, causing me to hold her closer so she can absorb some of my warmth.

“The song in the opening credits always freak me out,” she admits in a small voice.

“Are you okay to watch this movie? I thought you’d said you liked this one.”

“I do like it. I just find it eerie, Trev,” she says as she settles more comfortably against my side.