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The phone rang and I sat up quickly out of a sound sleep, dizzy and disoriented. I looked around and for a moment couldn’t remember where I was. The gray on the walls was confusing for a moment until I saw Josh next to me, sleeping peacefully, his mouth open and snoring lightly. Then it all came flooding back. We had stumbled into his place around 2AM, giggling, drunk, and hot for each other. We made love in the entrance hallway and then again in bed before we passed out in each other’s arms.
“Josh.” I said softly. He didn’t respond. I shook him. He mumbled something incoherent. “Josh!” I said more forcefully.
“What?” He asked, not opening his eyes.
“Your phone is ringing.” I said. “Your phone!” His eyes popped open suddenly and he looked at his watch.
“Fuck!” He spat angrily and lunged for the phone. He picked it quickly and said hello. I padded off to the bathroom while he talked. I came back out to find him sitting up in bed, his head in his hands. I crawled into bed next to him and put my hand on his shoulder.
“Everything okay?” I asked even though I knew it wasn’t. He sighed and lifted his head so he was looking at the ceiling.
“Jesus, I missed the breakfast and now I’m in deep shit.” I sighed and looked down at my hands in my lap.
“Well if you’re that hungry we could go get something right now!” I said as a joke, trying to cheer him up. He made a face at me then flopped back on the bed. I crawled on top of him and flicked a curl out of his eye. Sliding his arms around me, he sighed again.
“I can’t believe I slept through it.” He said. I leaned down and kissed him lightly.
“You said you weren’t going to go anyway, didn’t you?” I said then kissed the tip of his nose. He nodded and closed his eyes.
“Yeah but I sure the hell should have called.” I stroked his forehead lightly with my fingers.
“You would have if you’d remembered!”
“That’s no excuse.” He said quietly. He opened his eyes and glared at me. “What the hell is with you anyway, you’re always up at the crack of dawn!” I growled and flicked his forehead.
“Well had you not dragged my sorry ass in here at 3AM I would have been up. Don’t go blaming this whole thing on me.” He rolled me over onto my back and lay on top of me. Leaning down, he kissed me; lightly at first then more urgently.
“I can’t help it, I was having fun with you.” He kissed me, sliding his tongue deeply into my mouth. I slid my legs up and wrapped them around him pulling him closer to me. “And were you sexy …” He growled and nipped at my neck. I giggled. He positioned himself at my opening and slid himself inside. We made love quickly and when we were satisfied he held me closely and went back to sleep for a while. I got up and searched the house for something, anything to eat and when I found nothing I sighed, leaned against the counter and folded my arms over my chest. I checked my watch. It was just after 11. I should be home, I should be writing, I’m sure I had some laundry to do. Heading towards the living room I spied the photos on the wall and went to look at them again. I felt a pang of jealousy looking at the pictures of Josh and January getting married. She was so beautiful and lucky to have had him. I wondered what happened in their marriage that it dissolved. Having had enough of that I sauntered around the condo and finally ended up in the living room on the couch watching TV. Josh found me about an hour later. He strolled out of the bedroom in a pair of boxers and flopped down on the couch next to me, face unshaven, hair a mess.
“Well, well, sleeping beauty arises.” I teased. He slipped his hand inside mine and closed his fingers around it.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” He asked, somewhat surly. I shrugged my shoulders.
“I didn’t want to disturb you. Obviously you were tired.” He yawned at the mere mention of it.
“Yeah but you sat here watching TV, we could have been doing something.” I smiled and leaned over and kissed him.
“We did do something and that’s why you were tired.” He chuckled.
“Is there any coffee?” He asked as he got up and headed towards the kitchen.
“Yes.” I said. I heard him rummaging through a cabinet then the microwave as it heated up the coffee. He brought it back in and sat down again. He rubbed his head and scratched his chin.
“What a fucking awful day.” He said staring blankly ahead. I frowned, a tad annoyed by his attitude.
“Yeah, really awful.” I said sarcastic. He turned to me, brows furrowed.
“I didn’t mean because of you.” He said. “I meant because of me. I feel awful for missing that breakfast without calling.” I nodded and looked down at the couch. He tilted my chin upwards so I was looking at him. He leaned forward and kissed me lightly. “I love being with you.” He smiled and then winked at me. “Especially in that club last night.” I smiled back at him.
“It was pretty sexy wasn’t it?” I said then giggled. He winked at me again.
“I have a question for ya. That skirt you had on was pretty short and not wearing anything underneath and all …” I closed my eyes to slits when he spoke, I wasn’t sure I was liking where this was going …. “What would you have done if there was a sudden breeze and it flew up?” I searched his eyes for clues as to what he saying.
“Well then some lucky person would have gotten a peek!” I said. Josh frowned.
“I’m not sure I’d want some strangers peeking at my goods.” He said and I detected a note of sarcasm in his voice.
“What are you trying to say, Josh?” I asked, backing away just a little. He reached for me and I moved out of his grasp.
“That’s not what I mean, Lori. Come here …” He reached for me again but I stood and stomped off to the bedroom where I hurriedly put on my clothes. He stood in the doorway to the bedroom and watched me, then blocked my way when I tried to leave, his hands on either side of the door.
“I have to go Josh.” I said.
“Don’t go, Lori. I’m sorry.” I sighed and stared at him patiently but feeling a little angry at the same time. I was sure that he blamed me for missing the breakfast and now he was basically saying I’d dressed like a slut. I felt my anger flow through me again and decided I needed to go. I tried to push past him.
“You have things to do, I have things to do. I need to go.” He stepped aside and let me pass. I grabbed my shoes and held them in my hand while I slipped my purse on my shoulder. He met me at the front door and pulled me into his arms.
“Lori, I …” He put his hands on either side of my head and made me look at him. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. You were beautiful last night.” He glanced down at my body then smiled. “And you are again today. I just want you to know I didn’t mean to offend you, it’s obvious that I did.” He leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips.
“It’s okay. I just need to be by myself for a while.” I opened the front door. His head was tilted down but he looked up at me with little boy eyes.
“Can I call you later?” He asked. I nodded.
“Sure.” I said and walked out.
