“Hey, I was just coming to tell you that your phone rang and then you got a message right after. I wasn’t sure if it was important, but this Kathy person is really trying to get ahold of you.” She tenses. Barely, but I can see it. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Kathy is a friend of my mom’s. She’s been worried about me since the move.”
“You should call her.”
“I will. Not right now, though. What are we doing today?”
“I have no plans, except to spend time with you. You have any ideas?”
“Can we just hang out here? Maybe watch a movie or something? I need to go see my aunt and uncle later today. Aunt Jenny will be upset if I miss Sunday dinner. Maybe you can come with me?”
“Anything you want, Whit.”
“Great.” She grabs the remote from the TV stand and tosses it to me on the bed. “Pull up Netflix while I dry my hair.”
I watch her as she pulls the towel from her head and starts brushing her hair. She’s gorgeous and I can’t seem to take my eyes off her. This is all new to me, and I find myself wanting to soak it all in, take each and every experience with her and savor it. Something as simple as watching her blow dry her hair fascinates me. It doesn’t matter what she’s doing. I’m there.
Once she’s finished, she turns the light off. She doesn’t bother with makeup and I love that about her. She doesn’t need it.
“Have you been watching me this whole time?”
“Yep.” No point in denying it.
“Did you find us a movie?”
“Nope.”
She laughs. “Scoot over.” She climbs into bed.
I don’t move. Instead, I tuck her into my side and kiss the top of her head. “Pick a movie,” I say, handing her the remote.
“What are you in the mood for?”
“I don’t care if we watch cartoons as long as you stay right here.”
She’s flipping through the movies when a loud crack of thunder hits. “I didn’t know it was going to rain today. That’s perfect napping weather,” she says, still flipping through the channels.
I grab the remote and toss it on the nightstand. “Nap it is.” I stand, take off my jeans and my shirt, hand her my shirt, and climb into bed.
She grins, stands, and strips out of her cotton shorts and tank top, both of which would have been fine for her to nap in. Instead, she slides my shirt over her head, pulls her bra through the sleeves, and climbs back in bed. I hold the cover up for her and she burrows under it and places her head on my chest.
“Good plan,” she says with a yawn. Like just the idea of taking a nap makes her sleepy. “I love sleeping on rainy days.”
“I’ve been known to take a nap or two, but something tells me that this is going to blow those naps out of the water.”
She giggles softly. “Aaron, it’s a nap.”
“No, baby. It’s you in my arms, in nothing but my shirt and panties. This is so much better than any nap I’ve ever had.” I run my fingers through her hair; it’s soft and feels like silk on my fingers.
She doesn’t say anything. Instead, we lie there with the sounds of the storm to lull us to sleep. “Love you,” she softly whispers. My heart thunders at her words. I knew when I found the one it would be life changing. I just didn’t expect this. For my heart rate to jump at the sound of her telling me she loves me. I didn’t expect to not be able to think of anything but her. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, she is never far from my mind. I didn’t think I would feel like a part of me is missing when she’s not with me.
I’ve seen my father with my mom and, hell, Evan with my sister. I just didn’t fully understand. I knew they loved each other, it’s easy to see, but to feel it, to hold her in your arms and feel the love deep in your soul, it’s an addiction. She’s my addiction, my one.
“Thank you for doing this, Whitney,” McKinley says.
“Are you kidding? I’m happy to do it. I’m sure you have some ideas already.”
She grins. “I do. I want to take some here, then over at Mom and Dad’s as well.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. You just tell me what you want and we’ll make it happen.”
“Babe!” Evan calls from upstairs. “Have you seen Walker’s boots?”
“They’re down here,” Kinley yells back. “We’re all wearing blue jeans, cowboy boots, and white T-shirts. Look at these.” She stands and disappears into the hallway, returning with a smallest pair of cowboy boots I’ve ever seen.
“Oh my gosh! Those are too adorable. Where did you find them?”
“Online. I had to pay an arm and a leg for them, but I thought it would be a nice keepsake to have.”
“Mommy.” Lexi comes flying into the room. Her hair is brushed and looks like McKinley curled it. “My need help,” she says, plopping down on the floor, her boots landing beside her.
Kinley laughs, but helps her into her boots. “Can you say hi to Whitney?”
“Hi.” She tries to wave but loses her balance and goes back to stabilizing herself with her hands on the floor. Once Kinley has the final boot on, she drops her leg and Lexi is back on her feet. She rushes to me and gives me a hug. “Where’s Unca Awon?”
I look over at Kinley and she shrugs. “She’s used to seeing the two of you together.”
“He’s working. Maybe we’ll get to see him when we take pictures at Grandma and Grandpa’s,” I tell her.
“Otay,” she agrees, and she’s off, yelling to Evan that she gets to see Unca Awon.
“That girl, I tell you. She’s is a ball of energy,” Kinley says, smiling.
“I wish I had her energy.” My phone rings, and glancing at the screen, I see that it’s Kathy. “I need to take this,” I tell McKinley. She waves me off and I leave of the room.
“Hello,” I say just as I reach the front door. I step out onto the front porch for privacy.
“Whitney, you have an appointment tomorrow at eight o’clock in the morning. You said you start work at ten tomorrow, so that should be plenty of time.”
“Okay,” I concede. Kathy has been hounding me to get this test done. I talked to her for a long time the other night and she reminded me again how early detection is key and it’s just a precaution due to Mom’s history of breast cancer.