I don’t recall doing much laughing, any. Maybe a chuckle here and there but never laughter like this. I’ve seen it around town when we’ve gone for supplies, I’ve read about characters in books I’ve read feeling joy or humor and letting it all out with laughter, but it’s not something I’ve had occasion to do in my life. I told Ivy already that I like how it feels. I haven’t told her that I love her more each time she makes me do it. Not only does it feel good to do it, I love watching the joy on her face when she watches me laugh.
I wait outside the bathroom door and upon her calling my name, I return and take her to bed. I cover her naked body with the blanket and then take a shower myself before returning and joining her for a rest.
29
Ivy
Getting bit by a snake was the scariest moment of my life. Well, the second scariest, the first being faced with a naked man in the woods who I was pretty sure was the wolf who’d just been staring at me.
Having Tyson come to my rescue was a huge relief. It was as if the minute I saw him, I somehow knew I’d be okay. But, then he looked scared, actually scared, and that scared me to death.
The rest of the day following the snake bite was blissful. Who’d have thought a little note and a tidy cabin would make him so happy?
I get it. He thought I was gone, that I didn’t care a lick about the fact that he didn’t want me to go. And knowing that although I did go, I didn’t do it without a backward glance meant something to him.
Seeing what it meant to him meant something to me. Something profound that surprised me. I haven’t quite got my feelings figured out yet.
I’m not gonna try to figure it out yet. Because of the fire at the boutique, I actually have time to just relax and enjoy time with him. There’s no rush. And it’s all very complicated. I had a brush with death, and I’ve decided to enjoy the now and figure the rest out later.
We had lunch, we had sex, he bathed me, caring for me in a gentle and nurturing way that was swoon-worthy. We napped until early evening before I woke up to him spreading out all sorts of food on the bed and we had a bed picnic of cheeses, crackers, fruit, pretzels, and nuts until I was stuffed. I really had shopped like I was having a party and it was fun to watch Ty explore new flavors. He tasted everything with a wondrous look on his face.
I’ve never been so comfortable with someone where we just sat and did nothing. It’s like I just keep getting lost in him. Not only can the man sex me like nobody else, but just being in bed with him, snacking and hanging out … watching him smile, trying to make him laugh wherever I could… I was just so … happy.
***
It’s nighttime and it’s a little bit chilly so he’s gone outside to fetch some wood for the fireplace, so I take the time to sift through my bags, which are on the floor of the bedroom, looking for my lotion to smooth on my heels, which feel a little dry.
When he comes back into the bedroom with an armful of wood, he puts them beside the fireplace and then curls up beside me, lifting my tablet.
“What do you use this for?”
I press the button and bring the screen to life.
“Banking app, movie streaming apps, music, reading app, this one tells you what the weather will be like, this one is my cell plan, here’s my Amazon app for online shopping, and my social media sites, pictures, and my um… girl time tracking app. Some of my apps work now but others need Wi-fi or a hot spot.”
“Pictures?”
“Yeah.” I touch the icon.
I see several icons in the picture gallery app, so I touch ‘recent’ and there are 1600 pictures to scroll through.
“Show me,” he says, getting comfy.
“Okay,” I say. “That’s my sister, and her fiancé.”
“She doesn’t look like you.”
“She actually does,” I start to tell him. “She’s one year older than me, to the day, and---"
“You’re much more beautiful,” Tyson says.
I feel my cheeks heat up.
Truthfully, my sister is gorgeous. Movie starlet glamorous. And she knows it. She’s the Serena witch and I’m the Samantha witch. She’s dark haired and I’m blonde. But she’s also voluptuous and confident. She has assets and knows how to flaunt them. I wouldn’t say I’m the polar opposite, I’m not exactly a wallflower, but she’s just so much more out there with her personality. She’s definitely a Type A personality who knows what she wants and makes that crystal clear to everybody around her. “Here’s my brother and my parents and I at their engagement party.”