I was so tired that by the time we got back on the interstate to head home, I found myself fading. Marv left the radio off and the soft thrum of the car over pavement lulled me. The car glided so soft and smoothly, it felt as though we were floating. My eyes slipped closed, only bits of light from other cars and highway lamps filteringthrough.
What felt like only moments later, a car door was quietly shut as Marv got out. I groaned and stretched, curling my toes into the soft floor mats of the BMW – my heels had fallen off sometime while I slept. The passenger side door opened and I blinked up as Marv reached across me and unbuckled my seatbelt.
“I can do it,” Islurred.
“I know, Sunshine.” As he leaned back, Marv’s cheek brushed mine and his lips pressed to the corner of my mouth. “Let’s get you inside.” Marv helped me out of the car and I realized that we weren’t at the guys’ place. We were in my neighborhood, with the darkened windows and the smell of the trash rolling to the end of the driveways, up and down the streets, lingering in the air. Disappointment crawled up my throat, quickly followed by guilt. I looked down at my dress and realized Marv’s suit jacket had slid to the ground. I bent to retrieve it. He must have put it on me after I fell asleep. Marv leaned over again, purposefully kissing my cheek this time. “I’ll see you in a bit,” he said. “Getinside.”
I nodded and reluctantly climbed the front steps to my side of the duplex. I opened the door and slipped inside. I didn’t bother to peek out the window and watch him drive away. I didn’t want to seeit.
The house was dark and smelled musty, as though no one had been home for a while. I started to wonder if it had always smelled that way. I snuck to my mom’s bedroom door, hearing her light snores. I peeked in through the crack and noticed that fresh water sat on her bedside and a new snack had been placed there as well. I felt thankful and ashamed. I hadn’t even thought of her for hours. I didn’t worry when I was with the boys, and not worrying felt wrongsomehow.
When I stepped inside my room, wind whistled in through the opened bedroom window and I stopped in startled confusion when Marv stood there, slowly pulling his tie from around his neck and unbuttoning his expensive dressshirt.
“What…”
“Shh.” He pressed a finger to his lips before winking. “I’m pretty tired myself and we’ve established that your bed can hold two. Mind if I stay the night again?” His shirt was already halfway unbuttoned. I nodded and watched as he pulled the shirt out of his pants and laid it across my rickety, old chair. When he began to undo his belt, I whirled in panic, remembering that I hadn’t closed my door and quickly closed it. I heard sheets shift behind me, and I took a deep breath before crossing the room to grab a ratty t-shirt and a pair of boy shorts. I peered out into the hall before escaping my room to change in the bathroom, and finally, I took out my hearing device before ducking back into the bedroom minutes later. I hung my dress on the back of my closet door as Marv fiddled with his phone, texting. I lifted the covers, and crawled in next tohim.
“Here’s yours,” he said absentmindedly, handing me my phone. “I kept it while we were at theparty.”
“Thanks.” I took the phone, staring at the blank screen. After getting dressed at the guys’ apartment, I’d left it lying on the bathroom counter, and had forgotten about it completely. I was glad he hadn’t. I checked themessages.
Knix:Tomorrow we continuetraining.
Bellamy:I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier. You did greattonight.
Texas:Impressive. See youtomorrow.
I was torn between wanting to sigh, grimace, or grin. Knix’s text left me feeling tired all over again. Bellamy’s reminded me of that kiss, and I didn’t know how to take it. Texas’, at least, made me feel like smiling. It wasn’t serious for achange.
I handed the phone back to Marv, asking him to put it on the charger. We settled into bed, his front to my back, the heat from his skin seeping into me through my clothes. Somehow even with the hot, southern, summer air filtering in through the window, and Marv the furnace smelling like dark coffee, I wascomfortable.