Page 49 of The Downside of Love
“What do you think?” She tilts her head and playfully quirks her lips to the side.
Finishing up the rest of the cauliflower, I move the pieces around on the tray along with the asparagus, douse a little olive oil and seasoning on them, and set it to the side while I prepare the chicken.
“There is a little concert tomorrow night at Bear Creek Park. The Colorado Springs Philharmonic is putting on a show honoring The Beatles. A couple of guys from the base are going. Wasn’t sure if you were interested.” I hold my breath, nervous as fuck as the invitation rushes out of my mouth. I don’t want her to think this is a date or anything like that, but more of a chance to get out of the apartment.
“I love The Beatles.” She beams. “My dad was obsessed, and I remember him playing Beatles songs all the time in the car. That sounds like so much fun. You don’t mind me crashing your little party?”
I scoff. “It’s not a party. Some guys were talking about it, that’s all.”
“Still sounds like fun. Do we bring food?”
“We can.” I finish seasoning the chicken, place them on the pan with the veggies, quickly wash my hands, and then stick the pan in the oven. Turning toward Rory, I say, “Sandwiches or something like that. Or we can even pick up some cheesesteaks from Jersey Mike’s.”
“Oh!” Her eyes light up. “Let’s do that.” Pushing my shoulder playfully, she says, “You know me too well.”
“That’s what happens when I sleep on a twin air mattress in your studio apartment.”That’s what happens when you love someone so much you have to know their every desire.
Chuckling, she says, “I still can’t believe you won’t take the bed. You’re so much bigger than me.”
I shrug and walk to my tiny bed and sit on it to take off my boots. I fold the laces inside and set the boots to the side, just like I did at the Academy. Some habits will never die. I lean back on the bed, my hands behind me, and stretch my legs out. “My bed is just fine.”
She rolls her eyes and goes to her giant bed and lies down, spreading her arms and legs out like she’s about to make a snow angel. “Look at how much room I have.” Sitting back up, she takes me in. “Your feet hang off the edge.”
“Like I said before, I’ve slept on worse. This is fine.” I nod toward her stomach. “How’s the incision?”
“Fine,” she answers sounding exasperated. “You know we can talk about things other than my surgery and how I’m feeling.”
Yeah, I’m aware, but I make it my mission to check off all the boxes when I get home, even if I have to slip them in between conversation, making sure she’s okay and that everything is healing properly.
“Well aware.” I smirk.
Sighing, she hops off the bed and goes to the dining table where she grabs the word search from the drawer. “Care for a little competition?” She fans out two pens and holds them in front of her face, a mischievous look in her eyes.
I cock an eyebrow at her. “You think you can beat me? The past two nights I’ve annihilated you.”
“Yes, but I spent my entire morning practicing, so bring your best game, Sheppard. I’m feeling spicy, and I think I can knock you off your pedestal.”
Chuckling, I get up from the air mattress, the squeaks of the bed ringing through the small apartment.
Instead of doing the word searches together, we decided to spice things up a few nights ago. We tear the pages out of the book and time ourselves. Whoever finds all the words on their puzzle first wins. The last two nights, I’ve destroyed Rory, not giving her a handicap for being sick.
I don’t plan on giving her one now.
Sitting across from her, I crack my knuckles, stretch my head from side to side, test out the pen she gave me, and then look up at her. “Are you ready to word search race?”
“You’re going down, Sheppard.”
“Not if I can help it, Oaks.”
“Go!” she says at the top of her lungs, causing me to laugh as I turn to my puzzle. She’s so goddamn competitive, it’s adorable.
She’s adorable.
She’s perfect.
She’s all I ever want in my life and yet, she’s so far away, despite how close we are.
An unattainable desire I can’t ever fulfill. And even though it’s like a constant tease, I still take her any way I can get her knowing it will never go anywhere. Some Rory is better than no Rory, and while she needs me here looking afterher,I’ll be here. This place feels more like home than the museum I grew up in, more than the Academy. I know it’s not real, that this isn’t forever and at some point she’ll ask me to leave and find my own place, but while she welcomes me with her beautiful smile and tender hugs, I’m not going anywhere.She’s become my home, and I both hate and love that fact.
