Page 73 of Sunny Undone

I’m about to say they do, but I share with him a hurt that has lasted. “When NASA hired Cameron, my parents got him a magnum of champagne from a prestigious year and a trip to France. When Brett finished his doctorate, my parents sent him and his girlfriend on a two-week tour of Italian vineyards. When I got my doctorate, they gave me a sturdy pair of waterproof boots for, as my father said, when I found a puddle worth studying.”

“I know you don’t like the c-word,” Sunny says. “But your dad’s a cunt.”

I sigh. “Do you have a good family, at least?”

Sunny huffs and shakes his head. “I don’t. My mom doesn’t even know who my father is. And she’s been an alcoholic most of her life. Not a functioning one either. Drank while she was pregnant with me. Which is likely why I’m at the other end of the academic scale to you. I’m sorry I can’t give you a better family than the one you’ve got.”

He says it in that breezy bravado way he has. But there’s a sadness to his eyes that tells me it hurts more than he lets on.

“Then, we just need to make a promise to each other that we won’t be like any of them.”

Sunny smiles softly. “That’s an easy promise, Indy. Where’s your laundry?”

I push my walk-in closet door open, then go to grab the one that holds my darker garments.

“I got it,” Sunny says. “Let’s go get it started, and I’ll order pizza to be delivered.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That has limited nutritional value.”

“I’ll make sure to add veggies and extra cheese for more protein.”

He listened to me.

He really listened to me.

I don’t feel like I won in the sense that the laundry will get done and we’ll eat before we fall into bed. But I won in that there is a man in my house who is willing to work with things that stress me out.

Perhaps Sunny is right; sometimes it’s okay to let things slide. I won’t cook, but I’ll chop some fruit for us to have as dessert or something.

“Thank you, Sunny.”

He steps up to me, laundry bag in one hand, and grabs me around the waist. He has to stoop to kiss me, and his lips are firm against mine. I grip hold of each side of his cut and cling to him. His kiss is an invitation to take as much as I need, and despite laundry obligations, I do want it.

“I still need to put the laundry in to wash,” I mutter against his mouth.

“And I need to order pizza.” He steps back. “Let’s go be domesticated, Indy.”

It takes a few minutes to do both.

“How long did it say the pizza would be?” I ask when I join Sunny in the living room.

He sits on my sofa, making it look fit for a doll’s house. And I feel a sense of peace when I hear the slow and steady swish of the washing machine.

He holds out his hand for me to join him. “Twenty-seven minutes.”

When I reach him, he tugs me, so I fall onto his lap. Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about it. It’s playful, and I like that I’m pressed up against Sunny. But I also feel a bit ridiculous and gauche just sitting on his lap.

“Babe, relax. I’m not gonna attack you or anything. Just thought it would be kind of nice to sit here and hold you for a little bit while we wait.”

“What for?” I ask.

“Jesus. Never thought when I met a woman, I’d be the one who knew more about relationships than she did.”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “I think my social cues read a little different to yours. Like, I’m thinking, gosh, I must be heavy. Hope I’m not squashing his legs. Or will we get sweaty pressed up against each other? Will he tell me if he gets uncomfortable?”

Sunny chuckles and just rearranges me himself. He maneuvers me farther up his thighs so I can lean up against the arm of the sofa. Then, he presses my head to his chest and keeps his hand there. And finally, he drapes his other hand over my thighs.

“Let me see…no, you’re not too heavy. And if any guy has ever told you that, it’s because he was weak and didn’t know how good it felt to be pressed up against curves like yours. No, you aren’t squashing my legs. If you were, I’d just jiggle you around a little until we were comfortable again. Also, there’s nothing I’d like more than to get sweaty with you, but I’m respecting the rules by waiting until you’ve been fed. And, finally, if I was uncomfortable, like I said, I’d fix the situation discretely.”