Simple Complexity

Part 6

'Nah, Er, chose what you want to watch.'

Erin sat up a little, leaning over to Holtz and she squinted her eyes.

'This is my secret cinema, right?'

Holtz swallowed hard, the brunette above her, and all she could think about was pulling her down into her arms, instead she looked away and over to the screen.

'Sure, Die Hard.'

Erin tilted her head with a grin, laying back down and pressing play on the movie.

Holtzmann barely focused on any of the film, only focussing on the fact that the weight on the other side of the air mattress was Erin. Erin was in bed with her. Not really. But really. It was a mattress. There were blankets. There were pillows. They were watching a movie together. Laying down. In a bed. In bed. She was in bed with Erin. Erin was in bed with her.

When the film finished, and they'd had a couple of drinks and finished most of the popcorn they continued to lay amongst the blankets. It was late, well after midnight.

'Jill,' Erin said quietly, looking the woman in the eyes, she loved her beautiful ocean blue eyes.

Holtz just smiled tightly, hoping Erin was about to just say goodnight and fall asleep next to her.

'Wanna just pack this up in the morning?'

'Uh, yeah sure Er,' and Holtz sat up, pushing the covers off her legs, disappointed.

'Hey,' Erin said, her brows furled, 'where are you going?'

Holtz was confused, assuming Erin meant for them to go to bed.

To their own beds. Separately. Alone.

'You're not gonna stay?' Erin said, and she sat up, resting on her elbows behind her.

'Oh,' Holtz said, pausing, looking to Erin, 'I thought-'

'No Jill,' Erin said, laying back down, 'I'm not leaving my secret cinema any earlier than I have to.'

Holtz laughed and Erin looked up at her grinning, and Holtz noticed her blinking had slowed, she was tired, they both were.

'Well, Er, if I snore I'm sorry.'

'Haha, me too,' Erin said with a grin.

'You don't snore on the couch.'

Erin raised her eyebrows in agreement.

'That's true, neither do you.'

They exchanged a smile and then Erin turned away from the engineer, pulling the blankets up to her shoulders. Holtzmann looked over at her for a few minutes before laying back down, reaching for the button of the battery-operated Christmas lights and flicked them off. She lay down into the softness of the blankets, facing Erin's back. They were so close.

Yet she was so far.

The blonde closed her eyes, trying to breathe silently, even though her heart rate was high, her beats rapid and she tried to relax. Knowing that part of her had hoped they would spend the night together. A sleepover. It was just like a kids sleepover. An adult sleepover. But together. They'd fallen asleep on the couch twice now. But this was different. They were in bed. In the same bed. Together.

There was a sudden loud rumble and Holtzmann burst out laughing and Erin squealed.

'Erin Gilbert!'

Erin turned around to her, her face was creased in panic.

'It was my leg, my leg, I moved my leg!'
Erin scrunched up her face, 'It's the air mattress not me!'

'Wow, you're comfortable enough to fart hey?'

'Jillian, it was my leg, the air mattress,' the woman wailed.

Holtz choked on her laughter, 'Sure, sure.'

Erin turned away, 'Oh my god Jill it was.'

Holtzmann laughed, her hands reaching out under the covers automatically and pinching Erin's sides. The brunette screaming out, pushing her body away from the blonde.

'It was my leg,' Erin said, turning her head over her shoulder to look at the blonde.

The blonde had a devilish grin on her face and Erin just pouted at her and turned back away from her.

Holtzmann lay with her eyes open for what felt like hours, Erin's rhythmic breathing was a comfort, and she was afraid she would never get this moment again, and she wanted to remember it, tuck it into her little box of Erin. The one her mind drifted to more than once a day. She would unpack it; it would make her smile. Make her heart beat harder, faster.

The blonde's eyes opened wider as she felt Erin move in front of her, turning toward her a little, but Holtz wasn't sure if she was awake or not. It was dark, she couldn't see her face, the moonlight not permeating the tent very well. There was a blush hue to the interior, and it just cast shadows rather than providing much light. But then Erin's hand reached back to her, and she pulled the blonde's arm over her, lacing their fingers at her chest and Holtz snuggled up against her, spooning her.

'Goodnight Jill,' Erin murmured, and Holtz could tell she was smiling, 'thank you for my secret cinema.'

'Anytime Miss Gilbert.'