Research: Romance

plot

Had there been time for a pity-party, I may have thrown one, but there wasn't. So, I got a grip and hurried back down the hall into my room. Sneaking around my own house like the Pink Panther, I grabbed the clothes I had set out on my bed and rushed to shower. It was probably the fastest shower I had ever taken, coming in at record time. Turning more peaceful music on, I had only listened to one and a half songs, not the usual three to four.

Finishing up I stepped out and wrapped a towel around myself. The anxiety started to fade with the steam on my mirror. I turned my music down and wiped a little circle to see my face and took a breath. Everything is fine. Take a deep breath. He's early, you're getting ready. It will all be taken care of in time. You got this, Leah!

I started to get dressed. Of course. Of course, it's fine. I have this in the bag. Except there was just one tiny problem... lying somewhere in the hall between my room and the bathroom.... I had dropped my underwear.

My. Heart. Dropped. My hand flew to the doorknob, and I nearly ripped it open and ran out to get them, but sense made me hesitate. I stepped back. It's fine. It's fine. I must have left it on the bed. That is a totally natural place to have underwear lying about. I could just go commando, and besides, I bet he won't even---

"Oh."

It was so quiet. So quiet and yet so loud, that stupid "oh." I let my head fall against the bathroom door. ...Or he could find them instantly, and a tornado could destroy the building, and I could accidentally slip in the bathroom and knock myself unconscious, and the firefighters could find a shark gnawing on my lifeless, naked body. Anything can happen. Life is full of little surprises.

Before things could get any more awkward, I wrapped myself tighter in the towel and stepped out.

Robin was walking back up the hallway so quickly you would have thought there was a spider on the ground. But there wasn't. Just my panties in all their stark-white glory.

He caught me out of the corner of his eye, face bright red, and took a second to realize I was only in a towel before averting his gaze. It was obvious he was trying to leave before I realized they were missing, sparing me the embarrassment of this very interaction, but nothing could spare me now. True, I could have waited for him to leave, got them later, then approached him in the study as if nothing happened. But then I would have to live with the mortifying knowledge that he had seen my panties in the hallway while pretending he hadn't all while I rambled on about romance and the project like an oblivious fool.

Instead, I cleared my throat and pushed the wet strands of hair from my face as I said, "Robin, I'm going to be very real with you for a moment."

His hazel eyes slid over to mine, careful not to drop an inch below my pupils. I wished I could read the expression in them, but it was near impossible to think of anything other than the burning in my face and the fact that the one person my professional career as a writer was hinging on has not only seen me have a panic attack, biff it over a security divider, and taken me to a hospital---but has now also seen my special lady underwear and me standing in a towel sopping wet as the house reeks of lemon scented toilet cleaner.  All within a few days. (Excepting the panic attack which happened months ago, but it still stands).

It was just better to face up to it. Not the underwear, that was a detail at this point. No, face up to me... being a human trainwreck these last couple weeks.

"This is not how I planned on this morning going. In fact, since meeting you, nothing has gone to plan." I shook my head, as if I were also completely baffled by the situation. Which, I was. Still, I continued holding the towel close to my chest, refusing to move my eyes from his despite wanting to rinse myself down the drain.

"But yes, those are my underwear, and yes, I am practically naked, but I hope you know that in no way am I trying to do any of this. I am just cursed. I angered the fictional writing gods three years ago, and I suffer the consequences every day. However, if you would like to reconsider our deal after this... I would understand."

Robin snorted. He snorted. Then he burst out laughing, covering his face. My reaction was to stand there awkwardly, dripping in puzzled chaos. Okay, maybe he will be cool about this?

When Robin gained his composure, which took a minute, he exhaled a deep breath from between his lips and made himself look at me. Fighting off another laugh, he bit into his bottom lip, then said, "I just thought this was you..." His eyes flickered toward my underwear, "Revealing the plot."

He put "plot" in air quotes and ran his gaze over me for a moment before looking up at the ceiling with a cheeky grin.

That is how I died. All the blood in my body went to my face, and I died of stroke. Brain hemorrhaging. Something that kills instantaneously and does irreparable damage to cognitive function. My breath was knocked from my lungs, and I gasped, "The what?"

Robin didn't move his eyes from the ceiling, but that grin broke into laughter that rumbled in my bones. He could barely contain himself, "Isn't that what romance novels are about?" His eyes flickered toward me, "The plot."

My expression must have been great, because I could see the gratification on his face. It was the same expression he had in the hospital before he showed me his lock screen. I could feel him dying to say it. Robin 1. Leah 0.

Incredibly, all I could hear in my head at this moment was the voice from Mortal Combat going "WASTED." The noise my shock produced was not one I had ever made before. I was speechless. I was absolutely flustered.

When Robin felt me getting dangerously close to spontaneously combusting, he chuckled and hung his head away from me. He continued to stare straight forward, pretending to be polite after a comment like that. I was still standing there with my jaw hung open like an angler fish.

He pushed his hand up to the side of his face to give me even more privacy, "I'll, um, be in the study-- Uh, take your time."

With that he walked off toward the study, and when the door shut, I could hear him bursting into laughter. I closed my eyes, unable to hold in my embarrassment any longer and put my face in my hands. Then I retrieved my underwear and got ready.

And I took my sweet time doing so.

------

Hello lovelies!!

Well, I missed a day of posting. Whoops! Honestly, I can't even remember what I was doing that distracted me from posting last Friday, but It doesn't matter. Here we are!

So, we are two weeks away from Christmas!! Yaaayyyy! I am so excited I feel like I could burst. The only thing that has me shivering in a way other than in festive anticipation is that today is the start of our favorite astrological event: mercury retrograde. yyaaaaayyy (sobs).

It lasts until the first of January, so I'll do my best to be reflective and take it slowly this holiday season! Anyway, I don't think it will be so bad, and as someone who enjoys learning about astrology, hopefully my studies will guide me. :}

In the spirit of the holidays and our friend Mercury, what is something you want to reflect on before the new year? OR, if you aren't looking to be introspective, what is your Zodiac sign?

I'm a Virgo and since Robin's birthday is late October that makes him a Scorpio! What do you think Leah's zodiac sign is?

Okay, that's enough rambling :) Have a great day and see you soon!

Don't forget to vote, comment, and share if you're enjoying <3

With love,

e.g.