The Guitar Player And Me

2 - Home

I set my travel bag down so I could unlock the door. Brian immediately picked it up and carried it inside.

"You have a lovely flat Marissa." I couldn't help but giggle at his use of the word flat instead of apartment.

"Thank you." I said. "It's little, but it suits me."

We just stood there and stared at each other like idiots.

'So..." We both said at the same time. He gestured for me to go ahead.

"Are you driving back tonight?"

"I had planned on it when I started this trip. Now I think maybe I will find a room for the night. Leave when I am not so tired."

"You won't find one." I said quickly, then added, "Summer? Track season? All the rich people coming up from the city to spend their money."

"Oh," he said quietly. "I hadn't thought about that."

"I mean, you might find a room, but it'll be in some really crappy place that will charge you five times what it's worth and that's before they figure out who you are."

My heart and brain were at battle again. Heart was telling me he could stay here. With me. On the pull-out of course. Brain was screaming at me that you don't invite strangers to sleep at your place, even if you do have a fairly comfortable pull-out.

"You can stay here," I said as my brain screamed and my heart pounded. "I mean, I have a pull out couch. It's pretty comfortable. Then you can go see Betty again before you leave tomorrow." Right Marissa, that's why you want him to stay. So he can visit the old lady who thinks he is still a baby. I told my brain to shut up.

"I don't want to impose," he said, grinning and throwing my own words back at me.

Oh my God was he really flirting with me?

"But I owe you one for the ride. It's no imposition. Just say yes, you'll stay." Where had my boldness come from?

"Okay then. I'll stay." He smiled. God he was cute.

<<<<~>>>>

"okay," I said, "make yourself at home. I'm taking a shower. I have three days of hospital grime to wash off."

I hurried in the shower, not wanting to miss time with Brian. I dressed in black leggings and a long t-shirt. Not glamorous, but it's clean and comfortable. I looked in the mirror as I ran some gel through my hair. Good enough, I thought. I haven't worn makeup in years. Maybe I should get a makeover. Or a haircut.

I hung my towel up and walked quietly into the other room. The sun had gone down while I was in the shower. It was almost dark except for the TV that Brian had turned on.

"What are you watching?" I asked, as I sat on the other end of the couch.

"Not sure really. These children are baking and apparently it's some sort of contest."

We watched for a few minutes. "How do they even know how to do that?" I asked. "If you don't get the proportions right you just have a big mess. What even is a patachou?"

"It's kind of a dough or batter. To make eclairs."

Ok, so apparently I am the only person who doesn't know what patachou is.

"You look adorable," he said, looking at me.

Well, that was totally out of the blue.

I sighed and made a face. "I don't want to be adorable. Women in general don't want to be adorable or cute. We want to be sultry or sexy." Yep, time for a makeover. And a haircut. And new clothes.

"I like adorable," he said softly. "Come sit with me."

I slid over next to him. "Marissa, you are sexy and sultry." He took my hand and began drawing circles with his thumb. I took a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm.

"Am I making you nervous?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered, and hated myself for it.

He leaned in and whispered, "Don't be." He took his hand off mine and ran it through my hair.

Yep. He found my weakness. I leaned into him so he would keep doing it.

"You like that?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered.

"You want me to stop?"

"No."

He took his hand away. "No, what?"

I thought a second. "No, please?"

"No please, Brian." His voice was firm. "Say it."

I didn't hesitate. "No please, Brian. Please don't stop."

He put his hand back in my hair and grinned. "Good girl."