"So Mr. Big Shot was fired over the weekend," Deja informed me as I walked into the office.
I smiled.
"My ex?" I whispered.
She chuckled.
"Yeah he was caught doing things on the copy machine while on janitor duty," she told me quietly.
My eyes went wide open.
"Don't even tell me the details, yuck," I shrieked as I went to my desk for the day.
It was a nice start to the week knowing that again that door to my past was officially closed.
Andy and I had finally gotten back to a little bit of normalcy. Though he had finally told the world he was officially in a relationship, not much changed. Even though months ago the National Inciter had taken photos of Andy's "mystery girls." But, nothing came much about it.
We were about to hit 6 months together. A whole half-year. So much growth yet so much to learn was true about the two of us.
The typical Monday went on and I went home on time. Andy pulled up to my house when I did.
I was sort of confused but my heart was really happy to see him. Sam was with him too.
I got out of my car and he was already walking over to me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"I missed you and wanted to see you. I know Mondays are your hardest day," he commented.
I smiled.
"Come on let's go inside," I told him as I grabbed his hand.
And so, we settled inside after I got comfy. Sam went to the backyard and found his favorite shady spot on the porch.
"So how was your day darling?" Andy asked after I came out of the kitchen with sodas for us.
"Well I got some good news," I told him.
"Tell me," he commented as I sat down next to him.
The entire day's stress was settling into my bones.
"Well that SOB I used to know got fired over the weekend so that made me feel better," I told him after I sipped my soda.
"That's great news darling. That old chapter is closed again permanently this time I hope for you," he remarked as he leaned over to kiss my forehead.
"Yeah so now work won't be so icky or I won't wanna call out even though I don't even think he knew I worked there now. I always avoided him and when he would come to dump my desk trash, I'd hide my nameplate and put on these glasses frames that made me look older," I commented.
Andy laughed.
"You would be disguised at work? He never noticed?" he asked chuckling.
"Not that I know of. But also Deja kept him away from us during the times we were at the desk. She'd usually have him dump desks during our lunch breaks so I'd still hide my nameplate," I told him.
"That's actually really smart darling," he commented.
"So how are you? How was your day?" I asked him.
"Well, it was good. Sam had a vet appointment to get some shots so he had that done this morning and I had to get my tires rotated but that's pretty much it," he explained.
"So a low-key day then?" I asked him.
"Yeah and I couldn't wait till you were off 'cause I know a few Mondays ago was terrible and I just wanted to make sure that your day was good," he told me.
I sighed contently as I leaned my head against his shoulder.
"You definitely take care of me and I do appreciate it," I told him.
"Of course I do darling I mean you take care of me too," he told me.
I smiled.
"So what did you have in mind for dinner? I know it's early but if you don't wanna cook, I could always cook for us," he told me.
All I could think about was how kind he was. His sobriety and his health were really shining now. He was stepping up back to where he used to be.
"I wasn't even thinking about dinner honey," I told him chuckling.
"I'm sure you'll be hungry sooner than later," he told me chuckling.
"Well I mean if you would like to cook, I ain't gonna say no to you," I told him.
I glanced at him and he was smiling.
He glanced at his watch and saw it was nearly 4 already.
"Well I better go get things gathered for dinner so we can enjoy the evening," he told me as he stood up.
"Is that your way of asking to stay the night?" I teased.
"Perhaps darling," he told me chuckling.
And so, Andy disappeared to the kitchen. It was nice to be loved properly for once in my life.
About 5, I went to check in on Andy and he had pretty much everything done.
"Does pasta sound good to you?" he asked as he gestured to the stove.
"I'm a sucker for carbs duh," I told him chuckling.
"Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes darling," he told me.
"Sounds good. I am so grateful you decided to come over," I told him.
"I was thinking about it and we have been together 6 months now," he told me proudly.
"Yeah huh?" I asked him as I got the plates and silverware on the table.
"A year ago I didn't know I could be so happy," he admitted as he stood next to me.
"I feel the exact same," I told him with a smile.
We sat down for dinner and enjoyed the quietness. Sometimes the smallest things mean the most.
After dinner, we cleaned dinner up and got everything situated for the evening. I was in the shower when I came back to Andy on the phone.
"Yes, Barry I really love her. This isn't like my previous relationships," I could hear from the other side of the door.
Andy was talking a million miles away.
I lollygagged while I got dressed and did my normal night routine in the bathroom.
"I really hope we can fly out to Florida the two of us soon so you can get to know her," he told him.
I really wished I could hear Barry's side of the conversation. Both Hugh and Barbara liked how good I was for Andy. I wasn't a groupie, I wasn't anything but someone who cared for a man named Andrew.
"Yeah, I'm at her house tonight. We haven't officially talked about moving in with each other but I do love the idea of waking up to her every morning," he commented as I decided to cave and open the door to my bedroom after standing in the hall.
Whether he was done with the conversation was another story.
He smiled at me as I went out of the bedroom to the hall to get my water for the night and to check the doors.
As I was walking back, I heard Andy still on the phone. I picked up the phone in the living room.
"Do you love her?" I heard Barry ask.
"Are you kidding? I'm crazy about her," he told him.
I was smiling so big.
Obviously, they hadn't stopped talking about our relationship.
"Andy, you are so whipped," Barry teased him.
I stifled a chuckle.
"Well she loves me a lot and she's not like anyone I've ever known," he replied.
"That's a good thing right?" Barry asked.
"Of course. I wouldn't be here today where I am," Andy commented.
I decided to stop eavesdropping and came back to the bedroom. After about 2 more minutes on the phone, Andy got off the phone for the night.
The nights together during the week were rather quick because I had to get up at 4:45 for work the next morning. So, we were in bed by 9.
"Thanks for coming over today. It was a really sweet gesture of you to do so," I told him as we undid the bed.
"Of course darling," he told me as we fixed the pillows for the night.
I dreaded the fact I'd have to wake up and go to work. If only I could make money by staying at home.
I yawned as I looked at the clock. It was already 9:15. I groaned realizing I needed to get to sleep to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
"Come here," he told me.
That was one thing that I did do well when Andy was here. I slept pretty solid and didn't even want to get out of bed.
He kissed me good night and I went off to dreamland once more.