My eyes flutter open just to see the white walls with a couple decorative sconces and wildlife framed art on the wall. The wooden doors of the closet are closed, and there isn't any clothing tossed around. The bed has a large, black, lightweight down comforter, and the plushness of the pillows allows my head to cradle right into their lap.
But, this is not Taylor's house. This is not Mom's condo either.
I sit up, and my head throbs. Beside the king-sized bed is a wooden stand with a brass lamp, an alarm clock, my cell phone, and a tall glass of water with two white pills sitting beside it. I take the water and drink some of it. Then, I take the aspirin and finish the glass of water.
My phone chimes and MOM is displayed over the screen.
I hope you are ready. We are heading to the Milwaukee Zoo in a half-hour.
The zoo. That's right. We planned to go there with the boys today. And I am in no shape to do anything, except to find out where the hell I am.
Pulling my body out of the arms of the most comfortable mattress there ever was, I drag myself to the door and step into the hall that is littered with photos. Photos of the blue-eyed man and a beautiful blonde haired woman. There are photos of them together, hand-in-hand, kissing, looking into each other's eyes, and one of them wearing a tux and a dress. Not a wedding dress, but one that could have been in a bridal party. And she is way prettier than anyone I've seen before.
If he was there, hitting on me last night, then where was she?
Maybe she passed away. Good heavens. That would be hard to take for a guy as young as he was. Losing his girlfriend or wife so early in life. I can't even imagine that kind of pain.
"It is about time. I was going to come and throw some shoes in the room to wake you up." Shane appears, holding another glass of water, and the aroma of eggs and hash browns floats in the air, swirling up from behind him.
"I'm sorry. I should go."
I am in this guy's house, and I don't remember how I ended up staying there. Taylor's is just a short walk away, and there would have been no reason for me not to go back after we had a couple beers. But, to be in Shane's house, his bed...
Oh my Gosh! I was in his bed!
"Don't panic. I slept on the couch." A little smile comes out, but his eyes are different today. Today, they aren't as vibrant or as captivating as they usually were. They are dull and ... sad. "I only took your shoes off and stuck you in bed. Then, I hightailed it out of there because your snoring was ... waking up the neighbor kids."
"I don't snore."
"You sure do."
"I do not." The heat fills in my cheeks and tops off in my ears.
"You do. And loud."
"I'm beginning to dislike you." I manage to take my eyes off him, but he is standing right by the most loving photo I've ever seen. He was with her, and she was sitting on his lap, on a swing. His arms were wrapped around her, and they were both smiling, unaware of the photo being taken. The love is busting out of the frame and spreading along the wall. Their wall.
"You do snore." He reaches into the back pocket of his blue jeans and pulls out his phone. "Let me go through these photos here ... that you wouldn't stop taking last night."
"I did not."
When he turns the phone around, there's a photo of me and him. My chin was resting on his shoulder, and we were both smiling. As he flips through, there are more. Laughing photos, some of me and some of him, that I am guessing I took. Apparently, we had had a good time last night, and I don't even remember it. But when he stops on the final photo, he was sitting on my lap and I was cradling him.
I vaguely recall that. I remember he said that I wasn't being any fun, and he came over and sat on me. As for laughing or anything about it, I wouldn't know.
I do feel different inside. Like some kind of weight has lifted off my shoulders. As for why, I am assuming whatever he did to me helped.
"We ordered out and had some pizza, and we sat on the deck for a few hours last night. Probably had way too much to drink. But, it was good to see you laugh." His smile slowly fades as his eyes focus on mine, the blues being back to their vibrant, catching color.
I should look away, but I can't. I am taken in by the strong forces that don't want me to turn away. His body leans a little closer to mine. I gulp in some air and my heart starts beating a little harder this time. And I keep hold of his eyes. He begins to say something, but pulls back and puts his phone away.
"Breakfast is ready, and then you should head next door to get ready for the zoo." He steps back, his eyes beginning to fill with sadness as they connect with another photo on the wall.
I follow him into the kitchen where the long island counter has a couple plates filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh hash browns. Taking a seat at the smaller of the two servings, I glance over at him, and he seems lost. The woman in the photo must have died for him to get that sad, that quick. And I can't ask him in case if he told me last night.
The silence is thick, and I catch him glancing my way every so often. My heart responds, and a smile comes to my face. The warmth creeps up and settles into my cheeks.
"Busy today?" I manage to spit out in between the bites of the eggs that are seasoned and very delicious, for being just scrambled eggs and something so simple.
"I have plans for a couple hours." Holding up a strip of bacon, he turns to me. The silence fills in as our eyes lock again.
For once, I am unsure what to say or what to do. When he doesn't move the bacon, I lean in and take a bite of it. A smile sweeps across his face, and he is leaning in closer to me. When he is just inches from me, my heart picks up speed and there are butterflies fluttering around in my belly. My eyes don't know whether to focus on his eyes or his beautiful lips, so they bounce back and forth. Waiting. Hoping.
Riiinnnnnggggg...
His eyes open wide, and he pulls back before any contact is made. My butterflies stop instantly and drop back into hiding. My heart slows and disappointment slaps it around. Taking the chance, I shove my mouth full of hash browns, and the flavor explodes on my tongue. Closing my eyes, I savor the bite. I've had hash browns before, but these ... these taste like heaven, and have a smoky touch to them. Nothing even close to what fancy restaurants served up.
After finishing my breakfast, I help clean up and head over to Taylor's to find my mom and three nephews waiting for me. Passing on the shower, I change into a pair of jean shorts and a red t-shirt, scrub my teeth, run a brush through my scraggly curls, and head out to the car.
Mom gets to about the Milwaukee line when I finally ask about Shane.
"He is a good person, Hannah. He went through some very tough times and he needed people to be there for him." She glances in the rear-view mirror at the three who are catching a little nap from the sun and the motion of the vehicle. "He needed a family, and I couldn't let him struggle alone."
"Was he a drug addict?"
"No." Her eyes leave the interstate for a moment, glancing at me with her brow cocked. "What makes you think that?"
"I was just asking. He's not Quinn's lover, and he enjoyed... He's an alcoholic." That would explain the drinking last night.
"No. He's not. He likes to have a couple drinks here and there, but he's not dependent on it."
I study her. Her cheekbones are dusted with the lightest shade of pink, and her makeup is impeccable to where I can barely notice she's wearing any. The grey eyes are glancing to the mirror and back to the road, and she changes lanes to get in line for the upcoming exit.
If Shane has an issue, and managed to talk to her about it, I would never know. Not unless it came from Shane. Mom is solid, a lockbox, and secrets are kept with her. I would never pry out any information from her.
"He is getting a better grasp on everything, and, for once, I don't have to worry about him."
I rest back in the seat and close my eyes, wishing to recall some of the night.
"Do you have a bathroom?" I ask, after four beers. I am ready to explode, but I don't want to stop talking with him.
"Nope. They built this house and didn't put one in." Shane's face is solid; no hint of joking or a smile. Stone. I meet his gaze, and he finally breaks. "Yes. Inside. Go to the hall; two doors down."
"Are you going to murder me?"
"Yes, but not tonight."
Nodding, I push myself up from the wooden chair. My heart is pounding. "Okay."
"What are you laughing about?" Mom asks, and pulls me from the memory.
I open my eyes, and, to my surprise, we are already parked at the zoo parking lot and the boys are all unbuckled, raring to go. "Nothing."
I wasn't murdered, but, then again, I wasn't worried about it either. Shane is getting under my skin, and I need someone like him to pull me out of this serious funk I'm in.