{Tiara}
I settle down on my bed, stretching lazily.
My phone rings just as I pick up the remote to watch my favorite show of all time.
SNL.
I roll my eyes as Quincy's name pops up on the screen.
I haven't heard from him in like a week.
"Well well well."
He sighs into the phone.
"Hello to you too, Tiara."
His voice is so raspy, it makes my toes curl every time.
"What do you want? I'm watching my show."
I complain, reaching for my bowl of popcorn.
He sighs loudly.
"Can I come over?"
I check my watch even though I know what time it is.
Way too late to be getting visitors.
"No."
He groans.
"Come on, Tiara! Jenny left earlier to go see her mom and she won't be back till later on in the week. I'm lonely and scared."
I roll my eyes.
"Don't you have other friends?"
I question.
"You're my favorite one."
I almost choke on my popcorn.
I know he didn't just say that.
"We barely know each other!"
"It's been 3 week, lovie. I know plenty about you."
He reasons.
I roll over on my side, sighing reluctantly.
"Fine. You can come over but you're sleeping on the cou-"
He hangs up before I can even finish.
What a jerk.
He grins like a child when I open the door for him.
I roll my eyes, trying not to smile myself.
He's so cute.
"Well come in. It's freezing."
I mutter.
Puck hoots his greeting, scrambling down Quincy's leg.
"I brought you this stick as a thank you present."
He says, holding out his hand.
I blush.
"That's a rose, Quin."
I mutter awkwardly.
He smirks.
Like full on.
"Oops. Guess I grabbed the wrong thing."
He bites his lip.
Something tells me he knew exactly what he was grabbing.
The nerve of his sexy ass.
"It's so pretty."
I whisper, slowly taking it from him.
"Smells wonderful. Like freshly cut grass in a summer field. Made me think of you."
He mutters absentmindedly.
He settles down on the couch while I go grab a vase to put it in.
"Your apartment always smells like cookies."
He informs me when I walk back in.
"I love to-"
"Bake. I know. You're such a mom."
He teases.
I scowl, folding my arms.
"Come sit."
He looks in my direction.
His eyes are so pretty.
It seems as though they are always sparkling even when he's sad.
"Thanks for telling me what to do in my own house."
I mutter, sitting down reluctantly.
He grins.
"Your sass is very amusing to me."
"Your head is very big to me."
I reply.
He cracks up.
"Seriously, I have a question for you."
He stops.
I hold my breath.
Please ask me to be your girlfriend, please ask me to-
"Since you like baking so much then why don't you open up your own little shop? You'd get lots of business, we haven't had a bakery in town since 2003."
I try not to feel as disappointed as I do.
Suddenly I feel ridiculous.
Why would I even think that?
I blush.
I hate it.
"A bakery? That's definitely not something I can afford."
"I think you can do it. I know you can actually."
He is saying.
I'm too busy looking at his lips.
They are so pink and plump.
Makes my mouth water just imagining kissing him.
I feel like a child.
I'm much too old for childish crushes.
Yet I've managed to think about him every day for the past week.
I just couldn't get him out of my head.
He's so handsome and smart.
And he sounds like a dream.
Man do I love his voice.
"As kind and assuring as your words are, I think I'm going to pass on that one. I'm just not ready for a commitment like that. Besides, my job at the bank is fine, the pay is pretty good. And I get plenty of time off, it's perfect."
I wave it off.
I also wave off my silly thoughts.
"Okay but a job is supposed to be more than fine. You should enjoy what you do, so much that time flies by every day."
His voice is like a soothing blanket wrapped about my brain.
Jesus.
I don't say anything.
Neither does he.
"I like your voice."
I whisper before I can lose the courage.
There goes that smirk again.
"You think I didn't know that?"
He whispers back, leaning in.
My poor heart leaps.
"Since we're telling secrets, I suppose I should tell you that I liked it when you touched my cheek the other day. Reminds me of my mother's love when I was a child."
His eyes even more interesting close up.
I never noticed but he's an open book.
His eyes flicker with his emotions.
My breath catches as my hand starts to raise before I can even think to.
He sighs quietly as I hesitantly rest it on his cheek.
His stubble tickles my fingers.
We both jump as we hear a crash.
I look up just in time to see Puck dashing away from the fallen books from my bookcase.
"Puck, I told you about exploring other people's things."
Quin growls, leaning back.
Thank God.
It doesn't help that he has that fresh out the shower smell.
He smells so much like a man.
I hold a couch pillow to my chest and try not to grin.
Oh lord.
Why did you have to bless me with such a sexy companion?
.
.
.
I look up from my bed as he shuffles in, holding a pillow.
I narrow my eyes.
He grins sheepishly.
"No."
I say immediately, folding my arms.
"Come on, Tia. It's cold in there! You have a heater in here and the tv and-"
"We agreed that you'd sleep on the couch, honey."
I remind him.
"You let Puck come in here!"
He huffs.
The little monkey's ear twitches at the mention of his name.
I try not to coo.
He's so cute.
"I love Puck. He's like the son I never had."
I mutter.
I tied a few of my shirts together earlier and tied both ends to the bendy lamp to make a little makeshift swing for him.
He likes to swing.
"Why can't I come in?"
He asks stubbornly.
I roll my eyes again.
"All of my lady stuff is just sitting around. And it's dirty!"
He scowls.
"I can't even see!"
"Besides, if you want me to I can step out so that you can put away your dildos and ass plugs."
"Get out."
I throw a pillow at him.
He snickers even though it hits him in the head.
"I'll take the left side."
He volunteers himself, shuffling forward.
"No, you're too big. You'll take up the whole bed with your stupid ass."
I complain, stopping him.
"No worries. You can curl up under my arm, no? We'll both have plenty of room. And my ass is not stupid."
He soothes, pushing my pillow to the side.
Why am I so happy to hear that?
Why does my heart have to leap with such joy?
He wants to cuddle.
I've never been cuddled.
Just the idea makes me want to cry.
Just the thought of him wrapping his strong arms around me makes me want to melt into a puddle right here right now.
"I think it's a splendid idea. Maybe I can tell you a story or something. Since you're in love with my voice."
He drawls.
"I never said that!"
I defend, blushing harder.
"Oh my golly, a waterbed."
He sighs, sinking down onto it.
See?
How can I not be attracted to that?
"Look, you're already taking up all the room."
I mutter, kicking his outstretched arm.
"Nonsense, sugar. Here, let me lay the right way."
Never in a million years did I think I would be in that half sleep stage in a man's arms.
Especially one so muscly and comfy.
Jesus, he's like a big pillow.
I throw my leg over his stomach and try to keep my nose off of his neck as he lazily tells me about a story that he heard the other day while listening to a podcast.
He honestly smells like heaven.
He pats my thigh absentmindedly, falling silent.
I have finally given up and nuzzled my face in his neck.
"You having fun there?"
There is amusement in his voice.
I really want to lick him.
"I didn't think I'd be this comfortable."
I mutter sleepily, trying to keep my eyes open.
"I knew you'd like being close to me."
I roll my eyes.
"You're kind on annoying."
I inform him.
"You're really soft."
He whispers back.
I bite my lip.
"Why dont you have a girlfriend?"
I blurt out.
"You asked me already."
He reminds me.
"I know but I just don't see why you would want to be alone? Don't you want to cuddle all the time and laugh and connect with a person?"
I groan.
He thinks for a moment.
"I can do all of that stuff with you."
He shrugs.
My heart leaps again.
Damn him.
"Don't you want someone to kiss on and love on and touch whenever you want to? And share inside jokes and go on dates and...just love?"
I sigh.
"That seems like something you want. Badly judging by the way you said it."
He says softly.
I don't say anything.
"I've always thought love was a strong word."
He mutters, shifting a little.
I stare as he turns on his side.
"It is a strong word. A strong word, a strong commitment, a strong feeling. I like love. I want to be held and cared for and appreciated."
I whisper thoughtfully.
He grins.
"I bet you do."
I get sad just thinking about what it would feel like to be single for another year.
What most people don't realize is that the older you get, the more you start to yearn attention from another person.
Living life alone works for some people but I just can't do it anymore.
In a way, meeting Quincy changed my view on a lot of things.
Not all men are weird and mean.
Some of them are nice.
Sensitive.
Some of them want exactly what us females want.
"Goodnight, sugar."
I almost melt as he wraps his arm around me, pulling me to his chest.
"Goodnight, Quincy."