A FEW DAYS LATER
LUIS
It had been a few days and I hadn't seen nor heard from Tiana. A part of me hoped that she wasn't pushing herself away from me given the last time we spoke. And I had been fighting with myself to not pick up the phone and call her in an attempt to appear indifferent. But truth was I missed her.
Sitting here in my home in the silence only made it worse. Aggravating the wishes I had to the forces amongst us that somehow she could appear out of thin air and bless me with her drawl and eye rolls.
My attempts to focus were all futile and in a few hours I planned to meet with my publicist for the book.
Enough time to wipe away all thoughts of her at least until the meeting was over-
When I heard my phone ring, my heart almost leapt out of my chest in anticipation that maybe that was her on the other end. But alas, it was only Rita such that I answered the phone bothered.
"Well don't you sound happy to see me," she chuckled.
"Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly," I . . . thought you were someone else."
Despite the background noise I heard her giggle and knew I had literally placed myself in a position to be taunted by her.
"You've been curled up in bed dreaming about your future babies, huh?"
I could feel the heat rush on my face.
I had done a lot of daydreaming about us making the babies if one had to be more accurate
And when I remained silent she giggled again.
I swear she's a teenager trapped in a grown woman's body.
"Did you call just to fuck with me?" I asked taking a seat to ease the swirling emotions trying to wreak havoc on my body. Now that the images of her completely naked had my mind ready to draw up scenarios I didn't need whilst still on the phone.
"I'm lonely, Lu," she whined," Tiana called in sick today so forgive me for wanting some entertainment from somewhere."
That had me growing tense and worried immediately. "Is she okay?" I quickly asked growing nervous the longer I went without having the millions of questions I had answered.
"Whoa, relax," she replied once she caught the panic in my tone," she told me it's just a minor stomach issue and that she'll be back tomorrow. So there's nothing to worry about, okay?"
I appreciated her reassurance but my mind was too far gone. Knowing that the only way I could breathe easily was for me to see for myself that she was fine. I agreed with her by muttering a simple 'okay' but once the call ended I moved around the house. I rummaged through the medicine cabinet for anything to assist her. After calling Gerald to reschedule the meeting, in no time- armed with an assortment of random medications I drove to her apartment.
On the way there I fought an internal battle with my foot to overcome the provocative appeal that came with just stepping on the gas in order to get to her sooner.
***
After knocking on the door for what felt like ages, the door swung open revealing hostile brown eyes that matched the hard scowl on her lips. My eyes swept over her, taking note of the loose sweatpants she wore and the large shirt that reached her knees, whilst her curly hair was piled on top of her head.
Even in the baggiest clothes she looked appealing, exuding an air of sensuality that worked well with her soft features.
"What do you want?" she snapped forcing me out of my silent appraisal of her.
"Just wanted to check up on you," I said clenching my jaw at the way her eyes rolled in annoyance, fighting my smile.
I missed that eye roll
"I'm still alive and kickin-" she groaned in pain grabbing her stomach. I reached out in concern prepared to do all I could to ease the pain. I didn't like seeing her in this state.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I act like this when everything in my life is just swell," she snapped moving into her apartment.
"Your sarcasm isn't necessary here, T."
"And neither is your presence," she bit back plopping onto her couch throwing the blanket over her body.
"Why don't you go to the hospital?"
She looked at me in amusement and I tilted my head to the side in curiosity at what exactly in this situation was so humorous.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm just trying to figure out how exactly I'm going to explain the biology behind a woman's body," she smirked and I nearly wanted to smack myself for having missed all of Rita's words when she claimed Tiana was dealing with some 'stomach' problems. She laughed once she caught the fact I had picked up on the hint. But her smile dropped once another wave of pain hit her as she clutched her lower abdomen.
"Have you taken any painkillers?"
"Don't you think I would've done that by-" she stopped short once she saw the look of disapproval I was giving her. She closed her eyes and sighed probably calming herself down, she reopened them to reply me in a softer tone," No. I meant to go to the pharmacy sometime soon but this . . . issue hit me a lot sooner than usual."
My eyes softened at the pain on her face, wishing I could take it away. I had seen Rita go through this growing up and I was more appreciative when my phase of puberty hit me.
She groaned once more and just before I made a move to get to her, she lurched forward throwing up. The contents landed on the floor. I held back the look of disgust knowing that she couldn't help what was happening and swallowed down the revolt.
"Oh . . . god," she stood to her feet covering her mouth and ran down the hallway. I followed behind to find her hunched over the sink rinsing her mouth. Her moans of agony bounced off the walls of the bathroom.
And yet, miraculously after watching her spill her guts, seeing her at her worst. . . It wouldn't displace her place in my mind as the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen
Moving past her silently I took the bucket and mop, filling it with water from the tap on the bath tub. She was too preoccupied to have noticed any of my movements behind her and I squared my shoulders entering the living-room.
Cleaning up the vomit splayed on the floor was no easy task and I developed a whole new found respect for anyone whose stomach remained unaffected when they had to clean up someone else's mess. But I could hear the word 'whipped' echo around at the things I was willing to do for her already. If she had yet to kiss me and I was already dropping everything to be by her side who knows what would happen if she touched me.
Probably be painting her toe nails.
"I could have cleaned up after myself," I turned and found her moving towards me. I smacked her hand away when she reached for the mop. She blew out a harsh breath, crossing her arms and I knew that she was about to blow a gasket if I didn't diffuse the situation fast.
"Before you give me a speech about you not needing a savior- just save it! I'm just trying to take care of you . . . okay?" Although her eyes had hardened at the way my voice rose, they softened. She needed to know that I was here purely out of wanting to ensure she had a fast recovery and if it meant cleaning up her mess, then so be it.
I nudged her gently to the couch, she gave in and took a seat at the edge of the couch but I could tell she was uncomfortable.
"Tiana," I mumbled gently, her head rose up to look at me," there's nothing wrong with having someone there for you."
She bit her plump lower lip and nodded her head. The action was innocent but my thoughts were anything but knowing my very own teeth were yearning to bite it. I quickly cleaned up the floor and returned from the bathroom to find her no longer in the couch but in the kitchen.
When she found me watching her, questions racing at why she wasn't lying down. I could tell she sensed my need for an explanation due to the fact I was about to chastise her to go back and lie down.
"The warm water will help ease the pain," she explained taking the kettle; I hadn't noticed and poured the contents into a hot water bottle. I nodded my head and took a cup from the cabinets and filled it with water.
"Come on," I mumbled moving towards the living-room and when I didn't hear her light footsteps behind me, I turned to find her still in the same spot.
"No," she said confidently leaning against the counter smirking.
She really wanted to test me.
"No?" I asked with a smirk of my own advancing at a slow pace towards her, taking the time to appreciate the natural beauty that had the power to render anyone speechless. I soon stood before her, the invasion in her space making her look up at me. She barely made it to my shoulders and although my height could intimidate some she had yet to wither under my gaze.
"Why do you choose to be so difficult?"
She shrugged playfully, her eyes moving all over my face," Why do you choose to intrude on my life?"
As a substitute to responding with words, I reached out picking up the light woman and threw her over my shoulders. The action bringing the fond memory of the time I had her like this. I had seized that chance to smack her plump backside and I often found myself missing the soft flesh.
But this time even as she squealed and hit my back, I refrained from my desire mostly because my only other hand had a cup of water in it as I sauntered to the living-room. I placed her gently on the couch to be met with her pouting at me.
"You're mean," she stated sitting up pouting playfully.
"And you're stubborn. We're quite an odd pair, aren't we?" I chuckled moving towards the bag I had bought. I looked over at her in concern when she remained silent. Only to find her giving me a look I couldn't decipher.
But the smile that followed on her lips hit me in the gut as she mumbled," The oddest."
***
After having to practically beg her to take the pain killers I had bought. I wished I could call my mother. Wished I could apologize for all the times I was sick whilst still being a nuisance.
I was close to forcing the pills down her throat when she refused to take them but the pain she was experiencing made her more compliant. Such that she kept a suspicious eye on me as she swallowed them.
And gazing at her now curled up at my side, her attention on the TV screen I was tempted to boast that I was right. It had been over an hour since the last time she grimaced or winced from pain. However, I held back my tongue, too entranced by how calm she looked. I had stopped paying any attention to what was happening on the screen, too fascinated by how I managed to miss how delicate her lashes looked.
If my sixteen year old self, saw me now, he'd ridicule me for falling.
She shifted closer into my side and though I knew I shouldn't have, I stretched my arm and rested it around her frame. I pulled her closer in the hopes of taking a subtle sniff of her hair. I nearly groaned out at the sweet smell.
"Most would find what you did creepy," she said keeping her gaze trained on the screen. I flushed knowing I had been caught taking my fill of what was quickly becoming an addictive smell for me.
"I don't hear you complaining," I shrugged.
She turned, looking up at me and laid her chin on my chest. I grew curious as each second ticked by wondering what she was thinking. Her hand made contact with my neck tracing the scar there making me nervous. Fortunately she didn't spend much time on it and moved her hand.
The side of my face gained her hand's delicate touch, paying closer attention to my stubbled cheek. Soon enough her fingers entangled themselves in my hair and though I knew I was enjoying this too much I could care less. Nor did I care if she saw the pleasure I felt when she said," I stopped complaining a long time ago, Luis."