Sanding by the sink my whole body relaxed as she left the kitchen. My mind was racing thinking about her skin, her hair, her curves, her lips. I couldn't help myself from taking her all in, she was driving me wild and I couldn't stop thinking about how enticing I thought she looked today. On her T-shirt it had the word love written across it and I started to wonder if she was sending me a message.
Shaking off my feverish thoughts I got back to work, making pizza was automatic to me so I needed little focus. Love I thought to myself, did she love me? Did I love her? I paused for a moment and pictured her smiling sweetly, I idea flashed into my mind I might love her. I started to rattle myself when can you tell someone you love them? As I paced back and forth in the kitchen making pizzas and putting them in the oven Layla walked in.
"En be BEN!", I heard Layla call my name and my fog of questions lifted. "The timer can't you hear it", she rushed over to the oven and rescued the pizzas. I rushed over to help her set them on the counter top.
"I'm sorry Lay, my mind was somewhere else", I said apologetically hoping she wouldn't be upset.
"I've never seen you with your head so far in the clouds like this, what were you thinking about?", she asked a little frustrated initially but it softened into concern.
"Lay how long are you suppose to wait to tell someone you love them?", I spoke without thinking but Layla met my question with a look of reassurance.
"Ah now that is a big thing to be thinking about", she rested her hand on my shoulder as a mother would. "Dear boy there's no 'right' amount of time, you tell her when you know it and your ready to say it", she squeezed my shoulder and tidied my hair. "Al told me he loved me the first day we met and said that he knew from the moment he saw me I was the only girl he'd ever want to be with", Layla's eyes teared up a little as she reminisced.
"I think, no I know I love her Lay but", I filled with nerves realising that I was scared to tell her. "What if she's not ready and it's too much", I started to feel panicked and my eyes pleaded with Layla for comfort.
"Ben come on, that girl is crazy about you, you don't go out of your way to see someone every day since you met them if you're not", she shook me lightly to knock some sense into me and get my mind straight. "At some point you really should introduce her to everyone properly though we don't even know her real name", Layla jested making me feel like such a bone head.
"Ah it's Daisy, heh I didn't realise I've never told you my girlfriend's name before", I said feeling very dumb now realising I had always called her Sunny to Al and Layla.
"Girlfriend! When did this happen! You're only telling me now!", she scolded scowling I had kept such a big secret from her. It had been unintentional but after the date last night I had forgot to say I'd asked Sunny to be my girlfriend. I was in trouble now Layla had been trying and failing to set me up for a while so this news was one to not keep quiet.
"I only asked her yesterday I swear, and you now know before anyone else", I pleaded trying to placate her. She scutched her face but a smile forced its way through.
"Well okay then I suppose if I'm the first to know that's good enough, I'm just happy you found someone who makes you happy", she pulled me into a tight hug and ruffled my hair, "now where is she I have so many questions". Before I could stop her she was already halfway out the door on a mission. I hope Sunny can cope with her but I will just have to do damage control later, since Layla was a hurricane when it came to my love life.
Within a minute Al came into the kitchen straight towards me. "Hey Al I'm about half way done with the pizzas, sorry I'm a bit behind", I rushed over to keep making more pizzas when Al walked up beside me.
"I heard from a little birdie that the girl helping today is called Daisy and she's your girlfriend", he said nodding his head reciting what I had just told Layla. I was surprised Layla could get the word out that quickly it had only been a few minutes.
"Wow that's a new record for Layla", I chucked rolling my eyes in acceptance that the news was out. "But yes daisy is my girlfriend and I hope you like her", I sighed feeling relieved that it was starting to feel less awkward to talk about. I had not talked about girls much before because I didn't feel like this about anyone before.
"Like her! I'm so pleased my boy", Al cheered slapping my back forcefully, "she is delightful, I was thinking about offering her a part time job here". I dropped the pizza dough I was kneading and looked at Al who was looking absent minded straight ahead. "The triplets are too young to help out and it would be nice having her around here", he glanced towards me, "seeing how you light up around her, it's enough to warm an old man's heart".
"Thank you Al, when are you going to ask her? ", I leaned in on pins and needles waiting for him to answer.
"Me oh no, I want you to ask her, since I expect you to show her the ropes", he gave me light bump on the arm as he started to walk away. He left me no opportunity to refuse which was Al's style.
I finished preparing the food and as I cut up the pizzas started to practice what I would say in my head. Sunny how would you like a part time job, great because I think I love you. No no that sounds weird I thought. Sunny there's a part time job here if you want it and I've been thinking I love you. No I scolded myself, these 2 things can't go together I realised. I needed to split up the things otherwise she might only take the job because I want her to.
Pizzas all cut I took them outside two at a time. As I reached the table Sunny was stood blowing up balloons with Layla laughing and chatting. She caught my eyes and waved playfully to me. I smirked and winked back almost oblivious to Layla's gasp at my cheeky behaviour. I had never acted like this in front of Al and Layla, I felt a little embarrassed that I was being so brazen in front of them. Placing the pizzas down I stole peaks at them talking and I started to wonder what they were saying. Were they talking about home, was Sunny giving away how flirty I get with her. My head was bursting with ideas, to squash them I hurried back inside to get more pizzas. I continued this system until all the food was laid out and everything was set up ready for the party.
I walked over to Sunny and Layla left us alone almost immediately. "So dare I ask what you and Layla were talking about", I chuckled pretending to not really care what they were saying but I really want to know if it was about me.
"Oh nothing much", she giggled to herself, "Layla just wanted to know if I thought you were a good kisser", she touched my lips as she spoke as a feeling of shock and embarrassment shot across my body.
"She what!", I exclaimed, I was taken back by this entire topic. I panicked more as she held her hands over her mouth to stop from laughing.
"I'm kidding!", she roared with laughter as my face returned to its normal colour. "Layla just wanted to ask if you had been a gentleman on our date", she said still giggling. I let out a sigh of relief which just made her laugh more. "Of course I said you were the perfect gentleman the whole time", she giggled softly and continued to fill balloons.
"We'll that's a relief", I grounded myself and started tying balloons to strings. "But since you brought it up, do you think I am?", I leaned in towards her mischief on my mind.
"Are what?", she questioned with a puzzled look. I rested my hand on her waist as she looped the ballon around her finger.
"A good kisser", I winked at her as her grip loosened and the balloon flew across the garden. I tried to hold in my laughter as she looked off embarrassed in the direction of the balloon. She spun her head to face me in an instant and locked eyes with me.
"Can't say I can recall", she said brazenly without missing a beat, my lips curled into a playful smirk as I knew what would rattle her.
"I can remind you if your memory need's refreshing", I pulled her closer to me and her hands raised rested on my chest. She squealed softly from my forceful embrace. The word love crashed into my brain, looking down at her I felt my heart thumping, telling me I'm ready.