Gabriella watched him sleep, his chest slowly rising and falling. She observed the calmness of his face, the stillness of his eyelids. He doesn't sleep restlessly, she thought. Her head tilted to one side so she could see his face better. She found herself admiring him for what he did today. He really threw himself into something he knew he wouldn't be used to. She wondered why he did it. Was it to impress her? She continued watching him in peaceful repose. She waved her palm in front of his face just to make sure he was sleeping.
"I can see that." He said, catching her hand in mid-air.
"I thought you were sleeping. How did you see that? Your eyes were closed."
"The shadow." He pulled her closer and then winced.
"Don't, it will only hurt you more."
"But I want you closer."
"You could've asked." She went right next to him, careful not to hurt his arms. But he raised his right arm to her neck.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Lean on me." He was trying to put her head on his shoulder. She allowed him to bring her close.
"You know, I never thought you'd be into all that sort of work." She said, snuggled on his chest with her head on his shoulder.
"Why would you think that?"
"You don't seem the type. Rich folks are usually not into getting their hands dirty."
"Maybe that's true. But you wanna know a secret?"
"Um, okay?" he leaned his lips to her ear and whispered, "I just wanted to be with you. That's why I came." Gabriella froze; her eyebrows creased.
"You did all that just to be with me?"
"Mmm-mm." She felt her eyes hot and prickly. She turned away.
"Gabriella? Are you crying?" she hastily wiped her eyes with her sleeve and tried to get up.
"No, it's just some dust." He held her and pulled her back down.
"Gabriella, why are you crying?" he stroked her cheek with one finger.
"I'm fine, really." She put his hand down.
"Don't strain your arm," she warned him.
"My arm's better now. Your therapy worked wonders." To prove it, he wrapped one around her waist, the other under her chin.
"Why did you cry, Gabriella?" she adamantly shook her head.
"You won't tell? Then I'll have to coax it out of you." Without warning, he enveloped her lips in a deep kiss. Her eyes were still open; she automatically tried to push him away. But he took her hands in his and threaded his fingers through hers. He leaned on her, his lips fervently holding hers. She felt herself drifting out of thought, and slowly she closed her eyes, letting his weight fall on her. She slid backward on the couch, falling flat on her back. He was now above her. His lips didn't let up, and she started to breathe heavily as his tongue teased the edge of her lips. She tentatively met his with her own, letting him circle her mouth deeply. She'd never been kissed like this before!
Finally, he pulled away, leaving her mouth open. She inhaled and exhaled through her mouth, gasping. He still held her hands tight.
"Will you tell me now?" she couldn't follow. Her thoughts were blank.
"Huh?" he smiled.
"I guess I've rendered you speechless."
"Er…" she was lost for words.
"Gabriella." He let go of one hand and took her cheek in his, meeting her eyes unflinchingly.
"I'm in love with you." He spoke with surety. Gabriella continued to stare into his eyes, incapable of looking away. He leaned closer, seeking to recapture her lips. This time, she instinctively closed her eyes. He let go of her other hand and wrapped one around her waist, the other behind her neck. She felt his breath above his warm lips and responded to him with acquiescence. Her hands wrapped around the collar of his shirt, trying to pull him closer. He let himself fall on her, carefully balancing his weight. She moaned softly. He pulled away.
"Did I hurt you? Am I too heavy?"
"No, no." he pulled her up.
"Why did you stop?" she asked. He grinned.
"Miss me, do you?"
"Yes." She felt brave.
"Alright, I'll kiss you again, if you tell me why you cried earlier."
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"Why not?"
"You said you were in love with me."
"And?"
"That's why I cried. I've never had a guy care that much for me."
"Then what about you? Do you still hate me for causing you so much trouble?" he asked, making her laugh.
"Would I have kissed you back if I hated you?" She asked. Brandon smiled, sending butterflies through her.
"Right." No more was said as their mouths reconnected, continuing what they had stopped late into the evening.
"It's getting late. We haven't had any dinner," she said, after long uninterrupted bliss.
"Do you mind takeout?" he asked.
"Not at all. Wong's Dish delivers. I can call them."
"No need, I have an app. I'll just order. What would you like?"
"You know me by now. Anything vegetarian."
"Right. They've got tofu dumplings and vegetarian fried rice. Or do you want noodles?"
"Rice is fine."
"Got it." He ordered the food online on his phone.
"So… Gabriella. Tell me something." He started a conversation while they waited.
"Like what?"
"About your home, where you're from, how you came here. How you got stuck with that drip – Archer."
"It's not all that interesting. I grew up in a little town in Kansas. Lived there my whole life, went to a local high school… That's where I met Archer. My first stalker." She shuddered.
"He was a persistent youth, always hanging around a bad crowd, you know. The vandalizing type, always breaking something or ruining public property for fun." She paused. Brandon kept listening intently.
"He thought I'd be impressed with his gang but he didn't understand when I wasn't. He tried all the stuff he'd tried on other girls but he didn't make much headway. Finally, he started a rumor that I was going out with him. Of course, that wasn't easy to contradict when he had a gang. I was just a girl. Once he'd pestered me so much that, out of anger, I agreed to go on a date with him if he'd stop spreading rumors and leave me alone."
"Then what happened?'"
"My biggest mistake. After the first date, he never left me alone. I couldn't let my guard down either, because he would try to put his arm around me or something."
"Ah, I see," Brandon said, understanding her aversion to physical touch now.
"Two years that continued. Then I escaped to college, making it clear to him that I was breaking up with him at the end of high school."
"You must have been fierce."
"Not nearly enough. He took it like a joke, saying he'd see me when I returned." She sighed. "I never went back and hoped I'd left him behind for good when I came to New York. Guess I was wrong." Gabriella's face fell.
"But you don't have to worry anymore." Brandon encouraged her. "You have me to protect you. I'll be your knight in shining armor." She smiled and held his hand.
"You already are, Brandon. Thank you." She inhaled. "Well, after college, I went home, packed my stuff, and moved here. Worked part-time for a year, then found a decent job and stuck to it. Then…"
"Then?"
"I met a crazy but gorgeous guy who was way too into hotdogs." He tickled her.
"So you think I'm hot and gorgeous?"
"Stop, I can't breathe!" she laughed so hard he tickled her stomach. Just then the bell rang.
"Whew, saved by the bell! Those guys deliver quickly." Brandon got up and went to get the food.
"How much is it, Brandon?"
"I already paid online."
"You didn't!"
"I did. I don't often get the chance to be a gentleman, you know. And I'm glad you're not a feminist."
"Oh? Why don't you like feminists?"
"They insist on doing things for themselves and claim they don't need men. I respect the independence, but a lot of them just do things that are stupid. Like splitting a bill, or going to work and being the man of the house. Don't you think that's the man's job? That's why it's called 'man of the house'. But around you, I can be myself." He looked at her with such tender eyes that Gabriella was touched.
"That's sweet of you, Brandon. It's rare to find a guy who likes to do the stuff a gentleman does." She planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
"A lot of guys have given up on that stuff since women wanna be their own man." He set the food on the table. "It's hard on men who still wanna do things for their women."
"Like you?"
"You could say that," Brandon said with a little smile. "So, do you know how to eat with chopsticks?"
"Of course! Here–" she offered a piece of eggroll to his mouth, holding it with the chopsticks.
"Ahh," he opened his mouth for her.
"You're good at this. Most girls I've stunt-dated use a fork because they can't hold them," he said, munching in satisfaction. Gabriella laughed, then became thoughtful.
"Stunt-dated?" she asked in confusion.
"Yeah, for publicity."
"Oh. Celebrities like way too much publicity."
"You're telling me. Half the girls I had to stunt-date were either promoting their movies, raising their stocks, or just using me to get their boyfriends jealous."
"That's… really sad. Then you've never dated anyone who's actually into you?"
"I am now," Brandon replied with a dreamy look at Gabriella. She smiled.
"Your turn," She said.
"To what?"
"To tell me all about yourself."
"You already know a lot about me. Tonight let's talk about you. There's one thing I'm really curious about."
"What's that?"
"Were you born vegetarian, or did you become one?" Gabriella laughed at that.
"That's actually a long story."
"I'm listening." Brandon perked up, wide-eyed. Gabriella sighed.
"It started when I was seven. Until then, my mom kept me on a healthy vegetable diet. But I got fed up and whined to go to a restaurant for some 'real food'. So we went to a steakhouse. I ate my first steak. The next day I had a tummy ache and I was sick for two days. That taught me a hard lesson and put an end to all meat for me. I was too afraid to try meat again." She paused.
"Then, when I was ten, I wanted to try seafood."
"Let me guess, you were allergic?" she nodded.
"I couldn't stop throwing up till I got a shot. After that, I got an allergy test which proved what I already knew. No shellfish of any kind for me." He took her hand.
"That must have been hard on you."
"Only at first. As a kid, being stuck as a vegetarian was pretty humiliating. But as I grew older, I started researching all sorts of recipes, learned how to cook, and made my first gourmet all-vegetarian dish when I was fourteen. It won first place in a cooking contest."
"Wow. That's why you're such a good cook now."
"Mmm-mm."
"Wait, that lasagna I had that day. That was vegetarian?"
"Of course. You didn't know?"
"Seriously? But it tasted so… regular."
"I use all sorts of meat replacements. Even meat eaters can't tell the difference."
"Amazing! You should really write a cookbook."
"I would, but there are already way too many out there. I'd rather give the food itself to people than the recipes. Most people don't have that kind of time to cook either. But for me, it's my hobby." She carried the empty take-out cartons to the dustbin. Brandon yawned.
"You must be tired. Are you really okay with driving back? I don't want you to fall asleep at the wheel." He went up to her and hugged her from behind.
"Would you let me stay the night?" he whispered cheekily. Gabriella lightly slapped his shoulder.
"Don't even go there!" She scolded him. He cried out in pain. She forgot his arms were still sore.
"Ah, it hurts!"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot!" she said quickly, wishing she hadn't done that. His face twisted in pain. She looked worried.
"I didn't mean to… I'm sorry! Sit down, I'll get you the ice packs again." She didn't see Brandon's little smile as she turned to the kitchen. She went to the fridge and took the ice packs out again after she had kept them in the fridge earlier.
"Here you go." She placed the ice pack where she had tapped his arm. He let out a sigh.
"I don't think I'll be able to drive back with my arms like this. Can't I stay here? I can sleep on the couch." He made a puppy dog face.
"Pretty please?"
"I have a feeling you're very good at getting what you want with that face," Gabriella said suspiciously. "It's not the first time I've seen it. Fine, you can stay. On the couch, mind." He pecked her on the cheek.
"You're the best."
"Oh stop. Let me get you a toothbrush and blankets." She went to her room. She took out a new toothbrush, a blanket, and a pillow.
"You can use that bathroom. I don't want you coming into my room while I'm asleep." He grinned.
"Why? Don't you trust me?"
"You might have saved my life, but you're still a guy. And I don't let any guys into my room without my permission."
"Yes ma'am."
"And if you need anything, knock first."
"Yes ma'am."
"Cut it out! You look like a kid when you do that." He pulled her down to sit next to him, wrapping an arm firmly around her.
"Then should I do something only a man would do?" He asked, his tone going low and husky. Gabriella's eyes widened and she gulped.
"I have to go to the bathroom." She said quickly. He let her go.
"You escaped that one. Alright, one point for you."
"Your arm seems fine now," Gabriella said, her eyes narrowing. Brandon blinked.
"It comes and it goes." He excused himself quickly. She turned to go, then turned back to him.
"Hey, we never did say who won the hundred-point game today."
"I did, obviously," Brandon said pertinently. Gabriella raised an eyebrow.
"I'll let that one slide since you're all achy." She yielded and went to her room. She brushed her teeth and changed into her nightgown. She went back to the living room and switched off the light. The only light was from the balcony window since the curtains were open. It gave a dim glow that lit up the couch. Brandon was already there, prepped for bed.
"Are you comfy enough?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, but I could use someone to hold," he said innocently and took her hand, tucking it under his. Gabriella gave a knowing smile.
"Brandon, I know you're not really hurt."
"What makes you say that?"
"If you were, you wouldn't want me next to you. My weight would hurt your arms too much." His eyes went thoughtful.
"Well, since the secret's out, I see no reason why you shouldn't at least sit next to me."
"Why would I do that?"
"Pretty please? I have trouble falling asleep in a new place." He pleaded with his puppy dog eyes. She sighed.
"If I sit here for a bit, will you go to sleep?"
"I promise."
"Fine." She sat beside him on the edge of the couch and heard him sigh contently.
"Boy, you are way too good at getting your own way," she commented. He patted her hand.
"Good night, Gabriella." He shut his eyes. She watched his face for a while, then felt her eyelids droop. She tried to stay awake, but she wanted to lie down, overcome with exhaustion from all the manual labor. She leaned against the back of the couch, dozing off. Brandon noticed it and slowly pulled her down next to him, letting her use him as a pillow. She moaned softly in her sleep. She tried to turn but his arm held her stomach to keep from falling off. Her eyes opened and she turned to look behind her. Brandon's eyes met her face.
"Don't go. Let's stay like this for tonight." He tried to turn her towards him, but she turned herself so that she was facing him. His arm fell in the curve of her waist, holding it securely. She placed her hands on his cheeks.
"You are devious, Brandon. You wanted this all along." She said, unable to hide the amusement from her eyes. Brandon simply kissed the tip of her nose.
"And I think you wanted it too. You just wouldn't admit it." her eyes fell to his chest abashedly.
"Will you let me give you a goodnight kiss?" He asked innocently. She touched his lips with her fingertips.
"Only if you agree to go to sleep." He nodded before pressing his lips on hers. She knew he wanted to continue, but she pulled away after a few seconds. She leaned her head on his chest so he couldn't reach her lips.
"Hey." She smiled to herself.
"That should put you to sleep." He kissed the top of her head.
"Sleep well, Gabriella," he whispered softly. Gabriella smiled in her sleep.
"Good night Brandon."
The yellow morning light streamed through the window. A ray of light fell on their faces as they slept. Brandon woke up, then looked down at the sleeping figure next to him. He placed his hand above her eyes to keep the light from her eyelids.
He had slept surprisingly well, despite being on a cramped couch. With Gabriella, he felt more comfortable than he did in his own king-sized bed at home. She hadn't even stirred much; only around two in the morning, she muttered something very softly. He woke up, trying to understand what she was saying.
"Brandon, Brandon." He was touched. She called his name in her sleep.
"Don't stop. Please. I want to…" she drifted off.
"Hmm." She sighed quietly. He wondered what she dreamt about. It involved him anyhow.
He felt her take a deep breath now and looked down. Her warm eyes were searching for him.
"Good morning, Gabriella. Did you sleep well?"
"I can't lie so… yeah, I did." She gave him a pretty smile. "You?"
"Cozily. I like sleeping with you. I could get used to it." She gaped at his bold admission and tried to get up in alarm. He didn't let go of her.
"Hold on, don't get up just yet." She turned to the clock. It was seven o'clock.
"Oh no, I'm late! I'm supposed to be at work in forty minutes!" she scrambled out and ran to the bathroom. Brandon sighed. He had to be at work by eight too. Now it would be a whole day before he saw her again. He got up, washed, and dressed.
"Brandon, do you think you could give me a ride? I already missed the seven-thirty bus." Gabriella asked after she dressed and came out.
"Of course. That's already a given." Brandon said, miffed that she would even ask. Gabriella grabbed her purse and keys and glanced at him.
"You ready?"
"All set. Let's go."
They drove to a café and bought a coffee and a muffin each. They ate in the car as they drove.
"I meant to ask you. What did you dream about last night?" Brandon asked Gabriella when they had finished eating.
"Why?" she asked.
"You were sleep-talking," Brandon said, wondering how she'd react. She gasped.
"What did I say? Was it something embarrassing? Please forget about it!"
"No, actually you were calling my name. You kept saying 'please don't stop', or something." Her face wrinkled up in thought. What did she dream about last night?
She suddenly remembered what she had dreamed, a few snatches of it anyway. She started forward in horror, her hands clinging to the seat.
"What? Gabriella, what's wrong?" she squeezed her eyes.
"I think it's best if you forget what you heard." She looked up and saw he had just parked in front of her office. She got out quickly.
"Wait! Gabriella! Why won't you tell me?"
"I'll… see you later Brandon!" she waved and ran out of sight. Brandon, still mystified, sat staring at the door to the building. Well, if she wouldn't tell him now, he'd ask her this evening. She can't hide it forever.