Well, last night sucked.
"I wonder what I should make for breakfast. Maybe a fruit salad with Bulgarian yoghurt and then we can have sweet and sour chicken for dinner. I can do a light lunch." Tatum thought to himself.
"I will marinate the chicken now and refrigerate it till then." He mused.
Tatum got busy doing all the little things a housekeeper is supposed to do, every so often he would sings a little tune or dance as he moved around the kitchen.
Two hours passed in this way, where Tatum cleaned the lounge and downstairs rooms then ended back in the kitchen.
Deciding to make some iced tea, he sang and danced around the kitchen again like earlier, swaying his hips.
"Pfft!" Andrew stood in the doorway chuckling.
"Wha-?" Tatum was surprised to see him standing there.
"You're too cute!" Andrew laughed.
"E-excuse me? How long have you been standing there?" Tatum asked
"Long enough to know your moves, Tatum." Andrew smiled at Tatum while speaking.
*blush* "Oh!" Tatum was embarrassed.
"Haha anyway, I'm done with my exercise for today," Andrew said.
He was indeed; he stood there glistening with sweat
Tatum quickly turned his head away blushing again. "Um would you like some ice tea?" Tatum asked.
"Hmm sounds good," Andrew replied.
Tatum quickly poured two glasses of iced tea he had made just now.
"Here," Tatum said - sliding the tea across the counter he let go very quickly trying to avoid a repeat of last night's activities.
*If he grabbed my hand right now my heart might burst* Tatum thought.
Andrew noticed how quickly Tatum removed his hand and moved away.
He had felt her rampaging pulse last night when he grabbed her wrist; it had turned him on so much that he had spent the 2 hours before bed overexerting himself in the gym.
He watched her quietly, seeing the flush creep up the back of her neck; she knew he was staring at her.
"Um, w-will fruit salad with Bulgarian yoghurt be fine for breakfast?" Tatum asked meekly.
"Hmmmm, No, I think we will be going out for the afternoon, so we can have something light now," Andrew answered.
"I want to test out my newfound resolve. I have a team of bodyguards that Jonathan stationed around the estate that will be following us; they covertly followed us last week as well." Andrew said.
"Oh! I didn't know" Tatum said. * I didn't even notice any guards anywhere* His thoughts were silent.
"Yes, there is a guard's dorm on the south side of the property they do not come up to the house unless they have to, the whole estate is secure," Andrew said.
"I-i see, so Sir where are we going exactly?" Tatum asked softly.
"It's Andrew and Tatum, and we are going to the amusement park." Andrew smiled while looking at Tatum's reaction to his words.
Tatum's jaw dropped wide open… "T-the amusement park!" He was shocked.
"Yes," Andrew said.
"A-are you sure?" Tatum asked for assurance.
"Absolutely!" Andrew looked perfectly composed while speaking.
"Okay, well then if you're sure you're up to it." Tatum replied.
He gave her a sideways smile. "I hope I'm sure too."
Tatum looked at him perplexed, what does that mean?
"Tatum?" Andrew spoke in a low voice.
"Um yes?" Tatum answered.
"Go get dressed up," Andrew said sweetly.
"Oh okay," Tatum replied.
As Tatum walked to the stairs, he watched her go following the sway of her hips.
"Tatum one more thing," Andrew called out.
"Er, yes?" Tatum said
"Will you hold my hand while we are out again?" Andrew looked embarrassed when he asked.
Tatum suddenly smiled at him.
"Of Course!" Then she ran up the stairs.
His heart was pounding like crazy, the moment she smiled at him his heart rate soared.
Okay, well that's crazy, I'll go get showered and dressed. Andrew thought quickly
Andrew dressed in a nice casual black shirt and jeans
Then he came downstairs seeing Tatum already in the kitchen preparing some coffee for them both.
She had her head in the fridge likely fetching the milk, he snuck up behind the fridge door, and when she was busy closing the door he said whatcha doing!
Tatum had such a fright that she smacked him with the fridge door right on the nose it was pretty hard he saw sparks for a moment or two.
Tatum quickly put down the milk and then grabbed his face in between her hands so she could look at his nose. She was so close her pink lips right in front of his as she peered at his nose.
He felt like being silly.
"You better kiss my nose better it hurts like hell." Andrew said with a pout.
Tatum's eyes went wide
"I mean it kiss it better," Andrew said still pouting.
"N-no I can't do that" Tatum said protesting.
"I'm telling you it hurts like mad you have to kiss the pain away even a little peck will do." Andrew insisted.
Tatum stared at his nose then flicked her eyes to his.
"Um" Tatum was unsure of what to say or do.
"I'm joking Tatum" He could see she was struggling with herself.
As she let go of his face and turned back to the counter to finish the coffee, he laughed softly.
"Let's have our coffee then we can leave," Andrew said slowly.
"Mmm okay," Tatum mumbled.
Andrew kept glancing at her.
When they had finished their drink they made their way to the front door. As Andrew opened the door he turned to Tatum "Will you hold my hand again?"
Tatum lit up, "Sure!" She smiled widely.
*too cute* Andrew thought.
Andrew got in first and Tatum ran around for the driver's seat.
"Um where is the amusement park?" Tatum asked.
"Oh not far there is a fair near town so just on the outskirts of the town where we went to the market." Andrew replied.
"Oh okay not far then, great let's head out." Tatum said confidently.
As they drove Tatum focused on the road, and Andrew focused on her
"Y-you're staring at me" Tatum noted softly.
"Nope" Andrew said with a grin
"Oh" Tatum was confused.
"Haha, sorry Tatum you just intrigue me, you're very different from any other woman I've ever met" Andrew stated.
"Hmmm" Tatum didn't really know what to reply.
"What?" Andrew asked.
"N-nothing" Tatum said softly.
They arrived at the fair and the parking lot was packed, Andrew had a look of anxiety starting on his face.
Tatum reached over and grabbed his hand "don't worry you will be fine."
"How do you know?" Andrew asked
"I just do" Tatum smiled at Andrew while squeezing his hand.
*I can't tell you, but I know* Tatum thought to himself.
They got out and Tatum walked around the car and then laced his fingers with Andrew's again.
Making their way towards the gate entrance Tatum tripped on a tree root, Andrew instinctively caught her with an arm around her waist, and before letting her go he squeezed lightly, "Are you okay?"
"Y-yes thank you hehe" Ttaum giggled
They paid admission at the gate and then strolled through the various stalls and attractions.
Andrew kept smelling gardenias like the smell was stuck to his clothing, and he didn't feel panicked or stressed being among all these people, it was strange this many people should have had him in an absolute tizz but he felt calm and was actually enjoying the outing.
Tatum pulled him towards a shooting gallery.
"Can you shoot?" Tatum asked.
"I have never tried" Andrew replied laughing.
"Aah okay, so you want a teddy?" Tatum asked him sweetly.
"Tatum, I'm 35 I don't think I need a Teddy" Andrew answered without really taking Tatum's feelings into consideration.
Her face fell just a fraction.
"Okay, I'll win myself one. Wish me luck" Tatum blurted out
The open joy in her face at telling him she was going to win herself a teddy then wrenched at his heart, why had he turned her down just now?
Well besides being 35 and a grown man he would actually have liked a teddy from Tatum for some reason.
Dammit.
Tatum took aim, and then held her breath, she shot out 6 bulls eyes in a row never missing a shot, the stall hand's eyes were saucers.
"Bloody hell girl, that's a first here you are the jackpot prize winner." The stall hand shouted.
Tatum beamed at him.
"Told you so" Tatum beamed at Andrew.
Andrew found himself returning the grin.
"Are you sure you don't want him, he is so cuuuuute." Tatum waved the bear in Andrews's face giggling.
"Haha, you don't want him?" Andrew grinned
"It's just I wanted to win him for you *blush*" Tatum was embarrassed.
"Thank you, Tatum" He graciously accepted the bear.
"What about a game I can actually play so I can win you something?" Andrew asked.
"Ah okay, what do you want to try out?" Tatum asked in return.
"Well, I'm fairly strong so what about the high striker?" Andrew mused.
"Do you mean the thing with the hammer and bell at the top?" Tatum asked.
"Yes." Andrew replied.
"Okay yeah, that sounds like fun." Tatum smiled.
"Hey I have to win you something, and I'm bigger than you by a lot, you can't possibly beat me." Andrew smirked.
"You wanna bet?" Tatum asked cockily.
Andrew thought for a second. "I can't lose"
"Sure thing" Andrew stated.
"Okay, what do I get if I win?" Tatum asked boldly
"What do you want? What about a kiss?" Andrew threw out.
"Nooooo! Um if I win I want to go on the top drop" Tatum blushed while speaking.
"What? The 90-degree drop rollercoaster? Are you insane?" Andrew asked shocked.
"Are you scared, Mr Pearce?" Tatum asked giggling
"Hell yes!! I'm shitting my pants." Andrew retorted.
"Ha ha ha! "Tatum couldn't stop laughing.
Andrew was staring at this beautiful open person who shared her joy so openly.
"Pffft. And if you win Mr Pearce?" Tatum asked.
"Can it be anything?" Andrew asked.
"Within reason yes," Tatum said.
"Can I tell you later?" Andrew asked.
"You won't have to because you're not going to win." Tatum boldly stated.
"You're bloody cheeky, haha" Andrew guffawed.
"Yup you got that right." Tatum smiled
They made their way to the high striker.
Andrew was stretching his arms loosening the muscles
"I'm not losing to a tiny thing like you" He declared.
"Tiny?" Tatum asked shocked.
"Tatum, you are half my size which makes you tiny," Andrew stated.
"No that just makes you a giant. Haha," Tatum retorted.
"I'm still not losing" Andrew declared.
"We'll see" Tatum smiled
The prizes at the high striker were pretty good; there was even a voucher for the country kitchen restaurant they passed on their way in.
Andrew stepped up to the plate, gripped the hammer and swung it in a high arc bringing it down with reverberating strength, the disk moved to about two-thirds up the vertical stand.
"Wow, that's a new record, you sir set the highest score what prize would you like?" The stall hand asked.
Andrew looked over the prizes and saw a pair of fake horns on a hairband; he chose this to give to Tatum.
He handed it to Tatum looking proud.
Tatum looked at the hairband and started laughing… "um thank you." What an odd gift, but then again
Tatum put on the horns and stepped up to the plate… "I hope you are ready to ride the top drop."
"Ha let's see about that" Andrew scoffed.
Tatum gripped the hammer, and then placed his right foot back and his left forward he put the hammer on the ground behind his right foot and bent at an odd angle; Andrew smelt gardenias and another more earthy smell.
He barely saw the hammer as it flew through the air to come down with such force that the base plate broke in half, but the disc didn't move.
The attendant swore loudly and ran up.
"Sorry miss I think the baseplate must have been cracked, so it was faulty I'll give you a consolation prize and then we will have to close the stand." The Stall hand was saying.
He handed Tatum the restaurant voucher and waved her off.
Andrew was still staring at the baseplate, he was sure it had no crack earlier.
And the hammer had flown with so much force that it had been a blur, he glanced at Tatum and then at the plate.
"No way, impossible," Andrew mumbled.