Chapter 24 Earlier That Morning
Even before Donna opened her eyes, she could smell the aroma of coffee lingering through the air. So as her eyes focused there was no surprise as to where she was and what had happened. Danced ‘til two thirty, showered and in bed by three fifteen. The light of day was deceiving, although it felt like morning the brightness outside made it seem more like brunch. She took her time lying there and waking, coming to slowly it was early earlier than she would have liked. Times had changed as she slid into a white T-shirt with that damn red “N” emblazed on the entire front and a pair of sweats that she could have had made into three different pairs that fit correctly but still it was a thoughtful gesture to put them on the bench at the end of the bed. She moved like a vampire trying to avoid contact with the bright rays of light that were shinning through the edges of the blinds on the far wall.
“Morning.” the Husker greeted her softly despite his elevated levels of caffeine.
“Good morning.” she replied, her strides more of a lazy shuffle than actual steps, each foot seemed to refuse to lift from the ground as not to tempt gravity, balance, and coordination quite yet that day. The Husker was more in the habit of four hours of sleep, yes four hours was fairly normal. Five hours was a lot and six hours of sleep on more than a rare occasion was only a little less than gluttonous in his mind. As Donna took her seat at the small table with two chairs in the condo’s alcove of windows and doors leading from the kitchen to one of the patios, he placed a latte by her left hand as she used her right to shield her face from the sun. Her mind becoming clear quite quickly wasn’t hesitating to remind her that her feet hurt from the previous nights’ relentless pounding. Lactic acid was still pooling in her weary legs and now tight hips, a by products of last nights rhythms, some of which could still be heard in the distance somewhere inside of her head. The Husker sat a fruit plate on the table, it was seemingly well thought out and the pieces were even an arranged in a visually presentation. Sliced apple next to six grapes places in a perfect row that butted up against three strawberries, that while cleaned and cord had seen better days, the deep red luster was becoming dark with age, firmness once a given thing, was now mostly a thing of the past.
The Husker in his classic all American good looks, looked like he fell out of the J. Crew late summer and early fall collection, his looks more traditional than that of a man who danced the night away for the first time in his life only a few hours earlier. Sure when he was young there were fall formals and homecoming. Christmas regalia’s and snow ball dances. Without fail he was always asked and accompanied to the Sadie Hawkins dance annually. As a sophomore he was asked to the prom by a senior cheerleader, more of a gold digger than someone of genuine interest in him. He had learned to choose his companion’s after that. In college there were mixers, and balls, cotillions and formals. As an adult he attended state dinners and inaugurations, he participated in the refined cultured world of dance, waltzes and what not. Before 13 hours ago he had never danced just to dance, instead he had always danced out of expectation and obligation, not for joy, or out of expression. He had never before moved in time with so many others out of reckless abandon before returning to his life, returning to duty, living up to expectations and not who he was supposed to be, for the first time understanding just slightly who he really was. He thought it might be OK to set his own expectations and care for his own needs. He thought of what Michal’s response in describing his concerns for his situation and relationship. As he explained his dilemma of keeping the relationship hidden and the pushing and questions and everything associated with that. She just sipped her latte and nibbled on grapes. She played with the strawberries, taking it all in as she finished she said, “I thought this was just a casual thing.” She said it in an attempt to be sensitive if he was starting to feel differently, this was never intended to be more than it was, they had kept their dating in the shadows for so many months. She wasn’t looking for anything much more serious than what she had up to that point. Somewhere a long time ago she learned that the thought of love and romance or something beyond satisfying her physical needs never ended well. There was always pain and disappointment, expectations and intentions were rarely met.
“It is casual, but it’s also stupid that we have to keep driving to remote parts of town just to have a cup of coffee in public.”
Perhaps Donna was making more of this than she originally thought, he had met her friends, Nadrea hadn’t even terrorized him too much. “OK, so what were you thinking?” He paused “Brunch, on Sunday at my usual place.”
Pausing and biting into an apple slice from the plate. “But isn’t it always the same crowd?”
He laughed, “Yes, but that can be said for everywhere. Tomorrow there will be a group other than the regulars, people rotate through, show up sometimes but not others.” The Husker’s paused because Donna looked as if she looked like she was ready to speak but was still formulating the words.
“Will the bitch be there?” There really was no other way to describe Christy in her mind. “Yes but we’ll hit her blind side, that way.”
“Alright, I’ll go” she said more like she was being taken to something that wasn’t fun. Finishing her latte the couple decided to spend the day wondering through the Smithsonian together and as they were leaving for Donna’s to get her “some reasonably sized clothing” the Husker’s phone began to ring. She saw the name on the display and couldn’t resist opening it before giving it to him. In more ways then she cared to admit, she was still the slut fucking the prom queens date. The Husker answered. “Hello?”
Next Chapter Lingering Thoughts
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