The First Night
“Godddd this is so good.” I moaned.
“I know.” Frank replied, slurping up a noodle that had halfway escaped from his fork.
“I can’t believe they agreed to deliver despite the very strict no delivery policy stated on Yelp.” I said, setting down my fork and staring at Frank suspiciously. He chuckled.
“The owner is an old friend. He owes me a few favors.”
“Gotcha. Well I don’t care why they do it as long as they’ll keep bringing spaghetti this good to my door whenever I want it.” I announced, biting into a piece of garlic bread. “Hey, stop that!”
Frank looked up guiltily - he’d been sneaking Lola a piece of meatball under the table.
“I can’t resist her, ma’am.” He said, sitting back up.
“Well you’re gonna have to try.” I pushed back from the table and grabbed the half empty bottle of red and on the counter. “Want some more?”
Frank nodded and I refilled his glass. When he’d first arrived in my little one bedroom apartment, he’d seemed nervous, standing in the corner with his hands in his pockets as I hustled around turning on lights and cranking up the radiator. Now, however, his boots were off and he was leaning back in his chair, his lips stained a little from the wine.
I personally was feeling as lazy as a cat with two glasses of wine and a plate of spaghetti in my stomach, the heat from the apartment folded around me like a sweater. I stretched and noted that Frank’s eyes traveled to the strip of my stomach that was exposed when I raised my arms over my head. I blushed and pulled my sweater down, getting up with a groan.
“And where do you think you’re going sweetheart?” Frank asked in a tone that sent a little shiver down my spine.
“Dishes!” I said, gesturing at the plates and utensils littering the table.
“Nah, I don’t think so.” Frank said, getting up slowly and starting to gather them. “I got it.”
“You’re my guest!” I protested feebly, but I was already dropping back into my chair, and Frank smirked.
“That’s what I thought.”
I watched as he moved through my kitchen like he’d been there a hundred times before, washing dishes and stacking them in the drying rack, sneaking a few bits of food to Lola, wiping down the counters and finally turning to face me, dish towel over his shoulder. I grinned.
“Wanna watch a movie?”
Frank nodded and moved towards my couch, chuckling when Lola immediately jumped into his lap when he sat down. I flicked off the kitchen light and joined him setting both of our wine glasses down on the table and was suddenly grateful for the size of my couch because it allowed our shoulders to brush. I leaned forward to pick up the remote and immediately cued up “Hateful Eight.” I turned my head to see Frank’s reaction and saw that he approved.
“Big Tarantino fan?” He asked.
“Yes.” I said without further explanation, picking up my wine and settling back into the couch.
As these things usually go, we ended up talking through the entire movie. I did most of the talking and he asked questions, which I expected and as the wine loosened my tongue even more, was happy to oblige.
“So we had this cat - no wait, a dog, wait, a rabbit,” I dissolved into laughter and Frank looked up.
“Oh god, our first date and I’ve already got you drunk.”
“So this is a date?” I said, sitting up and fixing him with a challenging look with my eyes narrowed. Frank stared right back.
“Is that okay with you, ma’am?”
“More than okay.” I said, satisfied. I pivoted my body so my back was leaning against the armrest of the couch and before I knew what was happening, Frank had carefully picked up my legs and put them across his lap. I tried not to show my surprise and instead rested my head on the back of the couch and allowed my eyes to drift closed.
When I woke up, I was covered in a blanket and there was something hot and heavy across my stomach. I opened my eyes slowly and became aware that I was lying across the couch with Frank curled up behind me, his arm around me.
I shifted slightly and he was immediately awake, yanking his arm back as if my body was white-hot.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” I said softly, still not facing him. I gave him a minute until I felt him relax again and then I slowly wiggled around until I was facing him, our noses practically touching.
“Hi.” I said sleepily.
“Hi.” Frank choked out. His eyes were so soft, his lips still slightly red. I raised my hand and slowly traced his eyebrows, down his nose, and hovered my index finger above his mouth.
“Is this okay?” I asked.
“More than okay.” He whispered and I smiled. He leaned in and rested his forehead against mine, arm snaking back around my waist. I fell back into a deep, dreamless sleep and when I woke up, he was gone.