We were heading down Interstate 280, whizzing along at a speed I doubted was legal. Most of the sights weren’t all that interesting, but I enjoyed the spaces of green. Every so often we even saw waterways, where birds had made their homes. Timothy pointed out a pelican. Nice.
It was very cozy on the ultra-plush seats. I started getting sleepy before we’d gone far. I guess I yawned once too many times because Timothy grinned then stood up. I thought he was just stretching and marveled at an automobile having sufficient room to stand in, but he seemed intent on opening the cabinet next to the refrigerator. He pulled out a blanket and unfurled it, then spread it over me.
“There, now you can take a nap. I have a very comfortable lap for laying your head down,” he said as he sat back down and buckled up again.
Like that was going to happen. I almost snorted at the humor of it, but then another yawn hit me. “Are you saying you’d welcome drool covered pants?” I mumbled.
“A love souvenir?” Timothy said through a smile I could hear, if not see. My eyes were already closed. The blanket had further disinclined me from wakefulness. I was too snug, too comfortable, and too sleepy to engage in further discussion about that subject or any other. I think I was only a minute away from sagging against his amazingly comfortable shoulder, and then it was lights out for me.
Timothy
Having her so near, giving me the kind of trust that said she could fall asleep sitting next to me — it was amazing. When I saw that she was breathing deeply, I slid her down into my lap, so she wouldn’t wake up with a cramped neck.
That was even more incredible. I was free to drink her in, to touch her hair, to admire the delicacy of her features. She was beautiful. That was a given. I remembered how I’d felt that evening at the Sanders’ when I thought her no more than another beauty queen. What a fool I’d been, more judgmental and negative than a thousand kings.
Her breath was a gentle puff against my leg. With another woman, I might have flared with sexual hunger, but not with Penelope. Oh, I wanted her, of course, but right now, my feelings for her were sternly restricted to friend mode. I absolutely refused to allow my body to respond in the way it yearned. Not yet. Not until she was ready.
Looking down at her, a wave of emotion hit me. Never had I felt so much affection for anyone as I did at that moment.
“She is my everything,” I whispered to Andrew.