The Sequel to
A New Beginning - Mike and Sarah
***
As I woke up next to Sarah the following morning the first thing I realised I was more content than I had been in years. She was so beautiful lying there asleep content in my arms, completely oblivious to the storm in my head. I needed to run, so I tried to disentangle myself gently but the second I moved away she moaned in protest. I was not sure she was awake, but she seemed to sub-consciously protest my movement. I was able to hush her easily,
"Sshh baby girl I'm just going for a run, I'll be back before you know it." To this day I'll have no clue if she heard the words I said or if my voice calmed her but she settled quickly after that and I was able to leave the house. I needed to run, running was my time and I was confused. While I was with Sarah, I never thought about the speed at which we were moving and yet and I am not sure at that point I was able to admit it to myself, my every thought was on where we were going. I also wasn't sure Sarah or I were ready to discuss that given the speed at which we were moving. But I did know we weren't going to get much further unless we agreed on our direction.
4 miles and just under 40 minutes later I was walking back into my bedroom. Sarah was fully awake this time, I was breathing hard so I wasn't able to say much but I was fully aware of her eyes on me. By the time I had calmed down, she had gotten out of bed and worked her way into my arms. My troubled thoughts disappeared just from her touch. Looking into her eyes, the self-doubt from my run returned, I don't if she recognised it but her look changed. She just squeezed me a little harder and whispered, "You're sweaty and stinky. Get in the shower and I'll meet you in the kitchen.
Walking into the kitchen 20 minutes later I saw my dream girl wearing my t-shirt making breakfast concentrating over the stovetop. She was making omelettes with full concentration. Unable to help myself I cuddled her from behind, but she had no time for my approach and pushed me back with her hips, with an unrecognisable firmness to her voice, "Hey, you've fed me without me disturbing you, now sit down and let me cook you breakfast."
So I did. She was grace in motion and there were no wasted movements, just watching her I was convinced she was a better cook than I was, something I would never admit easily. And so less than 10 minutes later she was serving me the most perfect omelette I had ever had. As I wondered about her obvious skill in the kitchen and where to lead the conversation, she opened the conversation, "I didn't know you ran".
Slightly distracted and still unsure of my thoughts I decided to let her lead. "Running is my 1 non-negotiable, I run in the morning about 4 times a week and work out with weights in the evening about the same. I like it. As long as I get my run in the morning my evening workout is optional. In an ideal world, I work out 4 times a week. But instead of finding an hour a day, I split the work run in the morning and weights after work. That way I get 2 intense 30-40 minute workouts a day instead of forcing 90 minutes after work".
Sarah looks at me intently for a moment, before responding, "That's so clever. I swap 45 minutes of yoga and strength work every day and only take weekends off."
I chuckle and decide to compliment her, "Well whatever it is you do, it pays off. Want to tell me how you developed that system?" I ask innocently.
Her face darkens slightly before she responds "It works for me and I don't see you complaining with the results."
Realising this is a topic we need to address later I change the subject back to the breakfast she made, "I'll never complain about your body. But you must tell where you learned how to make omelettes like this. You call me a chef but you've mastered a piece of classical cooking I never will."
Blushing through the compliment, she simply responds "You'll have to earn that information."
Breakfast that morning is so pleasant I lose all track of time and once I finally bring my mind back on track, I only have 5 minutes to get ready before I need to leave for work. Sarah makes herself comfortable on my bed as I change and gives me such a predatory look I can imagine being back in Botswana watching a lion hunt.
By the time I'm ready to leave, she looks no closer to being ready. Internally I'm panicking, I've never left a woman in my house alone before. Sarah notices the panic on my face and reassures me, "Don't worry I'm going home soon, I'm on half day starting at 12. I'm just going to tidy the kitchen and I'll lock up on my way out".
Still unsure of how she read my thoughts so easily I head to work. At work, I'm more than useless, I can't stop thinking about how Sarah has worked her way into my life so easily and where we go from here. She told Mandy that we're working on it but apart from a couple of group nights at the pub and 2 weekends of fantastic sex we know nothing about each other from which to build a relationship. I now know what to do but I'm terrified of the result. Hesitantly I text her
Me: Hey, if we went to a restaurant what would be your pick?
Sarah: Chinese, Indian, Italian. Why?
Me: Well I hope you don't mind, but I want to take you on a proper date this weekend.
I don't get a response for a long while, and it's taking everything I have not to just call her and apologise. Just before I give in she responds.
Sarah: That's sweet but you don't have to do that, I love movie nights with you. You don't have to take me out to prove a point.
Without much room for recourse, I lay my cards on the table.
Me: I love our movie nights too, but I need to see if we have a future, and that will take a little more than a movie at mine. If we're going to have something we need to spend time together alone, and I don't trust either of us to do that at mine given the how last 2 weeks have gone as awesome as that time has been.