Edited by HJF
The next morning was typical for the two lovers in many ways, but this morning their early morning sex session that had become their custom had a little more tenderness than usual. It seemed both could feel the emotions still hanging in the air from the previous night. When it was over Katy made no attempt to rush away like usual. Instead she just laid there quietly treasuring the feel of him against her body.
Finally tired of the eerie silence Brandon spoke up, "You're awfully quiet this morning," he said, trying not to sound like he found anything wrong with that. She did not answer and he spun her to face him and looked her in the eyes. "Baby, what's wrong?"
She hesitated and then said, "Please don't hate me for asking this, but I have to."
"Ask what honey?"
She took a deep breath and asked, "What you said last night, did you really mean that or were you just trying to get into my pants again?" Brandon was a little angry, but he hoped his understanding showed through more. The question was irritating, yet understandable. Katy had been taken advantage of so many times that she could not trust him when he was sincere.
"Of course I meant it, every word. I love you Katy Hemmings and nothing changes that." Then after a pause he said, "That said I understand the question, I know you've been hurt and as well as we know each other we're still new on the trust thing, but..."
She stopped him, "I know, I'm sorry, I just had to ask, I'm sorry I doubted you. It won't happen again, I promise." Then, after a pause she asked, "So what does a girl gotta do around here to get some breakfast?"
Brandon looked at her confused, "But babe, you usually..."
Katy narrowed her eyes and asked suspiciously, "You wouldn't be trying to get rid of me would you? What's the matter, do you have another date for breakfast?"
"Of course not!" Brandon said.
"Good, then you're free to spend it with me, that is unless you don't want to..."
She was messing with him and he knew it, but that did not make being on the full defensive any more comfortable. Thoroughly confused at both her sudden shift in attitude and her new desire to change the morning routine Brandon did his best to gather his thoughts and give an intelligent, if not the correct answer.
"Of course I'd love to have breakfast with you my dear, but, and please don't take this the wrong way, don't you usually have somewhere to be about now? You know somewhere that makes it possible for me to perhaps survive this cruise?"
Katy smiled, clearly enjoying this game a lot, and said, "Well, while that is true, it is the last day of the cruise and I'd like to have breakfast with my boyfriend instead of my parents for a change. As for surviving, it's the last day. Daddy won't try to kill you so close to the end of the trip. Besides, weren't you all prepared to take on my dad last night for my hand? Or was that just talk, Brandon Metcalf?"
"Of course it wasn't," Brandon said, defensively thinking to himself that a day was still a long time to chance his survival. Still, the prospect of the entire day with Katy was very appealing. Knowing this could not be won Brandon smiled and asked, "Since it's impossible to cook you something myself would you prefer to order it in or go out?"
"Oooh, in sounds fun. That way we can fool around a bit before..."
"I like the sound of that," Brandon said, smiling.
"And then we can have a serious talk afterwards."
"I like that less." Brandon said, then added, "But I agree we do have stuff to discuss."
As promised after placing their breakfast order they fooled around some more both in bed and in the shower. By the time they finished their shower, in which neither really got clean, breakfast had arrived.
After an enjoyable meal together they began discussing the future. Things they had discussed before, but now more in earnest. Obviously the relationship was too new and neither was quite ready to assume they would make it, but they felt they needed to iron out more specifically what each wanted out of life to see whether they would match up. They agreed on many things like that they wanted kids and that if possible Katy would be a stay at home mom. They did disagree on the number of kids, but Brandon figured it was a non-factor as it was Katy who wanted more and truthfully he would not object so long as she did not mind having them.
However the big issue was where to live as both were close to their families, but he was from Chicago and she from Connecticut. Not to mention he now had a great job awaiting him in Chicago. More than that though was the immediate issue of the long distance relationship. Being at such a crucial point in their relationship neither wanted to be separated from the other, but thought it was too much of a risk to move in so soon.
Katy suggested he take her dad's offer for a few weeks, working for extra income until his new job was ready. It would give him pay for the time being and allowing him to be closer to her. Brandon thought it was an okay idea but did not like working for a man whose daughter he was involved with, especially a man like Tim Hemmings. He said nothing of this though to Katy, and although he suspected she knew he had withheld something from her she said nothing about it as she left for a scheduled day at the ships spa.
That day at lunch Jeff Martin, Brandon's new employer, sat down next to him.
"You look like a man lost, Brandon. This would not happen to be remorse over accepting my offer, would it?"
"No sir, I don't regret that at all. It's a heck of an opportunity and I thank you for it."
"I sense a 'but' in there somewhere."
"Yes, Mr. Martin..."
"Please call me Jeff."