"I'm not worried about the neighbors, 'cuz they're half a mile away," I declared. "But that doesn't mean I want Paul to know - yet."
"I know," he replied.
"You do?"
"Yeah. He might be a little freaked," he admitted.
"Yeah..."
I grinned at him, and we sat and stared, quiet again. I had never talked so little with someone, and felt so good doing it. It was like treading water, floating in a timeless pool with the sun glinting overhead, disappearing into its brilliance. I just wanted to stay.
He wrapped his long limbs around me on the couch, our naked skin warm and slippery in the afternoon summer heat. The birds were chirping wildly outside the window, and a sultry breeze wafted in through the open screen. I lay my head against his chest with a sigh.
Suddenly, I bolted upright.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know," Jonah answered lazily.
I jumped up and ran into the kitchen. The clock on the stove said 6:00.
"Oh my God. Paul's due home any minute. I can't believe it's this late!"
I swept Jonah's clothes up off the floor and thrust them toward him. He was slow getting up, and I realized with chagrin that he really didn't know the meaning of hurry. But he managed to put his pants and T-shirt on, and disappear down the driveway a full ten minutes before Paul arrived.
My heart was pounding, and I ducked into my room to try to calm it before I greeted him. I banged pots and pans around in the kitchen as a distraction, conjuring ideas for dinner. I knew his growling stomach would serve to focus his attention away from me.
****
I felt warm and full when I climbed between the covers that night, and it wasn't from the spaghetti and meatballs I'd thrown together for Paul. I thought back to the afternoon, and when I closed my eyes, I dared to imagine Jonah lying next to me. Maybe it couldn't happen tonight, but maybe it could happen soon.