ALL CHARACTERS ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
-----------------------------------------------
Morning found me spooning with Jenna, still sleeping peacefully by my side. It was the first time in our admittedly few overnight encounters that I'd woken up before her.
I debated on waking her. Despite making love twice last night, just laying beside her still nude form was enough to get my blood flowing. I rubbed her arm gently. She stirred a bit, mumbled something unintelligible, then fell quiet.
I decided to let her sleep. My bladder wouldn't allow me the same luxury, and I reluctantly got up to give in to it's urgent demand. I decided since I was already up to brush, shave and shower. Though it was with some reluctance that I had to wash the scent of Jenna off of me.
Afterwards, I poked my head back into the bedroom to find that Jenna hadn't stirred at all. In fact, she was now lightly snoring. Not the loud, annoying type of snore that would keep you awake all night, but more like a purring kitten. My heart almost melted. I crept quietly into the room, got dressed, then slipped out to go fix our breakfast.
I knew Jenna liked French toast, and I had enough ingredients, so I got to work.
A few minutes later, I heard the bedroom door open, padded footsteps, and then the closing of the bathroom door.
Several more minutes went by before I heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door again open, followed almost immediately by the bedroom door being slammed.
Still more time passed before the door opened yet again and Jenna finally made her appearance, clad in baggy sweatpants and a tee shirt.
She'd always been so perky and upbeat on the few mornings we'd spent together before that I immediately noticed the change in her demeanor. She seemed grumpy.
"Good morning," I said, cautiously. "Coffee's brewing, breakfast will be done in a few. Your favorite; French toast."
"Not really my favorite," grumbled Jenna. She brushed past me and opened my fridge. "Got any orange juice?"
"No, sorry, I'm out."
"Dammit," she barked. She closed the door angrily.
Jenna turned to look at me and saw my surprise and concern. Her face softened. "I'm sorry, I'm being a bitch, aren't I?"
"I've...seen you happier. What's wrong?"
Jenna sighed. "Woke up with my period. I knew it was close, but didn't expect it today. Normally it's not this bad, but I just feel like crap. I shouldn't treat you like it, though. I'm sorry."
I sighed with relief. Despite how much we'd bonded, how close we'd become, the small part of me that would always be insecure had feared she'd woken up with regrets about finally having sex with me last night.
"Hey, it's okay, I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Why don't you go take a nice hot shower? Maybe it'll help you feel better. I can keep breakfast warm for you."
Jenna smiled gratefully. "Good idea, thank you." She slipped into my arms and embraced me. Our lips met for a few moments before Jenna broke the kiss, covering her mouth. "Morning breath," she mumbled, embarrassed. Shoulders slumped, she shuffled off towards the bathroom.
She seemed in better spirits when she finally returned about forty minutes later, hair dried and no makeup. She wore the same sweatpants as earlier, but the tee shirt had been replaced with a more form fitting tank top.
"There's my girl," I said, "feeling any better?"
Jenna's smile looked somewhat pained. "A bit, yes. I'm going to apologize in advance; my mood is gonna be all over the place today, and not just because of my period."
"Anything you wanna talk about?" I asked as I began heating up our plates.
Jenna noticed both plates and appeared startled. "You didn't eat yet?"
I shrugged. "I wanted to wait for you."
"You're too sweet. You didn't have to wait."
I shrugged again and hefted my mug. "I did have my coffee. It waits for no one."
That got a laugh out of her. The mood lightened somewhat, we both sat down to enjoy our late breakfast.
Between bites, Jenna told me what was on her mind. "We haven't really talked about this, but I suppose it's time we did," she began. "I have to go home next week. I'm not looking forward to it. My mom and I aren't getting along at all, and I don't like her new boyfriend."
"Plus," she said, her lip trembling, "I'm really gonna miss you." Her green eyes misted over with sadness.
"Hey, it'll be okay," I said, trying to comfort her. "We'll figure something out. Maybe I can take a few Fridays off, come visit, make an extended weekend of it."
Jenna's face twisted. "You couldn't stay at my moms. She'd never allow it. She wouldn't approve of any guy coming to visit, but you..." Her voice trailed off bitterly.
I sighed. "I get it. The age difference. Well maybe we could get a hotel room or..."
"You don't get it," Jenna snapped. "My mom wouldn't tolerate you at all. If you showed up, even to take me away for a weekend, she'd raise bloody hell." Her anger was palpable, although I wasn't sure if it was directed at me, or her mother.
Silence filled the room as I contemplated our options. "Well," I finally offered, "we can still call each other, video calls, Snapchat, you know, stay in touch that way."
Jenna growled in frustration. "For almost three months? The whole summer, alone with that witch, without being able to kiss you, or hold you, or...?" Again she began to cry.
I went over and pulled her up into my arms, hugging her tightly. She burst into fresh tears on my shoulder, openly weeping. "I should be h,h,happy to go home, to be with my m,m,mother, instead I'm d,d,dreading it, and I don't wanna leave you."
I held her quietly for several moments, trying to come up with a solution. Finally, I offered the only one that made sense.
"You could stay with me."
Jenna looked up at me, sniffing. "R...really?" Her eyes looked hopeful.
"Of course," I said. "I know, my place is small, but it would only be for a few months, right? Just until you went back to school. We could make it work."
"No, no," Jenna objected. "I couldn't put you out like that. It's too much to ask. I'd just be in your way."