Up & Out - Ariella Papa [40]
Seamus gives me a brand-new toothbrush. He went to the dentist just last week. He also gives me some pajamas, which I don’t understand. I brush my teeth in his bathroom, studying my spit to try to remember what I had eaten. In the morning, I will hate myself for getting too drunk to enjoy my food and for spending too much, but tonight I need a little sugar in my bowl.
I strip down to my black bra and Tabitha’s Taboos underwear and go into Seamus’s bedroom. He is lying on his back on the bed. His eyes are closed and his pants are still on. This doesn’t look promising.
“Seamus,” I say, letting the “mus” ring out at the end.
“Mmm?” He moves his head to me, squints his eyes open and closes them again. It looks like I’ll have to take matters into my own hands. The room is spinning, but if I make it to the bed, I will be fine. I climb up on the bed and straddle him.
“What are you doing?”
“Dunnnoooo.”
“You don’t.” I reach for his belt. “I do.”
“Rebecca?” he says with a question in his voice.
“Yes, Seamus?” I lean my face close to his. I start to kiss his chin.
“I think I’m in a food coma.” Record scratch. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This is the fucking honeymoon period. When you first go out with someone, it’s like television sweeps. You pull out all the stops, guest stars, props, everything. You don’t eat too much, drink too much and fall asleep. Not when mama needs a little treat.
“Are you sure?” I kiss his neck this time. I rub the front of his pants. Nothing is happening. “You don’t want to…see?”
“Errrrrr.” I could get the hint. I am used to being celibate. If only I had kept up with him in the beginning, then our drunkenness might have peaked together. I roll off him.
“Do you want me to stay?” Honestly, I could have fooled around for hours, but there was no way I was getting myself dressed and into a cab. There was only one right answer to that question.
“Yes.” He pulls me into him rather clumsily. He might suffocate me. Also, he hasn’t had the chance to brush his teeth yet. I wriggle into a more comfortable position. He is spread across the bed, so it isn’t easy to get under the sheets, but I manage.
“Okay,” I say. I still hope for something. “Set the alarm for the morning.”
“Okay,” he says, but he doesn’t move.
I fall asleep soon after…and wake up first in the morning. I have a raging headache, so I can only presume how bad he must feel. He is snoring. He looks pretty cute. I get up and brush my teeth.
When I crawl back onto the bed, I am wearing his robe for maximum coverage. I have found my inhibitions again this morning. I leave the robe open a little at the top.
As I am positioning myself to go in for the kill, he opens his eyes, which kind of freaks me out.
“Oh,” I say, lifting my face up. “Hi.”
“Ugh, I feel like shit.” Then he smiles. “Good morning.”
He pulls me up close and kisses me. I don’t even mind the morning breath. I could deal for a little morning nooky.
“You got me very drunk, last night, Rebecca.” He slips a hand into the robe. It’s warm.
“Me? You are the one who was serious about the sake.”
We laugh and kiss. Okay, this is looking good. Then he pulls back. “Do you want me to go get bagels?”
Is it possible that I have found a guy who likes to eat more than I do? Perhaps he just can’t perform when he’s hung over. Questions are already forming in my head, which will likely preoccupy me if we ever do get round to the act. There is no use doing anything now. The moment has passed.
“I’ll go,” I say, sitting up. “You just rest and I’ll also get you some orange juice and coffee.”
“You’re wonderful.” He reaches out to touch my hair. I feel like we are skipping straight to the comfortable period—without the honeymoon.
I get directions to the local bagel shop, and specific instructions on what kind of cream cheese to get. In the shop, as soon as I smell garlic I am hungry again. Okay, maybe Seamus had a point. We just need fuel and then we can have