Steffi

12:

Carrie:

All-night and even into the dawning hours of morning, I lingered over Gary’s body restlessly. As the blazing sun commenced it’s eastward trek along the serene sapphire skies, marking the beginning of a new day, Gary aroused from his sleep.

“Did you sleep at all, baby?” Gary asked, concerned at the heavy bags forming under my exhausted eyes.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re ok,” I replied as I snuggled closer to his body.

“Is it true?” Gary went on with anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

“Is what true?” I inquired, oblivious to what he was referring to.

“You didn’t like me in the beginning?” Gary proceeded cautiously.

“I guess you heard us then,” I smiled nervously. Enveloping my hands around his, I unhesitatingly answered his question truthfully. “In the beginning, I didn’t like you as much as it seemed I did. But it’s different now… you know that I love you Gary,” I pleaded, hoping he would accept my explanation.

“Do you still like Kevin? I feel like such a jerk, I told Kev to back out. I told him not to pursue you cuz he liked you,” Gary admitted. Suddenly, Kevin’s behavior made sense to me. In the beginning, Kevin had no lost interest in me, he was forced to give up on me. I experienced an abrupt rush of anger towards Gary, but it passed as quickly as it came.

“Of course I don’t like Kevin,” I fibbed. Although Gary and I were now having a confessional session similar to the one Kevin and I had in the car, I did not think it was rational to tell Gary everything, just yet.

“You’re sure right?” he persisted, kissing my hand.

“Yes baby, I’m sure,” I asserted.

“Prove it to me then…” Gary trailed off.

“How?” I asked.

“Sleep with me…” Gary grinned.

“Gary, you know I won’t do that,” I retorted, appalled that he was even proposing such a thing. I made a vow to my mother and I was not about to forgo it to prove a point.

“No no… not sleep as in ‘sleeping’ with me. I mean, just lay down beside me in the bed. You seem really tired and it would make me feel a lot better. I would never forced something like that on you, you know that,” Gary smiled his picture perfect smile. I laughed at my own insecurity for I knew Gary would never impose something like that on me. I leisurely climbed into the bed beside him and we slept until noon.

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