When We Meet Again

“Go figure,” she mumbled wondering if she should slither out of bed and go clean up or if that was too much like pretending. Or maybe she should try waking him up? She regarded Dean as he slept. His long black lashes covered his green eyes and with his body folded up like that, he looked like a small child…a very tall small child but nevertheless. His hair was a bit long in front; it flopped into his eyes obscuring them from sight. She wanted to reach out and brush it back from his face but she might wake him and she didn’t want to do that. Not yet. When else would she have a chance to watch him like this? She moved slightly wanting to get out of bed and visit the bathroom but his hand tightened on her waist holding her in place. She thought about just lying there but her need was getting urgent so she picked up his hand with hers and moved it slowly off her. He uttered an unconscious sound of protest but did not wake so Meaghan was able to get her toe out of bed and then slither out. She crept to the bathroom and did her business and then looked in his cabinets to see if he had an extra toothbrush by any chance. She found one in the drawer under the sink and brushed her teeth. Her mouth felt all furry and smelly like a cat had crawled in there and died. She searched for mouthwash as well just to clear the last of that taste from her mouth and then headed to the kitchen to find some water to drink. Her eyes fell on the coffee maker and she shrugged; it looked all ready to go, all she had to do is switch it on so she did. She looked around wondering if it’d be overstepping to get some breakfast going. She was extremely hungry. Her eyes fell on the refrigerator and she crossed over to it and opened it. Eggs, cheese, tomato; she could make an omelet. The smell of coffee was beginning to permeate the room and her spirits were perking up merely breathing it in. She beat the eggs together and fished out a blender from one of the cupboards to mix the tomatoes and cheese together. She opened the freezer to see if there were any sausages and was gratified to find a pack of spicy sausages. She put them on the grill and then went back to her omelet. Just as she was about to fire up the frying pan, there was a chime as the doorbell went. She waited to see if there would be any movement from the bedroom but nothing responded so she went down to get the door. A smiling delivery man in white handed her a basket covered by a napkin and she smiled her thanks and took it upstairs. Whatever was in it was clearly fresh baked just from the smell and her stomach rumbled in anticipation as she peeked to see what there was. A pile of baguettes and croissants stared back at her as she looked inside and her mouth began to water immediately. She selected one succulent pastry and popped it in her mouth as she went back to her cooking. The coffee was percolating merrily as she fried and she heard footsteps behind her.

“Good morning,” a raspy deep voice said behind her.

“Morning,” she replied not turning around.

There was a short silence punctuated by the sizzle of the eggs in the frying pan.

“You look good in my kitchen,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said lifting the egg out of the pan with the spatula. She was dressed in his monogrammed housecoat that she’d found behind the bathroom door and it was making her a bit self-conscious. She’d taken quite a few liberties with his home.

“Breakfast is served,” she said presenting the plate of omelet and sausage for his inspection. “Where can I get coffee cups?”

“Allow me,” he said straightening up from where he’d been leaning in the doorway in just his boxers and padding softly to a cabinet to get two cups out.

“Black with sugar?” he asked her.

“Actually if you have cream and sugar…”

“Okay,” he said carrying the cups ahead of her to the little breakfast alcove where they could watch the sun come up as they ate. Meaghan was headachy and Dean was subdued so it was a quiet meal although not uncomfortable.

“What are your plans for the day?” she asked.

Dean was very absorbed in cutting his sausages. “Well obviously it’s a work day. Do you have work today?” he asked finally looking up. Meaghan shook her head.

“Well would you maybe like to spend the day with me?” Dean asked. He sounded tentative and Meaghan didn’t know why.

“Well, I’d have to check with Bain. I think we might have set up something for lunch but I can definitely spend the morning with you,” she said.

Dean frowned. “Can’t you cancel with Bain? Just this once?” he sounded pretty irritated.

“Okay you know if you and me are going to go anywhere other than booty-call-land, you’re going to have to learn to get along with my best friend.”

Dean looked up at her with intense frustration. “I don’t refuse to get along with him. But you’ve had all this time with him, can’t I have you for one day without him being in the way?”

“He’s not in the way and you’re perfectly welcome to make plans with me in advance instead of trying to hijack Bain’s plans. That way you’re guaranteed as many hours as you want.”

Dean glared at her, “So, what? Bain gets first priority always?”

“That’s not what I said,” Meaghan said in exasperation.

“So what are you saying exactly?” he asked but his face was closed.

“I’m saying you’ve been making me feel like an afterthought in your life,” she said with a shrug. Dean looked at her as if stupefied and then he burst out laughing.

Meaghan stared at him wondering what was funny.

“An afterthought?” he repeated in disbelief. “You’re all I think about.”

Meaghan stared at him in disbelief, “Really? That sounds like a line.”

Dean leaned back in his chair. He picked up his coffee cup and drank as he looked at her. “How many afterthoughts in your life bother to meet your mother?” he asked her.

“You’d be surprised at the lengths people go to,” she said sipping her coffee.

Dean stared into his cup for so long Meaghan wondered if he was maybe seeing something in there; maybe divining the future. Meaghan smiled wryly at the thought. Dean finally looked up; fixing his deep green eyes on her.

“What do you want from me Meaghan?” he asked.