The look of relief on Sarah's face when she saw
waiting for her in the parking lot, let
know sothing bad had happened at work. She didn't say anything when she climbed into the Humr, though. All she did was lean over to give
a quick kiss and then buckled in.
I thought about asking her if she was okay, then thought better of it. If she wanted
to know, she would tell
in her own ti. I could have cheated and checked for myself using telepathy, then ntally shrugged. No matter what it was, I'd be there for her if she wanted
to be.
I stopped at Baskin-Robbins and ordered two waffle cones at the drive-thru, hers with pistachio ice cream and mine was maple with walnuts. Her relieved look changed to gratitude after I paid for them and handed both cones to her. For so reason, she enjoyed taking that first lick from mine, so I always let her do it.
Sarah took a big lick, managed to grab two walnut pieces with her tongue, and closed her mouth to savour it. She let out a soft laugh when she saw how much of the top she had taken and handed it back. “Thanks.”
I winked at her and drove out of the parking lot with one hand and licked the other side of the cone to balance it out. We stayed silent as we enjoyed the tasty treat and I drove her ho by the scenic route. I would have driven straight there and stayed in the parking lot to finish eating; but, she didn't look like she wanted to go right ho.
I paced myself to match hers and I drove along the back streets where there was less traffic. If she changed her mind, it would be no fuss to change directions and head back to her place. When the last of the cones was gone, Sarah gave
a questioning look.
“I kind of feel like a walk along the wharf.” I said, nonchalantly.
Sarah smiled and nodded, so I turned the Humr around and went back down another street, crossed the main boulevard and drove down towards the water. There were many wharves along the beaches and I pulled up at one of the longer ones. It was a really nice night out, so the water was calm and the breeze was really nice.
I parked and ran around the front of the Humr, then opened her door and helped her down. She gave
a mixed look, since she was both flattered and annoyed. I gave her a kiss to make her lose the annoyed part and took her hand.
We walked down the short access road and onto the wharf. A few fishern were there, asleep of course, probably because they had been there all day. We didn't disturb them as we walked by and Sarah looked like she was enjoying the casual stroll a lot more than she should have. When we reached the end of the wharf, her happy face changed to show sadness.
“Your life isn't going to end, you know.” I said as I stared out into the ocean. The small waves barely cresting before they disappeared.
“It feels like it.” Sarah said and looked out over the water, too.
“Yeah, it does.” I agreed and she turned to look at . “I do have so brains inside this handso mug.”
Sarah laughed and smacked
with her free hand. “So!”
I grinned at her and looked back out at the water. “I have so news from work.”
Sarah let out a sigh. “I do, too.”
“I designed a new transistor and the patent was filed this afternoon. I thought about keeping the royalties offered, then I realized I'd make more in the short term if I sold it outright to the company instead.” I said and her eyes widened.
“How...” Sarah paused and loudly swallowed. “How much did they give you for it?”
“Before you get your hopes up, it wasn't much.” I said and her expression dropped slightly. “The buy-out was only 8 million.”
Sarah made a choking sound. “O-o-only 8 MILLION?” She yelled and needed a mont, then she glared at . “You do an dollars, right?”
That made
laugh. “Yes, my dear. Actual dollars in cold hard cash. In hand if I wanted it.”
“Did you?” Sarah asked and I nodded. Her face lost a bit of color. “Wh-where...”
“In the back of the Humr.” I answered.
Sarah stared at
like I was crazy. “Kyle, you can't leave sothing like that out in the open and unguarded in a car!”
“It's fine.” I said and waved her concerns away. “Only you know it's there.”
Sarah gave
an indignant glare and her annoyance gave off almost visible waves. “You march right back to that car and drive it ho, mister! I refuse to let you put that money in danger any longer!”
I turned to face her, surprised at the vehence in her tone. “Sarah...”
“I quit my job today and I don't know how I'm going to make this month's paynt for my college loan.” Sarah said and let my hand go to point back at the road. “You get your ass back to that car and secure that money right now! Move your ass, mister! MOVE IT!”
I hopped a little at the command in her voice and I had to admire her for it. I gave her a quick salute and then did an about face and marched back down the wharf towards the road. A sound of satisfaction ca from behind
and I didn't glace back to see that she was walking at a similar pace behind , as if she was going to stop
from turning back around and not fulfilling her orders.
We made it back to the Humr in barely a quarter of the ti it took us to walk down to the end of the wharf and Sarah watched as I checked the rear hatch and it was locked. She motioned for
to open it and I did so, then showed her the 8 tal briefcases. She made an odd squeak sound, since she knew what each of those cases contained, and then she motioned for
to close it up and lock it again.
“Drive.” Sarah said and climbed into the passenger seat before I could co around and open the door for her. She saw the look on my face and blushed slightly, then she pointed at the driver's side. “Now.”
I nodded and walked around the other side and climbed in, started it up, and drove down the road. Instead of going to her place, I drive her to mine. It would be the first ti she would be seeing it and I hoped she didn't freak out about it.
“You live here?!?” Sarah gasped as we pulled into Mulholland Estates.
I rolled down my window and waved to the guard as I scanned my resident pass. “How's things, Bill?”
“All quiet on the hofront, Kyle.” Bill said and stepped close. “Is there any chance you stopped by Martha's before? I left my night lunch at ho again.”
I chucked and reached down under my seat and pulled out a large wrapped sub sandwich. “You seem to forget that a lot lately.”
Bill smiled and handed
a ten dollar bill. “Thanks, Kyle.”
“It's no trouble, Bill. Have a good night.” I said and he hit the button to open the gate.
Bill glanced at Sarah and gained a knowing look. “You, too.”
I nodded and drove through the open gate and halfway around the large cul-de-sac and slowed down near a huge house that was midwestern modern, with huge glass windows and a pool in the back. I hit the button and the garage door opened, so I drove up the driveway and right inside the large two car garage. I hit the button again and climbed out of the Humr and walked around to her side.
Sarah stared at
as I opened her door and held a hand up for her to take. She kept staring at , so I took her hand and pulled her down, stood her on her feet, and walked her to the back. I opened the hatch and handed her one of the briefcases. She made an almost pained sound at the move and latched onto it with both hands.
I smiled and grabbed a case to tuck under my arm and put another in that hand, then I grabbed a third and carried them over to the door to the house. I heard the back of the Humr slam shut and chuckled as I unlocked the door. I turned and waved Sarah inside and she almost glared at
as she walked by.
I carried in my three briefcases and set them down on the kitchen counter. Sarah kept the glare on her face as she set hers down, then she walked quickly back over to the door and out into the garage. I held in my amusent at her behavior and followed her. We repeated the process, her carrying one and
carrying three, and she shut and locked the door behind us.
“Do you have a safe or sothing?” Sarah asked .
“What for?” I asked and she gave
a deadpan look. “Hey, this is the stuffing for my new mattress.”
“Yeah, right.” Sarah scoffed.
I waved her forward and brought her into the master bedroom to show her the thin wooden box that covered the top of the bed. She watched with shock as I proceeded to dump the three suitcases of money into the box. I went back into the kitchen and grabbed three more and did it again.
“Kyle, you can't seriously think this is a good idea.” Sarah said.
“There's only one way to find out.” I said and wagged my hand at her to grab.
“No.” Sarah said and crossed her arms. “There's not enough in it to support our weight. It's just paper and wood.”
I laughed and picked her up. “Trust .”
Sarah opened her mouth to refuse, then sighed and put her arms around my neck. I gave her a kiss and hopped into the box with her in my arms. Since I had already cast cushioning charms on the box, the entire thing felt like a fluffy cloud and we bounced a little and then sunk down slightly into the money.
“Wh-what... what the hell, Kyle?” Sarah asked, shocked.
“I submitted a new capacitor, too.” I answered and she stared at . “The prepaynt for the new computer chip was 20 million and I'll have that ready by next week.”
Sarah looked like she couldn't speak.
“By the way, the two briefcases you carried in are yours. One is for spending and the other is for the taxes.” I told her and she made an odd sound and fainted. I held her to my chest and laid there until she woke up. She still looked shocked, probably because I hadn't taken her out of the money bed and she wasn't thinking it had been a dream she was waking up from.
“Kyle.” Sarah whispered, her face red.
“I told you I'd take care of everything and that you'd want for nothing.” I reminded her. “Before you refuse to take it, you can give half of it to your mom, pay off your student loan, get an actual motorcycle if you want one, or a car, or anything else you want.”
Sarah fell silent and didn't say anything as she thought about it.
“You also don't have to move out of your apartnt if you don't want to.” I said and her eyes narrowed at . “Don't assu sothing without asking
first.”
Sarah lost the narrowed eyes. “Don't you want
to move in?”
I gave her a surprised look and then laughed.
“Kyle!” Sarah exclaid and slapped my chest. “It's not funny!”
“It is!” I said and kept laughing. “You... haha... think I'd ask you... heh... to give up living with Ginger? I'm not insane enough to ask you that after only dating you for a month.”
Sarah huffed and then laughed, too. “Yeah, okay. She'd kill you first and then ask you what you were thinking.”
I nodded and laid back down and she rested her head on my chest. “I figured I could give you both a few months or so before I asked you to stay over, maybe move a few things in and you can feel more at ho here. A month later, we'd move a few more things over. By the ti you're showing a lot, maybe around 7 months, Ginger will have to admit she can't stand watching you waddle around anymore.”
Sarah barked a laugh. “She would, too.”
I petted her hair and didn't say anything else for several minutes.
“You're really going to ask
to move in?” Sarah asked.
“Eventually. When you're ready.” I said and she sighed. “I doesn't have to be an all or nothing deal, though. This place has lots of rooms and you can pick the one right next to this one to stay in.”
“The next one, huh?” Sarah asked.
“Sure. I want you close, in case you need . I just won't be underfoot or crowding you.” I said and she nodded. “You can have your own space and we can share other things when you're good and ready for that.”
“There's no pressure or anything?” Sarah asked.
“Only if you want there to be.” I said and she lifted her head to look at . “I'm pretty sure you're not the marrying kind...”
Sarah laughed right in my face.
“Or maybe you are.” I joked and she vehently shook her head. “Okay, no rings or anything. Just my promise.”
“To always be there for .” Sarah said and laid her head back down on my chest.
“I will be.” I said and she hugged
tightly.
Sarah was quiet for another minute before she spoke. “Kyle? Would you... um...”
“Yes.” I agreed and cut her off.
“You don't even know what I was going to ask you to do.” Sarah replied.
“It doesn't matter. I'll do it.” I said.
Sarah sighed and cuddled in. “I want to visit my mother tomorrow...”
“I'm busy!” I almost shouted and her head jerked up and she stared at , only to huff at the huge smile on my face. “Of course I'll go with you for emotional support.”
Sarah nodded and put her head back down. “Thanks.”
“You're welco, Sarah.” I said and pet her hair for several minutes. “So, are you staying over tonight or am I driving you back ho to Ginger?”
“I don't want to get up.” Sarah deflected.
“Well, it can't be
that reaches for the phone, since I'm currently being used as a cuddle pillow.” I reminded her.
Sarah groaned and sat up, gave
a longing look, and turned to the side of the bed. She reached for the phone and dialed the number she knew by heart. It only rang once before it was answered.
“I gotcha, girl! Have fun!” Ginger shouted loud enough for
to hear. “Don't keep her up too late, Kyle!”
“I won't!” I answered her.
“Thanks, Ginger.” Sarah said. “See you tomorrow night.”
“Say hi to your mom for .” Ginger said. “Night!”
“Night.” Sarah said and hung up. She sat back and looked at the phone for a few seconds, then turned to face .
“We should get changed for bed.” I said and she nodded. I rolled over and hopped out of the box on the other side of the bed and opened the dresser there. I pulled out two pairs of comfy pyjamas and Sarah laughed at the bright red and blue plaid patterns. “Don't knock the jammies.” I said and tossed her a pair. “They're really comfy.”
We both changed and Sarah put her other clothes on the nightstand and I dropped mine on top of the dresser. I climbed back into the bed of money and she t
in the middle. Instead of pawing at each other like we usually did when in bed, we cuddled up again and just laid there.
“They really are comfy.” Sarah whispered and closed her eyes.
“Like a soft cloud.” I whispered back and we drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow was going to be a full day with eting her mother and getting Sarah's life sorted out. With a little luck and a pile of money to handle things, the upcoming day might turn out even better then I thought it would.
Reviews
All reviews (0)