Unexpected interruption

Vince headed into the shower, and I began to get dressed. I slipped into a comfortable pair of jeans and a soft t-shirt, still feeling the lingering warmth on my skin from our night together. The sound of the shower running filled the otherwise quiet house.

A short while later, Vince emerged, toweling his hair dry. "Ready for some breakfast?" he asked, a relaxed smile gracing his lips.

"Starving," I admitted, my stomach rumbling in agreement.

We ate a little of what was left over from the previous night's food, mostly just picking at it, as our appetites weren't quite fully there. The conversation flowed easily, light and comfortable, a pleasant hum of companionship after the intensity of the night.

Once we finished eating and cleaning up, Vince stood. "Well, I should probably get going," he said, walking over to me.

"Thanks for coming over, Vince," I said, looking up at him. "Last night was... exactly what I needed. It was fun."

He leaned down and kissed me softly, a gentle, lingering touch on my lips. Pulling back slightly, his eyes warm, he added, "I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay," I replied, my gaze following him.

He gave my hand a squeeze, then turned and walked out the door. I closed it behind him, letting out a quiet sigh.

An hour after Vince left, I was in the kitchen, wiping down the hard surfaces where he and I had been just hours before. The counter gleamed under my cloth, and I was just reaching for the spray bottle again when I heard the familiar click of the front door opening. My heart leaped into my throat. Randy. He still had my house key.

"Deppgrl?" Randy's voice called from the entryway, a hint of uncertainty in his tone. He walked into the kitchen, his eyes immediately landing on me and then on the half-cleaned counter. "What are you doing?" he asked.

I froze, the spray bottle still in my hand. "I'm cleaning," I stated, my voice flat. "Randy," I added, trying to keep my voice even, "what are you doing here? What do you want?”

He hesitated, his gaze still fixed on me. "A few weeks ago, I made plans for this weekend and reserved a cabin for us," he began, his voice softer now. "I was wondering if I should cancel it."

I met his gaze, my expression unreadable. "That's entirely up to you,” I replied. "We're no longer dating, so I have no say in your decisions."

He took a deep breath. "Do you want to join me?"

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Why do you want me to join you?"

He met my gaze directly, his expression serious. "This is going to be my last attempt to win you over, Deppgrl."

I sighed, the sound heavy. "If I say yes, will you stop asking me to give you another try?"

"Yes," he replied, his voice firm.

I sighed again, then nodded slowly. "Yes, Randy. I'll join you."

A wide smile broke across his face, lighting up his eyes. "Great! Pack two nice outfits, and whatever else you need."

"Okay," I said.

He looked like he wanted to kiss me, but he refrained, simply holding my gaze for a moment. "I'll pick you up around 1 PM on Friday."

"Okay," I replied.

He turned and walked out the door. I watched him go, then realized he had left before I could ask for my house key back.

A few minutes after Randy left, I pulled out my phone and texted Tara.

"Hey Tara, you're in charge for the next two days. Thursday will be a personal day for me, and Friday, I'm going away for the weekend."

Her reply came almost instantly. "You need to take more time off! Should I reach out to your clients for you?"

"I'll take care of that," I texted back. "I'll include you on the email so the clients know who they should talk to." She thumbs upped the message. In a matter of minutes, I sent the emails to the clients I had.

I started packing almost immediately, beginning with toiletries and the two sets of "nice" clothes Randy had requested. I also tossed in a few other comfortable outfits, my favorite worn-in sweatpants, and, of course, a compelling book to get lost in. I knew I'd need to pack more things, like my running shoes but I still had plenty of time before Randy was scheduled to pick me up on Friday. The thought of a weekend away, a chance to clear my head and see if Randy truly meant what he said, settled a quiet anticipation in my chest.