The Secrets of Lore Seymour

44. To Be Happy With Them

When I wake the next morning, Jakoby's snuggled into my arms. His back rests against my chest. I don't want to wake him and I don't want to leave yet. This has been a very much needed moment. A night spent with someone who doesn't stress me out, who lets me feel this sense of normalcy. Waking up in a warm embrace doesn't seem like it should be held at such high regard, but it is for me. I like this, holding someone, pressing a tender kiss to his shoulder, hearing him slowly wake up and looking back at me with a tired smile.

"Good morning," I whisper, pressing another kiss on Jakoby's neck.

"Morning," he says, somehow managing to blush even this early in the morning.

"You hungry?" I ask. My head rests against his shoulder.

He nods. "I could eat."

I kiss his arm because, apparently, I'm starved for physical attention. "I'll make breakfast."

Jakoby rolls onto his back to watch me get out of bed. I definitely catch him staring at my ass until I put some clothes on.

"You can cook?" He asks teasingly.

"I am a man of endless talents... albeit cooking is not one of them. I can do the basics so I assure you, you won't die."

Jakoby's laughter follows me into the kitchen. He lives in a small apartment not far from the church where we met. I do the dishes first seeing as we didn't get around to them last night. By the time I'm prepping breakfast, Jakoby waddles out of the bedroom in a warm robe. His arms snake around my waist, refusing to release me even as I move around the kitchen.

"Careful," I say, resting a hand on his. "I don't want any backsplash hitting you."

"Spoken like a true protector." Jakoby releases me only to stand at my side. I like it. A lot. Sometimes I wonder where I'd be now if things had gone differently. If my family survived, would I be living like this with a loving boyfriend or husband? Would we be waking up every morning to make each other breakfast? Maybe we'd be kissing our kids awake or getting them ready for school. They're sweet thoughts.

"Just so you know, I've possibly got some work coming up that'll send me away for a week or two," I say, causing Jakoby to frown. I'm not sure if it's messed up of me to like that he appears disappointed, but I do. Because maybe that means he wants to meet up again. Give this another go--this meaning hanging out, not necessarily more sex, although I certainly wouldn't say no.

"But, if you want, we can spend more time together before I leave and I'll call you as soon as I get back?" I suggest, staring at our breakfast rather than face him, in case the response is bad.

"O-Okay," he says, sounding a little breathless. He rests his forehead against my shoulder. "I'd like that."

He grabs my hand to interlock our fingers. We stand like this until I finish breakfast. We pray to the Mothers over our meal and talk about mundane things like our favorite color or an embarrassing childhood story. I'd have stayed longer if I didn't suspect that'd make going back to the manor even worse. I can't give them all even more ammunition.

After breakfast, we say our goodbyes.

"I'll call and let you know if I'm traveling or not," I tell Jakoby at the door.

"Okay, be careful," he says, leaning up for a kiss that has me wrapping my arms around his waist. He leans into the kiss that lasts long enough to leave us both breathless.

"Bye," I whisper against his lips.

"Bye," he echoes. He stands at the door to watch me leave. I wave one last time before taking the stairs to the first floor.