"I told my mum I'd go shopping for her on Wednesday, so if you sort out our food until then, I'll buy us a weekly shop while I'm out and I'll cook over the next week."
"You don't have to do that."
"I'd like to. I'd feel I was contributing and also, to be honest, I'm a little, well, bored. I can't read all day, and I'd clean, but the house is already clean."
"Okay, you can cook, but I'll wash up, and I'm contributing half towards the food bill." I held my hand up. "No buts, I'm the boss."
She rolled her eyes.
"For that eye-roll I want some of that school cake baking. I keep seeing the recipe on Facebook."
"Yes, sir." Rosie saluted me.
I was also saluting her, but the table top was preventing her from seeing my cock doing so.
"And the fences need another coat of paint tomorrow, so you can help if you like."
"Great. Thanks, Dan." She said, and she smiled. As she did so, I knew I was fucked. Because…
It. Made. My. Fucking. Day.
The evening repeated yesterday's. Rosie made her excuses and left to go to her room, and then in the early hours of the morning she walked in and got in the bed.
Instead of screaming when she woke up, I heard Rosie say, "Oh fuck, not again," and she slowly eased herself out of the bed and left. I pretended to be asleep so she could choose to pretend it hadn't happened if it made her feel any better.
She spent Sunday helping me in the garden and this time talk turned to our poisonous exes. She told me how hers had been a control freak who wouldn’t let her do anything without his permission.
"He'd have never let me anywhere near our garden fence." She said.
"I'm sorry I didn't let you paint yesterday."
"Oh God, you're nothing like Lew." Her features became expressionless. "Do you know, he treated me like crap, and I didn't even leave him. I just took it. It was my mother who came, packed my stuff, and told him she was taking me away."
"Did he… hit you?"
"No." She replied. "He just wore away my confidence to do anything. I felt I'd never be good enough, so I just retreated. I've always been a bit of an introvert anyway, so I just became a yes-woman, did what I was told."
"Sounds like a right wanker."
"He was," she laughed. "I just wish I'd had the guts to walk away myself."
"Yeah, I wish I'd known my ex was with me because she liked my savings accounts."
Rosie looked at me sympathetically. "I'm sure she liked more than that. You seem like a lovely guy from what I've seen over the last couple of years."
I shrugged. "Well, we were in love at one point, or at least I was; but then she got it into her head that I was seeing one of the liquor reps. It became embarrassing and she got the woman suspended from her job. Things hadn't been going so well and that was the end as far as I was concerned. And then Tessa set about trying to get as much of my savings and investments as she could. In the end I let her have what she wanted as long as she left and didn't contact me again."
"Wow, we really did well for ourselves when we chose our spouses, didn't we?"
"At least your mum was supportive. Mine just always says, 'I never liked that woman. I knew she was wrong for you'." I said mimicking my mum's voice.
"Listen, my mum just announced she was buying a vibrator to make the most of the time I was away, so don't get too envious."
My jaw dropped and then I guffawed. "Let's get this painting finished and then shall we enjoy a beer out here? It is a beer garden after all, and I've worked up quite a thirst."
"Sounds good." Rosie said, and she started painting again.
We finished the painting. We drank the beer, (Rosie would only have one). We watched the update and then we shared a Chinese. And then I asked her to choose a film from my DVD collection and we watched Suicide Squad.
And then Rosie made us both a hot chocolate and we watched a true crime show on the TV.
Eventually, when our drinks were finished, Rosie picked up the mugs. "I'll just wash these and then I'm off to bed."
"Which one?" I cracked out without thinking.
She froze for a second. "Shit, so you know I ended up in yours again?" Her cheeks pinked and I felt bad.
"It's not a problem. Not in the slightest." I told her.
"It's embarrassing." She said.
"I get you feel that way. But I'm not embarrassed." I wanted to tell her I liked having her there, but I couldn't say anything like that, because she was here for many weeks and I didn't want to make it awkward if she wasn't interested.
"Thanks, Dan. You're being amazing. I can't thank you enough."
With that she left the room.
That night she didn't sleepwalk into my room. At least not to my knowledge. I woke to find that side of my bed empty and suddenly, my stomach felt empty too, and it wasn't due to hunger.
The news over the weekend had been full of Covidiots who'd travelled to beauty spots and beaches, and not obeyed social distancing, so when it came to the news on Monday evening, neither of us was surprised when we heard Boris' update.
Complete shutdown.
One trip outside daily for exercise.
Shopping for essential items only.
Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.
And no one knew how long this would go on for. Our PM said he would review in three weeks, but I had a feeling it would be a lot longer than that. Updates had been made about financial assistance and I wasn't too worried about the future of the pub. I was sure once lockdown was lifted, the neighbourhood would flock to the pub to celebrate a return to normality, and my regulars would be looking forward to a lock-in instead of a lockdown.
But for now you had to think about how fortunate you were to have a roof over your head and not having the virus.
"Looks like you're not getting rid of me anytime soon then." Rosie stated.
Inside I did a little cheer.
And then I thought about how if I felt like this after a few days, what was I going to feel like in several weeks? I wondered how I was going to feel when restrictions were lifted, and Rosie left my home.
It was probably cabin fever, I told myself. Another few days stuck with her and the novelty would wear off.
Wouldn't it?
Chapter Four
Rosie
Complete lockdown. Apart from my once a week shopping trip on a Wednesday and the daily exercise allowed, it was just me and Dan on our own for weeks.
And whereas my close proximity to him had me lusting after him in complete secret, I of course couldn't demonstrate a clue of this. Because how awkward would that be when he revealed his complete lack of interest in me?
Last night I'd wedged the desk behind the door in an effort to thwart myself from sleepwalking. I woke up on the carpet next to the door. I was sad.
Now it was Monday night and I'd rather sleep in Dan's bed than my own. It was a lot comfier for a start. But I sighed and got into the spare room bed, with its spring that stuck in my body parts depending on my position.
I couldn't sleep. Whether it was the heat, or everything on my mind, I just couldn't drop off, and so I could only assume it was over-exhaustion that made me get out of bed, pretending to sleepwalk. Padding over to Dan's door, I hesitated. Seriously, Rosie, don't be ridiculous. Go have a piss and get back in your own bed. As I began to turn the door handle, I realised I wasn't listening to myself. Walking across the bedroom I saw Dan see me come in and I climbed in at the side of him. Staying perfectly still, while enjoying the feel of the much better mattress beneath my body, I waited until my faster beating heart calmed and then I fell to sleep.
When I eventually woke, instead of feeling shame about my actions, I actually felt smug. A good night's sleep. Turning, I saw that Dan's clock only said six am. It was still early. He was on his side, just those few inches away from me. Hmmm. Fuck it. I shuffled up and got on his back, putting my arm around his waist. I felt his body tense for a moment and then he relaxed again
, and then he put his hand over mine! Within minutes he was softly snoring away, and I cuddled in closer, smelling him, and enjoying being close to my super-secret crush.
Of course, a couple of hours later when I woke, I had to fake complete shock.
"Oh my god. What did I do?" I shot away from him. Inside I was already annoyed with time for passing so quickly that my cuddle was over.
Dan turned around. "Don't worry about it. I enjoyed your snuggle. I actually slept better than I have in a long time."
"Seriously?" I asked. "Because I feel like a right idiot."
He sat up. "Look, you're in strange surroundings and so it's obviously making you do your sleepwalk thing. You might as well just sleep in here from now on. There's plenty of space and I promise not to take the piss if you wake up cuddled up with me. I've said this already, but times are weird and we just have to go with the flow."
So can I climb you like a tree, mate? I thought in my head.
"I don't know. Thanks for being so understanding, but I feel really silly."
"Well, I'll tell you something that will make me sound equally as silly." He replied.
"Okay."
He took a deep breath. "I like it when you sleepwalk in. I like the company. I'm most definitely sleeping better with you here. If you sleep here anyway then you won't disturb me; unless of course you then start sleepwalking into the spare room bed, which would be hilarious."
I groaned but laughed back a little.
"I can't explain why I'm feeling this way… maybe it's because of this isolation business. I'm so used to being busy most of the day. It's making me feel a little alone."
Huh, so it's not because you find me irresistible.
"Okay, I'll think about it, although it's still very weird. Right, I'm off to make breakfast." To be honest, I needed to escape, fast.
We followed our 'new but getting used to' morning routine, taking turns in the bathroom and then enjoying coffee and breakfast, catching up on the news, and then going into the garden.
"We should start our exercise routine today. We're allowed out once, aren't we? I might go for a run. Fancy it?"
Running. I'd rather eat my sweaty trainer, but I guess I should try to do some form of exercise while in lockdown.
"I'm not very fit, but I'll give it a go." I said. "It's getting quite hot out there right now though, so could we go after the news bulletin tonight?"
"Sure. It's a date." Dan said, and then he qualified his sentence with, "you know, as in an appointment at six. Well, not an appointment, but you know, not a date date."
"Yeah, I'm clear. It's a time set in our day to go for a run. Got it, boss." I said, emphasising the word boss.
I wanted to say twat.
Got it, twat. You don't want to date me. Got it loud and clear, you bloody twatface twatwaffle.
Whatever.
I spent most of the day reading. Reading and having a little nap on the lounger because things had got a bit awkward. Dan kept asking if I wanted a drink or a snack. He was being overly nice now like someone does when they've fucked up, but they don't want to outwardly apologise.
But he had nothing to apologise for. In fact, I owed him a great deal. He'd given me a place to stay. Up until now he'd fed me, and he'd put up with my sleepwalking. With all this in mind, I decided not to stay quiet, sulky, and avoidant. After watching the update, I went and got my leggings and a crop top out, shoved my trainers on and went downstairs to wait for Dan so that I could endure this jog. Hopefully I'd find a new love for it and become fit, with thighs and buns of steel and a flat stomach.
There was probably more chance of a discovery today of a Covid-19 cure, but it wasn't time to dwell. Dan was here and we were setting off.
He stared at me for longer than necessary, looking me over from head to toe.
"I know. I don't have exercise clothes. These will have to do." I told him.
"Wh- what? Oh yeah, yeah. No worries, as long as we get our daily fresh air. Let's go." He said and took the stairs. I followed him until we were out in the great outdoors. The temperature had dipped slightly but it was still hot.
Dan handed me a bottle of water. "Got a feeling we'll need this."
"Great, thanks." I accepted it and started jogging on the spot. "Lead the way, boss."
The park was only around a five-minute run away. By the time I got there I was already sweaty and out of breath. Dan was fine. Yes, he had a few beads of sweat on his forehead but rather than look a mess, he looked hot in a non-temperature way. I wouldn't have minded licking it right off his face. Instead, I opened my bottle of water and took a few swigs.
"Don't drink too much at once or you'll get stomach cramp." Dan informed me.
"I'm going to do the Couch to 5k stuff where you run a bit, walk a bit." I told him. "You go on ahead. We'll catch up somewhere around the park loop."
"Okay." Dan set off. As he looked behind him a little way ahead, I began to jog in place and then as soon as he was out of sight, I sat on a park bench and poured some of the water onto my forehead.
"Come on, Rosie. You can do this. No pain, no gain, girl."
After five minutes I got back up and did what I'd said. I'd downloaded the app to my phone while I was on the bench and so I followed the governments advice yet again, this time on how to get fitter. By the time Dan lapped me I was sweating buckets and my water was long gone.
Dan was no longer the most attractive thing in front of me. His water bottle was.
He saw me looking at it like I was in the dessert and the bottle was the water mirage.
"You drunk up? Want some of this?"
He still had three quarters of a bottle left. How?
I nodded. I couldn't speak due to being tired and thirsty.
He passed me the bottle and I dived on it like I would his cock if I had half the chance. The bottle went to my mouth and I swallowed deeply, moaning in delight.
Dan was looking at me strangely.
Feeling a little dizzy I poured some onto my forehead. I largely missed and it soaked into my top, plastering it to my chest.
Dan moaned.
"Sorry for wasting it." I said handing the quarter left to him, but he'd already started jogging again in front of me.
"Keep it. I'm just going to do another lap, and then head back. Shall I meet you at the gate?"
I nodded. I'd turn back and walk back to the gate. I was done with running.
But he didn't see my nod. He was gone.
Chapter Five
Dan
This lockdown was making me religious, because I kept praying to God that he'd not let Rosie see my endless erections around her.
If her climbing on my back in bed this morning wasn't enough, she'd then come downstairs in tight leggings that hugged her arse cheeks, and a cropped top showing an expanse of creamy, white flesh at her midriff and clinging to her perfectly sized breasts. And now she'd just done the equivalent of 'Miss Wet T-shirt'. I'd had to run on in front so she couldn't see my cock straining against my jogging bottoms.
And now even though I was panting and hot, I had to run around this fucking park again. Whose bright idea was it to go for a run on a hot evening? Oh mine. And it was also weirding me out because there were so many people out here and none of them wanted to move from the path, so I kept having to run wide of the path to maintain my social distancing gap.
By the time I got back to the gate where Rosie waited looking mightily sweat free, I was a drenched mess.
"Excuse me." I told her and I stripped off my t-shirt so I could wipe my head and chest with it.
She threw the rest of the water she held at me and then rubbed the rivulets of water into my skin. I leaped back.
"Sorry! I just thought it would cool you down."
"Oh I might as well just get back for a shower now. I think I'll run back." I needed to get in front AGAIN. Damn bloody dick.
"I'll run too." Rosie smiled.
Oh God.
Because I needed to keep
slightly in front, I picked up speed, but then Rosie did too. We were getting faster and faster and by the time we were almost at the pub we were no longer jogging but sprinting. And then as we ran down the side of the pub I heard an 'aaarrrgghh'. Turning around I found a hot, sweating Rosie on the floor clutching her ankle.
"Shit, are you okay?"
"I tripped on a tree root. I think it's just twisted but it hurts. Just give me a moment to get my breath back." She panted, clutching at her ankle.
Her being in pain had thankfully made my problem deflate and so I rushed to her side and dropped down on the ground beside her waiting.
"Do you think you can put any weight on it?"
"I'm not sure, let me try."
I helped her to get to her feet and she winced a little.
"That's it." I said and despite her protests, I picked her up and carried her into the bar area where I put her back down on the chair.
"Right, let me look at that ankle." I commanded. "Hopefully, it is just twisted, but if not, we'll have to brave the minor injuries unit."
Rosie laughed which I found a bit odd truth be told. "Dan, my ankle feels a lot better already. I winced because I've pulled about a thousand muscles in my legs and got a touch of cramp. I'm really not cut out for running. Now I've fallen over, I can declare that from now on I'm only doing gentle strolls, because if I had seriously hurt myself, I would be taking up valuable NHS time. I'd be a Covidiot, Dan."
"You're right. Let's keep to gentle strolls, and making sure we look where we're going." I headed over to the bar. "We deserve a drink though. What do you fancy?"
"A nice thirst-quenching lager please."
"Coming right up." I told her, and fuck my life if from behind the safety of the bar it was doing exactly that again. Me and my penis were going to need words.
Rosie drank her half of lager down with speed. "Another?" I asked.
"Why not?"
I came back with a pint of lager for her and her mouth dropped open. "Dan, I'll be legless if I drink all that. I barely drink."
LOVE IN LOCKDOWN: A Charity Anthology Page 3