Seventeen Days

by D. B. James

  “Well, he’ll have to wait till the morning. Tonight I have other things in mind. Someone else in mind. Those things involve you, me, a shower, then a bed. Hopefully nothing else till the alarm goes off.”

  Have I mentioned she’s perfect?

  Harrison’s alarm goes off way too early for my liking. If I didn’t know he had an early tour this morning, I’d hit snooze a couple of million times. Jet-lag is real, people, and I’m suffering from it. Combine it with still recovering from my aunt’s major shopping trip, and I’m exhausted. If I questioned her being related to Sienna before, I never will again. They both clearly love fashion. Not like I don’t, and I’ll never admit it to her, I secretly love her shopping addiction.

  “Hit it, you know you want to. I’ll stay and snuggle for at least one snooze cycle, babe,” Harrison whispers into my ear. Snuggle, yeah, right. More like he’ll wake me up by waking me up, if you get my drift.

  “If by snuggle you actually mean snuggle, then yes. If you mean, snuggle, then no. I’m too tired to go another round with you this morning. This girl needs her beauty sleep, you go shower, I’ll see you at the office later.” After I get a solid two more hours of sleep. Maybe a hot bath. And a whole pot of coffee.

  “Hit the snooze button, babe.” Bossy, bossy.

  Hitting the button, I burrow back down into the covers and Harrison’s waiting arms. Ahh, heaven. Pure heaven. I’m entirely too comfortable staying the night with him for my liking. Maybe tonight I should stay in my own bedroom at my aunt’s. It’s where I live, after all. It’s like we’re two magnets who can’t bear to be apart and always find our way back together. The nights away in New York were like our own personal version of hell. It was pure torture. Granted, I still called him and fell asleep to the sound of his voice each night I was away, but it wasn’t the same as his arms surrounding me. Nothing in the world can compare to the comfort I feel when he’s near me.

  I’m going to check into off-campus housing, if it’s allowed for freshman, and maybe he can come up on his days off. That would be good for us, since we seem to like spending the nights together. Before we were having sex, we liked sharing the same bed. Something about him draws me in. The alarm goes off again much too soon, and he’s out of bed turning it off before I can protest. Normally I’d join him in the shower but sleep is winning this morning.

  I’m woken by the sounds of Tim McGraw singing, and I think I’m still dreaming until I realize it’s my cell phone ringing. Hey, a perfectly happy and in love girl can dream about Tim. Don’t judge.

  “Hello?”

  “Morgan? Were you still sleeping?” Shit, it’s my aunt. What the hell time is it?

  “Um, yes?” Why did I ask, instead of telling her yes?

  “Well, wake up, sunshine, I’ve been knocking on the front door for over fifteen minutes, you asked me last night to drop you off at work this morning. Are you still planning on going in?” Huh, I guess I didn’t set an alarm for myself and thought I’d wake up naturally. Oh well, it’s not like my boss will fire me for being a few minutes late.

  “Yeah, I’m still going in. I’ll come let you in, and then I’ll take a quick shower. I’ll be ready in ten, if it’s good with you?”

  “That’s fine, that’s fine. I don’t suppose you have any coffee made?”

  “Nope, but feel free to make it while I’m in the shower,” I say while unlocking the front door, letting her in. “Actually, I’d love you a teeny tiny bit more if you did.”

  Coffee is my best friend. Everyone knows that. Hm. Maybe I should go into business management and open my own small coffee shop? Or better yet, a bookstore and coffee shop? Now that would be perfect. Isn’t business what Harrison has a degree is in? I should remember to ask him about it this afternoon when his tour gets back. I’ve even dreamed up a cutesy name for one: “Javas & Ever After’s”.

  Or I could help run Harrison’s business, but would it fulfill me? Probably not, no. Something I worked hard to open and was my own? Now, that would fulfill me. It would be a thing I could be proud of. And what could be better than mixing two of my favorite things together, books and coffee? Nothing. Well, maybe adding Harrison into the mix would make it perfect.

  He could always expand his business like he’s been planning, and I could ask Julian to buy the land next door for me. I’d pay him back, of course. After college, I could open my place next to Harrison’s. We could eventually merge the two together. Be a one stop shop sort of deal. Fishing, coffee, books. It’s not weird, right? Okay, I know it’s weird, but you can’t say it’s not unique. We’d probably be one of the only shops like it in the world. For sure in the state of Alabama, at least.

  Stop daydreaming and get your ass out of the shower, Morgan. You can dream later. When you have more time.

  Aunt Savannah has a mug of coffee all ready for me when I enter the kitchen. “It’s all set exactly how you like it. Already in a travel mug so we’re good to go. Good thing you know the boss and he won’t mind you being an hour late.” Yeah, no shit.

  “Right? I checked and I did have an alarm set, I must have slept right through it. I remember his alarm going off and pressing snooze once and him getting out of bed, but I don’t remember a single thing until the phone rang when you called. Must’ve been more tired than I thought. Stupid jet-lag.” Or all the damn shopping you made me do.

  “Could you see me running my own business one day? A coffee shop, perhaps?” I ask while walking out to her truck.

  “Yeah, I could see that. You’d be great with the customers. You’ve always seemed like a people pleaser to me, Morgan. Whenever I’ve seen you online or in a magazine, your smile always lights up the place. And it hasn’t changed since you’ve come here. You light up more so now. Are you thinking about majoring in business?”

  Why am I finding myself voicing my thoughts out loud to her lately before Harrison? Shouldn’t I be asking him these things first? Having never been in a relationship before, I don’t know the answer to those questions. I’ve never had anyone in my life before worth anything. No relationship close enough to me for me to confide in. No mother. No close friends. No one. I’ve always been alone. Savannah is the closest thing I’ve ever known to a mother so maybe it’s why I find myself asking her these things. Is this what it feels like to have a mom?

  “You could say that. I’ve been thinking I’d like to one day open my own store. Sell books and coffee. Maybe a few other random things.”

  “That’s wonderful. You should ask Harrison for his advice. He’d be happy to help, I’m sure. He could tell you what classes he found most helpful and which ones he didn’t.”

  “Do you think this is all happening too fast? With Harrison, I mean.”

  “Love doesn’t know speed. It only knows what it feels. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be. Always follow your heart. It’ll never lead you wrong. My heart led me to Julian and things may not have ended how we wanted them to, but I don’t regret one second. I’ve never once not followed my heart. The heart wants what it wants. Always listen.”

  If she would have spoken those words to me twenty days ago, I doubt I would have listened to a single word of it. My heart had up until that point never made a choice for me. It was broken, or so I thought. It only took one afternoon for Harrison to heal it.

  “So, in other words, don’t question my heart?”

  “Never, sweet girl. Besides, Harrison is a pretty good catch, if I do say so myself. Having raised him for a few months, I know these things.” She turns to wink at me, before returning her attention to the road.

  Losing myself in thought, I don't say another word until she pulls into the office parking lot. “I’ll see you after work. I’ll have Harrison take me by the store and we’ll grab a few things for dinner, we should be there around six or so. See you later, Aunt Savannah. Love you.”

  “Love you too, sweet girl.”

  Five hours and twenty-six minutes. That’s how fucking long it took me to clear the messages on the machine.
Let’s not talk about the emails. We won’t go there. Nope. Harrison wasn’t kidding when he said something about running around with his head cut off, the poor man has been busy.

  Didn’t he hire a temp? The agency sent someone over, I’ve seen the emails stating they did. From the look of things, I guess the temps didn’t work out. It appears he could use the days off he has coming up.

  Glancing at the clock, I see it’s nearly four and his tour should be coming back soon. He didn’t have any tours personally scheduled for Wednesday and I saw he was running an ad for another fisherman, so I started scheduling interviews for him. And I set five for Wednesday alone. The ad said he’s hiring two full-time and one part-time, so I took the liberty and went through a few applications that were in his inbox. Hope I didn’t overstep much.

  Oh, well, if he’s pissed, he’s pissed. Nothing I can do about it now. Made sure to check the work history for the applicants and I didn’t schedule anyone who didn’t have at least two years’ experience running a charter. Isn’t this something Dave would’ve done anyway? I’m positive it’s something an assistant would do.

  Looking out I see “Bait Me” pulling into the docks; they’re back right on time. Since I have all the office work caught up, I’m hoping we can leave as soon as Harrison is ready. I promised my aunt I’d grab a few things to cook for dinner, and the sooner I do, the better. I’m starved. Then again, I’m always hungry. That’s nothing new.

  Also, I need to stop to buy a few personal things. My other aunt came for a visit this afternoon. The less pleasant one. In fact, she’s unwelcome. The bitch.

  Grabbing my sunglasses, I go outside to meet the guys as they’re docking. Plus, I haven’t taken a break today and deserve some time in the sun. A girl can only sit and watch it through the windows for so long without being tempted to feel it upon her shoulders. This would be the perfect spot for my shop. The spot next door is still for sale. I quickly make another mental note to call Julian in the morning, about his possibly buying it. If I’m serious about opening a business of my own someday, why not buy the land now?

  Harrison sees me and waves. Waving back, I smile and sit down in the sand. He’s wearing his cowboy hat today. And seeing the hat makes me smile even bigger. He hasn’t worn it the last few times I’ve seen him. Some days he doesn’t wear a hat, some days it’s a ball cap, but my favorite days are the days he wears his cowboy hat.

  Whoever said a man wearing a Stetson wasn’t sexy was clearly blind. Harrison should only wear a cowboy hat. And a smile. Now that is something I would pay to see. My man naked in nothing but a cowboy hat.

  A few minutes later, he joins me on the sand. “How was your day, beautiful?”

  “Busy, but uneventful. How was yours, Captain?” I ask while grabbing his hat and placing it upon my head.

  “Looks better on you, babe.”

  “Oh, I doubt it. Because I was sitting here thinking about how you should wear only this hat for me sometime. But anyway, it took me nearly all day, but I caught up on the messages and emails. I even went as far as to schedule a few interviews for you for next week.”

  “Yeah?” He doesn’t ask anything else. The one word is all he says. The expression on his face never changes. I hate how I can’t see his expressive eyes through his sunglasses.

  “Yes, I went through most of the applicants and set interviews for five of them, next Wednesday. I weeded through and vetted them by experience.” Don’t be mad at me. It’s the only thought running through my head. If he’s mad, he’ll have to get over it. And he’ll have to be the one to call and cancel the interviews if he doesn’t want to keep them.

  “Thank you, Red. It’ll save me a ton of time. Did you say you caught up on everything?”

  “Mm-hmm. I did.” Yes, he isn’t mad. It’s like I won the boyfriend lottery. He doesn’t get mad too often. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve pissed him off quite a few times. Today gladly isn’t one of those times.

  “Want to take off early?” Yes!

  “That’d be great. We need to stop by the store to grab a few things for dinner, and I need to grab a few personal things. When Aunt Savannah dropped me off this morning, I told her I’d make dinner tonight. But I’ve got no idea what I want to make, do you have any ideas?”

  “Nah, but we’ll think of something on the way I’m sure. Let’s go, babe.”

  Grabbing his offered hand, I get up and follow him into the office. We make quick work of shutting things down for the day and switching the phones over. Hopping into his truck, I gaze over at the property next door one more time. This time, I visualize the storefront.

  It’s time to make my dreams a reality.

  She’s been awfully quiet on the drive from the office to the store. It’s unlike her. Usually, she’s full of things to say. Wonder what’s running through that beautiful head of hers? Leaving her sleeping this morning was hard, but I knew she was exhausted. Last night, once we got back to my place, she made it as far as the bed before passing out cold. She was more tired than I thought. Must’ve been a combination of the day before and the flights back and forth.

  Poor girl.

  “Did you think of anything for dinner yet?” she asks from the passenger seat.

  “How does homemade pizza sound? You don’t have to make it, I can. It’s the only other thing I can make besides eggs that I’m proud of. We can get a bunch of different toppings and toss a couple of pies together.” So then she can rest a bit more and doesn’t have to do all of the work. I’m tired too, but I didn’t just take two flights. Driving a boat and fishing is a little less tiring.

  “Pizza is my second favorite thing. Besides coffee.”

  “Oh, really? Could’ve swore it was onion rings? Or me?” I reply, teasingly. She laughs; we both know she can eat onion rings like nobody’s business. The first time I took her out to eat, she put away two full orders. It was like she hadn’t eaten in days instead of hours.

  “Well, maybe all food is tied.”

  “And me?”

  “You’re not on the list.”

  “Excuse me? I’m not on your list of favorite things? How is that possible?” I’m more than hurt. She’s at the top of my list. Fuck, she comes before anything else in my life. I’ve been making life altering plans to include her in everything, in my life.

  “Of course you are, silly. You’re my most favorite thing in the world. You’re not on my list of favorite food-related things. Coffee, pizza, onion rings. Those things are no comparison to you. You’re on a list all on your own.”

  Well, that's better. For a minute there, I was thinking about leaving her on the side of the highway. Okay, not literally but, close.

  “I was freaking out for a minute there, Red. You had me thinking I wasn’t half as important to you as you are to me. You have me worried there for a second. I’m sorry for entertaining those thoughts.”

  “No apologies needed. I may have said it like that to get a reaction out of you, anyway. So I’m the one who’s sorry. Forgive me?” Batting her eyelashes at me, she purses her lips in a pout. Damn, she’s cute. How could I stay mad at her? Especially since I wasn’t mad in the first place.

  “Dammit, we’re a pair. I’m not forgiving you, because like you said, there’s nothing to forgive. Now, let’s go in this store and grab what we need. The sooner we do, the sooner we can eat. I’m fucking hungry.”

  Parking the truck, we make our way into the store. She leaves my side once we enter to go grab whatever it is she needs. She still has my hat on. Fuck she looks cute. It’s the second time in the last few minutes I’ve thought the word cute, but she’s not cute. She’s sexy. Sexy as all get out. I’m the luckiest bastard in the world.

  Tossing a few fresh veggies into the buggy, I see someone I don’t want to see.

  Jess.

  Great, exactly what I don’t need. Morgan had to leave to grab her things right when we got here, didn’t she? Why couldn’t she have stayed by my side? Quickly pushing the buggy the other way, out o
f Jess’s path, I’m praying she didn’t see me.

  “Harrison?”

  “Oh, hey, Jess.” Shit, she saw me. Hurry up, Red. Grabbing my phone, I send her a quick text asking her to hurry and save me.

  Me: Save Me. SOS in the produce.

  Red: Huh? What do you mean?

  Me: Ex lady friend. HELP!

  Red: Be there in a minute. ;)

  Phew, she’s on her way. Guess I won’t have to be tortured for too long.

  “How have you been?”

  “Busy. But wonderful. Things are great with Morgan. She’s here, you’ll probably get to meet her.” And she’s going to mark her territory. Be warned.

  “Oh, so you’re still seeing that girl?”

  “Told you over the phone awhile back she wasn’t going anywhere. She’s my future.” As the words leave my lips, she rounds the corner with her arms full of pregnancy tests. What in the actual fuck?

  “Do you think we should try more than one kind, Harrison?” she asks while tossing a few into the buggy. “Oh, hello, I’m sorry, I’m so rude, didn’t see Harrison had a friend here. I’m Morgan.” She reaches her hand out to shake Jess’s.

  “It’s always better to try more than one, we want to be positive.”

  “Um. Nice to meet you too,” Jess says at the same time I reply to her. But she doesn’t extend her hand out to shake Morgan’s in return.

  “Okay, well we should be hurrying along. My aunt is expecting us for dinner and as you can see we have a few tests to take. Nice running into you, bye.”

  She grabs ahold of the buggy and pushes it away. “Come on, Harrison, we don’t want to leave Aunt Savannah waiting. She’s already on pins and needles waiting to know if the test we already took was correct.”

  I can’t help it, I bust out laughing before we clear the aisle. The expression on Jess’s face was priceless. Fucking priceless.

  “Marry me, Red. Fucking marry me. You’re perfect.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I knew I shouldn't have given a voice to them. Now wasn't the time or place. Hoping to play it off I quickly add, “...One day in the near future.”