Thirty-Five

Cole

Last night had brought many answers and with it many questions. But thankfully more answers and a deeper connection to Bobby than I would have ever expected. He was so much more than he imagined himself to be. And soon he'd know, he was meant for more than working at a print shop. Not that his job wasn't worthy, it was, but fate had other plans for him. For us.

I woke up early and sat on the edge of the bed. A twinge reminded me of last night, making me smile. "Hey, do you need to get going?" he asked and kissed my shoulder.

"Yes, I don't want to leave them stranded again. I mean not like there could be a huge rush, but you never know," I said, making Bobby laugh.

"I'm going to shower then I'll buy you a coffee for the road."

I watched as he walked to the bathroom and just before he was about to close the door, I said, "A man after my own heart." The smile he gave me said a lot and I rolled over to check my phone as he started his shower.

There were a few emails and some texts, mostly from my boss making sure I'd be there today, which I answered first. I liked my job and Brian, my boss, was also my friend, so I didn't want him to worry that I wasn't going to be there. There was also a phone call from a number I didn't recognize and a voicemail. I dialed it and listened.

"You won't win. It doesn't matter that you have the sight. The power will still be mine." The voice was strange, and I didn't recognize it, but I knew without a doubt it was Anna.

"We have already won. There's nothing you can do now," I said and kept my voice calm even though deep inside I wanted to scream at her to leave us the hell alone.

"We'll see about that." The phone went dead just as Bobby walked out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. I tossed my phone on the bed and moved to Bobby, needing his warmth, and wanting to hold him in my arms one more time while we were still skin to skin.

"Everything okay?" he asked and kissed my head.

"Yes, everything is just like it's supposed to be. Brian sent me a text, so I need to get going. I don't want him to think I'm flaking on him, and I still need to go home, shower, and change."

"I can give you some clothes to wear if you want to shower here," he said.

"That actually sounds nice." I kissed him before walking past him to the bathroom. "I won't be long."

While I was in the shower, I thought about all that had happened the past two days, and how much better I felt about everything. But then I remembered the thoughts I'd been shown, things that were to come of which I had no control over. I knew it was all necessary, but it would be emotionally, as well as physically, hard. But in the end, it would all be worth it. I'd also been shown that, and I couldn't wait until it was all over.

I walked out of the bathroom and found everything I needed on Bobby's neatly made bed. I heard him in the other room and hurried to put on the clothes he'd given me.

"Hey, it looks like everything fits," he said and handed me a piece of toast.

"Thank you, and yes it's not a bad match." I took a bite and realized we hadn't eaten at all yesterday. "I might need to stop and get something more to eat on the way home."

"We must have been tired if we forgot to eat, but don't worry. There's a place near work that serves breakfast. We can go there if you want. It won't take long."

"That sounds great," I said, and once again was amazed how normal this all was as we walked to his car. "Your house is nice. I don't think I mentioned that before. I like it out here." It was peaceful and quiet where he lived just outside of town on a small plot of land next to where his parents had their larger house. For a moment I just listened. The sound of birds singing and the breeze through the trees were all I could hear. No traffic or people. Just nature waking up.

"Thanks, I enjoy it here. It's much quieter than Dublin. We lived in a boisterous neighborhood that were all huge football fans. You would not believe how crazy it would get for every match." Bobby shook his head as we got into his car.

"Do you miss living there?"

"Nah, it's nice here. I wouldn't mind going back for a visit, but this is my home now." He backed out of his parking spot and reached for my hand as he pulled onto the main road.

"I'd like to see Ireland sometime."

"Then we'll make it happen. I'd love to take you around," he said as easily as he'd offered me his clothes earlier.

He drove us to the small restaurant he'd mentioned that was really more like a to-go counter. We both ordered strong coffee and something to eat. Once I started eating, I made short work of the breakfast sandwich I'd ordered, and as I took the last bite, I noticed Bobby had finished his too. "Okay, let's get you to your car so you can get to work," he said.

It only took a few minutes, and we were there, and I hated that we wouldn't be able to be together today. "How late do you work today?" he asked.

"I'm done at five. What time are you done?"

"I have a print job to finish, but I have a delivery that's near Hickory Crossing, would you mind if I stopped by your house later?" He parked his car and glanced over at me. I lunged at him and kissed him hard.

"Yes, I mean no, I don't mind. Please stop by," I said, and kissed him again making him laugh.

"I will. Now you'd better go, or I won't want to let you leave," he said, and took my face in his hands to kiss me. He held me so gently and poured so much emotion into that kiss, even though I forced myself not to read his thoughts I could feel his emotions, and his love.