Chapter 21

21

D estiny had to give Faith credit for remembering the things she liked as well as things they liked to do together. Last night could've been any Friday night for them. They used to order food from a place they both liked because when Friday rolled around neither of them wanted to cook.

Oftentimes they would relax and watch TV together. It wasn't an exciting Friday night necessarily, but it was what they both wanted. The one thing that was missing was the cuddling. They'd seemed to always end up on the couch together cuddling while they watched their latest shows.

Destiny fell asleep holding Faith's hand. Sometime in the middle of the night, she woke up. She and Faith were on their sides and Destiny's arm was wrapped around her middle. Destiny could feel Faith's hand holding hers where it rested against her chest. This was how they'd slept most nights or in the reverse position with Faith holding Destiny.

Destiny took a deep breath. She didn't get angry like she had last night when she thought about all they could've been accomplishing together with work. Right now, she felt thankful and content to savor this moment. Sometimes it felt like they'd wasted so much time being apart, but maybe they needed that time for whatever reason.

Destiny couldn't tell Faith just yet that she was the most important thing to her right now, too. But she was pretty sure Faith could see it in her eyes. Being with her now, holding her close, made Destiny think they could do anything as long as they were together.

Faith gently stirred and squeezed Destiny's hand. Then she sighed and Destiny knew Faith was still asleep. She snuggled a little closer and it wasn't long until her breathing matched Faith's, sending her back to sleep, too.

Destiny rolled over and realized she was alone in the bed. Just then the most tantalizing aroma assaulted her nose. What was that? She sat up in bed, blinked a few times, and saw Faith standing in the kitchen at the stove. From this vantage point, Destiny could see the length of the tiny home and decided it was an interesting perk.

"Good morning," she said to Faith while stretching her arms above her head.

"Good morning," Faith said.

Destiny smiled as Faith stopped what she was doing and gazed at her.

"What? Is my hair sticking out everywhere?" Destiny asked, crawling out of bed.

"No." She turned back to the stove then looked back at Destiny. "You always look so cute when you just wake up."

"Oh please," Destiny scoffed.

"I've told you that many times," Faith said.

"And I haven't believed you even once," Destiny said, walking into the small kitchen.

Faith chuckled and poured Destiny a cup of coffee.

"What's all this?"

"I'm making us breakfast," Faith said. "You come in here." She took the cup of coffee to the couch and waited for Destiny to sit down. She handed her the cup and turned to the TV.

"The game is about to start."

Destiny gasped. She looked from the TV to Faith and exclaimed, "Faith! This is the surprise?"

Faith nodded with joy all over her face. "I know you love to watch the Women's Super League soccer in England. It may be afternoon in London, but it's very early for us. That's why I needed you to spend the night."

"Oh, babe," Destiny murmured. "I can't believe you did this." She caught herself as the word slipped out and glanced up at Faith.

Too late. Faith had heard it and gave her an amused grin.

"Aren't you going to watch with me?" Destiny asked.

"Yes, but first I have to finish breakfast," Faith said. "I'm almost done."

Destiny grinned. "Can I help?"

"Nope." Faith shook her head. "I'll be right back."

Faith went back into the kitchen then turned to Destiny. "Hey, you could get those two snack trays at the end of the couch out and set them up."

"On it," Destiny said. She couldn't believe Faith had not only remembered but gone to so much trouble to get her here for the game. When she and Faith had first gotten together, Destiny explained that she sometimes got up early on weekend mornings to watch soccer. Faith thought it was a little much at first, but once she joined her for a couple of matches she loved it as well. They often made breakfast together, sat in front of the TV, and cheered for their team.

Faith brought their plates over and set them on the TV trays right before the game began.

Destiny looked over at her once she joined her on the couch and smiled. "I didn't watch soccer for a long time after you left," she said. "But this brings back all the joy of those early mornings and how crazy it is to get up on our days off and do this!"

Faith burst out laughing and leaned back on the couch. "Oh, Des, it's not crazy as long as we're together."

Destiny chuckled and nodded. "Look what you've made us." She glanced over at Faith. "Another favorite."

"Waffles and eggs," Faith said. "You like yours over easy on top of your waffle and I like mine scrambled."

"This will go down as one of the best dates in our history," Destiny said, holding out her fork.

They clinked them together much like they would a toast with their glasses.

"I hope we have many more dates that make you smile like that," Faith said.

Destiny grinned and shook her head. How could she not fall in love with this woman over and over again? "It's my turn for our next date."

"It isn't a competition," Faith said, forking a bite into her mouth.

"I remember things we liked to do, too. But maybe our story needs something new."

"Like what?"

"Like your birthday party next Saturday at the bar," Destiny said. "But…"

Faith looked over at her with raised brows. "But?"

"I'd like to do something for just us after the party," Destiny said. "If that's okay with you."

"Are you asking me out?"

Destiny chuckled. "I'm throwing you a birthday party, you'll already be out with me."

"Okay." She laughed. "You know I'm not going to turn you down."

"I'll let you know more, but it may involve a sleepover again to get to the date."

Faith set her fork down and turned to Destiny. "I'm not trying to overwhelm you, but I slept better last night than I have in a very long time."

A smile crept on Destiny's face. "Not trying to overwhelm me? What would you call all this?"

Faith shrugged.

Destiny leaned a little closer to Faith. "I slept better than I have in a long time, too."

Faith grinned. "Oh, the game's about to start."

"It's a match," Destiny corrected her.

"Whatever," Faith said, rolling her eyes.

They both chuckled and dug into their breakfast. The game had them both cheering and their team was ahead at halftime. Destiny got up and took their plates to the sink while Faith put the snack trays away.

"We can do the dishes when the game is over," Faith said.

"Okay, but I'm helping," Destiny said. "Breakfast was delicious. Thanks for making it."

"You can make it next time," Faith said with a sly grin.

Destiny sat down next to her and nodded. Faith scooted an ottoman out in front of them so they could prop their feet up during the second half of the game. As they watched, Faith crossed her legs and Destiny noticed a scar on the back of her leg. It hadn't been there before and it looked substantial.

"What's this?" Destiny asked, touching the puckered skin on Faith's calf.

"Oh, that was an accident," Faith said.

"It looks pretty bad."

"It was," Faith said. "I was in an awkward position and jabbed myself with a sharp shooter."

"Damn!" Destiny exclaimed. "That had to hurt."

"Yeah, it scared me," Faith said. "If Mark hadn't been there I don't know what would've happened."

"What do you mean?"

"I was bleeding pretty bad. He quickly applied a tourniquet and rushed me to the ER," Faith explained. "They were able to stop the bleeding and repair the artery I hit."

Destiny felt a shiver run through her at the thought of anything happening to Faith. She looked up into Faith's eyes and suddenly grabbed her. Destiny pulled Faith into a tight hug and held her close. "If anything ever happened to you…" she whispered. "I could've lost you."

"It's okay, Des," Faith said softly. "I'm right here."

Destiny could feel Faith's warm breath on her neck and held her a little tighter. As if in slow motion, Destiny pulled her head back and stared into Faith's eyes. She glanced down at Faith's lips and without thinking she closed her eyes and softly pressed their lips together. An overwhelming feeling of being right where she belonged wrapped around Destiny like a comforting blanket.

She felt Faith's fingers gently touch her face then Faith slightly pulled away.

"Our team just scored," Faith said softly.

Destiny was aware of the noise and commotion coming from the TV. She smiled and pulled back but didn't let Faith go. "Sorry," she said quietly. "I can't lose you."

Faith smiled. "You won't."

Destiny nodded and leaned back on the couch, letting Faith go, but she took Faith's hand between both of hers and held it there the rest of the match.

The reality that Faith had been in the emergency room, bleeding seriously, and Destiny had no idea sat like a knot in her stomach. What else had she missed?

A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she thought back to their brief kiss. That feeling of certainty and assurance was still with her. She knew why, but wasn't quite ready to accept all that it meant.

As the game ended Destiny asked, "Would you want to work on the presentation this afternoon?"

"Yes," Faith said strongly. "I want to watch the video again."

"How about I go home and take a shower? I'll come back this afternoon, then we can study the video and decide how we want to present it so they can't turn us down."

"You can shower here," Faith said. "The tiny shower isn't so bad."

Destiny tilted her head and smirked. "I don't have any other clothes here. If I would've known I was spending the night I would've brought something with me."

"Maybe you should bring a few things over here," Faith suggested with a smile. "Because we're working so much together," she added.

"I'll put a bag in my truck and be more prepared next time."

Faith nodded. "That sounds like a great idea."

Destiny got up and went to the sink to start the dishes.

"You really don't have to do that," Faith said. "I invited you."

"You cook, I clean up," Destiny said. "I remember."

"Thanks," Faith said.

"Okay," Destiny said a few minutes later, looking around the house. "I think that's everything."

Faith walked her to the door and outside to her truck.

"I'll text you before I come over," Destiny said.

"Okay."

Destiny threw her purse into the front seat and turned around. She reached over and gently cupped the side of Faith's face with her hand.

"I had a really nice time," Destiny said softly.

"I did, too," Faith replied.

Destiny stared into Faith's eyes then slowly closed the distance between them. She gently touched her lips to Faith's. Her heart jumped in her chest and it almost felt like the first time they'd kissed. But she knew Faith's soft pillowy lips and treasured this moment for what it was. This was a kiss of hope. This was a kiss of what was to come. Neither of them knew what that might be, but they were together and it started here.