Chapter 21
Yaz woke up early for work. She absolutely despised leaving a soft bed and Alex's cuddle replacing it with hard cold chair and her computer. It was so beautifully warm underneath the duvet and Alex was wrapped around her like a knotted yarn when you don't know where the beginning is and where the end, only she had no clue where she stopped, and Alex began as if she was always making sure Yaz cannot leave without her knowing about it. The sweet powdery scent of Alex's warm skin surrounded her, and she felt her soft breath as her lips pressed lazily, unintentionally to her forehead making it even harder for her to get up. She carefully untangled herself crawling out of bed.
"Mmmwhaa?" Alex mumbled.
"Sleep...I need to get up" she said kissing her forehead.
....
Alex straddled the chair Yaz was sitting on and wrapped her arms around her waist "I'll miss you" she said pressing her lips to the back of her head.
Yaz leaned her full weight on her and palmed her hands "I'm gonna miss you too...I hate this..." she sighed deeply.
She had at least another three hours to go before finishing her work and she was finding it hard to concentrate.
"I'm jealous...You're gonna have a great time with Charlie"
"And thinking of you all the time" Alex kissed her cheek playfully.
"You better...me rotting alone at my computer doing the project for my nightmare client. He again changed everything I'm legit losing my shit by this point."
"OMG not again...this is like fourth time.”
"Yeeees...I'm like this close of saying I don't need this shit...But we need money...I'm just thinking garden...I want my fucking garden."
"I'm sorry...that really sucks...But you know, one day you will be able to pick clients. I just don’t want people using you in a mean time" Alex rested her head on her shoulder squeezing her tightly.
"I knoooow...By the time I get there they will drain the fucking blood out of me. I love my job I just hate wankers who know I don't have a choice."
"If it makes you feel any better it was the same for me when I was an intern. I had a right beach of a boss. Everyone hated her. But I had to keep my mouth shut...And you will have a beautiful garden."
"I will...and I will sit in it and think.... Fuck you all the wankers" she giggled "Oh...talking about it...I got your website sorted. Those changes you wanted."
"Really?"
"Mmm...give me sec... There look"
"Oh waaaw...that looks great sweet pea...thaaaaank youuuu"
"Can I go with you once...you know to the meeting?"
"Really? You wanna go?"
"Yeah...I'd love to."
"I'd love nothing more baby but it's actually not my decision...I would have to ask everyone if they are ok with it. People talk about some very personal stuff, and they may not feel comfortable sharing it with my wife" she giggled "But I can absolutely ask and if they are ok of course you can."
"I'd really like that..."
"That's so sweet you wanna go...it means a lot Yazee"
"It's your world...I wanna understand it better...I don't want you feeling alone."
"I'm not...I have you" Alex said rubbing her nose against her cheek and planting a long kiss to it
"You know what I mean."
"I dooo...And it makes me love you even more...if that's even possible.... I’m gonna have to go" she hummed in the back of her neck.
"I knoooow...And I have to get on with this shit...I mean look at this...it's fucking horrid...What is this shit even."
Alex laughed into her shoulder "Looks a bit psychedelic."
"Little...it looks like Austin Powers farted on it...I'm ashamed of it being in my portfolio."
"Add some badge" Alex laughed.
"Not even badge helps this tragedy of a project."
"Well...I'll send you photos of the most beautiful balloon garland you designed.”
"I can't wait to see it."
"Me neither..."
"Alright sweet pea...I have to go now.... give us a kiss"
"See you soon.”
"I'll be back before you know it.” Alex got up and pulled her jeans on quickly.
"Deal...take a jacket...it seems cold today."
"It's cloudy...it looks like it's gonna piss down" Alex looked through the window "But Eddie did a great job on a grass...it looks beautiful."
"It does...I saw it when I got up...oh wait...The castle...I just got an email back"
"Did you? Aaaand?"
"Yap...they have a small one and it shout fit at the bottom where the tree house is" she smiled over her shoulder.
"Yeees!!!"
"But we will legit have it on photos" Yaz laughed "Fuck it"
"It's ok we can move to mums roses" Alex laughed
"Or stand by the tree" Yaz giggled "We can have the cheesiest photos ever."
"Or cottage core in mum’s kitchen"
"Only if you take that garden bucket, she has babe and be sexy country girl."
"I can do that" Alex laughed then herd her mum yelling from downstairs "Alright I reaaaaly have to go now."
Yaz leaned her head back for one more kiss
Alex kissed her gently "Love ya" she said kissing her forehead as well for good measure and then rushed out of the room
"Alex come oooon ...you're gonna see her in two hours for fuck sake."
"Coming....coming" she yelled running down the stairs "That's a long time" she giggled when she came down.
"I think you two should just resign from your work and live on kissing" Charlie laughed getting into the car.
"I can do that" Alex smiled opening the car door.
"No comment" Charlie shook her head laughing.
"So where do we go first?" Alex asked exited as she sat in a car.
"Florest...cause you forgot to go the other day then to the balloon shop."
"Goodie"
"Then we can sit for a coffee"
"Yes...and I need to go to Boots to get some stuff for Yazee"
"That's fine"
...
"I'm so exited" Alex was bouncing next to her mother down the street.
"The flowers are really beautiful...She incorporated small little roses they are almost powder color...You're gonna see...so beautiful."
"I just hope silver will go nice...I'm still not sure."
"It will Alex...well it's done now anyway" she laughed and pulled open the door of the florist store. It was a tiny store on a high street. No bigger than one room with a small shop window filled with bouquets and different arrangements.
"Ava!" Charlie called out as she stepped inside.
"Hey darling...give me a sec" an older lady with long gray hair neatly tied into a long thick brade peaked from the back of the store. She was a tiny woman dressed in a colorful long dress with wide sleeves "Aleeex!"
"Hiya" Alex smiled and gave her a little wave from the door.
"Hey darling...you look so lovely.”
"Thank you...You look as radiant as always...I just told mum...I'm so excited.”
"Big day for you...you should be...I really hope you're gonna like it...photos don't do it justice. My phone is absolute shit."
"I'm sure I'm gonna love it."
"Soooo... I made a small arrangement you can take home and show your girl" she said disappearing at the back of the shop all exited.
"Really? OMG that's so thoughtful...thank you so much.”
Alex's eyes widened at all the flowers, and she felt her heart beating faster with excitement. Her mom looked at her with a smile and a wink.
"I'm gonna combust" Alex said hopping in one place.
"You're gonna die when you see what she did" Charlie said.
"Here we go...so this is what table arrangements are gonnna look like" she placed it on the counter leaving Alex completely speechless.
"OMG...are you serious? This is...this is sooooo stunning!!!" she touched it ever so gently "Yazee will die...she will die...it's like our apartment...all the colors and everything like she imagined it."
"Told ya" Charlie smiled and looked at her friend. “She’s gone...she's gonna carry it around wherever she goes" she laughed.
"I'm so glad you like it. Your mum showed me the table decorations you chose I thought it will go so well."
"It perfect...absolutely perfect" Alex looked up and spread her arms "Thaaaaank youuuu...You're making my dream come true."
"God, it makes me happy to see you smile honey..." she hugged her over the counter gently "You deserve all of it poppet."
Ava was one of Charlie's oldest friends. They grew up together and were inseparable. She had known Alex since she was born and was one of the few people who never left her mom after Alex started transitioning. She always had a kind word and was one of the few people Alex knew who always had a smile on her face. It made everything even more special that she was the one who did the flowers for her wedding.
"Also...mmmm...give me a second...let me show you something" she went at the back again "Here look...I'm not sure if you like it.... let me know so we can change it...this is just a sample.”
She showed her a flower decoration for her hair beautifully made with delicate champagne colour roses combined with white once and dainty little sage leaves.
"Alright I'm gonna cry now...Waaaaawww...that's just soo stunning...my god."
"It's not too big?"
"Noooo...I love it...Well...let's try it."
"Oh yeah...I'm so fucking stupid..." she circled the counter and scooped up Alex's hair behind her ears "I love it blonde...suits you.”
"I love it...mum hated it at first."
"Neah...she just wanted to keep a small part of old you" she winked at her "That's what mum's do...Here we go...have a look...mirror is there" she pointed at the wall.
Alex stood by the big silver mirror on the wall and smiled a biggest smile "It's stunning..." she said with a wobbling bottom lip.
"Well keep it then...they will wilt in few days anyway."
"Seriously?"
"Yeees...you have a tiny plastic bottle hidden inside you can add some water if you want so you can enjoy them for two or three days.
"Aaaaaaa" Alex jumped "I can show Yazee
"What is she having?"
"She bought something for her hair...Yazee isn't into all this girly stuff like me" she giggled.
"Well would she wear something around her wrist...so you're at least matching."
"I can ask her."
"Ask and I can make it so it ties with a ribbon...I'm not gonna be upset if she doesn't want it. It's just a thought."
"Alright" Alex nodded and opened her arms "Give us a hug."
"Arrrrh...gonna crush you" she said hugging her tight "...Look at her getting married" she pulled apart with a smile and wrapped her fingers around the side of Alex's neck "Seee...when I kept telling you all you need to do is be patient and there's someone out there who will adore you."
"You have...I knoooow...Didn't believe you though."
"Well, you believe me now" she chuckled "I waited a lot longer...so consider yourself blessed.”
"How old were you when you met Peter?" Alex asked.
"55....I was an old hag" she laughed.
"Noooo...stop...you're definitely not an old hag."
"Oh yes I am..." she smiled "Well...it was so nice to see you both.”
"Come over this week pleaseeee" Alex said putting her hands together "You have to meet my Yazee"
"I will honey I have to put all the flowers for your wedding don't I...so I'm coming on Friday anyway and then on Saturday morning again."
"Aaaa goodie"
"Thanks for everything..." Charlie hugged her "What would I do without you.”
"Have no friends" she laughed.
"You got that right" she laughed.
"Alright girls have a nice day...I need to rush I have order to finish for a birthday party."
"No problem...thaaaaank youuuu so so so so much" Alex's picked up her bucket cheerfully "See ya on Friday"
"See ya" she waived as they left.
"Muuuum....I got me flowers" Alex chirped as they went out of the store.
"You doo...told you she's gonna make magic for you"
"Oh god did she...Yazee will lose her shit when she sees this."
Charlie shook her head laughing "Whanna go for a coffee? Looks like rain is holding off"
"Yes definitely" Alex hopped next to her completely out of her mind from happiness "Can I just pleaseeee call Yaz for a second.”
"Yeeeees" she rolled her eyes "Go on.."
Alex took her phone out. She had a permanent silly grin on her face as she was dialing the number.
"Yazee"
"Hey babe...miss me already?"
"Absolutely....miss you loads...and you're gonna die...you will absolutely die Yaz...this is so so so so beautiful."
"Really?" She practically squeaked over the phone.
"Aaaaaand I got a bouquet I'm bringing home for you to see"
"Get out...No waaaay!"
"Way baaaaby...and and she made me flowers for my hair, and you were so right they look amazing Yazee...I'm freaking out and I can't I'm just gonna cry all the time."
Yaz laughed over the phone "You mean more than usual?" she giggled.
"Yeeees!!!" Alex laughed.
"I can't wait to see it...God now I really don't feel like working."
"Sooorry....I had to tell you or I'm gonna talk through my ass."
"Just hurry up home"
"Will do...love ya"
"Love you too silly sod.”
"You two make me die. You will see her in an hour. How will you be separated when you go to Zambia?"
"Dunno...it's why I postponed it...That's gonna be hard."
"I'm glad you have...You know I hate you going there."
"I knoooow" she put her arm around her mum's shoulder and kissed her cheek "I wish you have someone."
"No way Alex...my days of dating are gone...I have all you lot. It's all I need and to be honest I enjoy my freedom. I do what I want, see who I want and come back home when I want. Your dad put me off relationships for the rest of my life."
"I'm sorry"
"Don't be baby.... I got the best out of him...You're my best."
"If I'm the best I hate to know what's the worst" she laughed "Hey look table in a sun" she pointed to the small, cute terrace.
"So, we're gonna go to the balloon place now after the drinks...Where is this garland going anyway? Nadjia is getting confused as well."
"Oh," Alex chuckled "Well, we will have big tables and then in the corner next to us they are putting a small table for kids with the balloon garland and a little tent.... Like a tipi for kids"
"Oh, waaaw that's cute. So, kids have their own table? That's clever"
"Aha...I thought it be cute and they will have loads of cushions on the floor it's gonna be fun for them as long as we don't have rain.”
"How the hell are you gonna fit all that into my garden I don't know" Charlie laughed taking the menu "I'm just gonna have this smoothie...looks nice"
"I have no idea" Alex laughed "I'm leaving it to them to figure it out...Uuuu they do look nice" she looked down to the selection of different healthy drinks "I don't want anything with ginger it makes me feel sick."
"Only this one is with ginger...they have pineapple and bananas with coconut...that sounds like you."
"Yap...I'll have that...It all came so fast mum...Sometimes I'm wondering if this is gonna blow up in my face" Alex leaned into her chair.
"What do you mean? Blow up in your face how Alex?"
"I duuunno...She's everything I want...I'm so clear about that but you know me I'm so manic mum I get euphoric about stuff Yaz isn't like that. And... we are still learning so much about each other...I knoooow she loves me and I knoooow this makes her so happy...but what if she finds six months or a year from now that this isn't what she wants or that I dunno I'm too much..."
"She said something to me the other day."
"She did?....Whaaaaat....what did she say? Tell me"
"She said that you are her light...that she has her own problems but that she's grateful for you. That you make her feel alive and that you are her light."
"She said that?" Alex's pouted her lips "Reeeally?"
"Yeah" Charlie nodded "I think it's exactly your euphoria that makes her feel alive...I think you give each other comfort."
"We do...very much so we spoke about it. I don't know how to function without her anymore mum" she looked down and nervously twirled her bracelet around her wrist "It's so scary to be so vulnerable...and I'm constantly scared of losing it”
"Hey..." Charlie reached for her wrist across the table "You won't...you have to relax Alex. Yaz expresses her emotions in a different way but that doesn't mean that she feels any different for you. I think she's as scared as you are. I don't know her story, but that girl is in pain...Different kind of pain from yours but pain is pain."
"She is and she is scared I know that. We spoke about it. But what if that changes...what if I'm too much?"
"As long as you love each other Alex you're gonna figure it out. Everyone has problems and you will too...and you will have challenges. Living together isn't easy sometimes...it takes compromise. But you're gonna figure it out."
"I'm really happy mum...really happy but sometimes it feels like it's wrong cause I never was this happy...Like you get used to being miserable then when you're finally happy you're questioning it"
"I know the feeling, Alex. It's how I felt when your dad left. I felt so free I kept expecting something to go wrong and to go back to how it was...like you're so fucking traumatized from everything your brain has a hard time adjusting to something that is actually normal...But with time honey it goes away."
"I hope so...I'm just terrified of loosing it" Alex sighed and reached for her mum's hand over the table "Love ya"
"Love you too...and these flowers in your hair are really beautiful. I'm still pissed off with you for not letting me see the wedding dress."
Alex chuckled "I'm sooorry.... It will be worth it."
"Neah...still pissed off" she laughed "Nadjia told me Yaz doesn't want to show her the outfit either...you're two are a right pair of fuckers you know that. "
Alex laughed and squeezed her mum's hand lovingly "Loveeee yaaaa...Grumpy."
....
Yaz finally shut down her computer and leaned back into the chair with a sigh. She looked at her watch and huffed, getting up. It was nearly three and Alex was still out, so she picked up her phone to call her as she was now getting impatient and lonely. The whole thing was stressful so much that half of the time she felt like she wanted to smash up her computer, something she never felt since she started this job. It was the first time she felt as though she was going to explode, and she desperately needed to at least hear Alex's voice.
"Hey sweet pea" Alex chirped haply.
"Hey baby...Where are youuu?" she whined over the phone.
"Mushy pea...I'm gonna be home soon we're on our way. I'm so sorry we got held up, but I got everything from Boots for you...Are you done with work?"
"Yeah finally...I'm exhausted and I need a cuddle."
"Oh bless...Cuddle coming your way...I'm literally home in 10 min baby.”
"My brain is melting" she said slumping her face on a table.
"Don't let it melt too much I can't wait for you to see the flowers.”
"I'll always have some brain cells left for that" she laughed.
"Alright my sweet mushy pea...see you soon...Love ya"
"Love you too.”
"Is she alright?" Charlie asked glancing at Alex shortly looking at her wasting through a massive bag of chips "Stop eating those Alex...we're having lunch when we come back."
"I'm hungry...Nooo...she's not alright.... she has a nightmare client and she's getting really stressed over this project. He's being an ass to her, and she feels like she’s got no choice but to do it"
"Oh, bless her...I saw her this morning in a kitchen, and she looked like she's gonna cry"
"He's really giving her a hard time making her do it over and over again."
"Whaaa"
"Yeah, like fourth time now"
"I'm sorry that's just taking a piss...she should put her foot down."
"She should and I'm planning to have a word with her about it. It's not easy when you're self employed but I'm not having someone using her like that."
"She has to tell him to fuck off. She has to respect herself or nobody else will."
"Yeah....you've kinda been telling me that all my life" Alex laughed.
"I have but you have some permanent draft going through your ears" she laughed.
"Thanks mum"
"You're welcome" she turned to her with a wink.
Yaz was lying on the bed exhausted mentally and physically. She felt anxious about the answer she was waiting for from the client. It was stress she didn't need just a few days before her wedding, and she felt it was taking away from her ability to fully enjoy herself. She almost felt like she wasn't mentally present with her mind occupied with work and that made her feel absolutely miserable. She heard a car pulling up in the driveway and got out of bed running down the stairs.
"Hey honey” Charlie waived on the way to the kitchen.
"Hi"
"Heeey" Alex smiled widely walking into the house and quickly hid the bouquet behind her back.
"Oi!...Let me seeeeee" Yaz giggled getting down
"What's it worth?" Alex said playfully.
"Anything...Coooome oooon" she tried to look behind her, but Alex kept turning.
"Neah," Alex laughed, turning her back to the corner.
"Name the price" Yaz laughed trying to look.
"Give us a kiss" Alex laughed and leaned in demanding.
"That's not even a price...Fucking hell Alex you don't know how to bargain" she laughed grabbing the lapels of her jacket pulling her in and kissed her enough to draw a soft whimper from her "Now...let me see" she laughed.
Alex smiled the biggest silly smile and popped the bouquet in front of her face. Yaz squealed incoherently "OMFG....noooo waaaay!!!"
"Told ya"
"That's the most beautiful fucking bouquet I've seen in my life."
"Me too"
"Aleeeex" she looked up at her with puppy eyes.
"I knoooow...it's so stunning."
"The details...and this what is this even" she touched the feathery plant light cream colour "OMG it's so gentle."
"Pampas grass" Charlie said smiling passing next to them "Come on you two… pick up your jaws from the floor and let's eat before we all pass out"
"Coming" Yaz smiled "OMG baby and the flowers in your hair" she brought her hand to the side of her ear and brushed her fingers over the small flowers.
"Yeaaaah" Alex nodded. She had the most ridiculous permanent smile on her face she couldn't wipe off.
Yaz pouted her lips gazing at her and cupped her face "They are so pretty."
"I knoooow I'm having a brain fog from everything."
"Girl’s food!"
"Coming mum"
"Come on...let's eat I'm starving" Yaz wrapped her arm around her waist.
After lunch Charlie left to meet up with her friend, making Alex and Yaz chuckle as it was obvious, she was doing it to give them some space. Yaz was struggling to keep awake putting the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. Having a chat and a laugh during lunch made her forget about her nightmare client but now stress was weighing on her heavy and all she wanted to do was curl up underneath the blanket and sleep. She felt Alex's fingers slide gently down her sides. They felt so soothing after a long day.
"It's alright, leave the rest I'll finish it off" she said placing a small kiss to her shoulder.
"Sure?"
"Absolutely...go...lie down. You look like you’re gonna fall asleep standing up."
Yaz turned around and raised her arms on her shoulders locking her fingers at the back of Alex's head and kissed her slowly and gently. "Alright...Don't be long... I’m cuddle deprived today."
"Oh boy...Can't have that...I won't be long. I just need to wash the table and a kitchen top" Alex smiled and popped a small kiss to the tip of her nose.
Yaz dragged herself upstairs and pushed herself onto the sofa, which was now permanently opened into a bed. Then she rolled over onto her back splattering like a pancake with a sigh. It thundered outside making her jump and she turned her face towards the window watching dark clouds shadowing the sky. It made her sleepier as light rain started hitting the window. She grabbed a knitted blue blanket from the edge of the sofa and curled into it like a burrito, lying on her side watching the raindrops slide down the window. The room suddenly became darker, but cozier. She breathed in Alex from the pillow, her scent comforting her as she felt restless inside.
Alex wiped the kitchen top and looked out into the garden as the rain grew heavier. The smell of wet grass was coming through the back door bringing a smile to her face as it brought her back to the rare moments of her childhood when she was happy playing with her brothers in the back garden and camping in a treehouse pretending it was a pirate ship. She wandered off for a moment to summer evenings when they would play all day and then gather in the treehouse reading books and comics, listening to music, and playing cards and various board games. Their uncle made it super cozy by installing a little lamp that was now long gone and her mum bought them sleeping bags. The sound of her mobile phone jolted her from her thoughts.
"Hey mum...what's up? It's pissing down."
"Just wanted to let you know I'll be back late. We're gonna go for a drink."
Alex chuckled "You have a better social life than me.... Alright mum...don't worry. I moved all the chairs in the garage and I'm gonna shut the back door just in case."
"Thanks baby"
"Love ya"
"Love you too.”
Alex hung up and closed the back door, then headed upstairs. She found Yaz wrapped in a blanket sleeping, so she took off her jeans and slid under the blanket, spooning herself against her.
"Heeeey...sorry, I fell asleep" Yaz said in a sleepy voice and turned over her shoulder giving her a quick kiss.
"I'm sorry I woke you up...sleep darling."
"Mmmmm....I need this...so fucking badly" she said linking her fingers with Alex's pressing them to her chest.
"Did he reply back?"
"Not yet...I'm secretly hoping he won't today. I don't think I can deal with more drama."
"I don't think you should. I think this time you have to put your foot down. Money or not Yazee I don't want someone using you. This project isn't gonna break the bank."
"I knoooow but It's a lot of money, and we need money now with a house."
"Hey" Alex put gentle pressure on her shoulder turning her on her back "It's alright...it's just one project. Don't do this to yourself...No money is worth it" she said dotting gentle kisses over her face and palmed her hand in the air.
"I want it to look pretty. It’s our dream."
"And it will...but we don't have to do everything all at once. Garage can wait. I want us to be happy, that's the whole point...so please if he gives you grief tell him to shove it."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely...tell him to shove it up his fucking ass. You're worth more than that...your business isn't gonna go down if you don't allow people to use you Yazee. It will go down if you spend time pleasing someone who will never be satisfied instead of using that time for other projects and doing work for those who appreciate your work...I don't want you selling yourself cheap."
Yaz gazed at her in silence then said quietly "I love you...so fucking much...C'mere" she brought her hand at the back of Alex's neck pulling her gently into a kiss then turned around wiggling her bum as close to Alex as possible lacing their fingers at her chest "I feel like a ton of bricks fell of my shoulders" she said quietly.
"Goodie" Alex smiled resting her head on a pillow "Now you can enjoy in a wedding.”
"I can" she said kissing her knuckles.
"Hey...I have an idea.”
"What?"
"I have this awesome book...wanna snuggle reading it."
"Mmmm...Yeeees"
"Alright..." Alex kissed the back of her neck "Give me a second" she hopped out of bed and opened the little sliding door underneath the eaves.
"OMG...I didn't even know that was there" Yaz rolled on her stomach peaking inside.
"My secret hiding place" Alex smiled winking.
"So, what are you hiding?"
"This is me you're talking to Yazee...just...nothing that exiting, just a bunch of my books...I keep them here cause room looks neater...Here we go."
Yaz shook her head laughing "I legit never read any books apart from those we had to in school and even then, I would look for an audio."
"Nothing wrong with audio Yazee...I just love smell of paper...and my bad ear would make audio annoying" she laughed climbing the bed.
"How much do you actually hear on that ear?"
"Not much...pretty muffled Yazee"
"Why didn't you ever get like a hearing aid or something?"
"I didn't want it...it would drive me nuts to have that on me all the time...It's alright I get by."
"So iff I do this" she leaned over and whispered in her ear giggling.
"Love ya" Alex grinned.
"You herd that!"
"Nope...I just know what you're gonna say" she giggled dropping a kiss to her cheek.
"Oi....That's cheating.”
"Noooo...it's called knowing you better than you think cheeky" she giggled throwing herself on a bed "C'mere" she opened her arms.
"Are you gonna read it out loud?"
"You wanna do it?"
"Nooooo" Yaz giggled making herself comfortable using Alex as a pillow.
"Oh...I'm the audio then?"
"Yeeees" yaz laughed.
"Very cheeky Yazee" she raised her eyebrows opening the book.
"So, what's it about?" she tilted the book to read the title.
"You'll see...it's set in Chile between 1910 and 1970 and follows several characters in one family....it has love, drama everything. It's one of my favorite books."
"Alright sounds cool"
"I figured by the time we go back we'll finish it."
"I loke this...suppose its different than constantly watching movies. I never had anyone read to me apart from my parents when I was a kid."
"Well...hope you like it.”
"I might fall asleep though" she giggled "And if I do it doesn't mean I'm bored shitless...just so you know."
"Thanks for letting me know cheeky fucker" Alex laughed and bumped the top of her head with a book.
"Just saying...you're a very comfy pillow."
"I'm as comfy as a nail bed Yaz...you're nice and squidgy ...Alright...here we go...ready?"
"Yeaaaah...this is romantic" she looked up smiling at her.
"It is, isn't it" she smiled back at her.
"What would I do without you?" she squeezed her tight and placed a small kiss between her breasts.
"What would I do without you Yazee..." she smiled and kissed the top of her head gently then opened the book.
As the rain pattered against their bedroom window, it was slowly getting darker outside, and the candles Alex had lit in the window bathed the room in soft light. Yaz sank into Alex's arms resting her head on her shoulder drifting away between the pages of the book. Her soft voice was lulling her to sleep, but she loved the story and fought with herself not to fall asleep.
The last candle was on its way out and Alex closed the book slowly leaning over to blow it out. She turned off the small lamp on the side table and pulled the covers over them both snuggling up to Yaz who was fast asleep by this point. She listened to the rain outside for a while. There was something about rainy nights that she always loved.
The way it makes the bed softer and the room warmer. She loved the sound of the wind whipping through the treetops and the water pouring from the gutters. The way the silent night makes nature tangible and alive.
She could hear her mother entering the house and her footsteps on the creaky stairs drowning out the sound of the rain outside. Her eyes grew heavy, and she pressed her lips to the soft skin of Yaz's shoulder breathing in her sweet scent feeling the warmth of her body against hers.
"MINE" she thought to herself with a small smile and lowered her head on the pillow.
....
Chapter continues after the artwork
It was Wednesday afternoon, and it was still raining. Alex walked into the living room looking outside worriedly. They had a solution if the weather turns bad but it was not the one she was absolutely thrilled about. With autumn fast approaching, days were getting shorter, and each rainy day seemed to be making the air cooler. She was hoping for at least a few more days of sunshine at least until the wedding was out of the way.
"Hey...it's gonna pass don't worry" Yaz said walking into the room and reached for her hand hooking her fingers to hers lightly.
"I'm worried now" Alex turned to her sadly.
"I just looked at the weather forecast it should clear out tomorrow...C'mere" she tugged her hand and sat on the edge of the sofa. Alex slumped on the floor, leaning her back against her and still not taking her eyes off the window.
"It's absolutely pissing down."
"It will pass...you'll see" Yaz ran her fingers down the length of her neck gently.
"Promise?" Alex looked up at her pouting her lips.
"Promise" she said softly caressing her neck and kissed the tip of her nose.
"I want it to be how we imagined it."
"It will be you'll see" she smiled.
"Are you nervous?" Alex smiled looking up at her.
"Little bit...to be honest it doesn't even seem real. I think it will hit me when I get all dressed up" she chuckled.
"I'm so worried about messing up my vows Yazee. I know myself I'll start stuttering and sound like an idiot."
"No, you won't" she ran her hand gently down her shoulders "And so what if you fucking do?...That's just you...my silly Alex...I wouldn't have you any other way"
"Mmmmm..." Alex rubbed her face into her knee "You're not gonna change your mind about me one day...Will you?"
"Whaaaat?" Yaz chuckled "What do you mean?"
"You know" she looked up again "You're not gonna think this is all rushed and...and dunno...you didn't really think this through."
"Aleeeex...wtf...are you fucking kidding me? Nooooo"
"I get panicky inside...I can't control it...I'm really trying" Alex raised her hand and brushed her cheek gently.
"Me too...From the day I fell for you. You know that Alex...I think we're both just so fucked up and our minds decided to torture us."
"Love you," Alex whispered closing her eyes melting into her soft lips dotting tiny kisses over her face.
Yaz took her lips into a gentle kiss "I love you to bits" she said with a smile "…and the only regret I have is not meeting you before"
.....
