Part 8 (1/2)

”His name is Paul,” Matt gushed. ”And he took my phone number!”

The three spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, broken only by the band breaks when Lynn joined them. At midnight, Matt and Chris said good-bye to Sam and found their way home.

Lynn unlocked the door, trying to be quiet. She looked at her watch: two a.m. Walking into the living room, she wondered if she should try and sleep for a couple of hours, or just find a good movie to watch before leaving for the restaurant. Through the dim light, she saw a bundle on the couch. On closer look, she realized it was Chris, snuggled up in a blanket. I can't believe that Matt is having her sleep on the couch, she thought to herself, he couldn't give up his bed? Shaking her head, Lynn tiptoed down the hall, into her room, turned on the bedside lamp, and changed the sheets on her bed. ”Chris needs a good night's sleep tonight of all nights,” she caught herself saying out loud. She knew that tomorrow would be a very stressful day for Chris. Lynn grabbed some clothes, then went back into the living room and gently shook Chris's arm.

”Chris,” she said softly ”Chris.”

Chris slowly opened her eyes. ”Is it morning already?” she asked.

”No, come on, you're going to sleep in my bed.”

Chris looked at Lynn with a hint of confusion.

”Come on, you need a good night's sleep. I changed the sheets on my bed. I'll sleep on the couch.” Lynn helped Chris up from her crumpled position and led her down the hall. Chris climbed between the sheets and rested her head on the pillow.

”Thanks,” Chris whispered before closing her eyes and immediately falling back asleep.

Lynn stood there for a moment, watching Chris's steady breathing. Then for some reason, before she could catch herself, she leaned over and softly kissed Chris's forehead. Realizing what she had done, she quickly backed away. Watching to see if she had woken Chris, she felt her heart melt as Chris sighed and faintly smiled in her sleep.

For a moment, Lynn thought Chris reminded her of a young child. But as she gazed further, down to the firm b.r.e.a.s.t.s barely contained in the white cloth, then to the tan legs curled up in such a way to be daring Lynn to feel the smoothness of the skin, her lower extremities reminded her that Chris was indeed a woman.

Lynn tiptoed out of the bedroom and closed the door. Coffee, she needed coffee, and another cold shower. She wandered into the kitchen and started the coffeemaker. Picking up her clothes, she quietly entered the guest bathroom and shut the door. She peeled off her sweaty clothes and turned the shower faucet on. Letting the cool water run on her head and down her body, she examined the feelings going on inside of her. What exactly was she feeling for Chris? And more importantly, how could she push it away? She pictured Chris's faint smile just moments ago. Once again, she repeated to herself*she's straight, she's straight, she's straight, Lynn' turned off the shower, dried off, and got dressed. Returning to the kitchen, she poured herself a mug of coffee and wandered back into the living room where she plopped down on the couch. She could still smell Chris's perfume in the air. She flipped on the television and searched through the channels. Sipping on her coffee, she settled on a Mary Tyler Moore marathon on TV Land. At five o'clock, and a pot of coffee later, she headed out the door to the restaurant. She was exhausted, and*after smelling Chris's perfume for the past few hours*frustrated.

Chapter Seven.

”Chris, are you awake?” Matt's voice boomed through the bedroom door. ”I thought maybe we could grab some breakfast before we started out on our adventure.” Chris rolled over, not quite remembering how she had gotten into Lynn's bed. Focusing, she remembered being woken up on the couch, climbing in between the cool sheets, Lynn's soft voice in the dark. And then she saw them. There on the bedside table sat a vase full of daisies. Chris smiled.

Realizing that she hadn't answered Matt's question, she quickly replied, ”Sure, give me a half an hour to shower and dress. I'm starving!”

A half an hour later, Chris emerged from the bedroom, wearing a pair of white shorts and a lavender sleeveless s.h.i.+rt.

”Do I look all right? I wasn't sure what you wanted me to wear,” Chris said to Matt, who was pacing in the living room.

”You look great. Everything is going to be just fine, don't you think?” Matt asked for rea.s.surance.

”Yes, I think everything is going to be fine. I really am going to try my best, Matt.”

”I know you will. I'm just really worried about making a mistake.”

Chris grabbed her purse and opened the door. ”Well, maybe you'll feel better with a full stomach.”

Matt followed her out the door and walked to the driver's-side door.

”Uh-hum.” Chris cleared her throat. ”If we're going to make this real, you'd better be opening my car door!”

Matt rushed over to the pa.s.senger-side door, unlocked it, and opened it for Chris. ”See, I think we needed more time*”

Chris smiled and slid in so that she was seated in the middle of the seat, where a woman would sit if driving with her boyfriend. ”I'll try and remind you of the little things, now get in!”

Matt walked around to his door and slid behind the wheel. He started the ignition, put the car into drive, and slowly pushed against the gas pedal. ”Here we go!” he said, trying to sound calm, while his stomach did flip-flops all the way down the road.

Matt and Chris walked into the diner and sat down at a booth.

”Well, good morning!” Chris looked up from the menu to find Lynn's smile.

”Good? I don't know about good, I mean this could be the beginning of the end*” Matt started.

Lynn looked at Matt and then over at Chris. ”I can see that he's a little nervous. Want coffee?”

”A little nervous? Quite an understatement!” Chris laughed. ”Yes, coffee please, and definitely decaf for Matt. He's driving me crazy already!”

”I only have decaf to offer, I already drank all the heavy stuff trying to keep my eyelids open!” Lynn laughed and walked behind the counter.

”By the way, thanks for the daisies, they really calmed my nerves this morning,” Chris said to Matt.

Matt looked confused. ”Daisies?”

Chris examined Mate's face. ”Never mind,” she mumbled, realizing that he wasn't the one who had left the daisies for her. It must have been Lynn. That was really sweet, she thought.

Chris began examining the menu again, just to be interrupted for the second time.

”Hey, you two don't look like you're in love!” commented another waitress standing in front of their table.

”Hey, Betty. I guess Lynn clued you in on this little charade, huh?” Matt answered.

”Yeah, she was afraid that you'd come in with your parents and I'd say something inappropriate about you being with a woman and all.” Betty then smiled, blew a tiny bubble with her gum, and pulled it back into her mouth. ”Really though, you guys need to be sitting closer, holding hands or something, or you'll never fool your folks.”

”Thanks Betty, good advice,” Matt said politely.

”Yeah, it is good advice,” Lynn said as she slipped in with the coffeepot and poured the two cups of coffee. ”You didn't really practice any of that.”

”Are you trying to make me more nervous, because you're doing a good job at it,” Matt said sarcastically while placing his menu on the table.

”Sorry. What do you guys want? The regular, Matt?”

Matt nodded his head and turned to Chris. ”Everything is great here. What do you want, eggs?”

Lynn shook her head. ”Haven't you listened to a word she's said? She doesn't like eggs. How about some waffles?”

”That sounds good, and some bacon, well done, please,” Chris answered, feeling uneasy about treating Lynn as a waitress.

Lynn returned in a few minutes with their breakfasts.

”G.o.d, I'm glad you're back. I was tired of watching Matt roll up pieces of his napkin into little b.a.l.l.s!” Chris said.

”Just one of his little quirky habits that made you fall in love with him, huh?” Lynn chuckled. Matt rolled his eyes and took his first bite.