Eclipse of the heart...

The morning finds you still wrapped around Andi. Careful to not wake her up, you slowly pull your arms out from under her and slide out from under the covers. After stretching out the kinks in your back, you tiptoe over to the stereo that was left on during the night. You reach to turn it off when the song “Shriner's Park” by Melissa Etheridge starts. As you pause to contemplate the lyrics, Andi's voice calls out to you.

“John...you still here?”

“Yeah,” you call to her as you walk over to the bed and sit down beside where she lays.

She reaches up to stroke your face, her soft cool hand caressing your warm cheek. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking about us. About how I can't keep the fear away that this might end badly for both of us. And how I'm not going to let that fear stop me any longer from moving closer to you. Otherwise I'll never know...” You pause as you look at the expression on her face. “Sorry...that sounded really corny...”

“No, it didn't,” Andi replies. “I've been thinking the same thing lately. And last night just kinda cinched it for me.” Andi giggles. “Guess we're an item, then?”

You laugh. “Haven't heard that phrase in a long time, but, yeah, I'd like to date you officially, if you'll have me.”

Andi grins widely as she sits up quickly and hugs you. You hold her close, the softness of her shirt and the warmth of her skin rubs across your naked chest. After several minutes, the two of you finally let go. “We need to celebrate this. How about some cinnamon toast and orange juice?”

“Sounds like a plan to me!” You grab your shirt and slip it on, then the two of you walk hand-in-hand down the stairs to the kitchen.

Sarah is sipping some coffee as the two of you enter the kitchen. You turn the oven on and lay out some bread on a cookie sheet as Andi pours two glasses of orange juice. Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Kelly examine Andi for several minutes before looking at you. “You two must have been quiet last night. I didn't hear any squeaking mattresses.”