Chapter 7

– Present Day –

Jason pulled into the driveway after work, and he reached up to push the garage door opener. A smile crossed his face when he saw Kayla’s car in the garage.

After his long day, he would be happy to talk with her, even though it wasn’t a night she was cooking.

As he opened the door, he heard something he’d never heard before.

He didn’t hear any music, but he heard the most beautiful voice singing.

He stood at the door for almost a full minute just listening to her. When it sounded like maybe the song was over, he walked into the kitchen, to see her standing in the middle of the room, with large headphones on, dancing with her back to the door.

Smiling, he crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame, waiting for her to turn around and notice him. She started to sing again, spinning in a circle as a dance move. But mid-spin, she jumped and screamed when she saw him.

He laughed, but she looked frightened.

She tore her headphones off. “How long have you been there?”

“You have a beautiful voice, you know?”

She sat down at the kitchen table, where her computer was set up with a textbook opened next to it. She didn’t look back up at him, but let out a big sigh.

He walked over to her. “Sorry I startled you.”

She shook her head. “It’s fine. Sorry I… was singing.”

He playfully pushed her shoulder. “Hey, I was serious. You should sing more often. That was an amazing thing to come home to.”

She gave him a fake scowl. She often did this when he complimented her. It was something he loved about her.

He asked, “What were you listening to?”

She opened a new window on her computer, and pulled up a song on YouTube. She started playing the song, and said, “It’s a woman named ‘Sia’. I’m totally obsessed with her right now.”

She watched Jason’s face as he listened. He noticed she was watching him. He asked, “What?”

She asked, “Do you like it?”

He thought about it, “Yeah. But, why does it matter if I like it?”

She stood up and started swaying her body to the music. She was trying to be goofy, but Jason thought it was sexy, because she was swaying her hips, and popping her shoulders up which made her chest jiggle.

She asked, “She’s coming to town next month.”

Jason raised his eyebrows, “You going?”

She shrugged.

He didn’t understand what her game was here. She was acting like she wanted to ask him something, but he didn’t know what this musician had to do with him.

He said, “You should go, if you’re obsessed with her.”

She stopped dancing, and then bit her lip. “I’ve never been to a concert before.”

He found that hard to believe. “Really? What about just listening to a band at a bar or something?”

She thought about that. “I mean, we had live music sometimes at the bar I used to work at.”

He shrugged, “It’s just like that, but usually bigger.”

She looked disappointed. “All of those bands were always bad. I can’t imagine hearing live music that is actually good.”

Jason asked, “Can I get you tickets as an early birthday present?”

She bit her lip again. “You can. But I would only accept that if you came with me.”

Jason was simultaneously flattered and flabbergasted. He asked, “Really?”

When she nodded at him, he asked again, “Are you sure?”

She nodded, and gave a big, bright smile. “I was going to ask you to go with me anyway, and if you want to get the tickets, I suppose I won’t object.”

He thought about going out with her, and wondered who else listened to this type of music. “Wouldn’t it be better to go with someone… who is younger?”

She shook her head. “I’d rather go with you.”

He raised his eyebrow, and she pushed his chest playfully. “I’m serious.”

He thought about it for a few moments. Kayla watched him as he thought.

One of his favorite musicians was coming to town that summer, and Jason had decided to just go alone. He didn’t feel comfortable dating, knowing that his true affection is for a woman he can’t have. He decided this was a convenient way to solve his predicament. He said, “OK, but on one condition.”

She crossed her arms and nodded, biting her cheek, as if trying not to smile too largely.

“My favorite artist is coming to town this summer. If you come to that with me, I’ll go to Sia with you.”

She smiled, and hugged him. “Deal! Who is it?”

He leaned over to her computer and searched for his favorite song on YouTube. “It’s just a guy. He plays the guitar, and it’s mostly folk type music.”

He stood up and watched her face as the song played. She looked up at him, and leaned her shoulder into his chest. “I like it. You’ve definitely got a deal.”

He loved the feeling of her leaning against him, but he resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her, or to lean down and kiss her beautiful lips.

She smiled again, and asked, “I’m going to heat up leftovers. You want some?”

“Yes please.” He started to untuck his shirt from his trousers, as part of his relaxation routine after work. Then he decided to just take off his button up too. He tossed it in the laundry room, and then came back to the kitchen to help her get dinner ready. He patted his stomach, “You know, I think I’ve lost weight since you moved in. I guess your meals are healthier than eating out every night.”

She looked him up and down. “Yeah. I’ve noticed. You look really good.”

He noticed her absentmindedly touching her stomach. She added, “I’ve gained weight since moving in.” Then she grabbed her butt, to emphasize where she’s gained.

He wanted to say, I’ve noticed, and it looks great, but he just said, “You could stand to gain some more weight.”

She laughed. “You’re such a guy.”

He shrugged, “What? You look amazing. And you have nothing to be self conscious about.”

He wanted to say more. You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. Your beauty surprises me on a daily basis. But he stayed quiet.

She got one plate out of the microwave and handed it to Jason.

He sat down at the kitchen table to eat while she finished reheating hers.

She asked, “So, Margo gets here on Saturday, and we leave on Sunday. I still can’t believe our Spring Breaks line up.” Then she asked playfully, “Are you going to be OK without me for a whole week?”

He had just taken a bite​ of the chicken. He nodded, “Uh huh.”

She went through her to do list with him. “I’ll catch up on laundry the day before we leave, and I’ll have a couple frozen meals for you to heat up, the rest will just be in the fridge ready to heat up. I’ll go grocery shopping on Saturday too, so you have plenty of fruit and cereal. I’ll clean everything this week. Is there anything else you’d like me to do before I go?”

He thought about how much better his life had been since Kayla moved in with him.

He said, “You’re good at taking care of me, you know, but you can also just not worry about all that this week. You have enough other stuff on your mind. I’ll be fine.”

She laughed, but then added seriously, “I, actually, really enjoy taking care of things around here. It makes me feel good when things are neat and orderly. And I like knowing you’re eating healthily.”

Now he laughed. “You’re too good to me.”