We stayed in the water until our skin wrinkled, then dried off and went to our separate rooms. I stayed awake long into the night, wondering what would happen if I slipped into his room and into his bed. Would he welcome me? Or would he tell me all the reasons why we were a bad bet?
The rest of the week, Hayden worked at the senior center for a few hours every day. She was earning volunteer hours for her graduation but, at the same time, making friends and doing something good for the community.
I had a deadline at the end of the week for a project, so I worked long hours, trying to come up with various options for a logo for a company we'd just started working with. The pressure was high.
I worked best when I had some time to take a break and could come back with fresh ideas. But I often had to work within strict parameters and time limits. It limited my creativity.
Marshall had taken to bringing me sandwiches for lunch and even dinner.
By Friday, I was exhausted physically and mentally. I hit Send on the project and hoped it would be good enough to beat out my coworkers. We earned bonuses when our images were chosen, and I could use the extra money. Especially if I was going to consider the possibility of starting a business.
"You're joining us for dinner?" Marshall asked when I appeared in the kitchen, feeling like I'd been run over by a truck.
"I'm starving."
Marshall quickly cut up some fruit and cheese, laying out crackers. "Eat this and then go take a bath. You deserve it."
"He's making fish on the grill," Hayden said.
"And then I'm taking her to a friend's house."
My breath caught in my throat. "That sounds like fun."
Hayden smiled. "It's a few of us from the center."
Marshall's brow furrowed. "She's assured me it's only girls."
Hayden sighed. "You can talk to her mother when you drop me off."
"You know I will," Marshall said.
When I'd eaten, he said, "Now take a bath. I've got dinner."
"I'm not going to argue with that," I said as I made my way upstairs.
In the tub, I could hear the soft murmur of Marshall's and Hayden's voices in the kitchen below. It was comforting, and I was content to stay in the tub until the water cooled.
As I was drying off, my stomach rumbled again. I put on a comfortable T-shirt and shorts. Downstairs, Marshall had already put the food on the table outside.
He looked up when I appeared. "You're just in time for dinner."
The table was already set, the food smelled amazing, and the soft lap of the water in the pool made me want to head to bed early. It had been a long week.
I sat down. "I could get used to this."
"You worked a lot this week," he observed.
I nodded. "Yeah, I was under a deadline."
He eyed me with concern. "That pace seems unsustainable."
"It's worse when I'm working in the office. We work through the night, ordering food in, but I always feel drained afterward. I'd rather take some time to think about the design, and not force it."
"That makes sense."
"I'm thinking more about the possibility of opening my own business."
A slow smile spread over his face.
