Turning around to look at me, she glanced up and down more than once. “Wow,” she whispered, “You were fit before, John. Now you’re just a hunk.”
“Thanks,” I replied, feeling my cheeks get a little warm, not due to the hot shower, “You’re rather fit yourself, Steph.”
“Got to look good for my man. Fairly sure the men at my office think I’m a lesbian as I’ve turned each and every single one of them down for a date.”
After we washed ourselves, stepping out to then dry off, I took her hand and escorted her back to my bedroom, closing the door before I threw on some underwear. Stephanie took some panties out of her bag and chose a cami instead of a t-shirt, sliding under the covers and immediately cuddling into my side. It felt like the last ten years just hadn’t happened for a moment.
Feeling wet drips on my chest, I kissed the top of her head and cuddled her tighter. “It was a selfish request, John. I’m sorry,” she whispered, “But I was also honest that it was for you. I was… I don’t know how to put it, so I’ll keep it as simple as I can. You realise how popular with the girls at school you were, right?”
“To be honest, not really.”
She laughed. “Well, I guess you were a little oblivious because of me.” She paused and sighed. “When the girls and I discussed the trip, I mentioned it to the girls I was working with. I should have known, but they were adamant it would all work out in the end.” She looked up into my eyes. “I was wrong, but I thought at least part of you might have liked the idea of, I don’t know, experimenting, at least. We’d only been together with each other and I got it into my head that, if I was gone for a year, you’d want to have some fun.”
“But you knew me, Steph. I just don’t know what you were thinking at the time.”
“My own stupid but selfish insecurities. I’ve done a lot of therapy since then. We’d been together for four years, and I just thought… I was told things, then read other things online, and it snowballed, and given that I was going away…”
“Okay, honest truth time. Did you really want to sleep with anyone else?”
“No. The idea of being with anyone else wasn’t appealing but I thought, if I did get really lonely, maybe… I don’t know… The girls at the salon were all in my ear, telling me how much fun it would be. It was just being apart for a year and long distance relationships are difficult. But springing it on you like that, the whole idea of our trip, was selfish again. That word has popped up from time to time. I’ve done a lot of reflecting and soul searching for the past ten years. Growing up is tough.”
“One more question, Steph, then we’ll talk more in the morning. Do you want to restart our relationship?”
“More than anything,” she whispered, “If you’ll have me again. I love you, John.”
Kissing her forehead, I felt her adjust to get comfortable. Running my fingers up and down her smooth skin, she was fast asleep long before I was. Lying there in the dark with my arm around her again, it wasn’t how I expected the night to end. I thought, at most, we’d have an awkward reunion as she would have married and started a family.
Waking early the next morning, she was still asleep, spooning against me. Awkward as I had the usual morning wood that was prodding her butt. When she did finally wake up, I heard her giggle as she pressed herself back against me, taking my hand and moving it to one of her breasts. “Well, that’s something I do remember fondly,” she murmured. Turning around in my arms, she met my eyes and I could see the immediate concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Steph. You?”
“I haven’t slept that well in a long time.”
“Breakfast?”
She smiled and slid out of bed, wandering hand in hand to the kitchen where Mum was already preparing breakfast, Dad at the table reading the paper. After swapping pleasantries, Stephanie took a seat while I helped Mum finish off breakfast, sitting down next to Stephanie as we dug in. It was only when sitting down with a coffee afterwards that the discussion soon started.
“So I assume you two have discussed matters?” Dad asked somewhat awkwardly.
“We’ve just started, Dad,” I replied. Taking her hand, I added, “But there’s a good chance that we can rekindle what we once had.”
“I noticed you’re wearing his ring,” Mum said. I’d shown her ten years earlier. Stephanie nodded and blushed. “Have you worn it this entire time?”
“Yes,” she replied softly, “I’ve been single. And lonely. But that’s on me. My fault.” She paused before adding, “I’m sorry.”
My parents smiled. “Not necessary, Stephanie. You’re here this morning with our son,” Mum said, “He tried to convince everyone, including himself, his feelings for you no longer existed. I know my son. Every time your name was mentioned…”
“I’ll walk you home and I’ll say hello to your parents, Steph,” I said once we’d finished our coffee.
After getting dressed, I took her hand and walked her home. She still only lived up the road from me, like she’d done nearly her entire life. Walking inside her home was just like old times, though her parents were shocked to see me. Her mother actually cried, hugging me tightly, stating how happy she was to see me again, before his father grinned and shook my hand.
Leading me to her bedroom, it had changed from that of a teenager to a woman only a couple of years from thirty. I had to ask once we sat on her bed, “Why are you still living at home?”
“I wasn’t going to buy my own place until…” She looked at me and shrugged, “You know, until I had a reason to move out. Mum and Dad don’t mind me staying here. I help pay the bills and around the house, but Mum’s retired so I just get in the way when I do try.”
“What do you do now?”
“I’m a paralegal.” Raising my eyebrows in surprise, as she wasn’t planning on anything like that, she smiled at me. “You always said I had brains. I switched my major after a year.”
“Looking to be a lawyer?”
“No. I like what I do now. I hear you’re still an engineer?”
“Earned myself a cracking contract. Just need to find a gym so I maintain my fitness.” Taking her hand, I asked, “Want to go on a date next weekend? I know that sounds…”
She kissed my cheek. “We’re restarting, John. A date sounds wonderful.”
We ate lunch with her parents before I suggested we go for another walk. It was a warm day, Stephanie grabbing a hat and her small bag before we walked hand in hand to a local park. Taking a seat on a bench in the shade of a couple of large trees, she cuddled into my side, wrapping an arm around her. “I shouldn’t have left,” I muttered, “I was too hasty.”
“I hurt you more than I ever imagined, John. No-one blamed you for just wanting away.”
Sitting mostly in silence, Stephanie seemed content just cuddling into me. No idea how long we sat there for, long enough that my mother text me, asking if we’d be home for dinner. Stephanie was in for a surprise when we walked inside to my sister and her family there. Just like my parents, Stephanie was welcomed with open arms by my older sister, though I’m fairly sure a bad joke was whispered, both giggling though a tissue was required for both of them afterwards.