Sour Grapes

Grapes are always the sweetest thing in fruit salad. I love strawberries but for someone reason in the most colorful melanges they never stand out. I was sitting across from Don again, in one our early morning picnics, instead this time we were on his living room floor.

I hadn’t bothered glancing in the mirror since I left home yesterday evening, I knew I wouldn’t like what I saw—yet Don was watching me as if I were Angelina Jolie covered in bronzer, ready for a photo shoot. He had grabbed what was in his pantry and refrigerator and laid it out on a low mahogany table in his living room that was probably worth a year of my rent. I picked at the fruit salad, cheese and crackers wondering who the hell keeps this stuff in their fridge?

Earlier he had disappeared behind a bookshelf to get the wine beckoning me to follow, but when I peered through the opening at the stone lined walls and curved wooden staircase something in me had revolted. A cellar? I waited at the top of the stairs for him to return.

The familiar panic kept trying to take hold all night so everytime I felt a twinge I took a sip of the sweet Gewürztraminer, rolling it over my tongue. The first time, the sensation had only made it up to my right knee, now the wine was having a hard time keeping it subdued in my belly.

I was waiting, for anything. We were just staring at each other. Finally with no end in sight I dramatically collapsed onto the pillow behind me landing on my ponytail just wrong. Reaching up I started to take my hair loose then thought better of it—some guys got off on that shit.

“Now, I just have to figure out how to drink my wine from down here.”

He still didn’t say anything, and I suddenly couldn’t control the twinge anymore but before I could sit up to make a hasty exit, Don yanked me closer to him by pulling on my extended leg. Panic screamed through every cell in my body. Run! He cupped the back of my head and leaned over me.

Jesus.

Reaching behind his back he picked up my glass and put it to my lips.

“How’s that?”

I sipped, then unable to stifle my relief started laughing. Then he kissed me, I will still laughing so his upper lip hit my teeth. In my surprise, I kissed him back but when he tugged on the waist of my jeans to nestle my legs between his, I had to stop. He was my boss, whom I really liked and I really didn’t want to ruin, I felt like I could eat him alive.

Sitting up I forced him back on his heels, but he still didn’t break contact with my mouth. When I raised my hand to push him away as gently as possible, he took my hand and threaded his fingers through mine, suddenly something broke.

When he pulled away to kiss my face, I tasted my own tears and felt like a fool. I buried my face in his shoulder, he hugged me to his chest then stood up offering his hand. I took it.

When we reached his bedroom, he simply stripped down to his underwear and climbed into bed. I looked around lost, until he raised the cover on the other side of the bed. I started to climb in fully clothed. He chuckled.

Rolling my eyes, I stripped down to my panties and climbed in next to him, like a virgin I laid on my back pulling the covers to my chin. Grabbing my nearest arm he scooted me over and settled me into the crook of his arm.

“This will be the second time we’ve slept together, people are going to start talking.”

I fell asleep smiling.