the Scuffy - 7. Chapter 7

The five-thirty alarm found Glen practically lying on top of me. I looked at his sleeping face and couldn't help myself. I bent over and kissed him on the head.

"Hmm, I could get use to waking up like this." And I hoped he'd get use to it also.

I always wondered if two men could relieve their morning problem at the same time. I had my answer. They could. Washing our hands, brushing our teeth, we were almost ready to attack the gym. "You get the orange juice while I start the coffee." That was the last piece of the morning routine to establish. The rest of the morning followed our routine, gym, shower, dressed, breakfast, and then off to work.

"Lunch today?"

"Definitely, I'll stop at the store."

Saying hello to Marge, picking up my paper and coffee, I headed to my office. My days are very repetitive. I start in Investments, bring files up to date, and then posting the fiscal accounts by client and for corporate.

At noon, "Bess, I'm going to lunch, can I bring you anything?"

"No thanks Kevin, I'm having lunch today with Lou."

Walking into the jewelry store, "May I help you, sir?"

"Yes, I'm looking for a wedding ring. I'm planning on getting married next month." I heard a cough as Kevin's dad came out of the office.

"Wedding next month, Glen, you didn't say anything about getting married."

"I'm not."

I pretended to cry, "Glen, you better straighten this out."

"Dad, he's joking, getting me back for yesterday."

Looking at Glen's dad, "He's right, and now we are even."

Glen's dad just shook his head and walked back into his office, "Bring me a corned beef."

Glen pushed me out of the door, "I noticed your dad was more upset about you not telling him than you marrying me. I think he likes me."

"Well, Nicky does."

"Will see after a few days on the boat."

"Want to go to the Jewish deli on the corner."

"Sure, maybe I'll get a whole pastrami sandwich rather than a half."

"You should be glad I like you enough to share."

Walking into the deli, Glen waved to the woman behind the counter, "Anywhere Glen."

"Let's sit here. This is Amy's table."

We hadn't sat for more than two minutes when a young girl brought two glasses of water to our table. "Hi, Glen, who's your friend?"

"He's a good friend of mine, Kev, meet Amy. Amy, we'll have two pastrami with pickles."

"Is that what we had?"

"Yes, only ...you'll see."

Amy brought a cup of chicken noodle soup, "Mom said to give you this."

"Thanks, tell your mom to make a corned beef to go."

"Do you eat here often?"

"Yes, you can't beat the quality or price."

Amy brought our sandwiches. I looked at Glen. He was smiling. "These aren't the same as yesterday."

"No, I got yesterdays at the supermarket."

"How do you eat this? I have a big mouth, but not this big."

"I know how big your mouth is." He started to laugh.

I watched as he removed some of the meat, put some mustard on his sandwich, opening his mouth wide, he took a bite. I did the same, and he was right. This sandwich was way better than the one yesterday.

"This is delicious. So much meat, how do they make a profit?"

"I don't know, but I think they know what they are doing. This place will fill up in a few minutes. Amy, we need doggies bags." She smiled as she walked away.

I opened my bag. I noticed a plastic cup with a lid at the bottom of the bag. I watched Glen as he put the extra meat into the cup, then wrapped the uneaten half of the sandwich in a napkin. I did the same thing, Amy brought our check.

"I'll pay today, and you can pay tomorrow."

"I'll leave a tip."

Stopping at the register, I paid for it all, Glen picked up the bag with his dad's sandwich, and we left.

"Do you know Nicky's shoe size."

"Yes, the same as mine."

"Let's go and get him a pair of boat shoes."

"I think you are trying to spoil him."

"Look who's talking, I didn't give him an apartment and a scooter."

"He's my brother, I can do that."

"He's my brother-law, I can do that."

I thought Glen was going to choke, he was laughing so hard. But he didn't deny it. We went into the sports shop and bought him shoes.

"Give me your bag, I'll put it in our fridge. I'll bring it with me when we go home."

I walked back to my office with the shoes. It took me fifteen minutes to be a hundred percent involved in my work. When I check, my watch it was six. The office was quiet. I was so involved in my work. I didn't notice that everyone had left except me.

I wrapped up my office and left. Did Glen go home with his dad, or will he be waiting for me? I looked where I parked the car. Glen was sitting on the hood.

"Sorry, I got wrapped up and lost track of time."

He kissed me, "Let's go" He was unusually quiet on the way home. "Kev, what we did this morning, what does it mean for you?"

"Glen, I did what I wanted to do because I'm falling in love with you. I hope you're falling in love with me. If I had my way, I'd marry you now."

He looked at me, "I won't deny my feelings for you, but I'm scared. Before you, there was another man who I thought loved me. I found out he was cheating on me. He said it was because I won't do anything physical with him. I promised myself then I would be extra careful before I gave my heart away. The problem is you."

"Look, Glen, I'm not pushing. You set the pace, but know this, you're the first guy I have ever had feelings for. What happened in the shower was the first time I ever did that. If I didn't feel you're my soul mate, I'd never would have done that. You're in the driver seat."

We were quiet on the rest of the drive home. He looked at me and would smile.

Arriving at home, I took the shoes and hung them on the shoe pegs. Glen carried the sandwiches to the kitchen, putting them in the fridge.

"Let's change clothes, then you can help me fix supper. If you're good, we can watch a movie."

"Well, dinner is okay, but the movie ...we'll see."

As I was talking, Glen was moving toward the stairs. He then took off, I tried to chase him, but he had a head start. When I entered the bedroom, he was laughing. "Hmmm, I'm going to have to get use to your sneaky ways." I grabbed him and looking into his eyes, "Marry me" He smiled and gave a kiss.

I undressed and put on a pair of sweats. "Here, put these on."

"When do you do laundry? The hamper is getting full."

"Usually on Thursday, but with you being here, probably tomorrow, I send the shirts out so we can take them with us in the morning and drop them off at cleaners."

I went to the kitchen. Dinner needed to be made. Checking the fridge, I proceeded to make spaghetti with sausages. As I was finishing up dinner, I felt a pair of arms around my waist. I turned and looked into a beautiful pair of blue eyes. He kissed me.

"Don't be mad at me. I'm enjoying myself. I feel so free being with you."

"Marry me."

"Someday, I'm mentally not ready. It's not you. I know my dad would think I'm crazy if I lose you. Will I lose you if I make you wait?"

"No, you won't lose me if you make me wait. I want you to be sure, and I'll wait forever if I have to. I'm beginning to fall in love with you and your crazy antics. I'll wait until you ask me." Yep, another kiss.

"While you finish, I'll make the salad."

I finished cooking dinner, loaded two plates, "Get the cheese from the fridge. We are ready to eat."

"What do you want to drink?"

"Well, being an Italian dinner, maybe some wine." I laughed as he set down two glasses of grape juice.

Dinner with Glen was something else. He found a long strand of spaghetti, taking it on his fork, he offered it to me. I was about to take the whole fork full except there was a piece hanging over the fork. As I put the spaghetti in my mouth, Glen put the other end of the piece in his mouth and began to eat down the strand. I went along with it till our lips touched. I immediately remember the Walt Disney movie, 'Lady and the Tramp.'

Looking into Glen's eyes, "I'm Tramp."

He laughed, "We'll see who's Tramp and who's the Lady."

I never took this long eating dinner. It was fun, and that was new for me. We cleaned up, "Want to watch a movie."

"What did you have in mind?"

"How about 'Lady and Tramp'?" That did it. Glen started to laugh. I've never seen anyone laughed as hard as he did. Tears were rolling down his cheeks.

When he settled down a little, "We don't have time. If we clean up the kitchen, prep for breakfast tomorrow morning, we can sleep until six".

"Cleaning up tonight and making breakfast sandwiches is a good idea, but thirty minutes past five is still my time to get up. You can sleep until six if you want. We have to leave at seven to be at work on time."

"Maybe I'll sleep till six and miss the workouts."

"Okay, if you want to get out of shape, that's your problem."

"Will you still love me if I'm out of shape?"

"Yes, I'll still love you regardless of what shape you are in."

He smiled as he got out the bread, cheese, and leftover pastrami. I handed him the savory mustard. He made sandwiches, cut them in half, and wrapped them in wax paper. Back in the refrigerator, ready for breakfast in the morning. I locked up and headed upstairs to our bedroom. I liked that, 'our bedroom.'

I started to brush my teeth when a naked young man joined me. "You know you are a distraction."

"I know."

The shower was a repeat of last night, the difference, Glen took the lead. My bedtime shower use to take me fifteen minutes now I was lucky to get done in thirty minutes if one us rushes a little.

There was no question. We slept in the nude, which led to a repeat performance of the special shower exercise. As I kissed Glen's head as it rested on my chest, I realized I'd wait forever for him to resolve his issues. I was determined that some time in the future, we'd be married.