Chapter Seven
Why the hell did he think this was a good idea? Everywhere he turned images of him and Hannah or her solo seemed to greet him. Hannah’s eyes appeared to have taken on an accusatory gleam as he put the frames away in drawers in his bedroom and other places around the house. It might be time to tell her his wife died in a car accident, but that didn’t mean he had to tell her all the gory details, or bombard her with said woman’s image. He’d never noticed how much he hadn’t changed until now as he waited for Juniper to arrive. Another woman in the house hadn’t been a concern since Hannah passed.
Though it’d been two years, he couldn’t help but feel like he was doing something wrong. You’re not defiling your home with the presence of another woman. Hannah is gone. This was about him moving forward with life.
Oliver glanced over at his bed and felt a sharp pain in his heart. He could remember picking out the blue and white stripped duvet and matching sheets, with her. It took three stores be
fore they ended up in Bed Bath and Beyond, exhausted, and spotted the simple design that appealed to them both. The thought of taking Juniper on these made him feel as if a rock sat in the bottom of his stomach. His mouth went dry and he thought of phoning Juniper to call the whole thing off. You shouldn’t be doing this. You’re not ready. Doubt assailed him as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. His fists curled around the bedspread and he closed his eyes as his nose twitched. He swore he could smell his wife’s lavender scented perfume.
Oliver shook his head to clear out the cobwebs that’d settled in and stood. A fresh burst of energy hit him as he tugged the duvet off the bed and tossed it behind him. Unable to slow down as the feeling of freedom washed over his soul he continued his demolition of the bed. A few minutes later he stood over the stripped queen size bed, breathing heavily and grinning like a fool. It felt like he’d won a marathon. He bent to gather the bed set and walked over to the closet where he shoved everything into the back. He’d put on the navy sheets he’d gotten for a gift at Christmas and never yet used on the bed. Problem solved.
****
With the bed re-made, Oliver had no problem imagining Juniper in his bedroom. It was clear they were both ready to take things further. He’d spent hours dreaming up all the things he wanted to do to the delectable body she always kept covered. His cock hardened as he imagined stripping her clothes off piece by piece and worshipping every inch of her mocha skin with his mouth. He had what one might call an oral fixation. He loved the taste of a woman when she was wet and wanting. His mouth watered at the thought of her flavor. He bet it’d be just as sweet as those lush lips he wanted to slip his dick between. He needed to stop thinking about this or he’d be in the bathroom in search of yet another release. His left hand hadn’t seen this much usage since he was twelve. Oliver adjusted his cock in his pants and made his way from the bedroom to wait in the living room.
His heart pounded in his chest when a knock sounded on the door. It was now or never. He wiped his clammy palms on his jeans when he stood, and headed over to the door. Oliver paused, and then he swung the door open. He took in Juni’s appearance. Dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans, a rancid t-shirt, and a black fedora, she looked like someone else had picked out her outfit. It bothered him, which was surprising considering this was what he used to prefer. Maybe he’d been making more progress moving forward than he’d thought.
“Hi,” she said. The bashful smile that crossed her face relaxed him. He wasn’t the only person nervous about tonight.
“Hi, come on in.” He stepped back to allow her to enter.
“This is a really nice place.”
He led her to sit on the beige suede sectional.
“Thanks. Can I get you anything to drink?” he asked.
“Sure, a water would be great.”
“I’ll be right back.”
He made his way to the kitchen and mentally went over everything he wanted to say as he poured their drinks. Oliver handed her a glass, setting his own down on a coaster as he turned to her.
“I know I haven’t been the most forthcoming in this relationship. We’ve been getting to know one another, but there are things I’ve held back or avoided talking about.” He met her gaze, and continued when she nodded her agreement.
“Remember the first day we met when I told you it was the anniversary of someone I’d lost?”
“Yes.”
“That someone was my wife.”
Juni gasped as she covered her mouth with her hands. “I am so sorry, Oliver.”
“No. It was two years ago, and I should have told you earlier. It was just nice not having you know.”
“Why?” she asked. Her eyes clouded with confusion.
“Because I could just be Oliver Young, not the widower who’s had a hard time moving on past the death of his high school sweetheart.”
He saw worry flash over her face, and he placed his hand over the ones she had clasped in her lap.
“I know Hannah is gone, Juniper. It’s just hard to talk about the events surrounding her car accident, and not feel guilty that I’m here going on with my life while she’s in the ground. I’ve run the gamut with shrinks, and I’m in a good place to move forward.”
She frowned and he could feel the doubt his words had raised.
“Juni, you are the first woman I’ve dated since my wife passed. There’s something about you that made me want to leave the gloomy business of grief behind.”
Oliver leaned in to place a finger under her chin and force her to meet his gaze.