Good Pet

And that’s when it hits me: this is the first time I’ve seen him in all his glory. In all his strong and commanding broad-shouldered presence, that still holds up even without a suit and tie on. He sees me admiring all of him, even his tummy, and blushes. He looks caught between being embarrassed and turned on by it.

“Beautiful,” I mouth at him over the thundering water and sweet clouds of bubble bath mixture. I get to work on undressing myself again. I do it quickly this time, not caring what kind of pile my clothes are in. Just enough to get them off of me and out of the way.

As my last bit of clothing comes off my body, Tommy turns off the water and quiets the jets to a low, fizzy rumble. “You’re beautiful,” he says. “Generous. Kind. Compassionate. Wise. Wonderful.” He smiles, wrinkling his nose and being coy. “Need any more adjectives? I could go get a dictionary,” he offers playfully. “Believe me, there are quite a few more that would have your picture by them, Melissa.”

“I’m sure,” I say, shutting the bathroom door to keep the heat in and any unwanted attention or distraction out. “Just like I’m sure there are quite a few entries in the same dictionary that would have your picture by them, my love.” Saying this, I step up to Tommy, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him. As I do, I feel myself lifting off my heels and standing on my tippy toes.

Tommy returns the kiss warmly and passionately, using that moment to help walk and partially carry me into the bath — into the warm, softly roiling water. I let him, having no reason to fight. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a man with enough emotional intelligence and strength to really put me before himself. And without bitching about it. Tommy literally sweeps me off my feet, and lays me down into the tub, against one of my favorite jets, one of my favorite massage places on the entire Jacuzzi. It also happens to be in the fluffiest, the sweetest swelling cloud of bubbles.

And the warm water it’s just exquisite! Within seconds of slipping into the water, I’m completely relaxed. Free of all the stress and heartache I didn’t realize I was carrying until just now. All the worry and dissatisfaction with Dennis that I wasn’t willing to admit was haunting me until now, that leaves as well.

Tommy reclines in the tub opposite me, bringing the water level up considerably. It’s not enough to splash any water or cause any tsunami. The moment he’s down in the tub, he proceeds to give me a foot massage. Followed by a massage that includes my legs and shoulders eventually. I relax, enjoying his touch.

Dennis was never so emotionally intelligent or available to give me even half this attention half the time. Which is why Tommy is the man you’re meant to be with. It’s why he’s the one who’s deserving of any and all of your thoughts and attention, not Dennis. Dennis doesn’t deserve one more second of your time or your heart, not as long as he or you shall live.

I smile to myself with this thought, just as Tommy starts to work on my back. From my lying down position in the tub, I’ve gone to sitting up, with him sitting behind me. As he really gets to work on a particularly difficult knot somewhere in the middle, he says, “So, I noticed there’s a whole extra bedroom here. With a bed, furniture, and everything.”

I flinch at the mention of the second bedroom. The bedroom Dennis was going to use as his workspace, had he ever moved in with me like I thought he would. Tommy notices my flinch immediately and adds, “Not to bring up anything uncomfortable, pet. I was just curious about it. About if you had any plans for it, or whether you were undecided, given the behavior of certain exes who should not be named.”

I chuckle. Even without having to say anything, Tommy knows something about the original intent of that room. He also understands how I feel about that certain person being brought up, so I’m glad that he doesn’t seem to be intent on digging. But I do sense him fishing for more information about that room. Part of me gets excited. Part of me begins to think that maybe he’s fishing for another place to live. Fishing for my reaction or feelings toward such an idea. So I respond with, “I don’t really have any plans with it, now that certain other relationships have completely dissolved.” I turn to look up at my baby. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not open to new plans or new ideas of what or who it could be used for, honey.”