At the airport the next afternoon I waited rather impatiently for Kris's plane to arrive. She was going to be staying for two days, much longer than Ginger ever stayed, and I was happy for it. The waiting was terrible. I don't like to wait and when waiting for something like this, I tend to get irritable.
She came out of the security area and ran over to me, throwing her arms around me. I wasn't expecting such a greeting but I was definitely glad I got it. "I missed you!" she said.
"I missed you too." She kissed me. "Geez, Kris, not here."
"You're so full of it." She held onto my hand as she pulled me away. "I never got to ask you if you got a hotel for me."
"I was just thinking you could stay at my place." She looked back at me, shaking her head. "No�not like that. I have a guest room. I promise I won't sneak in there at night and try to violate you." She laughed.
"Well if you put it that way," she said, kissing me again, "maybe you'll have to violate me."
"Maybe�"
"Come on," she said, pulling at my hand again. "You're loitering."
"And you're going the wrong way."
"Shut up!" I pulled her in the other direction. Her only luggage she had was with her so we left the airport quickly and got into the car. "So, since I'm staying at Chez Taylor, do I get a complimentary chocolate on my pillow?" she asked.
"You'll get more than that on your pillow," I told her, winking. She hit me. "Ow! Now there will be none of that at Chez Taylor, thank you."
"Oh, excuse me."
"Do you want to go out tonight?" She shrugged.
"Sure. What you thinking?"
"Just dinner. I was thinking about going to the movies but it'd be so much more profitable just to rent a movie." She nodded.
"Yeah. We can make out better on the couch than in those uncomfortable seats."
"Yeah." She laughed. "Well it is true."
When we got home I set up Kris in the guest room, although I wasn't entirely sure if she was going to stay there. It was really all up to her. "I'm going to make reservations for tonight," I said. I went to the phone and called the restaurant. Halfway through the conversation she wrapped her arms around me and started to kiss me. "Kris, stop."
"Why?"
"All right, Mr. Hanson, that's for two at seven-thirty."
"Okay," I said, in between kisses.
"We'll be waiting for your arrival."
"Thank you." Kris took the phone away from me and kissed me again. I have to admit it was incredibly awesome that she was being so forceful. I was used to being the forceful one. "You are so beautiful."
"What did I say about flattering me?"
"I don't remember."
"Keep doing it," she said. I was lying to get away with it; she was afraid I'd make her used to compliments, but if she told me to keep doing it, I didn't mind.
"All right," I said. "Not only are you beautiful, you're smart, you're sophisticated, and I l�" I paused.
"And you what?"
"And you're just like me." She smiled. I turned away to walk out of the kitchen, kicking myself mentally. I almost said I loved her and that just wasn't possible. This was the second time I've seen her and, yeah, I've been talking to her nonstop for weeks, that just�it just wasn't possible. "Did I tell you how much you scare me?"
"All the time, Taylor," she said. "Don't worry. I'll help you through it." I rolled my eyes. "Oh come on, it's okay. It's not your fault you turned into a whore and never had a serious relationship. No, wait, it is�"
"You're not helping."
"I know." She slid her arms around me and put her head against my shoulder. "So when do I get to meet your friends?"
"Tomorrow. In the morning I'll have Leo come over�he's really my only friend kind of friend. Everybody else is family."
"Do I get to meet your family?"
"If you'd like."
"I would like that."
It was about an hour and a half later that Kris and I went to dinner. When I go out to dinner I don't necessarily go somewhere and sit by the window with everyone else around. I usually go to the same place, get myself a nice private room and quick service. They love me here, mostly because I give them a lot of money.
"Well this is nice," Kris said, looking around the room after we sat down. The first time I came here this room was like a hole in the wall and I complained so much they made it much better. The walls were painted and trimmed, with three paintings and a number of framed photographs. I wasn't proud of it, but there was definitely a signed photo of me on the wall. I usually sat in a way so the person I was with wouldn't be able to see it, but every once in a while it got noticed and I got embarrassed.
"Yeah," I said. "It's better than sitting out there with everyone else."
"True." She picked up a menu. "Do you come here often?"
"A little bit." She burst out laughing. "What?"
"I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head. "The lemon pepper chicken." I raised an eyebrow. "Our delicious mix of lemon and pepper seasoned chicken breast," she read, "served with soup or salad and a side. A Taylor Hanson favorite."
"That must be new," I said, looking away.
"Oh, honey, don't be embarrassed! I think it's cute." I glanced at my photo and she caught my eyes drifting. "What?" She turned around. "Oh, it's you!" She got up and walked over to it. I groaned. "Shut up. I like it."
"Of course you do. I look outstandingly hot."
"I love how modest you are, Taylor."
"Well, you know, I've got to keep grounded." She smiled and sat back down. She picked up the menu again and looked through it. "So what do you want?"
"I have no idea." I hadn't even picked up the menu because I already knew what I wanted. I probably should change it, since the lemon pepper chicken is now deemed my favorite, but�eh. "The chicken salad looks good."
"You're not really just getting that, are you?"
"Why not?"
"Do you not eat or something?"
"I don't think I'm the one we have to worry about not eating," she said, looking me over. I looked at her blankly. Of all the people to worry about my weight, I didn't expect her to be one of them. I'm just a skinny guy. I've always been that way. "Honestly, Taylor, a chicken salad is much more filling than you would think."
"Whatever."
"Yeah, whatever," she said.
When we got back to my place that night we had rented a movie that Kris hadn't seen before. I've seen it a million times but I like it enough to see it again. Kris sat down on the couch as I put the movie in. I turned off the lights and sat down next to her on the couch. I put my arm around her and she cuddled up against me as the movie started.
We were about twenty minutes into it when I got a bit bored. Kris was totally into the movie so I wasn't the least bit surprised when I tried to kiss her and she gave me a quick peck before turning back to the movie. I kissed her cheek and down to her neck. "Taylor�stop it."
"Why?" I whispered in her ear.
"Because I can't focus on the movie."
"That's kind of the point, isn't it?" I kissed her neck again. She pushed me away.
"Stop it! You're terrible!" I let my eyes fill up as I looked at her. "Don't do that!" She put her hands over her eyes and I began to kiss her again. "All right�" I put my lips over hers. I pushed her onto her back and she didn't seem the least bit affected by it. I was hesitant to touch her, though. I've been with many, many girls but that was just sex and this means something to me. I don't want her to think that I'm doing this just because it's what I do. I want her to know that I'm doing this because I'm in love with her although I'm sure she doesn't know that.
She seemed to notice my hesitation and took my hand, putting it on her. The movie went on and to my great misfortune the phone rang. I ignored it and kept kissing her. After a few rings she spoke up. "Are you going to get that?" she asked.
"No."
"Okay."
The phone continued to ring and the answering machine clicked on. "Taylor! Where the hell are you?" It was Zac.
"Oh my God�"
"You better go talk to him," Kris said.
"Stay there." I kissed her again before getting up and picking up the phone. "Hello?"
"There you are! I thought we had practice tonight!"
"Zac, Kris is here. I told you that yesterday." Kris sat up, smoothing out her hair. I rolled my eyes and she smiled. "We were watching a movie."
"I'm sure you were," Zac said. "Anyway, Ike and I are here and we have no lead singer. You need to get your ass down here."
"That's funny."
"I'm serious."
"Do you know how many practices we cancelled because you wanted to spend time with Ginger? Now if you'll excuse me, I have a movie to get back to."
"Fine. Whatever. Tell Kris I said hi." I hung up the phone. I put it down and walked back over to Kris.
"Skipping practice for me?" Kris asked, raising an eyebrow.
"They knew I wasn't coming," I said. I sat back down next to her. "They're just checking up on me."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Making sure I'm not violating you." She smiled. We laid back down on the couch, my arm around her. She wanted to watch the rest of the movie and I didn't mind waiting for it to be over. Lying on the couch with her proved to be just as enjoyable as making out with her, and just as comfortable as well. While we watched the rest of the movie, it started getting late and before the movie was over the both of us were asleep.
I woke up in the morning with her in my arms and it brought a large smile to my face. I kissed her cheek and got up. I tried not to wake her up but unfortunately I did. "Hey you," she said, smiling.
"Hey," I said. "Looks like we didn't get to violating last night."
"Guess not," she said, sitting up. "Well, there's always tonight." I smiled. She yawned. "What time is it?" I looked at the time.
"Seven."
"Seven? In the morning?"
"No, in the afternoon," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Damn, do you always wake up this early?"
"Yes. Actually, this is sleeping in for me."
"Geez, Taylor," she said, standing up. "Well, I'm up. I'm gonna take a shower." I was just about to do the same so we went into separate bathrooms. I got out first and made some coffee. Kris came out of the bedroom a few minutes later.
"Good morning, beautiful," I said. "Have some coffee."
"All right." I poured her a cup of coffee and the two of us walked towards the living room.
"You know I don't know many people who drink their coffee black," I said. "It's like nobody knows what a good cup of coffee tastes like."
"Yeah, well, Ginger got me into it." I made a face. "What's with you two?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well it's just�whenever I mention Ginger around you, you either change the subject very quickly or you do that," she said, pointing at my face. "And whenever I mention you around her she does the same thing."
"All right," I said, shaking my head. I'd always been honest with her and this is the only thing I've refused to mention around her. "Okay, I'll tell you." I sat her down on the table and knelt down on the floor in front of her. The position was a little awkward (for a moment there it felt like I was going to propose). "You cannot say anything, though."
"Okay, okay, what happened?"
"Ginger and I�slept together. A few times."
"Oh my God," she said. "I didn't know you knew her before her and Zac went out." I shook my head.
"I didn't."
"Oh. Oh! Oh my God, how could you?"
"I know, I know, I'm a terrible, terrible person and I hate myself for it. Zac really loves her and�I just feel so guilty about it. I stopped it when I met you. I just couldn't do it anymore."
"Taylor," she said, shaking her head, "that's�"
"Oh my God," I said, looking past Kris. Zac was standing in the doorway. "Zac." Kris looked over and her mouth dropped. Zac shook his head.
"I knew it," he said. "I fucking knew it was you." He turned and left quickly.
"No, Zac, wait." I ran after him but he slammed the door in my face. "Oh my God." Kris came up behind me and put her arms around me. Unfortunately it didn't help.