Free Fighting Perfection (The Perfection Series Book 2) by Heather Guimond Page A

sheet pulled up to cover everything else but my shoulders and head.  We were both laughing.  I sighed and turned off the monitor.
         “Do you need to talk about it?  I’m always here for you, you know that,” he said sympathetically.
         “No, I think I’m okay.  It’s just been a long time since I dreamed of him and it was rather… vivid.  I guess it will happen sometimes.”
         “I understand.  I still have dreams about him too, sometimes, and it can knock me for a loop.  All we can do is just push it aside and march forward.” 
         “I don’t think pushing it aside is the right answer, otherwise it will just come back.  So, I embraced the feelings and started looking at our old photos.  It’s made me feel wistful and somewhat sad, but I guess I just needed to visit him.  There’s no way to do that without feeling a little bit of that loss,” I said thoughtfully.
         “Maybe you’re right.  I don’t know.  I’ve never allowed myself the time to dwell on it.  It’s over, you know?”
         “Yeah, I know.”  I sighed then changed the subject.  “So, how did you manage while I was away?  I hear you talking so I can only assume you lived through my absence.”
         “Your eventual return was the only thing that kept me going,” he said with a chuckle.
         “Well, return I did so you are assured continued existence until the next time I leave,” I teased.  “What are you doing tomorrow?  Do you want to get together?”
         “Of course I do, Peaches.  I haven’t seen you in days.  Why don’t we grab dinner and a movie tomorrow night?”
         If I’d been thinking about it, I would have suggested we have lunch and tried to keep it from any date-like activity until we had a chance to talk about those kisses.  But, it was Justin and I never second-guessed our relationship.  I also wasn’t in a hurry to analyze any potential change in our relationship.  Tonight I was already on overload.
         “Great.  I’ll buy the popcorn,” I said.
         “You always say that but you never do.” He laughed.
         “That’s because you never let me.”
         “Details, Peaches.  Details.” 
         “Alright you infuriating beast, I’m hanging up now.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”  I said, blowing him a kiss and then hitting the red button on my phone’s display before he could say another word.
         I looked at the dark computer monitor and wondered if I should resume viewing the slideshow.  I ultimately decided against it.  There was a fine line between visiting the past and dwelling on it.  I turned it on and exited the picture viewer, then powered the machine back down.  Wiping cookie crumbs off the surface of the desk, I picked up my glass and headed back to the kitchen.  I dropped the empty glass into the dishwasher, then washed my hands.
         I returned to my bedroom and tried to get comfortable again.  Vance still hovered at the edge of my consciousness, but I didn’t indulge in more thoughts about our past.  I mentally hugged him and then closed the door on the memories.  My phone rang in the kitchen where I’d once again left it, but I didn’t get up to see who was calling.  If it was important, they’d leave a message.
         I closed my eyes and waited for the sandman to come.

Four
     
         Tuesday morning found me doing the usual Monday things I did--tidying up, laundry, and scrubbing the toilet.  Oh, the joy of real life.  I could have hired a cleaning service, but it felt like a horrible indulgence when I didn’t have a job and consequently had lots of time on my hands.  As such, Mr. Clean and I had a standing date in the bathroom at the beginning of each week.
         By eleven o’clock I was done with my chores and at a loss for what to do with myself.  I could finish reading the novel I began on the trip, but I felt too fidgety to