Waking the next morning, I was not quite sure I could believe all that had happened the night before. I toyed with staying at home, but it was Saturday, the busiest day for the Bookshop and I knew I had to go face whatever was to come. I jumped on the bike and went over before nine as usual. How would Sue behave after last night; what might she say? I didn't have many clean clothes to wear, but remembered the new shirts from Uncle Mike still in my rucksack and chucked one on. It fitted fine, so that was one good outcome from yesterday: I now had enough lumberjack shirts to keep me going for years...
Arriving at the shop, Sue was already down and unpacking deliveries, with two mugs of steaming hot coffee ready on the counter. She looked tired but I received a smiling welcome, without a hint of anything to acknowledge last night. Either she was completely chilled about what happened, or more likely had been too drunk to recall details. It was bizarre to think that the most amazing night of my life might not even be remembered by her, but it would explain why I was not getting some huge talking to about inappropriate behaviour. Instead she offered repeated thanks for helping her get stuff sorted. There was also half an apology in case she had been too tipsy, but that was it. I relaxed and let out a sigh.
'Don't worry, you're safe getting tipsy with me!' I said, relieved she clearly didn't remember the strength of her kiss ... or my undressing her ... the incredible feel of her skin... the smell of her sex...
'I very much doubt that young man!' she shot back, snapping me out of a daydream, but said it with a smile and a clear stare at my crotch, which made my dick twitch once more. Just when I thought all was safe, she put a question mark back in my mind about what she remembered. Did she recall me removing her pants so slowly? Could she remember that kiss that clearly lasted too long? Dare I believe that she was more sober than I thought and was actually OK about everything? That final thought made my head spin more than ever.
She clearly noticed that her joke had disturbed me somewhat and came around the counter to give me a huge hug.
'I always want you to feel safe around me, Jack, and I do genuinely feel safe around you ... no matter if that bulge of yours keeps doing what boys bulges always do. I feel safe being around you, even when I am having the worst of days...'
She let me go. 'But it won't stop me teasing you though, you and your hyperactive friend!'
With that, the day began in the shop. I may have imagined it, but it seemed to me there was more of a physical closeness throughout the morning. Perhaps it was because we had moved into a more intimate and honest relationship, but I loved every moment working together. By lunchtime, I could tell she was getting distracted by emails from the factory and so insisted that I would have no problem covering the afternoon on my own as planned so she could go and find out what was going on across town.
I'll come back later to see how you are doing,' she said 'Then I'll pack up a few more of my favourite things to go to Fairmont.' With that, off she went.
I had a most pleasant day, serving customers and daydreaming about plans for the bookshop. After an attempted break-in a few months previous, Sue had asked me if I knew enough about wiring to sort out some CCTV. It was on my to do list at some point, but suddenly got promoted to the top, marked urgent, when I spotted a couple of young female customers kissing behind one of the shelves, just out of the corner of my eye. I wish I had that recorded on camera, I thought. My head immediately began to fill with fantastical ideas about getting tons of discrete or hidden CCTV put in everywhere. I could probably jam the whole place with hidden HD cameras covering every angle and set up high quality hidden sound ... I could turn the place into a voyeur's paradise...
I snapped myself back to reality as an elderly customer walked in, but during quiet moments I let my CCTV plans grow as the day went by. Sue returned about 4.30, but went straight upstairs to begin sorting stuff out rather than ask about my day. I guessed she was determined to get Mike's affairs sorted upstairs before her courage failed, as she was carrying a heap of paperwork under one arm and a wine bottle under the other.
I had to do the cashing up and complete a few errands in town, including meeting up with an old girlfriend who I hadn't seen for a while, so it was nearly eight before I got back to see how she had been getting on with her sorting.
I think 'not too well' would be the best summary.