Page 58 of Chasing the Dream
“Your mother and you kids are the most important thing in the world to me. I wouldn’t trade you guys for all the money in Warren Buffett’s bank account.”
“I’m not choosing one thing over another, Dad. I just haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“You sure about that?”
Just then, Maria and Morgan pulled into the driveway, saving Gabe from this excruciatingly uncomfortable conversation. They hopped out of his car and started pulling packages out of the back seat.
“Why don’t you go help them?” Cal suggested.
Gabe set down the bucket of nails and went down the driveway. “Looks like you had a successful shopping spree,” he said, relieving Morgan of some bags.
“It was. You were smart not to join us. You probably would have been bored.”
He couldn’t imagine ever being bored with her, but he didn’t say so. “I’ll take these upstairs for you.”
“Thanks.”
The three of them went inside, and the women headed into the kitchen, where his mom had been busy preparing dinner—spaghetti, another one of Morgan’s favorites. He heard them chattering while he went upstairs to put Morgan’s packages in her room.
The second he opened the bedroom door, he detected her sweet scent. He knew it was hers because he’d become used to it on the drive to and from work. His car was small enough that her scent lingered long after she’d left.
He was setting the bags on the bed when he spotted her pajamas lying there. He knew they were hers because Michigan State was printed on the top and bottoms. He set down the bags and picked up the white tank top with the bold green lettering. What a strange coincidence that in his fantasy, she’d been wearing a white tank top.
Assuming that Morgan was still downstairs, he brought the top to his face and buried his nose in it. Then he heard the floor creak behind him, and he jerked his head around to find her standing in the doorway staring at him.
“What are you doing?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“I…um…”
“Were you just sniffing my top?”
“No.”
“Then why was your nose buried in it?”
“I had an itch.”
“And you used my top to scratch it?” She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Sorry. I’ll wash it for you.”
She shook her head. “I’d rather hear the truth.”
He glanced behind her to make sure Maria hadn’t come upstairs. He could still hear her voice drifting up from the kitchen, so he felt safe temporarily.
“Don’t think I’m creepy.”
“You’re standing here sniffing my top. I’m thinking it’s a little weird.”
He sighed. “Fine. I’ll admit it. I like the way you smell.”
The corners of her lips twitched. “You do?”
“Mm-hmm. I smell you all the time. I mean…in my car. Your perfume or body wash or lotion. Whatever it is, it smells good.”
“Thank you.”
She gave him a full-on smile, and he relaxed his stance.
