“I love you.” I say.

She smiles which gives me my relief. “I love you” she returns and kisses me again and again.

We continue on like that forever. There is nothing in the world more perfect than that. As she begins falling asleep I become restless, no longer able to sit still. I try my best to get out of her grasp without waking her up. Of course, it never quite works out that way.

Her arms and hands start moving to grasp me. I kiss her cheek tenderly with a smile. “I’ll be right back.” I say.

“No don’t leave.” She asks. I want nothing more than to say that I will stay around.

I smile at her again, though the gesture is lost in the dark. “I’ll be right back, baby.” I say again.

I am amazed at how we fall into place so easily. I get to see her once a week, and sometimes not even that much. Even still, every single time we are together, we fall into place like a perfectly played game of Tetris. Not one piece is in the wrong spot. We are comfortable around each other. I have never been that comfortable around anyone…

I move around the room, throwing on a pair of jeans, ignoring the button and zipper. I open the door quietly and make a quick exit to the bathroom and then I’m on to the kitchen. I grab a glass of tea. I don’t feel tired in the least bit, so I’m far from worried about the caffeine.

As I walk down the dark hallway, I notice that my cup is unusually cold. I shake it lightly and hear the ice rattling around. Why did I get ice? I never get ice if the tea has been in the fridge long enough. I actually hate ice.

Ashley likes ice.

Do you always have to pop up around bedtime?

Oh please, like you were planning on getting any sleep anyway. You’re too busy getting iced tea. The tea is for you, but the ice is for Ashley.

I’m not seeing the connection here.

Do I have to spell it out for you? It wasn’t a conscious decision to get the ice. It was just natural to you. Don’t you get it, Spencer? You’re playing house…