Imagination Infatuation
“Lovin’ is easy to keep
When you’re the reason that I fall asleep
To dream of you, oh dream of you”
— Misterwives
It felt as though I had just fallen to sleep when I heard a soft knock on my door. I slipped from between the sheets, tip toeing across the floor; I opened the door just enough to peak out. Standing in the hall was Zac, wearing only a pair of loose-fitting pajama pants. His hair was disheveled, his lips curved in a soft smile. “Hi. Can I come in?”
“Um, sure,” I stepped aside, opening the door barely enough to allow him entry.
He closed the door behind him, pausing momentarily before turning his attention to me. He walked toward me, wrapping me tightly in his arms. “I missed you,” he whispered.
My arms snaked around his waist, pressing our bodies as close together as possible. It wasn’t close enough, and it took all the will power I held not to squeeze him too tightly. His fingers tangled gently into my hair, his cheek pressed into the top of my head. We clung to each other for what seemed like an eternity before Zac pulled away from me; when I turned to look up at him, he pressed his lips to mine, soft but sure.
Our kisses escalated quickly, each of us clawing at the clothing that separated us as we made our way toward the bed. We fell onto the mattress, Zac pulling me on top of him, his hands splaying out across my bare hips as he guided me down toward him. Low moans escaped our lips as we came together, stars exploding behind my eyes as he filled me.
A sharp knock on my door caused me to bolt upright in bed, clutching damp, twisted sheets to my chest. Startled, I pulled a slow breath in to steady myself, my eyes scanning the room. Realizing I had been dreaming, I turned my eyes to the clock next to the bed; the digital readout of 6:50AM cast an eerie red glow across the nightstand.
The “0” flipped to a “1” on the clock, accompanied by another knock on the door. “Ryland? Are you awake?” Jess’s voice was muffled through the wood.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, rubbing my eyes as I walked to the door and pulled it open. I gave her enough physical indication to come in as I could without actually speaking; she walked in, looking around the room. “I figured you’d be ready to go by now…”
I could tell by her tone that she was only sort-of teasing, and I felt my face flush. I doubted she could see in the dim light of the room, but I turned from her anyway, nonchalantly moving back toward the bed. “I still had another ten minutes of sleep,” I whined.
“You can make ’em up while we’re on the road?” the question hung in the air for a moment, Jess’ eyebrows raised in anticipation.
With a groan, I grabbed my toiletry bag and towels, stomping passed Jess melodramatically toward the bathroom. I took my time in the shower, relishing the Hanson’s electric water heater. My mind drifted, images of my dream popping into my head; for a long time, I sat on the shower floor, letting the hot water roll over my body. It took a gentle knock on the bathroom door to drag my mind back to reality, and it dawned on me other people may need to use the shower before we left.
Not wanting to hold anyone up, I hurriedly ended my shower, threw my robe and slippers on, and gathered my toiletries. Still wet, I flung the door open to come face to face with Zac. “Oh!” I shouted, startled that he was standing so squarely in the doorway.
“Sorry,” he backed away so I could get by, one hand sliding through his hair. I could see him pulling gently on it, a habit he used to tame it; the thought that he was preening himself was adorable, and I felt my lip tug toward a smile. “Good morning,” he added.
“Morning,” I replied, suddenly aware I was dripping water all over Mrs. Hanson’s hardwoods…which reminded me that I probably looked like a drowned rat. Blushing, I turned and went straight to my room without another word.
It was forty-five minutes later when I finally emerged again—dry, dressed, packed, and ready to get on the road. Zac had already packed his stuff into the Tacoma, and was waiting in the living room, saying goodbye to his parents, Jessica, and Zoe. He offered to take my suitcase out to the truck for me while I said goodbye to everyone, and as soon as he walked out of the door Jess pulled me into the kitchen. “Are you sure you can do this?”
“Yeah, of course,” I replied, although I wasn’t as sure as I sounded.
Jess surveyed me for a second, as if she was knew I was lying. “You don’t have ride with him, and you don’t even have to go—you know that Taylor would understand if you backed out?”
I sighed, nodding my head. “I do, but I just…I miss my photography, and I signed a contract with Taylor. Besides; just because I need to see Isaac, it doesn’t mean I have to talk to him. And who knows? Maybe he’ll man up and apologize.”
“I’m not worried about how it’s going to be with Isaac, Ry. I’m worried about you being alone with Zac in a car for eleven to twelve hours; spending a week together at a ranch with drinking and potentially other mind altering substances?”
“Zac and I are good,” I assured. “And it’ll be fun…it’ll give us a chance to get to know each other again.”
“And a chance to exercise some self control?” she added, a smile broke out on Jess’s face and she chuckled. “Let’s just hope you don’t wind up hating each other’s guts this time.”
Before our goodbye could get any more sappy, I heard the front door open and Zac’s voice calling through the house. “Ryland! We’re burning daylight. Sonic Ranch awaits—let’s go!”