My Dinosaur Era Chapter 47

 

I’ve only ever slept in ginny’s bed when I have been fantastically drunk

it is hilariously large for one so small

like a super duper king size or something

petula is still asleep, I try to make coffee quietly

not knowing what cupboards stuff is in

swearing under my breath 

when what looks like coffee is actually gravy granules

she only ever drinks take out coffee

maybe that’s what I should do today

 

I give up on the coffee completely

it’s too early to go out to get some

I go back into the bedroom

petula is still in the same position that I left her

she seemed agitated when we got back last night

I was probably wrong to have encouraged her to get it done

ripping off the plaster is great

when it’s not on your skin

last night, this morning, makes no odds

when we got back here with her stuff, she cried for a minute

I stood and watched, unsure if I should go to her

eventually she stopped

can we just go to bed, she said

of course, I said

I don’t know if I’ll sleep but I just need to close myself down, she said

sure, I can sleep on the sofa, give you some space, I said

no, come with me, just hold me, we can talk tomorrow, she said

in the bedroom we kicked off our shoes

I hesitated, unsure of what else I should take off

petula took off her tee shirt, her shorts, her pants

looked at me with tired eyes

I don’t think that was the most immaculate nudity reveal you’ll ever see but it’s all I’ve got right now, she said

we stood looking at each other, me clothed, her naked

do you want to keep your clothes on, she said

not especially, I said

I took off my tee shirt, my shorts, my pants

bodies are so silly, she said

they are, I said

come on, get in, she said

we spooned each other, both smelling of the day

sweat, fear, fatigue

she fell asleep before me

my hands around her ribs

her breathing slowing to almost nothing

I stayed awake, my face nestled in the back of her head

even as the sun broke, I lay there alert

she had turned to face me by then

pulled herself almost into the embryo position

her knees up against my belly

I kissed her kneecap

rolled away from her

went for a piss

went to the kitchen

 

I slide back under the cover

petula stirs, stretches both arms high above her head

opens her eyes, closes them again

oh, it’s you, she says

yep, it is, I say

good, just checking, she says

I was trying to make coffee but ginny has hidden it or something, I say

mmm, well, coffee can wait, she says

she opens her eyes again

timmy, I need to be honest with you, she says

ok, good, I say

in the immediate future, I am going to be a needy wreck and you need to be really very extra super kind to me until normal service is resumed, ok, she says

jesus, I thought you were going to tell me you didn’t want to hang out no more, I say

oh right, so I follow you across europe, leave my home, sleep naked with you, then I dump you, you are so silly, timmy, she says

you sounded just like ginny then, I say

well maybe I have picked up some of her beautiful little bitch energy, she says

it suits you, I say

you don’t appear to be holding me tightly and telling me that I’m beautiful, timmy, she says

sorry, I have deserted my post, I say

I put my arms around her, kiss her on the forehead

you are beautiful, I say

well, I just told you to say it, so I don’t believe you, she says

you really are turning into ginny, she’s impossible too, I say

she laughs into my chest

but you love us both, right , she says

I reckon I must, I say

good, love all the crazy bitches, babe, she says

we pull each other closer

I feel sleepy, close my eyes

so what shall we do today, she says

anything you want, I say

you see, now you’re getting the idea, anything I want, hmm, let me see, she says

I will need a nap at some point, I didn’t sleep too well, I say

oh, poor baby, I’ll see if I can schedule that in, she says

thanks, you are a benevolent dictator, I say

I do fancy coffee now you’ve mentioned it, she says

I’ll have to go out, she has a cafetiere but no coffee, which is very on brand for ginny, I say

well, off you pop then, I’ll be luxuriating here, ooh, get pastries too, she says