Chapter twenty-nine

Soon enough Sarah could hear Richie’s snoring above her. She liked the fact that he snored, even though it was softly, if he didn’t, he’d be too perfect. The more she thought of it, it was just right that he snored, it was manly, and so he should.

It wasn’t his snoring that was keeping her up but that she had to tell him her plans. She knew he’d probably be okay with it but what if he wasn’t? He worries kept her up half through the night.



When Richie woke her up a little past 9 am she was still sleepy, last time she had seen a clock it was 4:15 am.

“Did I wear you out that much last night?” He chuckled.
“I couldn’t sleep.” She mumbled against him.
“Something wrong?” He asked concerned, maybe last night’s talk hadn’t been so good for her.
“No, can I sleep another hour?” She asked sleepily, with no intention of moving.
“Sure you can.” He pulled her tighter against his side.
“You’re not getting up?”
“You know I like watching you sleep.” He smiled; glad he got to watch her.

She did know that, another thing she didn’t find weird anymore. It bothered her at first, to be watched but not now, now it also was a sense of protection.

Sarah got comfortable again and closed her eyes.

Richie watched her the entire time, thinking of what to do. It was Tuesday and Thursday they had to leave, which meant they’d have to pack tomorrow. What would Sarah still want to do before they left?

He could take her out again, if she wanted to. Or go to back to the beach. They could watch a movie in his theatre room; take a dip in the pool. He’d just have to wait for Sarah to wake up so he could ask her.

He looked forward to Europe again, spend his entire day with Sarah, although he had done that this week too. In Europe he could take her to the places she wanted to visit and see that happy smile because of it. He liked putting that smile on her face, every single day, for him it was satisfactory. All he wanted was for her to be happy and he’d do whatever he could to keep her happy.

Also, he needed to invite her family to come to Europe too. Everyone was going to be there for the last concert and he’d like Sarah’s family there too. Surely her boys would enjoy it and so would her mom.

A week after that they’d go to Hawaii, just them and their children. He still needed to tell Sarah that, also when she woke up.



Half past 10, Richie hoped she had slept enough by now and gently tried to wake her up again.

Sarah moaned and opened her eyes, she still felt sleepy but not as much and was ready to wake up. Raising her arms, she stretched next to him.

He smiled at how comfortable she was with him.

“What are we doing today?” She looked up at him expecting a suggestion.
“No idea, it’s up to you. Is there anything you’d like to do?”
Sarah shook her head. “Breakfast maybe.”
Richie chuckled. “I can agree on that, anything you’d like for that then?”
“No, just simple.”



Half an hour later they sat in the kitchen, opposite of each other at the table.

They found the morning already too warm and had decided to dress in minimal clothing for breakfast, it promised to be a hot day.

Although dressing minimal was probably not such a good idea.

Richie loved the sight in front of him, Sarah was wearing his shirt from the night before and had claimed the pair of boxers she had worn last time they had breakfast together. It was always hot to see a girl wear his clothes but with Sarah wearing them it seemed even hotter.

Unlike Sarah, Richie was only wearing boxers, a different kind than Sarah’s, his were tight. Which also probably wasn’t such a good idea with how Sarah looked, he’d have to get dressed after breakfast.

He noticed Sarah being nervous and wondered what was bothering her. Once more he thought of the night before, were her memories still troubling her or was this something else?

Should he ask or wait for her to say it? Did she still not trust him enough to tell him something? What if she was overthinking something small and what if with doing so she made it a huge deal?

Great, now he was overthinking what she was overthinking.



All throughout breakfast Sarah didn’t say what was bothering her, not even while they cleaned up and went back upstairs to get dressed.

“Can we go to my house?” Sarah asked when she was dressed in her lovely summer dress again. “I’d like some clean clothes.”
“You can wear mine.” Richie suggested but only meant it as a joke.
“They don’t actually fit.” Sarah pointed out.
“True, but you look better in them than I do.”
“I don’t know,” she chuckled, “you looked very good in them last night.”

By now Richie had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and walked over to her.

“Yeah? How good?” He wrapped his arms around her.
“Very good.” She looked up at him.
“How very good?”
Sarah was quiet for a minute, choosing a way to answer. “You looked sexy.” She smiled up at him.
He smiled back at her. “You always look sexy.”

She still wasn’t sure of that although she did feel pretty in her dress.

“You do.” He insisted.
“So, are we going to my house?” She asked again.



Past noon but before they had lunch Richie sat on Sarah’s bed, looking at her back as she stood in front of her closet to pick out clean clothes.

It was way too warm and she couldn’t be bothered to make an effort. She finally picked out a comfy pair of jeans and a v-neck t-shirt that she hardly wore and threw them on the bed next to Richie.

Richie could see she was still nervous and kept wondering what was wrong and why she hadn’t told him yet.

It was the first time Sarah didn’t excuse herself from the room to get changed.

Richie certainly didn’t mind it.

After she had dressed, she sat down next to him. She couldn’t put it off anymore, she needed to tell him. It wasn’t fair on him if she didn’t.

“Richie, I need to tell you something.”