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Lucy didn’t really know what to expect when she met a couple of Tim’s army buddies. When he’d ask if it was okay if they came over for dinner and drinks, she hesitated. Not because she didn’t want him to have his friends over. She would never put a stop to that. But she was worried that seeing them again might bring up painful memories the way Ray’s return did.
Tim clocked her hesitation immediately and tilted his head in question. When Lucy explained her fears his expression had softened and he explained that these guys were from his first tour and had nothing to do with Ray Watkins.
Lucy relaxed and then agreed to host the men next weekend.
And that brings her to today. She was manic cleaning their house and making sure that there was plenty of food and drinks ready.
Tim was at work and he promised to help when he got home, but Lucy said she didn’t mind. However, that was before she had worked a twelve hour overnight shift and then got roped into covering for one of the other day shift sergeants who needed to take his kid to some appointment.
By the time she got home she was dead on her feet. She barely made it to their bedroom before collapsing onto the bed. She was asleep within seconds. Only to be woken up what felt like a few minutes later by Kojo barking at someone who was at the front door. Realistically it was a few hours later but she still felt exhausted. She checked the camera app on her phone seeing it was just the Amazon delivery guy. She groaned and rolled over trying to go back to sleep but it was no use. Her mind kept swirling with everything she needed to do before Tim’s friends came over tonight and she couldn’t settle.
So she got up, took a shower and got to work. She cleaned up the kitchen and got started on dinner. She decided a Mexican buffet style dinner sounded easy enough. While the beef and chicken were cooking, she made mexican rice, and homemade queso.
When the food was done and in the warmers, she texted Tim to tell him what drinks to bring home and then moved on to tidy up the bathroom, the guest room (just in case) and the living room. Moving around and keeping busy was what was keeping her upright. If she sat down now, she’s sure she would fall asleep again.
She was in the middle of vacuuming when Tim walked through the door, bags and a case of beer in hand.
“Hey baby,” he called out.
Lucy turned the vacuum off and made her way to the kitchen to greet him. “Hi,” she hummed, leaning up to kiss him.
“It smells amazing in here,” he marveled, looking around at the food. “You’ve been busy. I told you I’d help when I got home.”
Lucy shrugged and smiled at him. He worked all day too and she had the time. Tim kissed her again and whispered a quiet thank you before retreating to the bathroom to clean up.
An hour later there were three very large and very loud men crowded around their living room, recounting stories and laughing about things Lucy didn’t really understand but she smiled along and laughed when appropriate. She also made herself busy playing hostess. Offering to replenish drinks, get more food, clean up trash. Tim had told her to sit and relax but she didn’t want it to seem like she was intruding on time with his friends. Not that he’d ever see it like that.
Hours later when there really wasn’t much left that Lucy could do, she finally decided to take a permanent seat next to Tim. She sat a respectable distance away from him on the couch. Not wanting to come off clingy. But she should have known the second she sat down Tim would be beckoning for her to curl into his side. And so she did. Scooting closer to him so he could drop his arm around her shoulder. His fingers traced gentle soothing patterns that were so soft, she felt her eyes drooping.
The men were still engaged in boisterous conversation and every once in a while one of their loud voices would perk Lucy up but she was fading… and fast.
She glanced at her watch—1:15am. Thank god neither of them had to work tomorrow.
She must have dozed off because the next thing she knows, Tim is gently nudging her shoulder.
“Hey, Luce,” he murmured, his voice low so as not to draw attention from the others. “You’re falling asleep sitting up.”
“No, I’m good,” she said quickly, clearing her throat and blinking hard.
He gave her a pointed look. “You were swaying.”
“I’m just resting my eyes.” She tried for a smile, but it felt sleepy even to her. “Didn’t want to be rude.”
Tim’s gaze softened. “No one here is going to think you’re rude for going to bed.”
“I wanna wait for you,” she whispered.
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “I’ll be in soon.”
“I can make it,” she said.
She didn’t look convincing. Her body leaned back into him, betraying her words. He slid his arm from her shoulder down to rest on her forearm and pulled her closer, placing a kiss atop her head.
“Sweetie, you look like you’d fall over if I let go of you.”
The sound of loud laughter pulled their attention away for a moment, the guys telling a story that involved Tim, a goat and a female soldier's hairbrush. Lucy felt Tim’s laugh rumble through his chest as he added his own memories from that particular story.
She, on the other hand, couldn’t even try to keep up anymore. Maybe Tim had a point. Her eyelids were getting heavy and the steady warmth from Tim’s body were lulling her into a peaceful slumber. But that didn’t change the fact that she really didn’t want to go to bed without him. She blinked awake one more time, but it was short lived.
“Hey guys,” Lucy faintly heard Tim say only because the movement of his body had shaken her awake. “Give me a sec. I’m gonna tuck my girl in.”
Lucy made a sleepy noise of protest as Tim stood up and reached for her hand. She was standing with her eyes still closed, safely tucked into Tim’s side. And the other guys were hootin’ and hollerin'.
“Whipped!” one of them called out.
“And proud,” she heard Tim shoot back without a hint of insincerity in his voice.
Lucy heard them whistle and make whipping noises but it was all good natured. Tim didn’t flinch. His sole focus was on her as he guided her down the hallway to their bedroom.
She pouted when he lowered onto the bed, moving to take her clothes off so he could help her change into something more comfortable. “I was trying to hold out.”
He smiled, pulling the covers back so she could crawl in comfortably. “I know you were baby.”
She looked adorably stubborn as she still tried to fight sleep. He pulled the blanket up and leaned over, smoothing her hair back before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I didn’t want to go to bed without you,” she whined, her voice small and slurred with sleep.
“I’ll be back soon,” he whispered, turning off her bedside lamp.
“Don’t keep me waiting too—” the last word cut off and Tim knew she was asleep.
“Never baby,” he murmured, kissing her again before slipping out of the room.
It was nearly 3:00am, when his buddies left. He waved to them, wearing a tired smile of his own. He took one look around the house and decided the mess was a tomorrow problem. He locked everything up and set the alarm and then quietly sneaked back into the bedroom.
Lucy had rolled over and was facing his side of the bed, hand resting on his pillow.
He stripped off his clothes, just down to his boxers and slowly slid into the bed so as not to disturb Lucy too much. She barely stirred but even in sleep she sought him out. Moving so that her head rested on his chest as Tim wrapped his arms around her.
He placed a sweet kiss to the top of her head before succumbing to sleep himself.