Uncomplicated 2.10: Giddy

    Before the funeral, Mandi and I planned our date for this upcoming Saturday evening. Both she and Dad have the day off, and that means that he can babysit Bonnie for me.
    Mandi. I'm so glad she came by last night. I liked the story I came up with for her, and before I went to sleep, I debated actually writing it, romance novel style. Haha, me: a romance writer! Crazy. It's Mandi making me think like one.
     First, I have to write Levi's biography for him since he called and gave me the opportunity to do so. I did finally finish my mystery novel: And the Killer Is... What an awful title, but readers like it apparently. $871/week. I got a promotion to level 5: Work-For-Hire Wordsmith. It came with a $500 bonus!
     Today, I do a little book shopping. I could use some research material, and I want to buy a few children's books for Bonnie. Her next birthday is quickly approaching. Thank goodness we got her potty trained in time. In fact, we covered all those toddler bases.

     I have mixed emotions when it comes to eating the lobster Mom fixed just before she died. I don't want it to go to waste, but I also don't want it to go away.

     I want to hurry up and finish the biography Levi wants me to write and then I want to start on the story I told Mandi last night. Ever since I told her, more and more details have started coming to me so much that I have to open a new doc and write down an outline/synopsis just to get it down.
     Of course, thinking about the story and then thinking about Mandi or vice versa only makes me more distracted from the biography. I like thinking about Mandi so much that I start feeling... giddy. I don't normally feel --giddy-- about anything. I can feel happy about things, but the only word I can use to describe how I feel about Mandi is giddy.

     The memory of her in the hot tub stays vividly in my mind.
      I should call her, I think suddenly.
      No, I don't want to appear needy or desperate. Besides, I called her yesterday. I can stand to wait until Saturday night.
     Wait a minute... who says it has to be Saturday night? What's wrong with all day? After all, I have a babysitter, and she's off all day, and if Dad can't watch Bonnie for the beginning part of the day, I can bring her with me. Maybe then Bonnie won't see her as a stranger anymore; she could get used to her.
      I'll do it! Well, I'll see if she's okay with that, I quickly take my phone out of my pocket before I shake my head, tell myself I can wait until tomorrow to call her and ask her for the whole day, and put my phone on the desk. It sits there, mocking me with its ability to contact her yet I won't let myself.

       Mom pays us a visit. I sleep through the whole thing, but Dad wakes up.

      Her visit does wonders for Dad. I haven't seen him smiling since she died. He tells me that Mom says she'll visit on occasion, and Dad says he looks forward to whenever she does.
      "You have to make the most of whatever time you're given," he says.
      I immediately get my phone out and call Mandi. She answers the phone with a breathy happiness, making me smile. I picture in my mind her running to the phone in order to answer it. I like to think that she'd been hoping it was me and she was happy when she saw it was. She tells me she'd love to spend the earlier part of the day with both Bonnie and me and then the evening on a more typical date.
     She gets me talking, and I wind up spending three hours on the phone with her. To be honest, I can't remember what we talk about. I know I learn a lot about her past, but mostly, I simply enjoy listening to her voice. It's almost as nice as looking at her when she talks.

     Friday afternoon, Bonnie says her first word. I can't help but wonder if she's been talking with Mom's spirit as well since Mom used to work at the spa.

     Later, I take a shower, write some, and then put Bonnie to bed. I really hope she and Mandi do well together tomorrow. After I kiss Bonnie goodnight, I have to fight myself to keep from pulling out my phone and calling her.
     You'll see her tomorrow. Chill out.
     Tomorrow, I think happily, and that giddy feeling flies through me again.
     "Daddy happy?" Bonnie asks when I turn around and she can see me.
     "Yes, Bonnie, Daddy very happy," I answer my little angel's question.

     Finally! It's Saturday!

      Bonnie isn't very happy about it, but she lets Mandi hold her in the car since apparently the sims world doesn't believe in carseats. I can't help but glance over at them every chance I get.

     I'm surprised to find the park almost abandoned, but then again, the processor on the laptop can't handle too many sims at once. Oh well, it doesn't matter. I have my two favorite ladies with me.
     Bonnie decides to play in the sand outside the sandbox while I talk with Mandi.
     "Her birthday's coming up, and for once, I think I'll throw a party. I'll probably regret it later, but it'll be for Bonnie's sake," I tell Mandi.
     "If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."
     The two of us go and play in the sand with Bonnie, and eventually, the toddler loosens up and decides that Mandi isn't a bad guy.

     "Are you sure that's safe for her? She's not too little?" Mandi asks worriedly when I take Bonnie over to the little horse-on-a-spring. What do you call these things, anyway?
    "Oh yeah. She'll be fine. Besides, I'll be standing right here," I say reassuringly.

     Bonnie can sense Mandi's apprehension, and she stiffens when I sit her on the horse. Her little hands hold tightly to the handles.
     "It's all right. See? Daddy's right here. Look!" I quickly get the thing started before she can start screaming. She looks like she will at first but then decides it's more fun than scary, and the little child's giggling makes the two of us laugh.

     After several minutes, Bonnie decides she's had enough and reaches up for me with her little 'uh uh' sounds, her fists opening and closing like that will make me pick her up faster.
     "Bonnie play toys," she tells me.
     "Okay," I agree and set her down nearby in the grass.
     Turning, I see a pair of seesaws, and I mention to Mandi how I haven't been on one in ages.

     I go and sit on one end before turning to Mandi and saying, "C'mon. This only works with two people."
     She turns her head and looks at me, "You're making me wonder who's the bigger kid. Bonnie acts like she'd have been just as happy sitting at home and playing with her toys instead of coming here to a playground."

     I laugh. "You're probably right. Oh well. I wanted to get out of the house for once."
     She smiles and sits on the other end of the board. "I hope this thing is strong enough for us."
     "It is. You have to think: sometimes, kids get on this in twos and threes."
     "You're nothing but a big kid," she laughs.
     "Daddy kid. Daddy kid," Bonnie tells her toy in a sing-song voice.

     "Daddy toy big co-pooter," Bonnie finishes.
     Mandi turns to the tot and asks, "Oh, Daddy's toy is his computer, huh?"
     "Go bang bang bang!" Bonnie answers, and she hits her toy on the ground with each 'bang.'
     Mandi grins at me. "I think she's telling on you."
     I let out a sheepish chuckle and explain, "I, uh, I've been having trouble with writing my brother's biography, and I guess she noticed me hitting the keys extra hard." I like the view I get when I'm high and Mandi's low. Any view's a good view, but I particularly like this one.
    "What's the problem?" she asks innocently.
    "Huh?" I've already forgotten what we're talking about.

    "With your book," Mandi finishes.
    "Daddy book," Bonnie gets in like she's a real participant in the conversation.
    This is a nice view too, I think and cause the seesaw to stop with her suspended in the air.
     "Hey!" Mandi complains laughingly. Then she swings her feet back and forth rapidly. I like the effect. "Let me down!"

    "But this is fun," I playfully argue.
    "Nick! I'm going to fall forward in a minute!" she exclaims and holds tightly to the handle in front of her. I too hold tightly to mine... but for a different reason. I liked making her yell my name.
     Laughing, I go ahead and let her down. She gets off the seesaw with a mock glare like she knew exactly what I was doing. I simply grin, not denying anything.

     Bonnie speaks up. "Daddy, Bonnie hungee."
     "Okay, princess. Let's go back to Granpa and see what he's made for you. Then Daddy and Mandi are gonna go and Daddy be back in the morning." Oops! "Daddy be back after Bonnie goes to sleep," I quickly correct myself. That's what I really meant; I don't have any plans to sleep with Mandi tonight... not that I'd say no should the opportunity present itself. That was a classic Freudian Slip. Guess my body's making plans of its own.

     I take Mandi to the diner down the road, and when we get inside, she turns to me and giggles. "Daddy come back in the morning, huh?"
     I scowl. That bugged me the entire time we went and dropped Bonnie off with Dad. I wondered if Mandi was going to make something of it. "I meant that she wouldn't see me until tomorrow morning."
     "All right. Sure," she says in a light-hearted way. I don't know for sure if she believes me or if she thinks she's humoring me.
     Either way, Nick, she's not mad, so don't ruin it by making her that way. I make myself smile and playfully argue, "Well, three a.m. is technically morning, right?"
    "It is, but how do you know I won't turn into a pumpkin at midnight?"
    I pointedly look up at her hair. "Sure you're not one already?" Then I lean in and part her hair just behind her ear to see if she has skin for a scalp instead of pumpkin. "Hm. No, you look human. I'm willing to research further if you feel like I need to." It's everything I can do not to bury my face in her hair. The second my fingers touched it, the flowery scent of her shampoo drifted into my awareness and made me ache for wanting more.
    She surprises me when she says, "That might be a good idea. I'd hate to turn into a pumpkin just as things are getting good." She blushes vermillion at her own boldness.
    "Are you saying things aren't good right now? What can I do to fix that?" I ask her very quietly with a suggestive gleam in my eyes.
    "Let's... let's just eat for now," she stammers and retreats to a nearby table.
    "If you insist." I grin.

     We both order some fried fish, today's special. Mandi stays quiet while she eats, probably a little embarrassed or shy from our suggestive conversation a little while ago.
     I completely forget about my plate of food as I look at her. Right here in front of me is the woman that has been on my mind all week. That giddiness starts happily bouncing its way through me again, and I feel the corners of my mouth raise in an unstoppable, small smile.

     The beautiful woman speaks. "Nick, please don't stare at me while I'm eating. You're making me very self-conscious."

     "Right. Sorry," I quickly apologize, lift my fork, and start eating. Goodness knows what she's thinking after catching me staring like that. At least she looks happy and not annoyed. I breathe a hopefully-hidden sigh of relief that she doesn't look like she thinks I'm a hopelessly besotted loser.

      She finishes her food before I do and then proceeds to stare at me. Unlike her, I don't mind, but I can see what she means by feeling self-conscious. However, right now, if it makes her like me more, she can go right ahead. I only hope I don't have anything caught in my teeth.

      "I'm glad Bonnie warmed up to me," she tells me after her plate vanishes.
      I smile. "Me too. It would've been a long afternoon otherwise. I'll be happy when this stranger anxiety fades."
      "I think it's sweet how she clings to her Daddy and Granpa," Mandi mentions with a smile on her face.
       Hm. I haven't thought of that. I wonder if Mom's death only made her anxiety worse. As far as she knows, all of a sudden one of us left her. But... if Mom's spirit has been visiting her, maybe she's not traumatized at all.

     I chuckle. "I guess that's true, and I might miss it when she turns into a teenager."
     Thoughts of Bonnie as a teen... and then me as a teen's father... flit through my mind. No boy had ever look at Bonnie the way I'm looking at Mandi right now. I'd gouge out his eyes. Then, I think about Mandi's father. She'd told me over the phone the other day that her parents died when she'd finished her bachelor's degree, and she doesn't have any siblings.
     Mandi giggles, making the room brighter, and says, "Yeah, when it'll be 'Dad! Don't embarrass me!'"

     "Are you implying that I'll embarrass her?" I ask facetiously.

     "All dads embarrass their daughters. It's a well-known fact. Sometimes, I wondered if that was my dad's mission in life." A wonderful smile curves her lips and makes her eyes sparkle.
     "Why do you say that?" I ask, mostly to keep her talking but I'm also curious.
     "He'd started making it so the boys at school were afraid to ask me out. They'd come to pick me up for a date, and he'd be in the living room, cleaning his shotgun and saying he doesn't mind going back to prison."
     I crack up laughing.
     "He'd never been to prison, but the boys didn't know that," she finishes.
     "Well, to be honest, I don't blame him one bit. If you were anywhere near as beautiful as a teenager as you are now, then it's a wonder he didn't follow along to chaperone," I say smoothly, happy she left me that opening, even if she didn't intend to do so.
     She blushes for the second time tonight, and I wonder to myself how many more times I can make it happen.

      "So, um, you're finished eating?" she asks in a meek attempt to change the subject. She hasn't figured out yet that I can take any subject and turn it whichever way I want to in order to make her blush again. Or, if she has, she knows there's no hope of stopping me if I should feel so inclined.
      I smile again. I doubt I've ever smiled so much in my entire life as I have this evening, and I don't want to lose this feeling of happy... No, I'm not gonna say it. That word is getting redundant, even in different forms. ... Fine! ...giddiness.
      "I am. Wanna get out of here?" I answer.
      "Sure," she says and looks back at me, mirroring my smile.
       We decide to take a simple walk down the sidewalk. There's a public beach not too far away, and I've decided that would make a good next stop.
       I ask her about the boys she dated in high school, not thinking it's tacky for her to tell me if I ask. She tells me that she didn't date many, and my eyebrows raise in surprise. She responds to my look by saying that she was a little shy. I can't help but think that if she'd gone to my high school, I wouldn't have attended prom solo if I had anything to say about it, her dad threatening me with a shotgun or not.
      Well, I did have an attitude problem then, so who knows. It might be a good thing that I didn't know her as a teenager. I could've ruined everything and not be feeling as giddy as I feel now. With everything that's happened, this is the perfect time for her to enter my life.

      I take in a deep, happy breath, step off the sidewalk, and pull her off as well before surprising her with a kiss. Her lips feel like velvet against mine, and I'm reminded of how perfect it is to kiss her, like the missing pieces of my life have finally been put in place.

      She responds much more passionately than she did last week in the hot tub. Her soft, sure fingers stroke my cheeks before gliding up into my hair and grabbing fistfuls, wordlessly begging me to not stop.
      I groan. This was supposed to be a quick, surprise kiss, and it's turned into a quickly escalating moment of tormenting, manic lust. She takes her turn groaning when I finally reach second base, and I have to work hard to keep from ripping her clothes off.
      "Daddy be back in the morning," slips into my thoughts, interrupting the plan I'd started to form which ended with us going to her place, where I'd actually be able to rip her clothes off like I so want to do.
      Both of us panting, I pull my head up and look down at her. I decide I don't want this to happen so fast, even though parts of my anatomy scream in outrage at the thought. No, I want more. I want her, not just her body. When I finally make love to her for the first time, it'll be just that: making love.
     Her stormy eyes watch me in the dark, searching, pleading for me to kiss her again.
     I try to control the pitch of my voice so that I can say casually, "Let's go down to the beach."
     "Okay," she agrees with hope still present in her eyes, and I fear she might just get exactly what she wants.

     She starts walking towards some lounge chairs, but I pull her in another direction.
     "C'mon down to the beach. It is just a lake beach, but it has mats laid out."
     "That I'm sure are crawling with sand fleas or worse," she says apprehensively.
     I smile. "Nah, the sun bakes them during the day. It'll be fine."

     We sit down and talk for a while, and she asks me about my tattoo.
     "Isn't it obvious?" I ask teasingly. "I wear my heart on my sleeve, and it's been broken." Maybe I need to get it corrected.
     "You loved Bonnie's mother?" she asks.
     My smile leaves my face, and I sigh a little as I answer, "I thought I did. I think maybe I just liked having her around. Addie was a free spirit, always with her eyes on the horizon. I pity the man that may ever actually fall in love with her."
     "But you got Bonnie from her, and from what I've met of her, you've got the best part of Addie," she says sincerely, and my smile returns.
     "I wholeheartedly agree."
     We talk about other, various things as the night ages, neither of us wanting to end the date. Eventually, Mandi lies down on her mat, tired. I take a chance and lie down with her.

     She sighs contentedly when I slip my arm under her neck and around the back of her shoulders, holding her to me. I lightly kiss the tip of her nose and then have to immediately quell the raging desire inside me. This moment is too sweet, and I try to content myself with the simpleness of it all.
     "I'm sorry I'm flaking out on you," she says quietly, and I study her in the semi-darkness. Her eyes are closed, so I know she won't feel self-conscious.
     "It's fine," I respond. "I guess I'm the one that should apologize for not wanting to take you home yet."
     "Hm," she breathes sleepily. I reach up to touch her face, running my fingertips across her cheekbone, eyebrow, nose, jaw, and ending at her lips.
      I once thought that Levi's wife Sunshine was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I thought Addie and her sisters were all pretty, but no one compares to the simple, serene beauty in my arms. Spending the rest of the night doing nothing but watching her sleep would be just fine with me, except for the ache I have for her. Should I do everything I want to do, it would ruin the peaceful moment.
     After about an hour of looking at her and badly wanting to kiss her, she stirs and looks dreamily up at me. "What time is it?"
     I check my watch. "One a.m. You can rest easy; you didn't turn into a pumpkin."
     She takes a deep breath and says, "Good." After a pause, she continues, "But this sand is hard on my shoulder, and my neck is getting a crick in it."
    "Want to relocate to the lounge chairs?"
    "Sure."

      When we reach the platform upon which the lounge chairs sit, I can't resist the siren's call of those lips anymore.

      Like the last one, she eagerly responds, standing on her toes and throwing her arms around my neck. I crush her into me, enjoying every curve where they brand me through our clothing. The kiss continues for a little longer before I realize that I have to stop. When I do, she looks up at me like she understands, and I stifle my base desires, ordering myself to be more than just an animal. It isn't easy.

     "Are you sure you're comfortable like this?" I ask and thread my fingers into her hair.
     "Mhm. This is surprisingly comfy." She settles herself between my legs, and I close my eyes and imagine all that I could do right now if I'd let myself get away with it.
      I turn my head and kiss her hair, my eyes squeezed tight with the restraint, and the fantastic, self-induced torture continues.

     "Nick," I hear coming from through a fog, and I become aware of Mandi's hand on my chest, shaking me to get me to wake up.
     My eyes open. I must've fallen asleep.
     "Your watch says it's three-thirty," she says with a small giggle. "Maybe you should take me home, and then we can both get some good sleep."
     "Okay," I breathe and work on getting myself to more actively wake up.

      Mandi lives in a more run-down complex on the other side of the highway. Earlier, she'd called it 'charming,' but seeing it at night makes it look more sinister.
      "What is it?" she asks when she sees the scowl on my face.
      Do I tell her I don't like her living here? It's not really much of my damn business, I think as I look around.
     "I doubt they'll ever fill in that pool," she says, and I huff out an aggravated sigh.
     "Aren't you a doctor?" I ask, tiptoeing around what I really want to say.
     "That depends on your definition."
     "Yeah. I know, but..." I look at her tiny place, wishing I could think of what to say without sounding like I'm insulting her.

     An understanding smile graces me with its presence. "I'll build my castle someday. I'm paying for my schooling on my own, and this helps me pay everything off faster."
     Come live with me in my castle. Then you won't have any other bills to pay, and you'll be safer.
     "My neighbors are nice, as far as neighbors go that is," she explains further.
     You can't ask her to move in with you! I scream in my head.
     "I'm sorry. I can't help it," I try to explain my look earlier and tell her that that was indeed what I was thinking.
     A look comes into her eyes, and I breathe easier when I see it. She's happy that I'm worrying over her.
    "When can I see you again?" I ask in a typical manner. I also use it as a way to keep myself from being tempted to stay with her for what's left of the night.

     "After tomorrow, I'm not off again until next Friday," she answers, "and I need to get some sleep tomorrow. Well, later today. And you do too."
     "I've gone without sleep before," I playfully argue. I've half a mind to snatch her keys from her hand, grab her, open her door, carry her inside, slam it shut, and quickly go searching for her bedroom. It shouldn't take me long to find.
      "Goodnight, Nick," she says, and her eyes work at reminding me of why the hell it was that I've been holding back all night. I try to remember. "Drive safely," she finishes, and I kiss her quickly goodnight before marching to my car and driving home.

     I moan in agony when I get home and jump in the shower real quick.
     Why oh why didn't I just act on impulse? I'd feel so much better now if I had.
     She's gorgeous, but it's more than that. She so sweet and funny, and the woman actually brings a smile to my face. Me. Plus.. the way she moves... I shudder and shove my face under the spray of the shower. And the way she feels. My hand remembers how good she felt when I'd wanted to rip her clothes off earlier so that I could find out just how much better she'd feel without them. I clench my fist.
     This shower isn't helping like I need it to. Nothing but her can get rid of this ache, but it's more. Hell yes I want her, but I want to wake up next to her in the morning, any morning. I imagine seeing her sleeping with her hair all tousled and her mouth slightly parted, her opening her eyes, seeing me watching her, and then her rolling over in a cranky way, saying she's still tired. A short laugh escapes with the thought.
     She makes me giddy. I've never been so happy.

     I'm in love with her.



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Tim lvl 10 inventing
Millie Davidson and Donovan Steele (now an elder) preggers
Sonja (Davidson) Milan and Raymundo Milan now married
Funny: It shows Tim and Mia as engaged
Nick lvl 10 writing
Nick still has no high school diploma!!!!
I keep getting those blasted error code 12s!  >:|
Oh, and I love the duckie in the last shot for a little comic relief in such a serious moment.
And another dose of funny:

Nice smile :)