Henry sighed just outside of his and Tori’s room. His mind recalled the last time they had a big fight, a little over a week ago. Tori had been upset over her uncooked food in a restaurant and on the very cusp of making a scene when Henry suggested that she ‘settle down.’ And she had, sitting quietly in her chair, steaming within like a baked potato while he paid the bill. Every footstep he took back to the car left him feeling as if he was closing in on his own grave. She hadn't even given him time to open her door as she jerked it open and slammed it shut. He hated that. Calmly, he entered his vehicle and began to drive out of the parking lot. As soon as they had made their way up the interstate ramp, she had let him have it. Hurricane Tori had arrived with all of the fury of an Italian army. He could swear his ears had been ringing after the chewing out he had taken, but he'd survived.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
Those words would have to be the first ones to cross his lips, as there weren’t any flower shops available. He backed away from the door. I’ve got more important things to do. He could always claim he had overlooked her text, or that his phone's battery was dead. He looked at the peephole. She probably hasn’t seen me yet. He began pacing back and forth in the dormitory hall that once was a thriving living space for many students. His uncle used to live just one floor above. He stopped in front of the door again, pushed his glasses back on his nose, and rubbed his sweaty hands on his slacks.
He hadn’t given much thought to what he had done by throwing her out of the car, so to speak. But didn’t he have every right to be angry? She was the one that should be begging for his forgiveness, not him, for getting mad, but Tori wasn’t the most reasonable person. No, she was a passionate creature whose heart was always exposed. He started to creep away. Everyone’s going to hear her screaming at me.
“Get in here, Henry! I already saw you through the peephole,” she shouted from somewhere inside the room.
There was no turning back now.
“Now!”
As his hand closed around the knob, he took a deep breath and stepped inside. It was dim, but the smell of her sweet perfume hung heavy in the air. His eyes darted all over the room, but Tori was nowhere to be found. The bed was made, the closet doors were closed, and the desk was neat and tidy. Everything was in place, except him. He felt very out of place.
His body shuddered as he heard the sound of a commode flush. From behind the closed bathroom door, he heard her voice.
“Have a seat on the bed, Henry. I’ll be out to deal with you in a second, even though you didn’t show me the same courtesy, but took your time getting down here.”
He sat down on the bed and waited for her to come out. Only a small lamp by the bed was lit, but the room seemed darker than normal somehow. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It was the only way to diffuse her ... he hoped.
When she emerged from the bathroom, every drop of blood rushed from one head to the other. She stood before him like a dark angel. Her thick locks of auburn hair cascaded down her back, and a long pair of silk black gloves reached up to her elbows. That was all she wore as her voluptuous body came closer to his. He could feel the heat begin to rise between them as she came closer. His mouth watered as his eyes met hers that were so seductive, hungry, and dark.
Her voice was bittersweet as she said, “Take your clothes off.”
Henry obliged.
“Lie down on the bed, but leave your glasses on.”
Henry was lying back on the pillow, allowing her smooth legs to slowly straddle him. He closed his eyes as she pushed herself down on top of him.
“What—”
“Ssssh … I’ll do the talking.”
Then she said as the bed began to rock, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry …”
A ride on the world's fastest roller coaster couldn’t have been more exciting, but it would have lasted longer. Still, she was just as sweaty as he was when they both sagged onto the bed and held each other tight. Henry was still trying to catch his breath as he said, “I’m sorry, too.”