The room was startlingly cold for as bright as it was. A dark, blurry figure above him shone an even brighter light into his eyes.
"Sir? Can you hear me?" Sounds still reached his ears muffled. He didn't know who the person was standing above him, but he desperately tried to turn his head, looking for Larissa. He was vaguely aware of his right-hand opening and closing slowly, searching for hers, hoping it would find its way to his. Everything would be fine once he found her. Hadn't she been there earlier?...228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbh6vDTvyI
"What was your favorite part of the week?" Chris asked as they sat watching The Omen, eating popcorn, Saturday evening.
"Everything," Larissa answered simply without looking away from the tv. Chris laughed.
"Oh, come on. There had to have been something that stuck out more than the others."
"Not really," she shrugged. "I just loved spending time with you," she turned and kissed him quickly. Chris could taste the salt on her lips from the popcorn.
"Although, not that I didn't enjoy all of it, the necklace was extra sweet," Larissa laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm across his chest.
"I'm glad you like it. I wasn't sure," a silence fell over them. Aside from trying to prove that he was just as willing to help plan this wedding as she was, Chris also wanted to make sure Larissa knew he wasn't just trying to brush the miscarriage off. He accomplished this by finding a special necklace with angel wings with "Gone, but not forgotten" inscribed on the back.
"I'll give you another baby someday. I promise," he took one of her hands and squeezed it. "You know that, right?"
"I know, babe," Larissa stroked the side of his face with her palm.
"But for now, why don't we go practice again?" she looked at him mischievously with a twinkle in her eye. They had made love every night that week, but Chris wasn't about to complain over more, especially when they were literally hours away from being separated for several weeks.
Larissa grabbed one of his hands as she stood and drug him to their bedroom...
***
"So what are you going to do while I'm gone?" Chris asked as they lay tangled up naked.
"Mmm...," she thought. "Work out. Go to therapy. Go to court. Lather, rinse, repeat. Well, except that last part."
"Oh, that's right. What day is that?"
"The 17th."
"Shit. I'll make sure my dad goes with you. I think he was planning on it anyways."
"Thank you," Larissa snuggled farther into his chest. Chris was only slightly surprised when she didn't try to argue.
They settled into a comfortable silence for a long time, soaking each other up.
"You still awake?" He could usually tell by her breathing, but she hadn't moved at all in a long time.
"Of course," Larissa replied sleepily.
"I'm going to miss you," his voice lowered.
"I'm going to miss you too," she hugged him tighter. "I'm going to be ok...Besides, I have that ridiculous cd you made me if I get too lonely," they both laughed softly.
Thursday morning, before his meeting and Larissa's dress trying date with his mom, Chris left a mixed cd of cheesy love songs as her gift for the day. It included everything from Orleans "Dance With Me" to Billy Squire's "You're My Kind of Lover"...and Larissa had absolutely loved it. She was listening to it when he got home late that afternoon from the meeting with his agent. The music was playing loud enough that she hadn't heard him come in, too busy cooking something in the kitchen to notice. Chris snuck up behind her, causing her to jump. She tried to turn around to greet him, but he wrapped his arms around her, forcing her to sway to the music with him.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFko5bpGZdY
"I'm glad you like it. And I know you'll be ok, but that's not going to stop me from worrying...Will you do me a favor and not go jogging by yourself?"
"Chris..."
He held up a finger to Larissa's mouth to silence her.
"Please."
"I'm not making any promises. Nothing has happened before you came along. Don't make me all paranoid about it now."
"At least take pepper spray or a knife or something."
"I will. Now stop worrying."
Chris settled his arm back over Larissa.
"I don't want to, but I need to get some sleep."
"I know. I love you," she kissed his bare chest. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, baby."
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