Chapter 24 - Jet Lag

They arrived at Barajas Airport Saturday evening and got into a taxi together once they went through immigration and picked up their luggage. Mia was already feeling separation anxiety at the thought of being away from Leo. She wanted to spend more time with him alone. They had spent an amazing night together in Shanghai, but would it still be the same now that they were back in Madrid? She felt vulnerable after everything they had shared together during the last 24 hours, especially what she had told him during the plane ride.

The taxi arrived at her apartment and she drearily got out. Leo followed after her and she was taken aback when she saw him remove both of their suitcases from the trunk.

"Don't you need to go home?" Mia asked.

"Nope. I have somewhere else far more important I need to be," Leo said grinning.

Mia smiled excitedly as Leo paid the taxi driver. They stepped into the building and she hoped her apartment was in a decent condition. She never expected she would have a visitor at her home after the Shanghai trip, let alone Leo. In fact, only a few people had ever been in her apartment.

As they walked in, Leo set down their suitcases and immediately began looking around her apartment, as if it was his first time there.

"It's been a while," Leo said, looking nostalgic.

"I promise everything is in its same place. Hasn't changed much," Mia said.

Leo sighed and went to sit down at the couch.

"Well, I certainly remember having a particularly nice study session right about here," Leo grinned at her.

Mia blushed. "Back when we were naïve and innocent," she noted.

"Come here, sweetness. You're too far away," Leo said all of sudden.

Mia had been standing near the dining table and went to sit next to him on the couch. He wrapped his arm around her and grabbed her legs to pull them over his.

"Mmm. That's so much better," he said.

She sighed into his chest. "Leo? Did you never really think of me as a friend, in the beginning?"

He looked at her surprised. "Of course I did. What made you think I didn't?"

"That night we fought...you said we were never friends," she explained.

"I meant we weren't friends in the traditional sense. We pretended to be, but we were always so much more than that," he said tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Oh. I thought you meant you never considered me a friend at all. Like someone you could talk to and confide in."

"Mia, how could you think that? The only reason I brought it up is because I thought you were demeaning what we had to simple friendship."

"No, I never meant to do that. I'm sorry if it came out that way. You always meant so much to me and I thought you were saying you didn't care about having me as friend."

"No, baby. You were and are my friend. Best friend, girlfriend, partner in crime, lover...you're all those things to me."

She kissed him on the lips. "You're all those things to me, too. Except swap girlfriend to boyfriend," she said giggling.

"I would certainly hope so." He laughed and kissed her forehead. "Do you still want to take that trip together? Just you and me?" he asked, bringing up an earlier conversation they had on the couch.

"Just tell me when and where and I'm there," Mia said, repeating the same answer she had given him before.

He leaned in to give her a kiss. "I love being with you, Mia. You're like my anchor."

"I'm glad you stayed over. I was already beginning to dread being away from you after last night."

"Well, I'm all yours now. For as long as you want," Leo said reassuringly.

"I still can't believe it, you know?"

"Which part, sweetness?"

"The whole part, I guess. That we worked things out, that you're here...that I have an incredibly hot and sexy boyfriend now. It just seems too good to be true."

A huge smile spread across his face. "You think I'm hot and sexy?"

"Por favor. You know you are."

"You've never told me before."

"Surely you must have known I thought that," she shrugged.

"I still like hearing it come out of that enticing mouth of yours. I really like this new side of you Mia...where you actually tell me these things."

She contemplated that for a moment. "I like it, too. It feels good to let it out."

"Just thinking about everything you've told me in the last few days. I didn't think it was possible to feel more for you than I already do, but knowing all those things about you...I love you even more now."

She could feel her heart melting at his words. "Be careful with what you say. I'm going to talk my head off to you now," she said running her hands through his hair.

"Good. So, now that I have you spilling your guts out...what do you usually do when you're home?" he asked curiously.

Mia laughed. "You don't want to know, trust me."

"Of course I do. Even if it's you dancing around in your underwear."

"That would actually be more exciting. This is pretty pathetic."

"Mia, c'mon. I don't believe that for a second. I thought we were past the evasiveness."

"Fine," Mia sighed. "I usually go the gym for a bit..."

"Really? Me too. It's too bad I didn't pack any gym clothes for the trip, I could really use the exercise," Leo said, flexing his chest. "Sorry I digress, please go on."

Feeling more confident, Mia continued. "Well, afterwards I usually have a gourmet dinner generously provided by my freezer, then I watch The Daily Show online and then I read case studies. It's all part of the secret lifestyles of the rich and famous."

"So when do we start? Except for the case studies, there's no way in hell I'm doing that tonight. Maybe tomorrow if you can convince me."

"Is that so? I think I can convince you right now." Mia shifted her position and sat on his lap, straddling him. She bent over and nibbled on his ear and neck.

"You're such a little minx, Mia! Okay, okay, I'll do it," Leo said under his breath.

Mia laughed. "I'm just teasing you, Leo. Believe me, the last thing I wanna do right now is read. I'm not that crazy," she said smiling. "So what do you think of having lasagna?"

"After a week of only eating weird Chinese food that sounds very appetizing. What about wine? I can go get some at the store."

"I think I might have a bottle...or two." Mia stood up to go to the kitchen to prepare dinner. After placing the lasagna in the oven, she went back to the living room with wine and two glasses.

"This is perfect, Mia," Leo said. "Do you need any help in the kitchen?"

"Nope. I literally just shoved the lasagna in the oven and that's about it. We just have to wait for 20 minutes."

"More time for me and you," Leo said. "So you're a Jon Stewart fan?"

"Big time. He hasn't won all those Emmys for nothing. Plus Comedy Central is the only network I can stream over here legally so it works out pretty well. Are you sure you're okay watching it?"

"Of course. I really like the British guy on the show. We gotta stick with the schedule anyway right?"

Mia chuckled as she went to grab her laptop. She connected it to the TV through the HDMI cable she had purchased for such occasions and searched for the latest episode.

"Look at you! This is all very professional," Leo stated as he poured the wine.

Mia pressed play and went to sit back next to him.

Leo handed her a glass. "Salud, mi amor," he said as she snuggled up against him. Mia felt so content at that moment, sharing her routine with him and seeing him actually enjoy it.

Leo spent most of the episode playing with her hair and kissing her shoulder. If it weren't for his occasional laughter, Mia would've sworn he wasn't paying any attention to the show.

She served dinner once the lasagna was ready. To Mia's surprise, Leo finished his plate rather quickly.

"Wow, that was actually pretty good," he said.

"I'm glad you liked it. I was worried there for a second."

"C'mon, you know I'm not like that. Plus, I rather enjoy seeing you being all domesticated."

"Well...I have lived on my own since I was 18. Too bad I never picked up cooking. I guess I just got used to going out for dinner or just getting take out in New York. It's a bad habit."

"I can cook a thing or two, believe it or not. Maybe I'll make you dinner sometime when we're not exhausted or jet lagged."

"I would love that," Mia said. "Now that you mention it I am pretty tired. Did you want dessert?"

"You are my dessert. I'll have two scoops, please."

"Two scoops of what exactly?" she asked giggling.

"God, of everything. Shall we?" Leo motioned towards the bedroom and Mia couldn't help blush a little. The thought of Leo in her bed just seemed ludicrous to her.

Mia nodded and he grabbed her hand leading her towards the bedroom. Once they reached her bed, she was unsure of what to do.

"Um...I should probably go change," Mia said as she headed towards her bathroom.

"Okay, I'll use the guest bathroom then," Leo responded.

She quickly changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. She tried to comb her hair but it was a colossal mess of knots. A shower would probably be the best thing to do, but she felt too exhausted and Leo was probably already waiting for her. She gave up and with a sigh headed back to the bedroom.

"Mia, which side do you usually sleep...?"

Leo was already settled inside the covers and his jaw dropped as she walked in.

"What?" She asked as she casually got into bed with him.

"You're not making this easy for me, Mia," he said as he pulled her next to him. "I just wanted to hold you tonight but I hardly have any self-control left."

"What did I do?" she said not understanding.

"Have you not seen yourself? Do you always sleep in these ridiculously sexy outfits or are you just provoking me?" Leo said kissing her.

She was wearing a turquoise cotton slip. In her mind, it was one of her simpler nightgowns she was used to wearing, but apparently was causing quite an effect on Leo. If he only knew what else she had stored in her closet, she had far more provocative things that she never wore. Maybe it was time she revisited that.

"Neither! This old thing? It's just a babydoll. But to answer your question, yes I usually sleep like this."

"You're incredible, Mia. I thought most girls wore pajama pants and an old t-shirt."

"Not me. I can't stand that. This is way more comfortable, especially when it's warm out."

"Believe me, I'm not complaining. I can certainly get used to this. I really am a lucky bastard," Leo said touching the fabric of her babydoll around her waist in awe.

"Well good, cuz I have a nice little collection of them," she said seductively, and he was almost drooling. Men were so easy sometimes.

"I want to see you in every last one of them. God, I really wish I wasn't so tired right now, but you better be prepared for what's coming tomorrow morning," he said grinning.

Mia giggled and settled her head against his chest. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said.

"It's not a promise, it's a guarantee. So you, my beautiful girlfriend, better rest up. You're crazy if you think you can tease me like this and get away with it."

"Good night, Leo," she said with a smirk on her face.

"Good night, sweetness," Leo said wrapping his arms around her. It was exactly what she had wanted. Just before she drifted off to sleep, he murmured, "Te amo tanto."