The problem is I know too much. This so isn’t going to work. It’s way too awkward for me. The past keeps colliding into the present. And even though he seems perfectly fine with it, I’m not. I roll to the side of the bed, dragging the sheet with me. I don’t look back as I stand, covering my bare ass, and skedaddle to the bathroom where I left my clothes if drunk-memory serves. By the time I come out, fully dressed sans my underwear, he has pajama bottoms on and is holding a glass of water and a bottle of Advil.
In one hand, I hold the balled-up thong I’d felt too gross to put back on after showering and plan to toss in my purse once I find it. He hands me two pills, and I drink them down with the glass of water I take from him.
“Thanks.”
“Not a problem. I would drive you home.” He glances at his watch. “But I’m due in the hospital in a half an hour. I guess I overslept.”
I wave him off. “No, it’s fine. I’ll call a cab.”
He shakes his head. “No need. You can drop me off at work and then use my car. I won’t need it. Come back later tonight and we can have dinner. Then I’ll take you home.”
“I can’t use your car. What if you suddenly need it?”
He steps forward and cups my chin. He rubs my cheek with the pad of his thumb. In his beautiful eyes I see all the memories we made together. The way he clenches his jaw, I know he’s fighting back the words to remind me of everything we shared.
“I’m going to be at work all day. I won’t need it. And I know we are starting fresh, but we know each other better than this. Take my car, and come back tonight. In fact, you can pick me up at work. It will give you the excuse you’ll need to have dinner with me.”
He presses a kiss to my temple before walking away, leaving me to chew on his words. I watch him lift a pair of pants that are slung across a chair in his room and pull out his car keys. He takes my hand and uncurls my fingers, placing the keys in my palm and closing my hand around them.
“Give me a few minutes to shower,” he says before disappearing in the bathroom.
I clutch the keys and stop myself from following him into the bathroom. It would be so easy to join him. It’s harder to stay rooted to my spot and not simply slide into the routine of us as a couple.
Long minutes later, I think I’ve barely breathed the whole time. The keys bite into my palm from the strength of my clutched fingers. He steps out with a towel around his hips and the slight pain in my hand is forgotten. He’s still damp with beads of water trickling down his back as he heads into his walk-in closet. I close my eyes and am immediately assaulted with fantasies of him lifting me with his powerful arms and taking me against the tiled shower wall. Clearly it’s been a while, I tell myself as I blink my eyes a few times trying to dispel the images.
When he walks out, he’s wearing a set of green scrubs. It reminds me of old times. He walks up to me and smooths my unruly hair back. It’s probably a bed head mess. I didn’t bother to glance at myself in the mirror when I got dressed.
“Come back tonight. I’ll fix you dinner.”
He’s always been one to ask for what he wants. I waver while considering my minor freak after waking up in his bed.
“No breakfast.” As much as he lights my fire in a big way, I can’t. “I’m not ready for breakfast.”
His indulgent grin makes me feel silly for even bringing it up.
“No breakfast. Not until we’re both ready for breakfast. But maybe a snack.”
His brow arches in question and I stare at his lips. My gaze must have lingered too long because he assumes my answer. His lips radiate warmth and security as they press against mine. For so long I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him. He pulls back and I almost wish he’d taken it deeper.
“Just dinner,” he whispers.
I roll in my lower lip and sigh. I have no idea how he doesn’t hate me or why he hasn’t moved on. He’s a great catch and easy on the eye. Women have to be banging down his door, which makes me jealous just thinking about it. Then again, despite our pact for a fresh start, nothing between us can ever be uncomplicated. But I haven’t felt this way in a long time. I close my eyes for a second before meeting his. I take the plunge. “Dinner, then.”
JENNA GREETS ME WITH A GRIN as I walk into the apartment from class. It’s Friday afternoon and I’m more than ready for the weekend to begin.
“What?” I ask. Her sly smile tells me something’s up.
“You have a present waiting,” she replies in a sing-songy voice.
My excitement amps up ten levels. Her tone indicates it can only be from one person. I’m seeing him tomorrow so I’m nearly shaking to find out. “Where is it?”
“On the counter.”
I head over there to find a box that’s wrapped up in colorful paper with a pretty bow. My greedy fingers tear into the paper, shredding it in the process. The box is no match for me. When I lift the lid, I break out in a giant belly laugh. It’s a huge, cute, furry Sasquatch with a note attached.
I’m sorry, but when I ran across this, I simply couldn’t resist. Can’t wait to see you.
Yours,
Drew
Jenna looks on with a smirk. “Do I dare ask?” She reaches for my new fuzzy friend as I still laugh.
“Oh, god, I’m not sure you want to know.”
“Right. Like you’re getting out of this one.”