It’s early Saturday morning when I finally stir. I awake feeling far too warm, craving water, and, oddly enough, finding myself squinting at the sunlight that’s streaming in through the windows. It takes me a moment to absorb the fact that there’s finally some sun, and it takes me even longer to realize that the apartment is dead silent for the first time in days. Silent, because there’s no rain. No hammering on the windows, no pitter-patter of raindrops.
Rubbing at my eyes, I yawn and push away the blanket, which is close to suffocating me. The heat is almost unbearable, and I toss the blanket as far across the room as I can. It lands next to Snake and Emily’s couch, but they’re too deep in slumber to notice. The TV has shut itself off and I can still smell the Chinese food from last night. Carefully, I lift my head, my neck stiff, and steal a glance to my left. I’m hoping to see Tyler still fast asleep, because the few times I’ve seen him sleeping, he’s looked adorable. But he’s not there. He’s not next to me. All I’m faced with is the indentation my body has left in the leather of the couch.
I’m suddenly wide awake. I get to my feet immediately as my eyes flit around the apartment. They finally settle on the clock over on the kitchen wall by the refrigerator. It’s almost 8AM.
I start to wonder if perhaps Tyler moved through to his room during the night, perhaps too uncomfortable on the couch and craving a comfy mattress, but just as I’m thinking about checking his room, the bathroom door creaks open.
Tyler wanders out into the kitchen, nothing but a towel around his hips. It’s while he’s running a hand back through his damp hair that he notices my stare. Instantly he freezes and a flash of panic crosses his face, but then it disappears just as quickly.
“I didn’t know you were awake,” he says. Nervously, his eyes glance everywhere but me, and he turns to throw open the refrigerator.
“I didn’t know you were either,” I murmur, but I’m not entirely focused on my words. Instead, my attention is all on Tyler’s body as he rummages around inside the refrigerator for something. My throat feels dry as I slowly run my eyes over him.
It’s so obvious now that he’s been working out a lot, because there’s certainly been a huge progression from what I can remember. Everything is so much more defined. Like his arms, which are bulky but not too massive, and his abs, which are tight and visible. I even find myself wondering if he ever had V-lines before. They really stand out, unbelievably sharp, drawing my eyes straight to the edge of the towel around his waist. Suddenly feeling guilty, I gulp and try my best to look away, but it takes a lot of effort. By now I think my cheeks are tinted with red.
“Thank God the rain has stopped,” I splutter.
“Yeah,” Tyler says. He shuts the refrigerator door, a protein shake now in his hand. “If I had to watch all the Harry Potter movies again for the third time I think I’d go insane, so I was thinking that we can finally head out today. You’ve barely seen half of Manhattan yet.”
“I’ll go anywhere,” I say. “I just need to get outside. I might even go for a run. You know, around the reservoir in Central Park.”
Tyler looks doubtful and I can’t figure out why he’s looking at me the way he is, but then he rubs the back of his neck and shrugs. “Your mom said she’d kill me if I let you loose in the city on your own.”
“I’m eighteen, Tyler,” I remind him, sighing. I’m not surprised, though. My mom’s always been overprotective, even more so now than she was before. “It’s only a couple blocks away. She’ll never know.”
He laughs and rolls his eyes at me. “Just be back before lunch.” Playfully, he nudges his bare body against my shoulder as he passes, and my body tingles. Any day now, I won’t be able to stop myself from kissing him.
It’s even more tempting when we both end up in his room: me to fetch my running gear, and him to get dressed. I grab my stuff as fast as I can and awkwardly scramble out of the room before I can suffer from anymore inappropriate thoughts, and I dart into the bathroom. I’m ready to go within five minutes, and once I’ve filled a bottle of water at the faucet, I set off, promising Tyler that I’ll definitely return.