“Woah, Riley. You’re uncharacteristic freak out is freaking me out,” Maysie said, looking unsure as to whether she should venture into my bedroom.
I watched with dread as understanding dawned on her face. “Garrett’s coming over,” she stated. When I didn’t answer she clapped her hands together like a seal and made a loud whooping noise.
“Ugh. Okay. You guessed it. Garrett’s coming over and my panties are officially in a bunch,” I told her with a healthy dose of scathing sarcasm.
“Come on, Riley. This is Garrett we’re talking about here. You’ll be lucky if he remembered to wear matching socks. No sense in getting so worked up about it,” she placated. But I wasn’t feeling the calm down vibes.
I couldn’t explain why I was so nervous. Maysie was right. Garrett was the most laid back person I knew. But this was different. This was the beginning of something new. Garrett and I were finally walking together into that place we had been dancing around since that night all those months ago when I had woken up naked and mortified in his bed.
Maysie’s face softened and she came in and gave me a hug. “I’ve never seen you like this, Riley. It’s so damn cute,” she couldn’t help but add. I gave her a punch on the arm, and none too lightly. She winced around a smile.
The doorbell rang and she looked at me, a mischievous twinkle in her eye and took off running for the front of the apartment. I took off after her.
“I will kick your ass, Maysie Ardin! Don’t think I won’t!” I threatened, practically tackling her as she reached the door.
“I just want to let him in. Give him the safe sex talk, oh wait. Too late for that one,” she joked, clearly pleased with herself.
I groaned and reached around her to open the door and wished I could run for the hills. Because Garrett was on the doorstep, with Jordan. Both of them were carrying bags of food and Jordan held a couple of movies. Obviously our “alone time” was turning into a double date.
But Garrett…he looked amazing. I did a double take when I finally took him in. His hair was pushing back off his face and his eyes were bright and lucid. He wore a faded but comfortable pair of jeans and button up tan and green plaid shirt, tucked in I might add, and rolled up to his elbows. He had traded in his customary Vans for a brown pair of Dr. Martins.
I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face and I forgot all about sharing our night with Maysie and Jordan. All I cared about was this guy standing in my doorway with a shy smile on his uncertain face.
His eyes raked me from toe to head and he clearly liked what he saw. “You look beautiful, Ri,” he said with such intensity that it made me blush.
“You clean up pretty well yourself,” I told him, wishing he’d reach out and touch me already.
“You both look downright fuckable. Now, move Riley, this bag is heavy,” Jordan complained, pushing passed me so he could suck on his girlfriend’s face before heading to the kitchen.
I looked over my shoulder at Maysie who gave me an apologetic smile. “I didn’t know you wanted the apartment. I invited Jordan for dinner and a movie. He’s staying over. Is that okay? Because if it’s a problem, we can go out.” She sounded so worried that I couldn’t tell her what I was really thinking. Which was, hell yeah, get out!
“Nooo,” I dragged out. “It’s fine. I just hope you don’t expect us to sit through another round of The Notebook,” I warned, closing the door behind Garrett who seemed awkward standing in my living room.