AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before I can respond, Roxie jumpsin again. “Oh, he offered, but I wouldn’t let him.”
That seems to satisfy Dad.
****
Roxie and I are alone in the guestsuite. I’ve always liked the space. The door opens into a sittingregion with a couple of armchairs, a small table, and some chestdrawers. Further to the left is a king-size bed with twonightstands next to floor-to-ceiling windows that face the streetand are covered in heavy curtains. On the wall near the foot of thebed is the door that leads to the bathroom.
“Why did you let him think we’retogether?” I ask.
“I don’t know, all right?” Herarms flail over her head. “I panicked. With him putting you down, Ijust felt so protective of you—”
“Okay, Okay, it’s not a big deal.I can sleep on the floor. You can have the bed. It’s gonna befine.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’tsleep on the floor for two nights.”
“Then I will go and tell my fatherthis is all a big misunderstanding.”
“Is there any way this ends withyou not feeling even more like shit than you do now?”
“No. Not a fucking chance.”
“That’s what I thought. Listen,Chris. The bed is huge. Huge! And we’re both adults. We can stuffsome blankets between us if you want. It’ll be fine.”
I run my fingers through my hair.This is going to be torture. I don’t understand how she’s so calmabout all of it. I can barely stand to spend a couple of hoursaround her without imagining I’m pinning her to a wall and I’veresigned myself to pretty much a perpetual semi-boner around myfriend. But actually being with her alone, in a bedroom, with heractually sleeping next to me? Fuck my life. Seriously.Fuck. My. Life.
“What? What’s wrong, Chris?” Shemust see my pained expression.
“Nothing.”
“Stop it. Stop deflecting. Justtell me what’s going on.”
“Can we talk about it later? Ineed to go to the bathroom right now.”
“Yeah, of course,” she says andlets me pass.
I don’t need to go to thebathroom, but I need to get away from her. I run the water in thesink and lean onto the rim, trying to collect myself. I shouldn’thave brought her with me. When we’re in Madison, it’s easy for meto escape to my place, lock the door, and take care of myself, butwhat am I supposed to do here? I can’t hide from her. Twofucking nights.
Better to be proactive thanreactive, I suppose. I jump in the shower and rub out a quick,furious one, thinking about the feel of her nipples between myteeth.
I feel a little better once I’mdone, but then I realize I stupidly didn’t take any of my clotheswith me into the bathroom. I dry myself thoroughly with one of thebig bath towels and wrap it around my waist. I pick up my strewnclothes from the bathroom floor and walk out to face the music.
Roxie is on her phone, lying fullyclothed on the left side of the bed, next to the window. Shefocuses her eyes on me and her mouth drops open. I don’t thinkshe’s aware of it, but I can see the tip of her tongue wetting herlips, as her eyes move all over my body. Shit. This is nothelping me not get hard again.
“I’m sorry I jumped in,” I say. “Iwasn’t being a good host. I just felt disgusting from the flightand needed a shower.”
“No complaints from me,” Roxiesays under her breath.
“It totally slipped my mind tobring clothes with me. I’m sorry if you’re uncomfortable.” I walkto the other side of the room, where we dropped our luggage when wearrived.
“I’m not uncomfortable,” she saysand gets up. She stands between the window and the bed, looking atme.
She’s backlit so I can’t see hereyes, but I can see the outline of her shoulders moving as shetakes rapid, shallow breaths.
Fuck. My. Life.
“Roxie…” I whisper and walk towardher. The bed is the only thing between us and the air suddenlyfeels thick.
She lets out a big sigh and looksaway. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”
