I stand there and lean my head against the door, cheesing like a schoolgirl. Just like I did when I was fifteen, looking at those same brown eyes.
“Well, you’re right, I absolutely would have wallowed all day long.” I laugh, waving him in.
He passes me a white paper cup. “I figured something dark and hot would do you better than regular drip coffee would today.” I raise my eyebrows as he walks by, heading right into the kitchen.You’re dark and hot and can do me.Shaking my head and closing the door, I turn to find Harley taking groceries out of a white sack. “Biscuits and gravy, huh?” I say as I enter my kitchen.
He looks at me, hands on the edge of the counter. “Is that okay? I know you’ve always raved about your dad’s gravy, and it won't be as good,” he blows out quickly, “but I assumed it is a comfort food.”
I smile, putting the cup to my lips. “That sounds perfect.”
He grabs a couple of pans from the dish drainer on the counter, and gets to work chopping the onions and prepping the sausage.
After a few minutes, I become obscenely aware that I'm standing here in my robe.Shit.
“Hey, I never got a chance to shower last night before I knocked out. Are you good here while I take a quick shower and get some clean clothes on?” I ask, barely looking at him. I’m not embarrassed, but the thought of being naked with Harley just in the other room sends flutters through my belly and a tightening in my core.
“Yeah, all good here, I know my way around the kitchen. Get comfy, I brought Twilight, Harry Potter, and Step Brothers,” he says as one side of his mouth perks up into a smile. I couldn’t have stopped my smile if my life was dependent on it.
Racing to my room, I close the door quickly. Pulling the robe and shirt off, I toss it onto the bed and shove my sweats to the ground. I grab a claw clip and swirl my hair on top of my head. I just washed it yesterday so just a quick body wash should suffice. I probably should clean up my legs and my downstairs lawn.Not that anything is going to happen or anything, but just in case.I turn the water to my normal heat setting and hop in. I moved back months ago, but haven’t been looking for anything in a romantic sense, so “pruning the lawn” has been low on my priority list. Until this very moment.Again, just in case.I cut myself twice, once on the shin and once on the ankle. I don’t have time to exfoliate, so I will absolutely get razor burn, but hey, at least it will appear that I’m not against getting laid.
Pulling my towel from the hook outside the shower, I wrap it around my body. I sit there for a minute and hear the faint notes of music coming from the kitchen and smile to myself.
My phone vibrates on the counter, and I see my best friend Ensley is calling.Oh hell. Atlas must have called her.I answer the call and put it on speaker, ensuring the volume is all the way down.
“BITCH!” Ensley’s voice echoes through the bathroom. “Harley!!!”
“Ensley, shut the fuck up, im in the bathroom and its echoing.” I quickly try to get her to quiet down.
“Oh, shit, sorry babe. You sick after last night?" She taunts me.
“No. I was just getting a shower,” I tell her. Fuck, I may as well rip off the bandaid. “Harley brought over breakfast and I was feeling like death after last night.”
“Hold the fuck up,” she shushes me. “So he didn’t stay over?”
“No, he dropped me off, and I went to bed.”
I go through my face routine, opting out of a full face, but swipe on some clear mascara and my vanilla bean chapstick. Hiking my foot to rest on the drawer handle, I slather some cocoa butter lotion on my legs. I hate the feeling of pants on my legs after I shave, so I have to put on lotion and let it soak before I slip into my sweatpants.
“And then he shows up this morning with breakfast?” Ensley questions me.
“Yes, exactly that,” I tell her, rolling my eyes.
“So nothing happened?” She starts the real questions.
“We kissed on my doorstep, and then he got in his friend’s car and went home,” I tell her again.
“I can’t believe you didn’t bang him. You were head over heels for him forever,” she says, her tone full of surprise. I can actually see her standing there with her arms crossed, mouth turned down and eyebrow arched with surprise.
“Look, I have to hurry up, he’s probably done cooking and just eating by himself,” I tell her as I take down my hair, pulling my fingers through my waves and trying to give it a little volume. I find my cami with the built-in sports bra, my favorite black bookish sweatshirt, my cloud socks, and finally my light gray sweatpants. I choose the onesthat hug my ass just a little bit tighter than my others, and they have pockets.Need I say more?I grab my phone and slip on my BearPaw slippers.
“Wait, he’s cooking you breakfast in your own house before eight in the morning?” Ensley asks. “I’m not sure I believe he didn’t stay over. Anyway, you owe me a fucking call when he leaves. I need all the details, bitch.”
I laugh, my hand on the doorknob. “I promise, I'll call when he leaves.”
“K love you, byyyye.” Ensley squeals and then the phone goes dark after she hangs up.
I round the corner to the kitchen andRight Now by Akonis on, blaring. Harley is at the stove, back to me, singing along. “Cause you were my homie, lover, and friend…” and I cover my mouth to hide my laugh, leaning against the door frame. Harley whips around, spatula in hand, eyes wide.
“Ah fuck, Ember, you can’t sneak up on me like that.” He’s laughing, and stirring what I assume is the gravy.
