AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The next morning, Taryn stood on the roof and looked out over Griffith Park. It was always so beautiful, this time of the day. The sun was just barely coming up. She took a sip of her coffee.
A good night’s rest hadn’t provided her with any more perspective on how to handle things with Evan. She no longer cared that he was her landlord. She wanted him more intensely than she’d imagined possible. He’d been making guest appearances in her mind at the most inopportune times. Part of her wanted to fuck him just to get it out of her system, but rationally she knew it probably wouldn’t work that way.
She was turning around to head downstairs when the object of her thoughts opened the roof top door. He gave her a sleepy grin that set her pulse racing. Needing to get the hell out of there quickly, she said, “Morning,” as she edged toward the door.
“You’re up early,” he said.
“Same time every day,” she said. “Why are you up so early?”
“The plants.” Cocking his head to the side, he asked, “You’ve never been in to see the plants, have you?”
Momentarily pausing in her slow trek toward the door, she said, “No. I haven’t. I didn’t wanna just barge in there.”
“C’mon,” he said. “Let me show you.”
The greenhouse was about twenty feet by twelve. Not overwhelmingly large, but big enough that it was difficult to see the things in the center through the condensation. Too curious now, she followed him inside. She knew it would be humid, but she was surprised by how warm it was inside.
She felt a thin sheen of sweat start underneath the terry cloth of her robe as she followed him up the rows. He would periodically point to something and explain what it was. Listening to him talk about it, she was impressed that he’d picked so much up on his own.
She was leaned in, looking at a pair of sprouting seedlings when he turned and collided into her. One minute, she wobbled unsteadily and then his arm wrapped around her waist to steady her. When she turned around to face him, his hand drifted up to brush against her cheek. Before he made contact, he suddenly dropped his hand and stepped back, apparently thinking better of the move.
“I can’t keep doing this with you. This is driving me crazy,” she said on a shuddering sigh. “I’m glad you’re immune to it, but I’m not.”
He stared at her now, clearly torn. Finally, he said, “This is a bad idea.”
Pulling back from him, she said, “I’m going in
side.”
As she turned to walk out of the greenhouse, she added, “I want to be your friend, but I don’t know if I can be.”
He gave her a curt nod of agreement.
She closed the greenhouse door and left the rooftop. She hadn’t thought it possible, but she was more frustrated now than she had been when she’d come up here. She really didn’t think she could stand to be around him without wanting him desperately.
When she got back to her apartment, she immediately grabbed her cell phone. It was way too early but she needed to talk to someone about this or she was going to explode into a million tiny pieces.
Texting Cora, she asked, “You awake?”
A minute later, Cora responded, “I am now. Thanks. What’s up?”
“I’m going insane. Completely insane. Evan is driving me crazy,” she typed quickly.
“What’s wrong?” Cora asked.
“The sexual tension is too ridiculous. We almost just kissed in the greenhouse. He’s driving me batshit crazy,” Taryn complained.
“Why didn’t you? It’s clear you guys have a thing going.”
“He’s still being very stubborn about the whole landlord thing. I thought I could be friends with him, Cora. I can’t. Last night he gave me a hug and I almost lost it.”
“Over a hug?” Cora asked.
“He was shirtless.”
“Gotcha. I’d probably need a minute if I was pressed up against that shirtless chest, too,” Cora said.
“I don’t know what to do,” Taryn typed.
