AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you,” she whispers.
It’s extremely disturbing to me that Will doesn’t realize this about herself. Surely, I can’t be the first person that’s told her. Does she just not believe it?
Over the years, I’ve met a few of the guys she’s dated, and I have to say, she was way out of their league. One dipshit even thought he was going to become a millionaire for “inventing” triangle shaped bread. I use the wordinventinglightly in this case, but nevertheless, triangle bread was going to be his claim to fame.
Another guy was the lead singer of a god-awful band. Will made us go to one of his shows. She and I were eighteen and twenty-one at the time. Hawk brought me and a few other people along, explaining the band wasn’t that popular yet and needed support. Upon listening to them, I understood why.
I’ve never really liked anyone she’s dated, always believing she could do better. I could never figure out if she dated these dipshits on purpose or genuinely saw something in them the rest of the world didn’t.
“Well, that sounds like fun,” I say. “Be sure to put a sock on your door if you need to.” I’m only teasing her, but as the words come out, the meaning behind them rubs me the wrong way. I’m fairly certain I would have to leave the apartment altogether if she brought a guy back here for a romp.
She laughs, not in a playful way, but more like what I’ve said is ridiculous to her. “Please,” she says. “I have a strict rule about only being pantless in front of one guy per day.”
Oh. My. God.I knew it. I swallow hard, attempting to hide equal parts curiosity and the warmth in my cheeks.
Who thought this whole roommate thing was a good idea?
FINE LINE
WILL
What in the actual hell is wrong with me? When Derek knocked this morning with an offer of breakfast, I swung my door open and forgot I wasn’t wearing pants. Luckily for me, the T-shirt I was wearing was ill-fitting and hung well past my lady goods.
Of course, at that point, I figured what the hell, and joined him for breakfast like that. Then, there were the compliments.I’m a catch. My date is a lucky guy. What?I’m sure he was only being nice. For as long as we’ve known each other, he’s always given me a hard time about the men I choose to date, so I’m not surprised. I imagine he means it in the most benign way, akin to how I mean it for Hawk or Drew or any of my friends. It doesn’t mean I want them.
Derek left the apartment for a little while, saying he needed to get some things from his storage unit and the store. Before he left, he asked if I needed anything and jokingly asked if I was all good on condoms, to which I flipped him off.
I spent a good chunk of my day doing laundry, cleaning up the house, and deciding what to wear tonight. Joe said we’re going to a show, so I don’t need anything particularly fancy. After settling on my outfit, I hop into the shower, where I try to wash off all my misplaced desire for another man and focus on getting into an open-minded head space for Joe.
Wrapping a towel around me, I comb through my hair, realizing it’s been a while since I did anything fun with it. Maybe I can make that a project for tomorrow. I pat my face and neck with moisturizer, running my hands down and over the tattoos on my chest, then sigh at my reflection before exiting the bathroom.
Why a sigh? I don’t really know. Honestly, I’ve been doing it so long, I barely stop to take notice. I think I sigh at myself likewelp, this is what you’ve got.
Except, I didn’t give any thought to whether or not Derek was back. And he is. And he’s in the hallway, having apparently just come out of his room. Derek stands between me and the door to my room and I find myself clutching the edges of my towel.
In the small space of the hall, his proximity feels nearly suffocating.
“Oh my god, I’m sorry,” I say. “I thought you were still gone.”
Reaching down, I clutch the bottom edges of the towel shut, making every attempt to make sure everything is covered.
Derek laughs, pressing his hand over his mouth but not diverting his gaze.
“Relax,” he says. “This isn’t any worse than a pantless breakfast.”
“Right, but I was at least wearing panties,” I reply.
Derek’s smile melts into a flat line, and his jaw tics slightly. “Were they lacy?” he asks.
What. The. Fuck. Did he just ask me that? Did Dr. Derek Tanner just ask me about my panties?The twelve-year-old girl inside me is screaming. Hell, the grown woman inside me is screaming. “Uhhh,” is all I can manage to say.
“I’m just teasing you.” He laughs, stepping to the side so I can get past.
Right. Just teasing. Why would I expect anything more?
Once inside the safety of my room, I lock the door and fling myself onto my bed, hair still wet. My towel falls slightly open, and I relish the rush of cool air hitting my skin. After that too-hot hallway moment, I’m in need of it.
I suppose…I suppose a little pre-date release wouldn’t be a terrible idea. It’s a normal practice, right? Of course, I doubt it’s ever a necessity to rid yourself of lustful thoughts of one man before going out with another.Wow, that sounds positively tramp-ish. I kind of like it.
