AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I did say I would stop by today to grab my sweatshirt, so it's not out of the realm of possibility to see her twice within twenty-four hours. Notthat seeing her will take the strain off, but it might satisfy some kind of need for a day or two. Fuck, I am dying to touch her. Who am I kidding? There's no way in hell I will be able to keep my distance if I am around her again.
But I guess that is a chance I am willing to take. It's the middle of the morning. I know she has already opened Thornes In Bloom. I wonder if she got any sleep, or if her mind was just as busy as mine this morning. My jeans lay draped over the chair in the corner of my bedroom, only worn once and perfectly acceptable to wear once again. Moving around my bedroom focusing on getting ready for the day seems to relax the blood flow, redirecting it and allowing my head to clear. Once my cock deflates, I zip my pants the rest of the way.
There's a coffee shop two stores over from where Delaney is and I wonder if she drinks coffee now. She never did when we were growing up, but they say adults find a taste for that shit as they get older. Except for me, because I sure as hell don't like the stuff. I feel weird showing up empty handed. I hope they have pastries there or something, everyone loves carbs the day after a night of drinking.
I shoot a text off to Carina while I wait in line at The Sunrise Cafe.
I hope you are feeling better ... we should talk when you're feeling up to it.
It's ominous but I don't know how else to tell her we need to talk without literally saying that. I want to do this right and I know I can't let things continue with how I still feel about Delaney, regardless of if she feels the same about me.
When it's my turn, I order two chocolate croissants to go and almost get Delaney a coffee but decide against it. Coffee people are particular about their brew and I would hate to offend her with whatever I choose off the menu.
I crunch the top of the bag in my hand, pushing out of the door and listening to the jingle from above me signal my exit.
The door to Thornes In Bloom is propped open, the sweet smell of flowers radiating from inside. A chalkboard sign is propped on the sidewalk outside.
I love it when you call me big poppy.
Wow, this girl has my whole stupid fucking heart. My lips are pulled into a smile as I walk through the door and instantly freeze. I can hear Bryn's voice carrying through the shop, and if I'm not mistaken, they are talking about what happened last night. Neither of them noticed when I walked in and I plan to keep it that way as long as possible.
"How was that the first time he saw your lady business? You guys were hot and heavy back in high school!"
At this moment, I wish I wasn't holding a noisy bag of pastries because this is not the conversation I thought I was eavesdropping on. Though, in my defense, I didn't sneak in here. I walked in just like any other patron could have. Which means anyone in Elysian could have heard the two of them talking about our sex life.
Though I suppose there isn't a ton to tell. We were young and some things we only got to do once. Delaney and I fooled around, of course, but it was usually hiding in the basement from my brothers and parents, which means clothes typically stayed on and hands barely wandered fromwhere they were allowed in case we got caught. That being said, she got my dick out of my pants only a handful of times, no pun intended. But seeing her bare for me last night, experiencing her body without the fear of being caught or the dim lighting of a basement, was beyond anything we got to do back then.
"I don't know, Bryn. Maybe because I hated my body and made him keep the lights off. He was my first boyfriend and the first guy to see all of me and the last thing I wanted was for that to be ruined by my lack of confidence. I could be confident if he couldn't see anything."
Their shared laughter reaches me where I am crouched down pretending to tie my shoe and reciting the mantra my brother taught me growing up: Batman was in his secret cave when it collapsed. Quickly, he jumped into the Batmobile, drove around the block, and parked in Robin's cave to create a plan.
"Meanwhile I was slutting it up with the football team. Not all of us can find crazy love when we are fourteen. Give me a break." There's a pause and I wonder if Delaney's eyes have that wandering look to them. She used to get these far off, dreamy stares when she was trying to make a decision. She has always been impulsive, so they never last long.
"And not all of us can shatter that crazy love either. Ugh, I can't think about this right now. Can I lie and say you are my colleague so you can come with me to this venue walkthrough thing? I could use an emotional support Bryn."
I can picture Delaney's emerald eyes looking up at Bryn pleading to have her way. It works on me everytime.
"Nope." Bryn pops the p in her single word response. Clearly, she is immune. "I have plans and you, my dear, are going to put on your big girl pants and crush it. And while you're at it, forget Colton Reeve. You guys are different now, at least I know you are. In the magical words of Dumbledore:it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
"That is the worst quote from Albus ever. I'm a little disappointed in you, not gonna lie. You just told your best friend not to dream, while she is literally standing in her biggest dream. Get outta here, you need coffee or something."
"I still can't believe you're upright after last night. You're hardcore. Can't wait to hear how your meeting goes. And oh, are we still on for Friendsgiving?" Shuffling feet make their way closer to where I am standing near the door, so I shift myself around the display to avoid being seen. It's one thing for Delaney to talk about me, it's quite another for me to show up here. But it's for a good reason. She has my favorite sweatshirt and I had to get it back.
"Yeah, I have it in my calendar. I can't wait to break out my stuffing pants!"
"Just promise you won't ruin Friendsgiving with all this shit about Colton, okay? Friendsgiving is supposed to be an escape from our family drama dinner tables."
"Speaking of family, I told Darren and Ella they are invited, too, but they didn't give me an answer yet. I will talk to Carina soon about Colt, I promise."
"I mean it from my heart, I love you both and don't want to see anyone get hurt. Except maybe Colton, but that's just an added bonus."
"He didn't do anything to deserve to be hurt, Bryn. Don't say shit like that. We are all adults now, we will figure this out." Delaney finishes her sentence with a sigh, as if trying to convince herself of the words she just said.
"Alright boys, everyone needs to use their best manners. Delaney is coming for dinner and she deserves to have a civilized meal while she is here. Forks are mandatory, got it?"
"Yes Mom," the three of us reply in unison, our dad adding his 'yes dear' from the next room over. We all share a laugh.
The doorbell rings right on cue. I loosen my shirt on my way to the door. It is tucked in per my mother's request, and I don't untuck it fully, but let it drape a little more over my waistband.
