Fin had changed out of his jeans and t-shirt and into black sweatpants and a different faded gray t-shirt that stretched tight over his biceps and broad chest. Apparently he wore contacts, because he put on black, square framed hipster glasses too and his hair was more tussled than when he left. He looked adorable. Not really like the intimidating college senior I was used to seeing, now he was this comfortable but gorgeous friend and I wanted more than anything to curl up on the coach with him and watch a movie with the lights off.
Something was wrong with me. I was suddenly embarrassed that he was ready for bed and I was still hanging around.
Fin studied me from across the room, as if he were trying to solve an impossible puzzle. Naturally this made me extremely fidgety because I had no idea what he was putting together in his head. I stood up and started gathering my things, stuffing my phone into my backpack.
“You don’t have to go just because I changed,” Fin said and when I looked up at him I wondered if he realized he was blocking the front door, blocking my quick escape.
“Fin, you’re in your pajamas,” I laughed.
He made a sound in the back of his throat like I offended him, “I don’t really call these pajamas.”
“Well, whatever they are. You can just ask me to leave when I’ve out stayed my welcome. I’m just trying to help you out.” I stated obviously. I shouldered my backpack and moved across the living room.
“You haven’t,” Fin said quickly. “I mean, you don’t have to leave.”
I gave him a patronizing smile. Surely he had homework to do, or just wanted to be alone. We spent the last five hours together; even I was ready to get away from myself. “Don’t you have to get up early for your track workout?”
Ignoring me, Fin gestured to his couch, “We could watch a movie.”
I shivered involuntarily at the sound of his low voice and suggestion. He was just offering a movie, I had already started imagining him pinning me down on the couch and taking my mouth as hungrily as he had before.
It was time to go.
“It’s alright, we should probably try to avoid friendship as much as possible.” I shrugged.
Fin stayed quiet but in my way as he digest my words. The rugged planes of his face seemed to sharpen and his lips twisted into a dark smirk. His expression was sensual,pure sex,and I couldn’t even pretend not to be effected. I fell into it, mesmerized by this gorgeous boy that was focusing all his carnal attention on me.
“I think avoiding friendship between us is a good idea.” The innuendo was clear and for some reason that embarrassed me.
I wasn’t used to all this flirting. I felt like I could barely keep up with him. Teasing was easy, avoiding, ignoring and being rude, also easy; but trying to keep it together while he threw out sexy suggestions or blatantly made out with me was too much. I was way out of my league.
Besides, I didn’t trust that Fin wanted anything more than his money. He was just used to flirting, to more than flirting; he was used to girls who would give him whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.
So, with all those thoughts tumbling around my brain I came back with a very witty, “Yeah, Ok.”
At least I didn’t snort. “See you Thursday, Fin.” I gave him a platonic smile that seemed to wipe some of the sex appeal off his face and tried to walk around him.
I took a step forward and Fin shocked me to death by pulling me into a hug. He murmured something against my hair, but I couldn’t make it out since my brain was still reeling from our close contact. Slowly I relaxed- after, I realized he wasn’t going to throw me up against another wall- and returned the hug.
His body responded immediately to my willingness and he pulled me closer against his chest. His arms wrapped around me, one tight against my lower back so that I had to lean up on my tippy toes and one across my shoulders. I felt tiny in his embrace, itty bitty compared to his long, muscled frame. But at the same time we fit together easily, like pieces of the same puzzle.
I shook my head against his neck, trying to get those thoughts of familiarity out of my head. For Fin, being anything but friends meant something entirely different to a girl like me. He was charming me, showing me bits and pieces of him I wasn’t emotionally ready to know. And at the end of this all I would be was a hot make out and an uncollected debt.
I gave myself five more sEconds in his arms, inhaling his aftershave and mouthwash. Embarrassingly I closed my eyes against the heady scent. God, this felt too good. But at the end of the five sEconds I wiggled out from his arms and just to put my own thoughts and feelings back where they belonged I punched his bicep.
Hard.
“Ow!” he groaned, as shocked as I was that I hit him.
I didn’t actually know why I hit him; I just needed to separate myself completely from the girl that was just wrapped up so contentedly in Fin’s arms, to the girl that just punched him.I was losing my mind.
I let out a nervous burst of laughter so embarrassed that I was such a social spaz. “Sorry!” I squeaked and let my head fall into my hands. My shoulders started shaking uncontrollably as I laughed hysterically at myself.
“Why did you hit me?” he demanded, but I could hear the amusement in his voice.
“I better go,” I ignored his question when I had finally gotten ahold of myself. “I’ll see you Thursday.”
“Are you and Britte going to run anymore in the mornings?” he asked while I stepped around him.Just three more feet to the door. I was almost there.“Because I like to do my workouts then. I could meet you. Jameson and Charlie don’t really like to run in the mornings. I could use a partner. Or, uh, partners.”
