“Fuck!” There’s a lot of commotion as Alex is now fighting his way out of bed. “Are you okay?”
I let out a loud groan. “I think I bruised my tailbone.”
“Jesus fucking Christ!”
He picks me up and off the floor as if I weigh as much as a feather. He places me gently onto the edge of the bed and leans back, assessing me from head to toe.
“You could’ve split your head open.”
I bring a hand up to my head, my fingers automatically going to the back, searching for blood even though there’s no chance of it.
“That was a little funny,” I snicker. “I wish I wasn’t in such a hurry. I’d love to laugh about it.”
The muscles in his chest flex as he moves, making me wish we had even more time than just to laugh.
“Can I call you later?”
There is so much hope on his face when he asks, my chest tightens from the sudden pressure I feel there.
“You’re still blocked,” I whisper before I can think better of it.
His eyes go side to side as they take me in, maybe expecting me to say that I’m only joking. When I don’t, his face becomes a blank mask of subdued understanding.
“Maybe we can meet up somewhere more neutral,” I suggest.
I have no idea what I am doing here, or what the purpose of us seeing each other again would be, but I feel like I will regret it if I don’t do it.
Alex’s eyes widen in hope. “My friends are having a get together. Come with me. It’ll be fun.”
“I…”
Hanging out with his friends was never a top priority of mine. I never got to know them well enough to actually like them very much. I didn’t think they liked me very much either, so I purposely kept my distance.
“It will be fun.” Alex is more animated now. “All their girlfriends are going to be there, too. You’ll love them.”
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I think things over. I don’t want to say yes. When I suggested us meeting somewhere more neutral, I didn’t mean right in the middle of his social group. How would that be neutral?
“I have a crazy work schedule,” I finally say. “I wouldn’t have time to attend any dinner parties.”
I push at his shoulders until he moves out of the way, and I am able to stand up. I pull at the hem of my T-shirt, needing to put some space between us. Without another word, I march out of the bedroom and walk into the bathroom. I turn the shower on, and, as I wait for the water to warm up, I cover my hair with a cap because there’s no way I have time to wash it.
The actual process of washing up is on warp speed. The water is lukewarm, and by the time I am done and ready to get out, my teeth are chattering. I dry myself up as fast as possible, moisturize and brush my teeth before marching out of the bedroom, ready to get dressed and start my day.
“Jesus.”
I jump at hearing Alex’s groan. He is sitting on my bed, in only his boxer briefs, running his eyes over my naked body. I’ve never been shy about it, and it’s not like he hasn’t seen it all, but this feels somewhat wrong.
Deciding to play it cool, I wink at him. “Maybe next time.”
The smirk he gives me makes me realize that my words imply us repeating last night, or the time before when he showed up at my door.
“What time do you get off work on Friday?” He is smart not to pounce on my comment but rather redirect the conversation.
I yank a clean pair of panties from the dresser drawer. “It doesn’t matter what time I get off on Friday because I’ll be going to bed early.”
“Why?” He stares at me in bewilderment.
“Because I have to be up early on the next morning.”
