“It’s uh, actually your brother.” Abby’s eyes widen and she puts her hand on her mouth before stalking up to me and hitting my forearm.
“Ford! You couldn’t have led with that before I just walked into your room?” She’s doing a whisper-yell thing and it’s cute as hell seeing her get all heated about it. Earlier when Chase asked if we could hear in each other’s rooms, I really don’t know if we can or not, but I’d imagine it’s not totally sound proof. She crosses her arms and turns to the window.
“You don’t have much of a view either,” she says as she looks out into the night. I’d have to disagree though, because seeing her in these little shorts, with her long legs tanned from the sun, I’d say I have the best view in the house. She turns around and faces me, both of us let out a little breath and I walk towards her and close the blinds.
I’m not really sure what’s going on between Abby and I. I know she’s the only girl I’ve thought about in weeks and since we had that first kiss in the elevator, I haven’t kissed anyone else, haven’t even glanced in another woman’s direction, actually.
My eyes follow Abby as she strolls around my room, like she’s taking inventory of the things I bring with me on away games.
“Cute key chain.” She giggles as she holds up the unicorn attached to my key ring. “Baker’s daughter made it for me. It’s mine, you can’t have it.”
Mason Baker is our punter, he has a shit ton of kids, white picket fence, and a wife–the whole nine yards. I give him shit sometimes about his picture perfect life, but truth be told, I think it’d be nice to have that one day down the road. Abby smiles as she places it back on the desk and sits on the bed.
Unable to take the distance between us anymore, my hand reaches for hers as I walk towards the bed,
“It’s good to see you,” I say.
She places her delicate hand into mine and as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, she stands and leans into my chest as I inhale her scent while we stand there just soaking in the moment with each other.
“I’m not sure what we’re doing, Ford. What this is…” She breaks our silence, but whispers as she says it.
“What, what is?”
“This, Ford. Us, hanging out randomly, texting, kissing, the… other stuff.” She pulls away slightly so she can look up at me, but she’s still holding her arms around my waist and I haven’t let her go yet either.
“It’s pretty obvious we’re attracted to one another. I just… I don’t know how to do anything half ass, and to me, casual sounds an awful lot like half ass.” I’m getting the idea she’s just working this out amongst herself, so I continue to just listen because honestly, I don’t really know what this is that we’re doing either.
“It’s just… you’re friends with my brother, for God sakes.” She fully steps out of my embrace and runs her hand through her hair and sits down on the bed.
“Plus my last…”
She shakes her head and cuts herself off before finishing that sentence and part of me wishes she wouldn’t have. It sounds like there’s something there, but I’m not going to pry.
“Hey.” I sit down next to her and let out a sigh before continuing. She’s leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, clearly having an internal battle with herself over whatever this is.
“You’re right. We’re obviously attracted to each other. I’m friends with Chase. You don’t do casual. I get it. But here’s what I know. I like being around you. I want to be around you and I’ll take it in whatever capacity you’re willing to give it.”
She sits up and looks at me, her green eyes look red and glossy, like she’s fighting back tears.
“It’s just… you’re so… I wish the situation was different.” This isn’t exactly how I thought seeing her tonight would go, but I guess one way or another, a conversation like this was bound to happen eventually.
As if she just had some kind of epiphany, Abby turns towards me and puts a hand on my thigh, and while I’m not complaining about the sudden contact, I’m a little taken back by it.
“Maybe we can figure something out… maybe I could do something casual. I’ve never actually tried and I-I can’t keep fightingwhatever this iswith you. I’m not able to explain it, but I’m drawn to you. So, let’s just… scratch the itch.”
I’m sorry, what did she just say?“Scratch the itch?”
I pull back to get a better look at her and she scrunches up her sunburnt nose and smiles softly. “Friends… with benefits. Secret friends with benefits?” She adds a questioning tone to the end of that sentence. I don’t say anything for a moment and she starts to turn her face away from me and get up.
“Oh my God, I’m sorry, that probably came off so rude.” I pull her back down and settle her into my lap, wrapping her in a hug.
“Secret friends with benefits. Okay. Any other rules?”
She bites her lip and tucks her hair behind her ear.
“Just fun. No feelings. And no one else. Can you do that?”
“Fun, good. Feelings, bad. Only Abby. Yeah, I think I can manage.”
