I nod, pulling her into me for a hug. She nestles against my chest like it’s exactly where she belongs.
“Can I be honest?” I clear my throat, still holding her, and she nods against my chest.
“I like our relationship at work—and as friends too—and I never want to put you in a bind, but I know I want more. If the options were to be only your friend or be the love of your life, you know I’m going to choose the latter. Every time.”
Her head pulls away from my chest and she looks up at me, brow creasing and lips parted.
“The love of my life, huh?” Her lips pull together, trying to stifle a smile. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Her words are broken by pauses between them. Like she’s trying to wrap her head around the fact that I genuinely want her.
“Now I’m the one who doesn’t want to come on too strong,” I joke, taking a step back so we’re face to face. “But…yeah. It isn’t a question for me, I wouldn’t need to think about what I want. It’s really your call how we move forward from all of this. You want this to be it? I’ll be bummed, but I respect it. Want to keep doing this in private, my lips are locked.” I shrug. “I promise, Dem, this is all you.”
Sometimes I look at Demi and think she’s never actually been properly loved. Never been wholeheartedly chosen. Never been able to confidently feel secure in a relationship. And it makes my hatred for her ex grow stronger every time.
“I think I like kissing you…” she whispers across the space between us.
I smirk, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “Oh, I know you like kissing me.”
“I need to stop complimenting you, it’s only growing your ego.” She sighs with an eye roll, and I approach her again, pressing my lips to the top of her head like it’s the most natural response.
“Can I see you tomorrow?” I ask.
Her cheeks perk up, and I see those dimples as she nods with a smile.
“Yes.”
She grabs her things and turns toward the door. I follow behind and reach my hand to the doorknob before she can, pulling it open for her.
“Get some rest, Dem.” I lean against the doorframe as she walks into the hallway and stretch my neck to watch her leave.
She looks over her shoulder mid stride. “You too, Twelve.”
Practice today fired me up. Although that’s not entirely new. I’m a sucker for a rivalry game and that’s exactly what we have coming up on Sunday night. A prime-time home game against a team we always battle hard with? Sign me the fuck up.
I sent Demi a text this morning before practice and then didn’t check my phone until coming back into the locker room to change. A boyish grin spreads over my face when I see there isn’t just one, but two missed texts from her.
Girl of my dreams
Thank you for the chocolate chip cookies at my door this morning.
I appreciate that you feed into my obsession with sweets.
After she left yesterday, I did a quick grocery order and added some snacks I thought might be a good idea to have on hand for her if there’s a possibility she’ll be hanging out more. The pre-cut cookie dough looked like an easy enough thing to throw in the oven, so I grabbed a few packs of those and putsome in a Tupperware this morning. It was really a fifty-fifty shot she hadn’t left for the day yet, but most people aren’t out their door before seven in the morning like I am, so I figured I was in the clear.
I was in the neighborhood
Girl of my dreams
Is that so?
There’s more where that came from.
Girl of my dreams
Oh really?
Yep, kitchen is stocked.
Girl of my dreams
