“I’m on my period,” she admits, both embarrassed and daring me to make a comment she can chew me out over.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, trying not to show how relieved I am. “Are yours really bad?”
“No, but…Maybe you’re a lot more adventurous than I am, but I have no interest in…whatever. I should be done by Tuesday—not that I….If you still want to…pick up what we were doing, we could do it then. Absolutely no pressure.”
She’s nervous and rambling and it would be cute and make me smile, but I don’t like her uncertainty one bit.
“Is Anna there?”
“She’s not interested.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Are you alone tonight?” I rephrase.
“Yes,” she says after a slight hesitation.
“Can I come over?”
“Why?” She looks confused.
“Because I haven’t seen you in weeks and we had plans.”
“I’d feel gross?—”
“No sex,” I say quickly. “Or blow jobs or whatever you’re thinking. We can keep it PG. I won’t even touch you unless you ask nicely.”
“That doesn’t sound very F?—”
“Sometimes the friends is also the benefit,” I cut her off. “Not gonna lie, I really enjoy having sex with you. You’re like, my favorite thing to do,” I tease, because it’s not like I can tell her she’s the best sex I’ve ever had without admitting too much, but she definitely is. “But I also really enjoy spending time with you. It was a rough week, and I just want to kick back and relax with a drink and…you,” I say, very aware that this is, in fact, not how I treat my other friends.
“I missed you too,” she says with a nervous smile that makes me laugh again.
“What do I bring?”
“Whatever you want to drink. I’ll microwave the macaroni and cheese with pulled pork. My cousin is a MasterChef with meat.”
“Sounds delicious. And just so you know, if ever you really did want to bail on me, writing is a far better excuse than homework. I wouldn’t question it, because I never want to stand in the way of your dreams.” I clear my throat, because that was way too cheesy.
“Good to know.”
“See you soon,” I say, and I truly can’t wait.
Chapter Forty-Two
Savannah
Challenge Accepted
I grab a quick shower, then put on yoga pants and an oversize over the shoulder t-shirt just as I hear a knock on my door, meaning someone else buzzed Noah into the building.
“I’m sorry you lost,” I blurt out once it’s open, but I barely have time to notice his outfit, or how he smells like soap and spice, before Noah takes me in his arms, lifting my feet off the ground and everything.
“Maybe I missed you a bit,” he says into my hair after putting me down.
I give myself a few seconds to enjoy the hug, but it takes many more before my heart calms down and I back away.
“Dinner’s almost ready.” I take his drinks and put as many as I can in the fridge, but I pour one into a glass for him.
“How was your break?”
