And I know why.
I’m under her skin, just like she’s crawled under mine.
The entire trip to the park and meeting her friend was unexpected but completely fitting of her at the same time. She is an enigma of a woman. She’s strong, stubborn, unpredictable, but above all else takes care of others. I saw it with Eve, I saw it with Amari, and I saw it tonight, when she went out of her way to feed a homeless man and his girlfriend.
But she won’t let me take care of her.
I’m tired of fighting myself every minute I’m around her, but if I push her, I know she’ll retreat, and I will lose the girl who has opened up to me tonight.
The hot water from the shower did not help my oldest friend to settle down. So, I took the time to think about her lips, her tongue, every part of her. And how when she finally lets me have it all, all the dirty things I plan to do. It doesn’t take long before I find release. Which is needed if I’m going to be a gentleman in bed with her, where she’s waiting for me on the other side of this door.
I turn off the shower and dry off. Dressing only in pajama trousers that I normally never wear. Preferably I would be sleeping naked, but I want to make her as comfortable as possible.
Then I step out.
And throw my head back, laughing.
She’s tucked in the corner of the bed, curled in a small space created with a pillow wall. And to top it off, she has the quilt pulled all the way up to her chin.
“Just so you don’t get any funny ideas,” she says, giving me a playful smirk.
If only she knew my ideas in the shower. Or maybe she does, and she’s smart to try and stop our connection.
When I slide into bed, I grab one of her pillows, bopping her on the head.
“I’m not the one that becomes a creepy crawly at night.” I like how she tries to play that it’s all me, she’s only fooling herself.
She gasps. “I do not.”
And wipes the smirk right off my face with a pillow to the head, trying to hide her smile in the process. Then swiftly stacks both pillows back in their allocated spot after her attack.
“You’re right.” I take the pillow behind my head and add it to the wall. “I hope this is enough to keep you from taking advantage of me again.”
I lay back on my crossed arms, happy to sleep just like this. I’d be happier her sleeping in my arms, but I have a feeling the pillow wall won’t make it through the night.
“Oh please, Mr. handsy. You wish.” She hops out of the bed, runs over to the corner chaise that she slept on the other night, and takes two large cushions from it.
When she returns, she stacks them high on the wall, but not very well, and they lean over to one side, almost smothering her.
“Now you can sleep in peace,” she says, muffled.
Surely that can’t be comfortable. I turn on my side and fix the wall so it’s steady and not threatening to collapse on her. But I also make a little hole to peek through. My eyes land on her back, her body turned away from me.
“I’m sorry about your friend,” I say, quietly.
Whether they were close or not, seeing a dead body and one that you were friends with, is rough.
She turns, and when she sees my head peeking through the small gap, her smile is all worth it. Cradling her head on her hands, she stares straight back at me, gazing into my eyes.
“Thank you.” Her voice sweet and sincere.
I could get used to nights like this, minus the fucking pillow wall of course.
“What about your friend, Ria? You wanna reach out to her now that you’re back?”
“I don’t know.” Her nose crinkles, and she chews her bottom lip, fighting with herself over something. “We didn’t leave things in a good place.”
I want to know more, so I don’t move, and wait for her to continue, slightly afraid of how this story will end. Lilly’s life has been just as colorful as mine, there’s nowhere that this life hasn’t touched and tainted.