Awkward Love (Stumbling into Love 2)

It was then that my brain caught up with me. It surprised me because I was smart. I knew that, but when it came to social stuff, it was like I hadn’t caught up, but I was there now, at least in that moment, and Will had just said he liked me, he thought I was cute, I intrigued him, and he stayed up all night thinking about me.

“Okay, what’s the smile for?” he asked.

Oh, I was smiling? “Nothing.” I shook my head.

“Yeah, sure. I believe that.” He let go of my hands, and I missed the touch instantly. “Anyway, the coffee smells great. I’d love some, and I think we should talk, but my bladder is about to explode, and I could use some mouthwash or something, so…”

“Yeah, shit. Okay. I have an extra toothbrush. A new extra one, not one I’ve used before. It’s in a package and everything.” It’s in a package and everything? God, I was a lost cause.

He grinned. “Glad to hear that.”

“Be nice. I’m embarrassed enough.”

“You don’t need to be,” he replied as I led him to the hall bathroom.

“I’ll go grab the toothbrush.”

I went to the en suite in my room, trying to be chill as I grabbed a new toothbrush, toothpaste, and a washcloth for him in case he needed it.

Will was waiting for me where I’d left him. I handed the stuff over, and the second the door was closed, I ran to my phone, fumbling it with shaky hands, and typed out a text to Kira. He’s here, he stayed the night because he wanted to make sure I was okay and slept some in my room and then on the couch and he heard everything in the bathroom now brushing his fucking teeth in my house which makes it sound like he’s my boyfriend or something and yes I know I didn’t use punctuation at the end of my sentences and I don’t care gotta go bye

I put my phone on silent so I wouldn’t hear the alert when Kira replied…and waited. Just stood there in the middle of my kitchen like, well, I didn’t know, a guy who stood in his kitchen. About five minutes later Will came out, looking more refreshed than I felt.

“Can I have some coffee?” he asked.

“Yeah, sure. Sorry.” I handed him a mug. “Do you like flavored creamer? I only have Snickers. Kira thinks it’s gross, which makes me tell her she’s gross. We’re like siblings in that way, and I’m rambling again.”

He put a finger to my lips, and I squeaked. “It’s okay. And Snickers is my favorite.”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes it is. How could you know?”

So he was right about that, but I couldn’t believe we had the same favorite creamer. It was meant to be.

I got it out of the fridge, grabbed the sugar, and we each made our cup how we liked it.

“Can we sit on the couch? Let’s sit on the couch,” he said, and I nodded. Luckily, my hands weren’t shaking, which was a plus. We walked over, and I set my mug on a coaster on the coffee table. Will took a drink of his, then set it down as well. “So…you’re a virgin.”

“Welp! Would you look at the time. I have to go to work.”

He put a hand on my knee. “Where do you work?”

“I don’t actually…have a job. That was a lie. And I also sound like a spoiled brat because I don’t work, but I’ve done a lot of volunteering and working with my professors in undergrad. With graduate school coming, I just—”

“I kind of want to shut you up with my mouth, but I don’t want you to punch me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t. Punch you, I mean. But, really?” Did rambling weirdo do it for him? Was I Will’s strange kink? It could be worse.

“Yeah, but I won’t, and I probably shouldn’t have started with the virgin thing. It just surprised me, is all. Why?”

“Because I’m me?” I replied. When he frowned, I added, “Does a person need a reason to be a virgin? It’s basically just because I haven’t had sex. My virginity isn’t something I’ve actively tried to keep or lose. I spend my time with Kira and Ali, and we’re definitely not having sex. I’ve been busy with school, and at first I didn’t care to date, and then I did, but I just didn’t do anything about it.”

“You’re right. It’s so different from what I’m used to. But you want to? Now?” he asked, and I could feel my eyes widening. “Not right this second. Christ, Mumbles.”

Apparently the name was sticking.

“I meant, you mentioned a summer fling and having sex and wanting me to be that guy, so I’m trying to see what it is we’re talking about here.”

I sighed. This was not a conversation I ever saw myself having, but I was here and, well, I did want it to be Will, so I went for it. “The whole thing was Ali and Kira’s idea. They forced me into this stupid pact about making this a great summer and doing all the things we wanted to do—me specifically before I’m in graduate school. My life will be crazy busy, so it’s like this is my last chance.”