The Trouble With Falling

“Hartley doesn’t want a relationship.”

“She might have said that, but I don’t think she means it. Not anymore.”

“She hasn’t said anything to me that makes me think that she’s changed her mind.”

Patrick sighs on the other end of the line and I glance back up at Hartley’s apartment door.

“Listen, Eli, Hartley doesn’t seem like the kind of girl to sleep with someone that she doesn’t have feelings for. Besides, I’ve seen the way she looks at you. It’s time for you to man up and get your girl. Just admit that you want her too.”

“I don’t,” I argue and he sighs again.

“Whatever you say. Now, I’m going to go explain to my nephew that you were just making a dumb adult joke. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!”

The line goes dead and I take a deep breath.

I glance back up to her apartment. All of the lights are still off and I wonder if something happened.

Maybe she slipped on the stairs?

My heart starts to race as a million different worst-case scenarios flash through my mind.

Before I can second guess myself, I turn the truck off and step out. I jog up the stairs, hesitating for just a second before I raise my fist and knock on the door. When she doesn’t come to the door after a minute, I try again.

“Hartley? It’s me. Are you alright?” I ask when I don’t hear any movement from inside the apartment.

There’s still no answer and my heart starts to race. Is she hurt?

I try the doorknob. It’s unlocked, so I push the door open and step inside.

“Hartley?” I call.

All of the lights are off and I reach over, flipping the one in the living room on. Hartley isn’t in the living room or kitchen and I head toward the bedroom, calling her name again.

“Hartley?” I call as I step into her bedroom.

The bed is still mussed from last night and my cock starts to harden at the memory.

The bathroom door is slightly open and I step toward it. My footsteps falter when I hear the water running in the shower and I hesitate, wondering if I should just leave or if I should stay and talk to her.

The water turns off and Hartley steps out, her eyes meeting mine in the crack of the door.

“Eli?” she asks as she grabs a towel and wraps it around her dripping body. “Are you okay?” she asks as she opens the door and joins me in the bedroom.

“Hartley, I like you. You’ve become my friend, and I just wanted to make sure that we’re okay. I don’t have many friends and I don’t want to lose you.”

That gets her attention. She stares up at me wide-eyed, her face clear of makeup, and her dark hair plastered to her head, the ends dripping water droplets onto her shoulders. I have to tear my gaze away from watching one of the drops run down her body. She should look like a drowned rat, but she’s still beautiful.

“I don’t want to lose you either. We’re alright. I think we both just got nervous since your parents are leaving tomorrow and it means the end of our deal. I was afraid that you were just going to start acting like you had never even met me,” she confesses.

“I would never do that,” I promise her.

She steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest. I wrap my arms around her back and hold her close, not caring that she’s getting the front of my clothes all wet. Having her in my arms feels right and helps to calm any of the remaining doubts and worries that had been swirling around in my head.

“Okay,” she says after a minute, pulling back so that she can look up at me. “The deal is over. From now on, we’re just friends. No rules,” she says, holding out her hand and I slip mine into it, shaking once.

“Deal,” I say, teasing her, and she rolls her eyes.

“I should get home and check on my parents. I’ll see you tomorrow?” I ask as I take a step past her.