Chapter 14 Request
Request
The encounter in the bathroom turned out to be a fluke rather than the rule.
Over the next three weeks, Grey and I played the picture-perfect representation of friends.
We chatted after our shared class, helped each other with homework, and even got coffee once in a while when our schedules permitted it.
I got so good at being his friend, it didn’t even bother me when he texted Carina anymore.
Well, not as much as it had. I was still human.
Whatever had been going on between them the night he’d talked to me in the bathroom seemed to have blown over because he didn’t bring it up again.
School projects came and went, and one evening, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, we sat at the cafe before Grey had to jet off to band rehearsals.
We’d caught up and ordered some food, and a comfortable silence had fallen between us.
My computer sat open on the table, but I’d finished my assignments already.
“It’s weird,” I was saying. “I know I’ve caught up on homework, but I feel like I should be working on something.”
“You’re a workaholic like me,” Grey said. “I’ve watched you pour hours into those writing projects when your first drafts are better than anything I’d call a final draft. You just aren’t used to having nothing to do.”
“It’s a weird feeling.”
“Maybe you should work on a project you’re passionate about,” Grey said. “If you could write any story right now, what would it be?”
“Well, I have this story about two guys getting sucked up into a Narnia-type situation,” I said. “But then, I’ve had that idea since I was twelve. It had vampires and dragons and dwarves.”
Grey laughed. “That sounds awesome.”
“Don’t make fun of me.” I gave his arm a playful push. “I started on another one recently where this space cowboy goes around and fixes random people’s problems, and his biggest enemy is his old best friend, but they end up together in the end.”
“Best friends who end up together,” Grey said with a mischievous look. “Now that is interesting.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. I’d gotten very good at ignoring any implications in his words over the past few weeks. I refused to fuck up my streak now. “I think you’re going to be late for rehearsal.”
Grey checked his phone and swore as he scrambled to collect his things. He was in the middle of cramming his laptop into his bag when he paused, looking like he was chewing on the inside of his mouth. “Would you mind walking me to rehearsal?”
I didn’t exactly have anything better to do. “Sure.”
I shoved my stuff into my backpack and followed Grey out of the cafe.
The cold afternoon air greeted us, and I suppressed a shiver as we made our way across campus.
No one approached us today. Actually, I’d noticed in the past couple of weeks that fewer and fewer people came to pester him when we were together.
I could only assume that it was due to waning interest as the novelty of seeing him around wore off.
As we walked, Grey scratched the back of his head, something I’d come to recognize as a nervous tic for him.
“I have a favor to ask of you,” he said. “It’s kind of big.”
“Okay?”
“Are you doing anything this Saturday?”
I shook my head, the nervous energy radiating from him making me uneasy.
“So, my cousin is getting married this weekend,” Grey said. “I know it’s last minute, but would you want to come with me to the wedding?”
I stopped in my tracks, too caught off guard by the question to walk and talk at the same time.
He stopped next to me, his mouth twisting into a nervous and guilty smile. “See, Carina was supposed to go with me, but she had to cancel, and my mom wants me to have a plus-one.” He flushed. “You can say no if you want,” he added quickly.
“Oh.” My brain struggled to grasp what he was saying, but once it started to settle in, my face grew warm. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Grey said emphatically. “My family is a lot to handle without a friend. If you came, you’d be doing me a huge favor.”
I stared at Grey, trying to wrap my brain around his request—and the implications of it.
After all we’ve been through, how can he think having me along to a wedding of all things is a good idea?
We’d just managed to get our friendship to a normal place.
Doesn’t he know that invitations to major family events usually mean something to people?
I couldn’t let the idea that it might mean more get into my head. My role would be to go as a friend and play defense around his family. But still, a treacherous part of me swooned at the thought of going to a wedding with Grey. Under other circumstances, it might even be romantic.
“Uh,” I said stupidly. Why can’t I just say yes and get it over with?
I knew what my answer would be. I would always give him what he wanted.
Maybe it was my better judgment finally deciding to make an appearance and getting in the way.
“Yeah,” I said after so long I was beginning to get concerned I’d somehow suffered brain damage and lost the ability to speak.
“Yeah, I’ll go to the wedding with you.”
“Sweet.” Grey beamed at me.
He started walking again, and I could think of nothing else but to follow.
Then, almost as if the thought had just occurred to him, he stopped and pulled me into a hug.
I went rigid as his arms wrapped around me.
He hadn’t hugged me since the night at the barn party.
My entire body felt as though it had become the home to a swarm of bees, vibrating and tingling from wherever he touched.
But my frozen muscles thawed the longer we stayed there, and I returned the hug, wrapping my arms around him—ending up between his jacket and sweater.
I could feel his muscles beneath his sweater, and when I leaned my head on his shoulder, I inhaled the scent of him.
It was a smell I’d missed until now because I hadn’t let myself get close enough to experience it in weeks.
Our embrace lasted longer than it probably should have, but neither of us could bring ourselves to break it off.
Until finally, I pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes.
The walls I’d carefully built over the past three weeks—the ones that had put Grey firmly in the friend zone—might as well have never existed.
In a split second, they were gone, and all I could think about was how it would be so easy to close the gap and kiss him.
Forget Carina. I wanted to scream that he should be with me instead.
But I wouldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t be that person.
With a herculean effort, I forced myself to break apart from Grey.
“You should get to practice,” I said. My throat felt dry and tight all of a sudden. Breathing was difficult. How did I normally do it so easily?
Grey nodded, understanding I was really telling him to leave before we made a mistake in the middle of campus.
“I can go the rest of the way by myself. I’ll see you around?” He smiled before turning to go.
I stood watched him, hoping to God that I hadn’t just made a huge mistake by agreeing to attend a fucking wedding with him.