6. Chloe #3
Annika rolls her eyes, “Fine,” she says, exaggerating the word, “I’ll go.”
“Yay! Thanks. I know Liam was hoping you’d agree for Nico’s sake.”
“I’m going for you, that’s it.”
The end of the lunch bell rings, ending our conversation. The three of us part ways as we head to our next classes.
“You look great!” I exclaim—maybe a little too enthusiastically—as Annika exits her bedroom.
But I want this double date to go well. It would be a dream to have my boyfriend and best friend get along, maybe even be friends.
But so far, that hasn’t happened. Even Christian, whom Annika tolerated, didn’t spend enough time with my friends to get to know them.
Annika is wearing high-waisted leather pants and an oversize band T-shirt that she’s cut in half. She also wearing her high-top Converse, and her black hair is straight. This is pretty much her outfit every day, but she is wearing perfume today.
“Ooh, is that?” I stand up, sniffing the air around her. “Juicy Couture? Or Marc Jacobs Daisy? No!” I take another big whiff, and she pushes me away, “It’s sweet but warm. What is it?”
“It’s Le Labo.”
“Le Labo!” I shout. “Where the heck did you get Le Labo?”
“It’s my mom’s! She sprayed it on me.” Annika says, crossing her arms, a blush rising on her cheeks. I look down toward the living room, where her mom is reading a book, and she looks up with a big smile.
“Well, you smell as good as you look,” I say, giving her shoulder a gentle shove.
“Thanks, you do, too,” she says, shoving me back.
I step away and twirl, lifting my ruffled yellow sundress. It’s one of my favorite dresses I scored from a weekend of thrift shopping. The waist ties in the back like a corset which makes the skirt flare out.
“Oh, this old thing?”
“Remember to bring socks,” Annika says, looking at my Birkenstock sandals.
“Got ’em!” I say, pulling a bundled-up pair of socks from my tote bag.
We arrive at the bowling alley after the boys, who are already waiting for us on a bench outside. Nico shoots up from the bench as he sees us approaching.
“Annika, hey. Wow. You l-look,” Nico stammers, big-eyed. She looks like she’s about to go to the dentist, not on a cute date with a tall, dark, and handsome baseball player. I nudge her side.
“Hey, Nico,” she says, rubbing her side. “You look, um—I like your jeans.”
Nico looks down at his dark-blue jeans and looks up with a little smile. “Thanks, they’re new. My mom got them for me for my birthday.”
“That’s a great story,” Liam interjects, slapping Nico’s back. “Chloe, you look fucking hot in that dress.” I watch as Liam’s eyes hungrily trace my figure. “Let’s bowl.” He hooks my arm in his and leads us into the bowling alley.
Once we get our shoes and pick out our balls, we settle into our lane and take turns bowling. Nico reveals he’s never bowled before, so I hint that Annika should show him some tips. She’s unexpectedly amazing at bowling. As the game goes on, she mostly bowls strikes.
It’s Nico’s turn and I watch as she stands behind him and guides his arm toward the pins. He throws the ball this time and only hits one pin. Annika still claps and gives him two high fives. They settle into seats across from me and Liam.
“Hey, baby,” Liam says, pulling me onto his lap after he finishes his turn.
“You wanna come home with me tonight?” I look up at him, giving a small smile and trying to hide the nervous pit in my stomach.
I knew this was coming. We’ve been dating for a couple of months and only ever kissed.
I know he wants to do more than that, and I definitely want to as well, but I’m still a bit scared of the rumors that went around the last time I slept with someone.
And ever since our interaction this week in homeroom, something feels off.
But maybe what Annika said at lunch is getting in my head.
I shake it off and kiss him deeply, lingering a bit longer than usual.
“Okay, yeah. I’ll let Annika know,” I say as I separate, and he takes my face in his hand, rubbing small circles on my cheekbone with his thumb.
“You’re the best.” He leans and gives me a soft kiss on the mouth.
We finish up and head out to the parking lot. I’m holding hands with Liam, and Nico stands next to Annika, who keeps trying to walk away from him. I don’t understand, because they seemed to be getting along. I’ll have to ask her about it tonight. Or I guess tomorrow, since I’m not going home.
“Hey, Anni, I’m gonna go with Liam.”
“You’re what?” Annika stops walking.
“Hey, wait, you gave me a ride,” Nico tells Liam.
“You can give him a ride, right, Anni?” I say, “Liam will give me a ride home tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Annika looks over to Liam and pulls me aside so the guys are out of earshot. “You know my parents are expecting us both home tonight.”
“It’s fine. I’ll go back to my mom’s house tomorrow, then.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s fine, they aren’t my parents. They shouldn’t worry.”
Annika gives me a leveled look. “You are their family, just as much as me. You know that. They want you to be safe.”
I take a deep breath. “I know, I’m sorry. I want to go with Liam. I’ll text your mom.”
“Okay, be careful. If you need me to pick you up, call me. It doesn’t matter what time it is.”
“Thanks, but I think it will be okay,” I say, grabbing her hand and returning to the boys. “Nico, Annika said she’d love to give you a ride.”
“Yeah, she would,” Liam jokes. Annika shoots him a deathly glare, and Nico looks a bit queasy. I roll my eyes as I take Liam’s arm in mine.
“Well, see ya at school.” Annika turns to her car, and Nico jogs after her.
Liam and I head to his car, and just before we get in, I see Nico run toward Annika’s driver’s side door to open the door for her.
Liam never opens the door for me, I think as I swing the passenger side door of his car open and hop in.
Liam unlocks his front door, and we quietly enter his house. The lights are already off. I’m guessing his parents are asleep already. We quietly walk over to his bedroom. I’ve been to his house twice before, but it was during the daytime, not nearly 10 p.m.
I sit on his bed, sliding my shoes off. He kicks off his sneakers and crawls over me, starting to kiss me along my collarbone, up my neck. His lips are soft and warm. I am happily moaning along as he trails kisses up to my mouth. I’m enjoying his strong, hard body draped over mine.
He dips his hand under my dress.
“This okay?” he asks. I nod, and he drags his hand up to my chest. I run my hands under the back of his shirt and trace my nails along his back.