Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Noah
Friends is the Benefit
We lose the Florida championship, so most of the guys are down – and hungover – on our flight home.
I’m crushed too, but I did my wallowing in the room, so now the closer we get to home, the closer I am to having Sav in my bed.
Or even just in my vicinity. Not that I necessarily want to admit it and give her the wrong impression, but I fucking missed her.
I text Savannah as soon as we land, then the bus brings us back to school, so we all pile into Owen’s SUV to get home.
We shovel out the driveway before the guys go shower, and I head next door to do Miss Mabel’s stairs with a stupid grin I can’t wipe off my face.
Miss Mabel gives me a knowing smile when I turn down her dinner invite, telling me to enjoy my ‘hot date’.
It takes Sav until I’m out of the shower to respond.
Peaches
Welcome back!
Me
Chinese, pizza, or do I raid the pantry?
Nevermind, the fridge is empty. I have no interest in going out. Good with staying in?
Peaches
I have so many leftovers and my mom raided Costco for me…I literally have a cooler in my car I’ll bring some casseroles next time I see you.
Also, I need a raincheck for tonight.
Fuck.
I want to say I didn’t realize how excited I was to see Savannah again until she cancelled, but I’ve been looking forward to tonight since before we boarded the plane to Florida. Probably since she left my bed before Christmas.
“What are you up to?” I ask when she answers my FaceTime call.
“Right now, or…” It looks like she’s wearing those tiny, boxer-like pj shorts with a tank top.
“Tonight. Why do you need a raincheck?” It occurs to me that this is the exact type of clingy I absolutely hate in a girl, but here I am, asking why she rejected me, already planning solutions for whatever she comes up with so I can see her before or after whatever she has going on.
I almost tell her I can be fast, but that sounds embarrassing, and honestly, I don’t want a quickie.
Though I’ll take anything over not seeing her at all.
“Oh, I…studying,” she says, but she’s blushing, and it’s obvious she’s lying.
“Before the semester begins?”
“Just trying to stay on top of things. Rest up before it starts.”
“See, I feel like I should be offended that you’re cancelling on me to stay home in your pjs – and lying about it.
My first instinct is to tell you it’s cool, that I get the appeal of spending the day in bed – even if it’s more fun when you have someone in there with you – but I think you’d rather be here. ”
“Is that so?”
“Your eyes are undressing me as we speak.”
I wasn’t sure if I was projecting, but her cheeks go red, and I know I’m right.
“If getting dressed is the problem, I can brave the frigid weather and campus so you don’t have to put more clothes on. Though, feel free to take some off.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling, and I feel it in my chest, until she bites her bottom lip, debating something, and that goes straight to my dick, who’s been at attention since she appeared on the screen in her tiny pjs.
“That’s not—” she cuts herself off but doesn’t say more.
I should probably drop it, but –without being cocky—I can tell she wants me.
Unless…
“Do you have someone else going over?” I ask. It’s none of my business, but my chest is pounding and I’m pretty sure I’m breaking out in a cold sweat, an expression I never fully understood until this moment.
She shakes her head like it’s a ridiculous question, and I can breathe easier. We haven’t discussed it, but I definitely haven’t wanted anyone else since…probably since I met her. Which I’m saved from having to think about when Savannah sighs.
“I’m on my period,” she admits, both embarrassed and daring me to make a comment she can chew me out over.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, trying not to show how relieved I am. “Are yours really bad?”
“No, but…Maybe you’re a lot more adventurous than I am, but I have no interest in…whatever. I should be done by Tuesday—not that I….If you still want to…pick up what we were doing, we could do it then. Absolutely no pressure.”
She’s nervous and rambling and it would be cute and make me smile, but I don’t like her uncertainty one bit.
“Is Anna there?”
“She’s not interested.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Are you alone tonight?” I rephrase.
“Yes,” she says after a slight hesitation.
“Can I come over?”
“Why?” She looks confused.
“Because I haven’t seen you in weeks and we had plans.”
“I’d feel gross—”
“No sex,” I say quickly. “Or blow jobs or whatever you’re thinking. We can keep it PG. I won’t even touch you unless you ask nicely.”
“That doesn’t sound very F—”
“Sometimes the friends is also the benefit,” I cut her off.
“Not gonna lie, I really enjoy having sex with you. You’re like, my favorite thing to do,” I tease, because it’s not like I can tell her she’s the best sex I’ve ever had without admitting too much, but she definitely is.
“But I also really enjoy spending time with you. It was a rough week, and I just want to kick back and relax with a drink and…you,” I say, very aware that this is, in fact, not how I treat my other friends.
“I missed you too,” she says with a nervous smile that makes me laugh again.
“What do I bring?”
“Whatever you want to drink. I’ll microwave the macaroni and cheese with pulled pork. My cousin is a MasterChef with meat.”
“Sounds delicious. And just so you know, if ever you really did want to bail on me, writing is a far better excuse than homework. I wouldn’t question it, because I never want to stand in the way of your dreams.” I clear my throat, because that was way too cheesy.
“Good to know.”
“See you soon,” I say, and I truly can’t wait.