32
Sam stands from his seated position on the floor and moves over to the couch, where Abi and Brooks had been sitting. I slide my body over the arm of the chair and slump onto the couch beside him.
“Do we think that was…” I begin, waving my hand around while I try to find words.
“Weird?” Sam finishes my sentence for me, and I nod. “Yeah, but I’d rather they dry hump over at his apartment anyway.”
I watch Sam’s expression as he speaks. I’m not sure he realises it, but he gives a lot of his feelings away by the way he clenches his jaw or furrows his brow.
He reaches over and grabs my foot, bringing it into both hands and starts to rub it. The tension leaves his face as soon as we’ve made a physical connection.
I reach behind my back, searching for one of the pink cushions, and throw it at his head. He’s too quick, effortlessly catching the cushion before it has a chance to hit him. He places it behind his back. “Thanks for the cushion.”
I tried to wait around for Abi. She said she’d be back this morning.
I thought we’d walk to campus together, but it’s getting late.
If I wait much longer, I’ll miss the start of my class.
I give up at the last possible minute, locking up and walking alone.
Halfway through my walk, I spot Amir leaning up against a tree, holding a tray with three cups.
“You are my hero, you know that?” I exclaim, running up to him and taking my coffee. He looks around for Abi.
“She’s not with me.”
“Too busy with Mr Perfect?” Amir asks. I let a smile slip, glad that my nickname for Brooks is catching on.
“You guessed it.” I take a sip of my delicious coffee, savouring the sweetly bitter flavour.
The way Brooks has Abi wrapped around his finger while being so indifferent about Harper gets under my skin, burrowing in like a parasite.
If you’ve been in a non-relationship with someone for as long as they have, that doesn’t just end because someone else comes along.
It certainly didn’t look like it had ended when we were at his apartment watching the game.
Amir and I approach the campus entrance, and as we walk past a bin, he throws away the tray along with Abi’s hot chocolate.
As we’re about to make our way up the steps, a blue Pontiac pulls up to the curb in front of us.
I peer into the front to confirm who I know is in there.
Abi climbs out of the passenger seat and into Brooks’ lap.
“Too busy getting busy.” I point my finger at them, drawing Amir’s attention to the scene in the car. “Thanks for the coffee, lovely.” I kiss Amir on the cheek before turning towards my building.
“Same time next week?”
“Definitely. Maybe just bring the two coffees next time? Save your money.”
It’s dark inside the restaurant. Everything is decorated in red.
Red chairs, red walls, red tablecloths and black chairs with red bows tied onto the back.
Gaia and I have tucked ourselves away in a dark corner.
I reach for the bowl of prawn crackers that the server left for us to share and try to remember how many I’ve had so far.
I don’t want to take more than my share and make her think that I’m inconsiderate.
She grabs another one without breaking from the story she’s telling me.
I just have to breathe. This is Gaia. I have no reason to be nervous.
I don’t need to impress her by watching my cracker intake.
She’s here because she likes me. God only knows why.
“I’m telling you the truth,” Gaia says, laughing loudly. She has the sweetest laugh. “The guy was dead asleep. His snore was the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. I thought a truck was going to crash through the lecture hall. The lecturer jumped so high.”
“I wish I had been there. It sucks that all our classes aren’t together.”
“You’re not getting sick of me yet?” she asks, playfully brushing the back of my hand with her soft fingertips.
“Not yet,” I joke, leaning over the table to close the gap between us. She brings her lips to mine, letting her soft kiss linger. I sit back in my seat, moving away from her and instantly regret the distance between us. “So, you mentioned you were going to sign up for a dance class?”
“I’m nervous. I haven’t danced in years, but I enjoyed it, so I thought I’d give it another go.
It’s a combination of ballroom mixed with urban and Latin street dancing.
I’m not sure what I’ve signed myself up for, but I’m excited,” she replies happily.
I picture her body swaying to the music, her hips rocking back and forth to the rhythm.
We’ve kissed a few times, but that’s as far as we’ve gone.
I constantly find myself daydreaming about her soft lips and her luscious, curvy body.
Even the way she says my name turns me on.
“You’re going to be amazing. I can tell.” I want to encourage her to do the things she loves. If dancing makes her happy, then I will sit on the sidelines and cheer her on. If she looks even half as sexy doing it as she does in my mind, then bonus for me.
“What about you? Do you have any hidden talents?” she asks, smiling sweetly, pushing her straw in between her glossy lips.
“I used to draw. Nothing impressive. Mainly people, faces of strangers, flowers, nature, that kind of stuff. But Dad said it was a waste of time. He wanted me to build my marks up, so he told me to give up and be realistic.” I laugh nervously, trying to make light of what I’m telling her.
“That’s not very fair. If you enjoy something and it makes you happy, then it’s not a waste of time,” she says warmly. “Maybe you should get a sketch pad and start it up again. I promise I won’t tell your dad.”
“Maybe, if I find the time.” Her interest in my hobbies is sweet, but she has no idea how disappointed Dad would be if he found out I was drawing again.
Without warning, Gaia casually drags her chair closer to mine before sitting back down.
I watch in amusement as the vacant space between us disappears.
“Do you think Abi is going to be at your apartment tonight?” she asks, placing her hand on my leg. The shock of her touch causes my cheeks to blush slightly.
“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “I messaged her to see if she was going to be around, but she hasn’t gotten back to me.” I lift my phone from the table to check if she’s responded since I put my phone on silent. “Still nothing. She’s probably busy with Brooks.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing her again,” Gaia says, slowly moving her hand up and down my thigh. “But if she wasn’t there tonight, it wouldn’t be the worst thing,” she adds, softening her voice into a seductive whisper.
We walk back to the apartment hand in hand. I love being able to walk down the street like this with her. Brooks’ car sits in its usual spot in the parking lot, which means that they’re here, either at our apartment or his.
In the apartment, I’m disappointed to find it empty with all the lights off.
Abi knew that I was bringing Gaia home with me tonight and that I wanted them to spend some time together.
She could have hung out with Brooks here to say a quick hello before slinking away across the courtyard.
I have always made the effort to get to know her boyfriends, and the one time I meet someone special and want her to get to know them, she has something better to do because she’s too busy with Mr Perfect.
Gaia takes a seat on the couch and slips off her shoes.
“I’m sorry Abi isn’t around,” I apologise, passing her a glass of water.
“I’m not.” She flashes a sexy smile, leaning forward to carefully place her glass on the floor.
I run my fingers over her beautifully plump lips.
She parts them slightly, her tongue lightly running over the tips of my fingers.
I move in closer, placing my lips on hers.
Her tongue enters my mouth as I climb on top of her, straddling her lap.
She puts her hands on my hips, and her fingernails scratch the surface of my skin, sending me into a fevered frenzy.
I rock my hips back and forth, taking her thick, curly hair in my fist. Tugging on it gently, causing her to whimper.
She pushes me onto the couch, showing me that she’s in charge.
Spinning her legs around, she accidentally kicks over the glass of water.
“Sorry,” she apologises breathlessly.
“I don’t give a fuck,” I pant between heavy breaths.
I bring my hands to the bottom of her top, tugging it up and over her head.
She raises her arms in the air, and her breasts spill out of her pink, lacy bra.
I cup them in my hands, bringing my lips to them.
Gently running my tongue over her soft skin sets a fire between my legs.
I bring her face closer to mine, hungry for her lips, and she pushes my thighs apart with her knees.
She gently licks down my neck towards my chest, only stopping to remove my top.
Her hands wrap behind my back, unclasping my bra with one swift motion.
Gently licking and sucking on my breasts, she brings her hands to the top of my jeans, unbuttoning them with ease, she slides them down along with my panties before leaning back to completely pull them from my ankles and throws them on the floor.
“I’m so sorry. They landed in the water,” she apologises again.
While she has herself propped up on her knees, assessing the situation on the floor, I take the opportunity to unclasp her bra, freeing her beautiful breasts and take them in my mouth.
She groans loudly, her full attention back on me and away from my jeans, soaking up the water.
I move my hand in between her thighs, slowly running them up her skirt until I find what I’m looking for.
Her head tips back with pleasure as I trace around the outside of her panties.
She pushes me back down so that my back is flat on the couch before resuming her gentle teasing down my body.
“Oh my God,” I say with a sigh, unable to control my hips as they move closer to her mouth. I knew she was going to be good at this.
My eyes spring open, and I gasp for air, still feeling the relentless ocean current of my nightmare pulling me further under the waves.
I haven’t had that one in years. I’d almost forgotten it.
A weight on my chest brings me back to reality, and I survey the room.
I force myself to focus on the morning sun streaming through the window.
It shines onto Gaia’s head, which is resting on my chest. I bring my hand up to softly graze her naked back, letting the touch of her skin calm me.
Her eyelids flutter open, and she smiles.
“I don’t want to go to class,” I complain, my mind pushing my nightmare aside to replay everything we did last night.
“Then let’s not,” she replies smoothly. I bring my lips to hers, kissing them softly. Gaia smiles as she rolls over and drifts off back to sleep. I would much rather spend my Wednesday lying naked in bed with this gorgeous girl wrapped around my body than sitting in class.
The front door creaks open loudly. Brooks never did come over to fix it. I hold my breath, straining to listen and hear Abi’s bedroom door open, followed by the sound of her walking barefoot to the bathroom. I turn to face Gaia, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her close.
After failing to fall back asleep thanks to my nightmare, I hear a shuffling noise in the kitchen. I quietly slide off the bed, wrapping my dressing gown around me and sneak out of the bedroom, careful not to wake Gaia.
“I didn’t know you were here,” Abi says with a jump, slightly startled. I close my bedroom door behind me.
“I do live here.” I roll my eyes. I’m the one who should be surprised by her sudden presence. I brush past her, not even trying to avoid bumping into her to get to the cupboard.
“What I mean is, don’t you have class?”
“Gaia and I decided to stay in,” I reply dryly, filling my glass with water and gulping it down.
“You and Gaia?” She points to my bedroom.
“Yes. Me and Gaia, but you’d know that if you had replied to any of my messages.”
“I wrote a message. I must have forgotten to send it.” She’s lying. I can tell by the way her eyes flickered to the ground as she spoke. “How’s it going between you two?”
“She’s in my bed, isn’t she?” I reply sarcastically. Abi uncomfortably shifts her weight. She has never coped well with confrontation. I sigh. Maybe I should let it go and give her another chance to show an interest in my life. “Did you want to do something with us today? It’s your day off, right?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have so much work to catch up on.
But you two have fun, and I’ll catch up with you after, ok?
” she replies, closing the door to her bedroom.
I’m left standing in the kitchen, disappointed, holding my now-empty glass.
I bet if Brooks asked her to spend time with him today, she’d drop everything and go running over.
I can’t believe she’s brushing me off like this.
Gaia is important to me, and she’s not even trying.