that is that romantic and sappy.”
“Agreed.” Derek took the sack of M&Ms out of my hand, poured a few out then stuck them in his mouth, the whole time watching me watch him. “So, which one should we watch first?”
“Well, how about Animal House . I haven’t seen that in forever. I could use a good laugh.”
“I thought so.” I barely heard his remark as he turned and grabbed the popcorn before facing me again. “You know, I hadn’t planned on going anywhere tonight, but couldn’t resist asking to see you, especially after I waited all day to text you. Took monumental restraint.”
“Is that right?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Yes, I wondered what you were doing today while I was at the station. I just knew you would call me, but you didn’t.” Derek tried to fake a sad face, but failed.
“You are so full of shit, Derek London!” I smacked his arm making him laugh.
“I’ll make some popcorn. Why don’t you go set up the movie since it’s your system. I don’t want to screw anything up. Want me to make you something to drink?”
Derek eyed my nearly empty wine glass. “Yeah, how about a little more of that wine over there? Would you like some?” I pointed to the bottle on the opposite counter.
“No, I’m not much of a wine drinker. A beer every now and then tastes pretty great, though. Tonight, it’s about junk food.” I laughed. “Can I get a glass with ice?”
“Of course. Help yourself. Glasses are to the right of the fridge.” I grabbed the movie and strolled into the living room. I could hear him rustling around in the kitchen. It was a nice sound, having another grown up around, even if it was just a friend.
I was setting up the Surround Sound when Derek slowly limped into the living room with a tray filled with a large bowl of popcorn, his soda, my glass of wine and both packs of candy. “Here, let me help. You need to prop your knee up.” I gave him a smirk. “You know you shouldn’t be walking around without that brace and your crutches.”
“Man, you sound like my therapist. She’s a real nag…total ball-buster.” I couldn’t stop the full on belly laugh that escaped. And neither could he.
“Well, she sounds like my kind of girl,” I managed to finally say.
“Hope you don’t mind. I just dug around until I found what I needed.”
“Not at all.”
We sat on opposite ends of the couch with all the goodies between us and turned on our movie. It was very comfortable… he was comfortable and I enjoyed his company. We laughed throughout the movie, even traded off quoting some of it. Who wouldn’t? It was a cult classic. It was almost eleven by the time Animal House was over. “Up for Round 2 or should I go?”
I was struggling with how to answer. It was late, but I didn’t want him to leave. I guess I hadn’t realized just how much I missed adult company. “Are you tired? Need to get home?”
“No, Claire, I don’t.” His face was soft but his words were almost stern.
“Are you sure because you sound a bit—tense.”
“No, I’m sure, but, if you want me to go, then just say it. Okay?” I nodded, but didn’t say anything. Derek touched my hand. “What is it?”
“I like having you here. Coming home to an empty house was hard, that’s all.” I didn’t have the capacity to pretend to be anything other than what I was. I was sure it was written on my face on Friday. That’s why he’d asked to come over.
Derek squeezed my hand. “I can stay as long as you want me to stay. I get it, you know. Abbi left a long time ago, so I’ve gotten used to the quiet, but I had a feeling you might need a little company this weekend. I’ll stay. We can watch the movie then, I’ll go home. Does that sound okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He let go of my hand and stood. “Want anything? I need a restroom then a big glass
“Agreed.” Derek took the sack of M&Ms out of my hand, poured a few out then stuck them in his mouth, the whole time watching me watch him. “So, which one should we watch first?”
“Well, how about Animal House . I haven’t seen that in forever. I could use a good laugh.”
“I thought so.” I barely heard his remark as he turned and grabbed the popcorn before facing me again. “You know, I hadn’t planned on going anywhere tonight, but couldn’t resist asking to see you, especially after I waited all day to text you. Took monumental restraint.”
“Is that right?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Yes, I wondered what you were doing today while I was at the station. I just knew you would call me, but you didn’t.” Derek tried to fake a sad face, but failed.
“You are so full of shit, Derek London!” I smacked his arm making him laugh.
“I’ll make some popcorn. Why don’t you go set up the movie since it’s your system. I don’t want to screw anything up. Want me to make you something to drink?”
Derek eyed my nearly empty wine glass. “Yeah, how about a little more of that wine over there? Would you like some?” I pointed to the bottle on the opposite counter.
“No, I’m not much of a wine drinker. A beer every now and then tastes pretty great, though. Tonight, it’s about junk food.” I laughed. “Can I get a glass with ice?”
“Of course. Help yourself. Glasses are to the right of the fridge.” I grabbed the movie and strolled into the living room. I could hear him rustling around in the kitchen. It was a nice sound, having another grown up around, even if it was just a friend.
I was setting up the Surround Sound when Derek slowly limped into the living room with a tray filled with a large bowl of popcorn, his soda, my glass of wine and both packs of candy. “Here, let me help. You need to prop your knee up.” I gave him a smirk. “You know you shouldn’t be walking around without that brace and your crutches.”
“Man, you sound like my therapist. She’s a real nag…total ball-buster.” I couldn’t stop the full on belly laugh that escaped. And neither could he.
“Well, she sounds like my kind of girl,” I managed to finally say.
“Hope you don’t mind. I just dug around until I found what I needed.”
“Not at all.”
We sat on opposite ends of the couch with all the goodies between us and turned on our movie. It was very comfortable… he was comfortable and I enjoyed his company. We laughed throughout the movie, even traded off quoting some of it. Who wouldn’t? It was a cult classic. It was almost eleven by the time Animal House was over. “Up for Round 2 or should I go?”
I was struggling with how to answer. It was late, but I didn’t want him to leave. I guess I hadn’t realized just how much I missed adult company. “Are you tired? Need to get home?”
“No, Claire, I don’t.” His face was soft but his words were almost stern.
“Are you sure because you sound a bit—tense.”
“No, I’m sure, but, if you want me to go, then just say it. Okay?” I nodded, but didn’t say anything. Derek touched my hand. “What is it?”
“I like having you here. Coming home to an empty house was hard, that’s all.” I didn’t have the capacity to pretend to be anything other than what I was. I was sure it was written on my face on Friday. That’s why he’d asked to come over.
Derek squeezed my hand. “I can stay as long as you want me to stay. I get it, you know. Abbi left a long time ago, so I’ve gotten used to the quiet, but I had a feeling you might need a little company this weekend. I’ll stay. We can watch the movie then, I’ll go home. Does that sound okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He let go of my hand and stood. “Want anything? I need a restroom then a big glass
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