"I can see you staring, honey. Like he's just your understudy. Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me." -T.S.
I pushed open the door and stepped outside, the heat wrapping around me instantly. The sun was high, the sky impossibly blue. A perfect beach day. It almost felt wrong to spend it at an airport.
Sliding into the driver's seat, I started the Jeep and let the engine rumble to life. As I pulled out of the driveway, I turned up the music, hoping it would drown out the chaos in my head. I had about an hour's drive ahead of me, just me, the open road, and the millions of thoughts that were circling my brain.
With every mile, though, the tension in my chest seemed to loosen. The nerves, the doubts, the mess of emotions I'd been tangled in, they slowly faded with each passing turn. By the time I was nearing the airport, a surprising eagerness was bubbling up inside me.
I couldn't help but smile. Erik was finally here.
I felt it, like a warm rush of anticipation. His face, his voice, it all felt real now, no longer just a thought or a plan. I didn't have to juggle the chaos for now. It was just about him.
The airport came into view, and the excitement settled into something more focused. I pulled into the parking lot, put the Jeep in park, and checked the time. He should have just landed by now. I stayed in the car for a while longer, giving him time to gather his things. Finally, my phone buzzed. And for the first time since being here, I was excited to see his name on my phone screen.
Erik: "Just waiting on my luggage!"
August: "I'm in the parking lot."
Erik: "Okay, I have my luggage, heading to the parking lot. Where did you park?"
August: "Look to your left."
I stood there with my phone in my hands, waiting for him to see me. After a few seconds of his head turning, he found me, and the smile on his face melted every problem I had. He walked over to me and set his things down, wrapping his arms around my waist, and I followed suit, wrapping my arms around his neck. His warm body pressed against mine, and my heart fluttered.
We held the hug for a few seconds longer until I let go. He still had his hands placed on my waist, and he looked at me, up and down, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary.
"August, you look great! The sun's already given you great color. You must be spending every waking moment outside," he said, his voice soft, like he was noticing every little detail.
I smiled, but my stomach twisted slightly. It was so kind of him to say, and yet, I hadn't really been outside as much as he thought. I'd been cooped away doing things I probably shouldn't.
He grabbed his stuff from the ground, threw it in the trunk, and slid into the driver's seat. I followed him, slipping into the passenger seat.
"Are you sure you want to drive? You just spent like seven hours on a plane. You must be exhausted!" I asked, glancing at him.
He shrugged with a playful grin. "Nope. I got plenty of rest on the plane. Besides, I don't mind driving you around."
His tone was easy, but there was something in the way he said it like he genuinely wanted to spend time with me, not just because he had to. I couldn't help but feel lighter as he started driving. We fell into conversation, the kind that flowed so easily, and it was exactly what I needed after the heavy fog of yesterday's events.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, glancing over at him, just a little too long, hoping my nerves didn't show.
"A little. You have a place in mind?" He kept his eyes mostly on the road but stole glances at me as we talked. It was so comfortable, yet every look felt like a new spark between us.
"Yes, actually! Coming up at the intersection, take a left instead of a right," I said, and he followed my directions.
We chatted mindlessly until we pulled up to a food truck that had a line wrapped around the parking lot. The familiar sight made me smile. I got out of the Jeep and found a spot in line with Erik by my side.
"This place is always this packed. After class every Friday, my roommates and I would come here. It's just shrimp, but my god is it amazing," I said, my voice picking up speed with excitement.
"Hm, okay. What do you recommend?" he asked, looking down at me. His eyes softened as he turned to face me, shifting just a little closer, his shoulder brushing mine.
I could feel my cheeks flush at how close he was, but I shook the feeling off, not wanting to make it weird. "I've had every flavor on the menu. You can't go wrong with a single one. But my favorite is garlic butter and lemon garlic. I'm probably going to get lemon garlic."
He smiled at me, and this time, there was a bit of warmth in his eyes, like we were both enjoying these small moments.
"You're making me hungry already. I'll try the lemon garlic too, then," he said, with a wink that sent a flutter through my chest.
As we made our way to the counter, he reached for my arm and guided me close to him. It was a simple gesture, but my breath caught in my throat as I glanced up at him. Erik didn't hesitate. His touch was warm and comforting, like I could trust him without question. He ordered for us and paid despite my many attempts to give him money or pay for my own food.
"Your money's no good around me," he said as he pushed my hand that had cash away from him. I reluctantly put my money back in my wallet.
I smiled shyly, trying to push down the giddy feeling swirling in my stomach. "You know, I've never actually shared my favorite food with anyone before."
Erik paused, looking at me with a soft, knowing smile. "I'm honored."
We wandered around, looking for a spot to sit, eventually finding a small table for two nestled under a tree. We slid into the seats, both of us still feeling that quiet energy between us. It didn't take long before our number was called, and Erik stood up to grab our food. As he approached, I caught the sharp scent of lemon, followed by the rich warmth of garlic. My stomach growled, reminding me how hungry I really was.
He set the plates down in front of us, and we wasted no time digging in, the conversation continued flowing between bites.
"Wow. This is as good as you made it seem," he admitted, taking another bite, and an ear-to-ear grin spread across my face.
"You introduced me to your favorite burger, and now it was my turn to show up. I'm glad it met your expectations."
"Far exceeded my expectations," he laughed.
We continued eating until we were stuffed. After tossing our trash, we headed back to the Jeep.
"I think I'm part shrimp now," I joked as I clicked my seatbelt on.
"Tell me about it. I didn't think either of us had it in us to finish, but it was impossible to stop," he said with a laugh, the crinkle at the corners of his eyes making me smile. This feels easy, I thought to myself.
"I think I gained fifteen pounds while I lived here and not just from the freshman fifteen. There are plenty of places we need to hit up eventually!" I beamed, feeling lighthearted.
"Good thing we have plenty of time," he said, glancing over at me for a second before returning his attention forward. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I leaned back in my seat, letting the warmth of the meal settle in. The hum of the engine and the salty breeze filtering through the open windows made the drive feel almost serene.
"So, what's gonna be next on the food tour?" Erik asked, shooting me a quick grin.
I tapped my fingers against my chin, pretending to think. "You'll just have to wait and see. Can't give away all my secrets at once."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "A little mystery. I like it."
The conversation drifted in and out, easy and unhurried, filling the space between us as we made our way back. The island stretched out around us, the scenery familiar yet refreshing through Erik's eyes. Before I knew it, we were turning into the driveway, the house coming into view. He put the Jeep in park but neither of us moved. We stared at each other silently for a second. Finally he parted his lips to speak.
"So, I'm gonna drop you off, but I promise I'll be back later. I'm just gonna drop my luggage off at the other house and shower the airport feeling off of me. Let them know I'll bring back the Jeep after." He hopped off his seat and walked over to open the door for me. He walked me to the front door and waited until I went inside. My heart skipped a beat, he's such a gentleman, I thought to myself.
Once inside I could hear a rumble of noise coming from outside. All the windows and doors were opened and a gust of wind came in, bringing in the smell of barbecue. I was still really full but it smelled so good. I made it past the foyer and into the kitchen where I could see Marshall, Jacob and Justin at the grill outside. Mallory and Allie were sitting on the stools by the kitchen counter.
"Auggie, you're finally back! Where's your prince charming?" Allie grinned, walking over to give me a quick hug.
I let out a small laugh. "He went back to your guys' place to shower and drop off his stuff. He said he'd be back in a few." My eyes drifted over the kitchen counter, cluttered with food wrappers and an assortment of beers and seltzers. "What's going on over here?"
Mallory stood up, handing me a drink with a smirk.
"Don't get crazy now," she whispered in my ear.
I rolled my eyes, nudging her shoulder in return. I definitely need to go easy on the drinks today, the last thing I need is a slip-up. Still, I took a big gulp before setting the drink back on the counter.
Dani walked out of the hallway in a sleek black-and-gold one-piece, a sheer cover draped over her shoulders. Her face lit up when she spotted me.
"Hi, sunshine!" She pulled me into a hug before glancing around. "Where's Erik?"
"He went to drop off his luggage and shower," I said, picking my drink up again. "What have you guys been up to?"
"We wanted to give Erik a warm welcome, so we're grilling and lounging by the pool. Maybe a few drinks," Allie said with a grin. "Although, Hannah filled us in on your night last night, Auggie." She giggled behind her hand, and I felt my cheeks heat.
"I definitely overdid it," I admitted with a laugh, swallowing my discomfort. "But tonight, I promise to be tame."
"Tame, huh?" Dani smirked, already reaching for a bottle of Don Julio. "Alright, well, tame August can handle at least one shot before she goes and changes."
"Preferably into that tiny, tri-colored two-piece I got her," Mallory called over her shoulder as she walked toward the back door.
I laughed, shaking my head. She was relentless, but honestly, today felt like the perfect day to finally wear it.
Dani handed me the shot, and I braced myself before tossing it back. The burn was immediate, but I pushed through, exhaling as I set the glass down. One shot down, hopefully none more to go. The last thing I needed was another night of questionable decisions especially with Erik here now.
I ran up to my room, rummaging through my suitcase until I found the bikini Mallory had been so insistent on. Slipping it on, I walked over to the mirror, adjusting the straps. It's tiny, I admitted to myself, but it wasn't any worse than the red one or the black one. At least, that's what I told myself.
A quick makeup touch-up, strappy sandals, and I was out the door.
Right as I stepped into the hallway, Justin appeared, walking into his room. He heard my door shut and turned immediately, his eyes finding mine. A slow, easy smile spread across his face.
"Hey, when did you get back?" His voice was softer than I expected, almost too soft. I had been bracing for a teasing comment about my swimsuit, but instead, I was met with something…civil.
"Not long ago. Dani made me change, so I just threw on whatever." I kept my tone light, like it wasn't a big deal, but the way his gaze finally drifted over me told me he wasn't buying it. His eyes traveled down my body, lingering, taking me in. I could feel the heat of it. My chest tightened, my stomach coiled, but I refused to let it show.
Justin tilted his head slightly, his smirk barely there, but dangerous all the same. "I'm still looking forward to seeing you later." His voice dipped just enough to send a shiver up my spine.
I took a step closer, not enough to close the space entirely, just enough to test him. His presence towered over me, filling the air between us, and my legs quivered despite my best efforts to keep my cool.
"We'll see about that," I murmured, my lips curving just slightly. Then, without another glance, I turned and walked away, knowing full well his eyes were still on me.
I had to remain in control of myself now that Erik was here, no more quick moments before going back downstairs. I couldn't afford to be reckless. But as I started going down the stairs, a nagging thought whispered in the back of my mind, one I immediately shoved down.
I should have pulled him into my room. One last time.
The thought alone sent a flicker of heat through me, but I shook it off, forcing my focus ahead. The kitchen was quiet now. Through the window, I could see everyone outside, laughter mixing with the scent of barbecue. Erik was finally here.
I was a few steps from the door when–
"August. Wait!"
Justin's voice cut through my inner silence, and I froze. I turned slowly, pulse kicking up as he stepped off the last stair. His expression was unreadable at first, but the smirk forming on his lips had me second-guessing everything.
"What?" I asked cautiously, glancing toward the others outside.
"Shots?" he asked, holding up a bottle and tilting his head, waiting for my reaction.
I hesitated. Every part of me knew better, one shot with him could spiral into something I shouldn't risk. But his gaze held mine, knowing, teasing, daring.
I exhaled, glancing at the window one last time.
"Just one," I relented.
His smirk deepened. "We'll see about that."
I thought about the consequence of his magnetic field being a little too strong. It was never just one, with him. He poured us each a shot, I grabbed one and he held his hand out for me to wait.
He lifted his glass up slightly for a toast and I did the same. "Looking forward to where the night takes us." He winked at me and threw back his shot. I shook my head and bottomed up as well. The burning feeling spread from my throat then to my stomach, and then a different burning feeling came about when I heard Erik's voice trailing into the house.
"Hey, there you are! Oh hey Justin what's up?" Erik walked over and gave Justin a handshake that turned into a quick hug.
"Sorry man had to get one shot from her before everyone else did." Justin's smile looked smug as he leaned over to see my reaction. I just playfully rolled my eyes.
"Oh yeah? What's the drink of choice?" Erik asked as he looked between the two of us.
"Vodka," Justin and I said in unison. We all let out a soft chuckle.
"I prefer vodka over most liquors but it's all still disgusting." I made a sour face that caused Erik to laugh.
"Well at least you found your preference!" Erik smiled at me and my heart fluttered. I felt uncomfortable standing in between the two and before I could escape Justin opened his dumb mouth.
"I've been taking real good care of August while you weren't here, she's surprisingly a party animal, but she can hold her liquor better than anyone would've expected." Justin nudged my shoulder lightly and Erik's face had a questioning look.
"He's insufferable," I let out a sharp laugh as I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. "Come on, let's go catch up with everyone." I said to Erik as I looped my arm around his, he didn't pull away but he hesitated for a second until finally he walked forward with me without saying another word. I turned quickly to look at Justin, expecting him to look away, but instead, he winked again, smug as ever, like he had one-upped me. My stomach twisted. Was I annoyed? Flustered? Maybe both. I turned back to Erik before Justin could see the effect he had on me.
Once outside, we made our way to the table where Dani, Hannah, and Mallory were seated. Erik and I shifted onto our seats. Justin joined us shortly after taking the seat by Hannah. We all sat quietly for a moment, Mallory and Dani were having a conversation of their own until finally Dani turned to Erik.
"So you were telling us about your seat neighbor on the plane before you walked inside, what ended up happening after she spilled her drink on you?" Dani leaned in, interested in what he was about to say. I looked at him confused because I had no idea what was going on.
He turned to me slightly. "To pick you up to speed, I sat next to this older lady on the plane who was…interesting. Nothing anyone did was up to par for her. The flight attendant gave her white wine instead of red and she was throwing a huge fit about it. She kept going on and on about how 'standards have plummeted' and how 'back in her day, service meant something.'" Erik chuckled, shaking his head.
The group was already engaged, leaning in slightly as he spoke. His voice was smooth, confident, like he knew exactly how to hold an audience.
"So, naturally, karma did its thing," he continued. "She takes one dramatic sip of the wrong wine, and boom turbulence hits. The glass tips forward, and suddenly, I'm wearing Chardonnay like it's a new cologne."
Dani gasped, already laughing. "No way!"
"Oh, yeah," Erik smirked. "She starts dabbing at my shirt like it was my fault her drink wasn't red in the first place. I told her, 'Well, at least now you don't have to drink it,' and let's just say...she was not amused."
Laughter erupted around the table. Erik had them hooked, effortlessly pulling everyone into his story like he was born for it. I smiled, feeling the warmth of his presence beside me. He had this way of commanding a room, not by being loud, but by making you want to listen.
As he spoke, he shifted slightly, his knee brushing against mine under the table. The touch was brief, barely there, but it sent a shiver up my spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. I forced myself to focus, to stay wrapped up in the ease of his voice, the effortless charm that made it so easy to lean in, to let myself be pulled closer.
And yet, despite how drawn I was to him, despite the way my skin still buzzed from that small touch, my eyes flickered to Justin. Just for a second.
He wasn't laughing like the others. There was a smirk playing on his lips, sure, but his gaze wasn't on Erik. It was on me.
I quickly looked away, pressing my thighs together beneath the table as I turned back to Erik. But even as I laughed along with everyone else, I couldn't shake the feeling of Justin's eyes lingering. Watching.
Laughter still lingered in the air as Erik wrapped up his story. The conversation flowed easily after that, splintering into smaller discussions, Mallory and Dani started talking about a bar they wanted to check out, Hannah leaned into Justin, laughing at something he murmured just for her.
One by one, people started shifting, standing, moving toward the pool or back inside for another drink. The energy of the day changed as the sun started slowly setting in the horizon. While the group naturally unraveled into different directions.
I stayed where I was, my glass in my hand, still caught in the ease of Erik's presence beside me. His knee brushed mine again, maybe accidental, maybe not. I felt the warmth of it, the casual intimacy of sitting close but not quite touching.
"Finally," he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear over the fading conversation around us. "I was beginning to think I'd have to fight for your attention all night."
I smiled, ignoring the way my skin heated under his gaze. "Oh, were you?"
He tilted his head, watching me. "Maybe a little."
The sounds of the others blurred into the background as I let myself settle into this moment with him, just the two of us left at the table, the space between us shrinking in a way that felt deliberate. The hum of conversation and distant laughter faded, replaced by the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore, the soft glow of the sunset casting golden hues across the water.
Erik exhaled, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. "Would you look at that?" His voice was quieter now, almost thoughtful. "It's our first sunset together."
My heart skipped a beat. A rush of warmth spread through me. He had to have read my note.
I glanced at him, unable to stop the slow smile tugging at my lips. "So you found my little note, then?"
His head tilted slightly as he looked at me, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. "I did." He let the words linger before adding, "I thought it was sweet."
His fingers traced over my arm, barely there but enough to send a ripple of goosebumps over my skin. It wasn't just the touch, it was the way he did it. Slow. Intentional. Like he was savoring the moment.
I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my breathing steady. "Good," I murmured, my voice softer than I expected.
We let the silence stretch for a moment longer until Marshall could be heard calling everyone over.
"Dinners ready! Come get food." He cupped his hands over his lips so everyone could hear him.
One by one we all gathered around, filling our plates with different kinds of meats and grilled vegetables. I grabbed a plate and stacked it with two ribs and grilled zucchini. I walked over and found a seat on a lounge chair by the pool, hoping to catch the last bits of the sun before it slipped past the horizon. Moments later Justin took the lounge chair next to me, with a plate in his hand and a drink in the other. He handed me the drink and I just looked at him confused.
"It's a lemon drop. Dani made it for you." He motioned to where Dani was watching us and she waved to me. I gave her a small thumbs up and took a sip. Justin had a soft smile on his face as he looked away from me and stared out at the horizon.
"Thanks for delivering the drink," I took another sip before setting it down on the small table next to me.
"No problem, your boyfriend–I mean your not boyfriend was going to bring it over but I beat him to it." He let out a sharp laugh like he was proud of himself for having beat Erik to some punchline. I rolled my eyes and a smirk formed as I took a bite from the rib in my hand.
"So…" I said. There was a slight shift of energy. For a moment it felt almost awkward to be around him. Nothing like it usually is. He noticed the shift and he looked over at me.
So…" he said, chewing thoughtfully, his gaze flickering to me before returning to the view ahead.
I smirked, licking the barbecue sauce off my thumb. "Uh are you just going to repeat everything I say or?"
He let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. "Nah, just enjoying the view."
Something about the way he said it made my stomach tighten. The way his voice dipped slightly. I swallowed, glancing toward the horizon, pretending that's what he meant: the sunset, the ocean, the fading warmth of the day.
I took another sip of my drink, feeling the burn of vodka mix with the heat creeping up my neck. "So what, you're just gonna sit there and stare at me now?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.
His smirk deepened. "I wasn't staring."
I scoffed, tilting my head slightly. "You so were."
"Maybe." He took a slow sip of his drink, gaze steady, unwavering. "Can you blame me?"
The question settled between us, and I felt the shift immediately. Suddenly the space between our lounge chairs was too small, his gaze unmoving, his magnetic field becoming stronger. I wanted to look away but my eyes betrayed me, quickening as I held his gaze a second too long.
A second too much.
"August, you good over there? Need anything?"
Erik's voice pulled me out of it like a snap of fingers, and I turned to see him watching me from across the patio, his usual easy smile in place.
"I'm good!" I called back, forcing my lips into a smile.
When I turned back, Justin was already looking at his plate, picking at a rib like nothing had happened. But the smirk was still there, barely noticeable. Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
I exhaled, grabbing my drink again. Maybe the lemon drop wasn't strong enough. He glanced over at me one more time. This time he didn't look away, his eyes traveled throughout my body and he just shook his head.
I could feel a heat building up inside of me, the way he undressed me with his eyes made me nervous. "What?"
"Nothing." He shook his head again. "Just thinking about what I want to do to you later is all."
I felt all the air leave my lungs. He has me right where he wants me. That much is still very true. I could feel it pooling in my lower stomach, how badly I just wanted to grab his hand and disappear. But I can't. And I shouldn't. I wanted to call the shots. I need to be in control now that Erik is here.
"And you think you're going to have that opportunity?" I raised an eyebrow, taking a small bite of my food.
"I can only dream you'll text me in the middle of the night." He patted his chest earnestly and chuckled a little bit.
I rolled my eyes at him, still right where he wanted me. I knew if I didn't push back I'd give in . "You should dream about Hannah texting you in the middle of the night. Not me."
His smirk turned into a frown which then turned into a confused look. His voice was sharp. "August, are you serious right now?"
I didn't expect that to be his reaction. "What? You have a girl literally pining for you. Why are you barking up this tree?" I shot back almost more serious than playful.
His eyebrows furrowed and now he had a growing scowl. "Oh I see what this is. You gotta pretend you don't like this back and forth anymore because your little boyfriend is here. But the thing is August, I can see right through it. I can see right through your eyelash batting, lip biting, laughing at anything he says. Acting like you actually care what he has to say." He chuckled softly to himself.
My heat was turning into a different kind of heat. I could feel my own face turning into a scowl. "I wasn't acting like I cared because I actually care."
"You can keep telling yourself that, August." He seemed more amused now, which made me more upset. I wasn't lying. I do care about what Erik has to say. So why is he able to get under my skin so easily?
"Whatever Justin." I scoffed and got up from the lounge chair and started heading back to the patio.
"August…wait." He shouted but I didn't stop. I kept walking, not wanting to look back. At least not yet. I could still feel my face red hot from irritation. A few people took notice.
"Hey auggie, is everything alright?" Dani whispered, trying not to draw attention to me because she could tell something was off. I nodded my head softly. Willing myself to cool down, it would be a hard thing to explain why I'm actually angry.
I forced a laugh, trying to shake off the heat still burning under my skin. "Justin can be such an ass."
"Tell me about it." Dani laughed with me, but her eyes lingered on my face, reading between the lines.
I smiled, but I could still feel the frustration simmering. I wasn't sure if I was more irritated with him for knowing exactly how to get under my skin or with myself for letting him. Before I could dwell too long Erik noticed something was wrong.
"Hey, is everything okay?" He nudged my arm softly but before I could answer Justin came back to join the group. His eyes were unreadable, and his face still formed a scowl. I tried shaking off any feeling I had at that moment.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just came for another drink!" I forced a smile hoping he would bite and he did. He reached for my hand and I let my fingers intertwine with his. We walked back inside the house together, hand in hand. I started feeling guilty because I should be on top of the moon right now while holding his hand. Instead I found myself hoping Justin watched as we were interlocked together. Like some sick twisted game we were playing.
Once inside I was able to finally breathe comfortably knowing I had to leave any ill feelings outside. We let go of each other's hand and Erik walked over to where all the liquor was.
"So vodka huh?" He glanced over at me before facing his attention back to the alcohol.
"Unfortunately yes." I giggled.
He grabbed an open bottle of vodka and poured some in an empty glass. Then he walked over to the fridge, seconds later he pulled out a jug of orange juice and poured it into the glass, followed by ice and then a small bottle of red syrup was poured over top.
He held it up in the air like he was checking to see if the proportions were right before handing it over to me. I took the glass from his hands and took a sip. The orange flavor overpowered the flavor of vodka but blended together perfectly. I was impressed.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Vodka Sunrise," he said, watching me as I took another sip. His eyes lingered, waiting for my reaction, and I realized how much he wanted to impress me. How much he noticed me.
I smiled. "It's good."
He grinned, clearly pleased, and I felt his fingers graze my wrist for just a second before he pulled away. It was light, casual. It shouldn't have sent goosebumps down my arm. And yet.
We made our way over to sit at the kitchen counter. I sat down right next to him, not realizing how close we actually were until we completely settled in. My heart began racing a little.
"So what's next on the agenda?" He asked casually.
"Marshall and Dani are taking surf lessons. And then I believe Nancy, Hannah and Allie talked about going shopping which sounds miserable and then—"
"No, I mean for us. Right now." He reached over with his hand and lightly caressed the length of my arm until our hands met. I could feel goosebumps forming as my heart skipped a beat.
"Oh I uhm…wanna see my balcony?" I blurted out. I don't know why I did. I just felt a wave of anxiousness and couldn't help myself. He noticed and laughed a little.
"Okay. Let's see your balcony. I do hear you have the best views." He smiled as he stood up from the stool, my hand still in his as we made our way past the hallway and up the stairs.
"I'm sorry my room is a mess right now." I whispered as we entered, flicking on the lights.
We made our way past my scattered clothes and onto the balcony. I closed the sliding door behind us. He walked up to the railing and took a deep breath. He was really taking in the moment, grounding me along the way. I made my way over to him and stood close enough for our shoulders to brush. He looked over at me for a moment before I felt his hand on the small of my back. It sent a flush of red heat on my cheeks. I could feel his hand moving up and down my back in a very slow and cautious movement.
"They were right, this is the best view." He murmured as he looked over to me. We stared at each other quietly, just enjoying each other's company. Until finally we turned around to sit down on the couch. I took a seat first and before he could sit down something had caught his attention. His head tilted trying to figure out what it was.
The problem for the future me, became a problem for me right now. The wet clothes Justin and I threw out here were piled up in the corner of the balcony where I had tossed them right before we went and had sex in the shower.
Fuck.
"Everything okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual even though I felt everything but.
"Yeah you just have a bunch of wet clothes out here. You know there's a washer and dryer right?" He chuckled a little bit.
"I completely forgot that the clothes were out here! A few of us got caught in the rain yesterday and I just tossed it out here so it wouldn't pool water in my room. I'll have to remember to wash them later." I tried playing off as best as I could and for the most part I think it worked.
He took the seat next to me. Close enough to feel his touch as he sat down. I steadied my breathing as best as I could while we sat in silence. The sounds of the party downstairs were distant, keeping me present in the moment with him. I turned over to look at him and he did the same. His smile was soft and genuine, like he was truly enjoying sitting here in this comfortable silence.
His fingers grazed over the back of my hand, slow and intentional, sending a warm shiver up my arm. I let my eyes close for a brief second, just taking in the sensation. But then, without meaning to, my mind betrayed me.
The way his touch sent a ripple of warmth through me, it reminded me of the way Justin's hands had trailed over my skin in the dark. How he had memorized every inch of me with the same slow, deliberate movements.
I inhaled sharply, forcing my eyes open before the memory could take hold. Erik's gaze was still on me, patient, waiting. He had no idea I had just slipped somewhere else entirely.
I curled my fingers around his, pulling myself in the moment. Erik was here. Right now. And I wanted to be here, too. I offered him a small smile, and he returned it just as softly. I was soaking up every moment of this easy feeling. Not needing to worry about whether or not what I was doing was wrong, or right. I could sit here forever.