Chapter Text
If there is one thing you know, it’s that nothing kills a crush like getting to know them.
Sam was hosting a BBQ this evening. He’d said he’d keep it small, which in his world meant “just” fifty people. Regardless, you’d figured it would be the perfect time to hang out in a very platonic way, with your new friend. You texted her the invite and took a brisk walk down to the lake, leaving your phone at home. Your heart was racing by the time you arrived. It was only 6 am, and yet the sun was out and hotter than ever. You sit down on the dock before pushing yourself off into the water, the old wood scratching the back of your legs. The water is shocking on your hot skin, and it takes a second after you resurface to catch your breath. It is jarring, but it works: the sticky summer air on your skin, and the racing thoughts of her, they slip away into the dark lake.
You stop on your way home to pick up some strawberries that, by the time you get home, are partially smushed due to you carelessly swinging the bag. You pull off your shirt, which is soaked wet from your hair, and hang it over a chair. When you go to check the time, you see the notification: she responded. You slowly slide it open, telling yourself it doesn’t matter what it says. She said yes. You fight a grin and text “cool”, preceded by the address. Holding your breath, watching the dots move again.
“Great. Would you maybe want to drive there together? I could pick you up at your place.” You ponder your response for a little too long, and she starts typing again, and you panic, sending a quick “Yeah, sounds great, how about 4.30?” She responds with a thumbs up, and it makes you giggle.
You spend the majority of your day going between working and the rest, pulling on clothes that would eventually end up on the floor cause nothing was right. By the time your alarm goes off, you’ve finally settled on an outfit and picked out your favourite jewellery.
She should be here any minute, and you anxiously wait by the door, adjusting your top and your hair, double- and triple-checking that you've got everything you need. You stand by your door, checking your phone, contemplating whether to text her. You wonder for a second if she was going to show up when a knock comes at your door.
Hesitant, you open it just a bit.
“Hi!” Christina smiles, looking a little confused. “We did say four thirty, right?” She looks unsure for a second.
“Yes, um, let’s go.” You hurry out the door, closing it before she could see too much of your messy apartment.
You lock the door and turn around to an amused grin.
“Why’d you look so scared?”
“Oh, I’m sorry; I wasn’t sure for a second who it was. “You laugh, now embarrassed at how stupid you looked.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“No. I just, I guess, expected you to text, not knock. “ She opens the door to the passenger seat, and you’re about to thank her when you see her move to remove something from the seat.
“Sorry, I only brought this.” She lifts a bottle of wine. “It was last minute, but I didn’t wanna show up empty-handed.”
“You didn’t have to, but I’m sure Sam will be more than happy you did.” You smile, getting into the car.
“Good. “ She gives you a sweet smile that sends a flutter through your chest. “I’ll text you next time, I promise.” She starts to make her way out of the parking space.
“No, you don’t have to at all; I’m just not used to anyone but Sam coming by.” You look away, feeling a little silly and exposed.
“I get that. You keep busy. Just remember to have fun, everyone in a while too.”
You arrive at Sam’s shortly after; he doesn’t live far.
“Hiiiii!” Sam pulls you into a hug. “Oh, hello.” He looks over to Christina with a mischievous smile. “You must be Christina. Nice to meet you. I’m so honoured to meet you finally.” Despite her recent fame, Sam had no clue who she was. He had decided a couple of years back he was going to do a "detox "of all things digital, and then he just never went back. You had suggested he make an exception for watching the news every once in a while, but to no avail. He had, however, kept a flip phone for emergency texts or whenever he needed to share a thought he had with you.
“Oh my god! You brought wine!” he smiled widely, twisting the bottle in his hand. “Oh, you have good taste as well.” He swivelled around to face you.
“See, polite guests bring gifts. And you, my so-called best friend, where is your gift?”
“She was in on the wine.” Christina winked at you.
“I find that veeery hard to believe.” Sam gives you a side eye.
“Could be true.” You shrug.
“Sure.” Sam rolls his eyes. “Well, make yourself at home; I’m going to go open this bottle. Would you like a glass?” He points the bottle at Christina, who accepts the offer.
Several people have gathered around the small fire pit in the garden. People are telling stories and chatting. It was that point of the night where everyone started to leave the stiff politeness behind as the alcohol loosened people up. One of Sam’s friends was currently telling a story about his latest Tinder date gone awry. You and Christina were on the loveseat. The story was genuinely intriguing, but all you could think about was the warmth of her thigh against yours. You had to force yourself not to look at her, but every time the guy cracked a joke, all you could focus on was her laugh filling you with a warm, giddy feeling.
“And after all that, the night comes to an end, and he goes. Well, that was great; we should be friends.”
A chorus of “no way” and “what !” comes as he finishes his story. The fire was quite close, but it was by no means large enough to warm. The sun had begun to set, and your outfit, although cute, was far from warm. In an effort to keep your spot next to Christina, you willed your body to stop trembling. You thought you were doing a good job until you felt a hand on your arm.
“God, you’re freezing.” Christina rubbed up and down your arms.
“I’m fine.” You spoke through chattering teeth.
“I’ve got a jacket in my car. You first misunderstood it as a question, an offer you could decline, but realized your mistake as she stood up, offering you a hand. As you took her hand, you spotted Sam on the other side of the fire sporting a pleased smile.
“Leaving so soon?”
“We’re just getting a jacket.”
“A jacket, huh?” Sam laughed. You turned around to him to give an angry look, before following Christina out of the garden.
You looked down at your hand in hers. It looked rather small and delicate in her strong grip. It stayed there til you reached the car.
She pulled the key from her pocket, pressing the button to unlock the car. She held out the jacket for you to slip on, pulling it over your shoulders. Her hands lingered just for a second on your shoulders, sliding down your arms before disappearing.
“Do you wanna go back ?” You turned around, looking at her in confusion.
“Are you suggesting we do an Irish exit?”
“Perhaps? I’m not saying I wanna go home, but maybe we could take a walk? I’m feeling a bit restless after being sat still for so long”
“That actually sounds really nice. Okay, give me one second.” Without further explanation, you run back into the house.
“Did you steal a blanket?” She laughs as you return, arms full. She grabs the bag from your shoulder.
“It’s actually my blanket that he stole a while back.”
“And the other stuff?” She peeks into the bag.
“Some of it is borrowed, and if he is lucky, I might return it.”
You walk in a comfortable silence, the movement finally warming you up. You lead the way as if on autopilot to your favourite spot. A big rock overlooking the whole lake
You lay out the blanket.
“This is the best spot to catch the sunset. Unfortunate for us, we just missed it.” It really didn’t matter, though; the moon did just as good a job illuminating the lake, its light fracturing on the water surface.
“It’s beautiful.” She sat next to you, and you handed her a beer, which you’d snatched from Sam’s fridge.
“I probably shouldn’t if I want to be able to drive home tonight.”
“You could always stay at mine.” She looked surprised by the invitation.
“I mean, not, um. On the couch, I mean. Or I’ll take the couch, of course.” You shake your head, embarrassment creeping into your cheeks. You expect her to reject the idea, but she doesn’t. You don’t stay long, opting to finish the beers on the way home as the night was quickly cooling.
You fumble with your keys, possibly tipsy, but also so very aware of her eyes on you.
You put down sheets and put the spare pillows in cases, making your couch as cosy as possible.
“I’ll honestly be fine with just a blanket.”
“I want you to be comfortable; it’s no bother. One or two pillows?”
“One.” She pauses, smiling at you. “You’re sweet.”
“I’m just trying to be a good host.” The two of you look at one another for just a bit too long.
“Um, do you need a shirt to sleep in?” You divert your eyes before you can do something you regret.
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
You bring back your most comfortable, a large band shirt. Before you have a chance to leave,w she begins to pull up her shirt. You quickly spin around to give her privacy. You stood with your back turned as she changed. Although you had turned away quickly, the image of her abs peaking out from under her shirt was now burned into your mind.
“I’m done; you can turn around.”
Because she was muscular and her presence often made you feel as if she was towering over you, it was easy to forget that the woman was only 5,4”, until now. The large shirt seemed to be swallowing her whole, and you couldn’t help it when a smile crept onto your lips.
“Don’t laugh.” She looked at you with furrowed brows.
“I’m not. I just. You look adorable.”
She rolled her eyes. She held onto her mock-annoyed face for a moment longer, until she couldn’t fight back her smile any longer.
“Do you need anything else before I go to bed?”
She slowly moved closer as she tied her hair back.
“I don’t think so. “She gave you a warm smile, standing much closer now. You tell yourself to step back, create distance, but looking into those brown eyes left you unable to move.
“Okay.” You took a deep breath, her eyes still staring deep into yours. “Well, if you need anything, just knock.”
“You’re sweet.” She pauses as if she’s considering saying more; instead, she looks away. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”