Page 69 of Between Us

“I tried calling…” he goes on, “I forgot to grab my laptop, and I have that paper I’m working on.”

“Oh,” I grab the crutch and awkwardly lift off his bed. “You can come in. I mean,obviously. It’s your apartment.”

He smiles easily and takes a step inside before shutting the door behind him. Ignoring the looks I know I’m garnering from Margo and Meera, I walk closer to Adrian leaving a few feet separating us.

“Thanks again. For letting us stay here,” I awkwardly tumble over my words. Gesturing behind me, I tell him, “These are my friends, Margo and Meera.”

Without seeming to think about it, he quickly squeezes my waist and smiles down at me as he makes his way to introduce himself.

Turning to watch, I silently thank my friends for reining in their craziness. I know it’ll end the second he leaves again.

“Hey, I’m Adrian.” He shakes Margo’s hand. Somehow knowing she was the loud one on the phone last night, he adds, “Nice to see you again.”

I can imagine the flick of his eyebrows as he jokes about the ‘hot guy from the grocery store’comment.

Except he underestimates my best friend. Firmly shaking his hand, she agrees with a nod, “Itisgood to see you again. Especially in this new”—slipping her hand from his, she gestures around his living room—“setting.”

Adrian just snorts and turns to Meera, who’s watching their interaction quietly. “Adrian,” he says and holds his hand out again.

She takes it and tells him, “Lovely home.Veryclean, especially for a guy.”

It’s such a weird thing to say, but of course, Adrian just looks around—taking in his own apartment with a new eye—and says, “Thanks. I’m going to tell my mom you said that.”

Stepping forward, I ask, “You’re going to tell your mom I’m staying here?”

Turning toward me, he looks confused. “Did you tell your mom you’re staying here?”

“I mean, yeah. Obviously. She knows you though.”

“And mine know of you.”

“What?” It comes out like a squeak.

“They were at the grocery store,” he simply states. Through this entire conversation, I’m extremely aware of my friends who are watching it play out. “I’ve told them things about you,” he continues.

And because in times of the slightest panic, I have no filter, I ask, “Like,everything?”

He tilts his head in confusion, looking at me for the first time like I’ve lost my mind. Then realization dawns on him, and he looks both amused and kind of embarrassed. “No,Blake.Not everything.”

Behind him, Meera grabs onto Margo’s arm, and both of their mouths are hanging open.

Recovering just as quickly, he demands through a laugh, “Please tell me you don’t tellyourparents everything.”

That makes both of my friends burst out in giggles behind him. “Can you imagine?” Margo practically howls.

I’m honestly fucking embarrassed right now only it’s different than feeling humiliated. I’ve made a complete fool of myself, except in front of these three people, that’s okay. I can laugh at myself and not want to cry in bed about it later.

“No, I promise,” I tell him.

“Good.” He nods. “Tell your friends whatever you want about what happened on the couch, but let’s leave the parents out of it.”

“Yes, agreed!” Margo claps in support of his idea, and of course, Meera follows right along.

Turning back to Adrian, I ask in a snarky tone, “Can I kick you out of your own home?”

With a giant grin, he steps toward his coffee table and picks up the laptop. He’s walking back when Margo asks, “What are you doing on Halloween?”

Over his shoulder he says, “Not sure. Why?”

---