Page 17 of A Different Form of Oxygen
I step out the way, gesturing him inside. "Right this way, sir."
He laughs. "Now this is how I expect you to invite me in every time."
I'll invite him in any way he wants as long as he continues to bring me plants. He holds up the clippings. "These are for you. I went back to the bakery the other day and asked the shop owner, and she was very nice about it. We actually had a very nice discussion about plants."
Gavin looks as delicious as ever in dark blue jeans, a grey Henley topped with that leather jacket that always has me wanting to beg him to take me where I stand. My hands are shaky as I grab the clippings from his hand. "You got clippings for me. I think you really are my new best friend. Move on over, Casey and Jennie,” I say with a chuckle, feeling suddenly queasy from the constant flutters in my stomach. He did this for me. But why?
I lock the door behind him and walk to my kitchen to pull out a glass bowl and some distilled water, trying hard to cover my smile until he can't see me. I stick my head in the cabinet to hide the painful wide smile on my face.
After placing the clippings in water, I bite my lip to hide my smile. "Thank you, Gavin, this was really great of you. This is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."
He steps closer to me, not leaving me much room to walk out of my small kitchen. "You're welcome. You looked like you really wanted them, and it wasn't a big deal."
He is so close; his whispers would be too loud. Both of us stand there, facing each other, for way too long. My inner voice is screaming,Kiss me dammit. Just kiss me.I don't know how he can continue to look at me like that and not kiss me. With his gaze remaining on my mouth, his eyes darken with hunger causing my body to tense. He almost seems like he's about to close the distance between us when the doorbell rings, making him take a step back. I move past him to answer the door. He pulls out his wallet and I turn around before twisting the knob.
"You put that away. I got it this time."
He smiles, sliding his wallet back into his pocket. He seemed surprised and maybe a bit disappointed that I didn't want him to pay. I grab the pizzas and before I can set them on the counter, they are moving out of my hands.
"Let me help you out there, buddy."
Buddy.The word felt like a downgrade. I didn't think I would miss the word friend so much until this moment. I lock the door, the moment my hands are free. Walking into my kitchen, I grab a few paper plates, and he shakes his head.
"You are one of those people who don't have real dishware, aren't you?"
I shake my head, shoving a slice of pizza in my mouth. "I'm one of those people who hates doing dishes."
He grabs three slices of his meatless pizza and sets them on a plate. "You are also one of those people who grabs a plate, just to eat straight from the box. You know, I thought I was sure to get greeted with tea this time."
"You were sadly mistaken. Should have tried a different door. At least I don't have to worry about you stealing my food this time"
"Nope. You can have all that meat to yourself."
I give him a cheeky smile. "Are you sure you want me to keep all my meat to myself?"
He practically spits out his pizza, and at first, I think the guy's going to choke to death. "First you don't greet me with tea, and now you're trying to kill me in your kitchen."
"Since I gave you a near death experience, I guess I can make you some tea now."
He laughs, and we spend the rest of the evening laughing and flirting. I show him my treasured greenhouse sitting out back, telling him the name of each plant and why they are special to me. He freezes in front of the lilacs. "You have lilacs."
I nod. “Yup, I don't have a lot of plants that flower, but I have quite a collection of lilacs and a few peace lilies."
He runs his fingers over each petal, bringing his nose close enough to inhale one of my favorite scents before taking a step back. "Maybe we should watch that movie now; I'm getting pretty sweaty in here."
I want to believe his reaction to the lilacs were due to the memory of me. I repotted them that day we shared that moment at the club and I always smell of them afterward. But when I walk inside, he doesn't say anything, smiling at me with the remote in his hand. We watch a few movies before he nudges me as I begin to doze. "Hey Ben, I should probably go and let you get some rest."
I rub my eyes. "Don't you want to tuck me in first?"
He chuckles. "As fun as that sounds, you still need to come lock the door."
That has me practically jumping off the couch to walk him out. “Bye, Gavin. Make sure to come back with more plants.”
“Then I will never know if our friendship is sincere or it’s because of the brand-new nursery I built you.
I laugh, waving him off one last time. Wide awake now, I wish I am able to close my eyes and drift off the way I did on Gavin's shoulder. Except my pillow isn't as warm and smells nothing like his shirt that was soaked in Irish Spring body wash and floral detergent, reminding me of springtime.
