Page 10 of Always There Bayou
“W-What?” My heart was about to jump out of my chest.
What the fuck was she talking about?
“Cory, I’mreallygood at reading people, and you arereallybad at hiding your feelings,” she replies. “Every time you’ve mentioned them, you've had the biggest smile on your face. Your eyes get this sparkle in them, and your shoulders relax. You’re comfortable, content, and full of admiration. Cory, I think you might be in love.”
“Whoa, wait, h-hold on,” I say, shaking my head. “Denny and I are just best friends. We’ve known each other since we were in sixth grade. We’ve been on many vacations together. Our families get along so well that we’re all like one big family.” The more I explain, the wider her smile gets. I can feel myself sweating. “Denny and I are just close. I mean, yeah, we sleep in the same bed in nothing butour underwear, but that’s just because we’re comfortable. Yes, we cuddle. Yes, I need to be up under them. Yes, we…”
My voice trails off as I start to register what the fuck I’ve just said. Hearing it out loud does sound wild as hell. Cheyenne giggles and tells me that if I can’t see it, she’s not gonna push it further before pulling out her notebook and beginning to review the recovery plan. I nod along, but my mind is elsewhere.
Was I in love with Denny?
Nah!
Nah…
Nah?
By the time our meeting was finally over, it was like two hours later than either of us had intended to be here. When we exited the building, the sun was setting, and my stomach was growling. We talked for a bit as we walked to the parking lot. To our surprise, Harley was waiting for us at Cheyenne’s car, and when she saw how friendly we were, her jaw dropped.
When we explained that we’d had a heart-to-heart and better understood each other, I could see the moment her body relaxed. She pulled me into a hug, and I laughed before pushing her away. I swear, I’d never meet someone as touchy-feely as her. She thanked me and then turned to pull Chey in for a hug and kiss. I said my goodbyes and headed over to my car. My stomach was eating my back, and if I didn’t get any food soon, I would have an attitude with anyone who stood in my way.
I decided to call Denny and ask if they wanted anything while I was out, since I knew they probably hadn’t eaten dinner yet. I choseto ignore the feeling that had been bubbling up for the last hour. I wasnotin love with Denny. I couldn’t be…
“Bunny,” I say as soon as they answer, calling them by the nickname I’d given them years ago. “I’m about to get something fromThe Charms. Would you like something?”
“Oh, uh, no? I’m doing my juice cleanse, remember?” they ask, and I roll my eyes at myself. I opened the app while I was still in the parking lot to place my order. “Tomorrow is my last day, and I gotta see it through. I feel healthier already.”
“Okay, but don’t be asking for none of my food once I come over,” I state. “You know how much I hate that.”
“Whateverrrr,” they reply in a sing-songy tone. “I’ll see you when you get here.”
“I’m serious, Denali,” I warn, but they just giggle before hanging up the phone. I sigh. “They’re gonna ask me for something.”
I add a few of their favorites to my cart and then pay for the order before starting the car and heading to the restaurant.
“You sleeping over tonight?” Denny asks, and I nod.
We’d finished off the food, and just as I expected, they ended up eating some too. After that, we watched a movie together, and when they started to yawn, I figured it was time to call it a night. I had a therapy session in the morning, and they had to go into the studio to get ready for a few special classes they were hosting for senior citizens.
As they took a shower in the bathroom of their room, I took one in the en-suite attached to one of the guest rooms. I let the water wash over me as I relaxed my mind, clearing it of all stress. After about 20 minutes, I get out and run through my nightly routine using all the items I kept over here. Although we lived in the same apartment building, we were on different floors. So, to make things easier, we both kept clothes, toiletries, and other stuff at each other’s places. It’s been like that since we were younger, so why would we stop now?
It wasn’t weird…
It didn’t mean anything…
I slip on a pair of boxers and a T-shirt, then tie my locs up in a durag before grabbing my clothes and tossing them in the clothes hamper. I flick off the light and exit the bathroom, walking back to the room where Denny was. They exit the bathroom right as I enter, and my eyes instantly travel to their ass in those little pajama shorts they like to wear.
“Damn, I always forget how fat your ass is thanks to them baggy ass clothes you stay wearing,” I chuckle as I smack Denny’s ass playfully. They swat my hand away as they laugh, turning towards the full-length mirror to finish tying up their hair. “I’m just saying…damn, Denny. I’m jealous of your future partner.”
“Don’t even start with that shit, Cory,” they reply.
I smirk and hop onto the bed before grabbing my phone off the bedside table. I start to check my messages, but I catch a glimpse of Denny out of the corner of my eyes, and I can’t help but let them travel the length of their body. I’ve always thought they were fine ashell. Taller than me by a couple of inches at 6 feet, chestnut-colored complexion, chubby and curvy in all the right places. They had slightly muscular arms, decorated with tattoos. Along with that, they were blessed with a beautiful, heart-shaped face, full lips, and big, round, smoky grey eyes that reminded me of fog on a snowy morning. Even I could admit that they were gorgeous.
“Why do you always come over to my place and climb into my bed like it’s yours?” They ask once they get to where I am. “I don’t think your girlfriend would be too happy if she knew that this was what you do when you come over here.”
“Stop talking and come lie down with me,” I whine, reaching over to pull them by the band of their shorts gently. “And I told you, we’re not together at the moment. She broke up with me again the other day. Besides, what’s wrong with me cuddling with my bestie?”
“Um, maybe it’s the fact that anyone could misinterpret our closeness,” they point out. “Every time we cuddle, you’re in your boxers, and I barely have clothes on. Doesn’t that seem suspicious?”
