Page 37 of Stay Awhile
“Nope, all free.”
“I’m back home. You want to have a movie day and drink wine?” I asked.
“You aren’t inviting Jim?” she asked.
“Is that a tinge of jealousy I hear? But no, not tonight. I’m sure he is out having a ball tonight, unlike us. Not to mention, it’s been a while since we’ve actually hung out just the two of us.”
“You’re right about that. I’m on the way and don’t drink all the wine. I can already tell you’ve started without me.”
I laughed as we ended the call. I drank the bit of wine I already poured into my glass, then grabbed my bags that I placed beside the island to head for my room so I could get cleaned up before Chyna got here. About thirty minutes later, the doorbell sounded.
I had tied my hair up into a bun and put on my favorite pajamas. I had also done us the courtesy of picking out a movie, our favorite,BAPS. I jogged over to the door and checked through the peephole before pulling the door open. Chyna had on pajamas as well, as she awkwardly leaned in to give me a hug. It had been that way since I’d been back.
I knew it had a lot to do with how I blew up on her when I was in Fiji. It didn’t help our relationship that soon after, I was kidnapped. I knew there were a lot of unspoken words that needed to be said between us.
I stepped aside so she could walk in and put her things down.
“I stopped by the grocery store to get two more bottles of wine and a couple bags of chips. I figured we would need it, and I know you haven’t been back home in a while to restock anything.”
“Thanks and yeah, I need to go grocery shopping one of these days. Almost everything in my cabinets are spoiled or no good. I have two wine glasses already out and popcorn. Let’s head to the living room.”
I pointed toward the couch, and Chyna followed. Once we were both comfortable, I handed her a glass of wine, and then started the movie. We laughed and sipped our wine in silence. The tension was so thick, and I could tell there was so much shehad been holding back on saying since I was at my parents, so I grabbed the remote and paused the movie.
“As much as we love this movie, I can tell neither of us for the first time is into it. So, let’s do it. Let’s get it all out there in the open with no hard feelings. I am not fragile or broken, so say what you’ve been wanting to say.”
Chyna took another sip of her wine, then nodded before placing her glass on the coffee table. She tucked her feet beneath her and turned to face me fully. I could see the conflicted emotions crossing her face. I waited patiently because I knew there were things I needed to get off my chest as well.
“I was mad at you when you got kidnapped. I feel guilty as hell about even saying that aloud. I was mad that you went to Fiji and got careless. You’re my only friend that I can trust with everything. I know that anger was out of fear because I love you, Skye, and I never meant to make you feel you didn’t matter or like you were incapable of deciding for your life. Clearly, you weren’t too off with your choice. I hear that man went to all lengths to get you back,” she said.
I knew she was angry with me. I saw remnants of it in her eyes every time she spoke to me when she visited me, but I was angry with her too.
“I get that. I was angry with you, too, for moving on without me, the worst thing a friend can feel for another. I’m happy that you’ve found the man you will spend the rest of your life with, but it hurt that I would now become a third or fourth thought to you, too. I depended on you in ways you weren’t responsible for. I was so clouded by my loneliness and resentment that I took that anger out on you. Granted, you caught me off guard when I was in Fiji. I could have told you how I felt in another way. I apologize for that.”
Tears rolled down our faces as we revealed our deepest secrets to eachother.
“A part of me knew you felt forgotten, and that lunch didn’t make it any better. I could have handled that a lot better. I promised things wouldn’t change because I knew how much you needed me, but that was a promise I shouldn’t have made when I am supposed to be putting my fiance and future husband first,” she told me.
I knew she was right, which was why I felt so guilty for being mad at her, but I couldn’t help those feelings that told me at every turn that I didn’t matter anymore. I nodded, so she knew I heard what she was saying.
“I did feel that way, but not anymore. Not after experiencing all I’ve gone through. Shoot, not after feeling so deeply for a man, and I had only known him for a short period of time. I can only imagine what you would do for a man you’ve had time to register your feelings for.”
Chyna smiled and opened her arms wide as the tension that was once suffocating had now dissipated. Without a second thought, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her. We hugged for what seemed like forever, but it was needed. We needed to create clear boundaries and expectations for our friendship.
“I’m glad we got that out of the way. Now I can breathe when I ask you what was it like to fuck an assassin, girl?” she asked while picking up her wineglass again.
I couldn’t contain my smile even if I tried. My pussy thumped at the thought of that man touching me. I didn’t know how good words would do to describe what it was really like.
“That good?” she asked. I nodded with a tight-lipped smile. “Well, damn, I might need to convince Ryan to take up a new profession. I mean, my man handles business, but if it got you speechless, that’s a different type of dick.”
We burst into laughter as I turned the movie back on. Knox was on my mind heavy, thanks to Chyna. I was just starting tolet it go that it might be for the best he hadn’t returned, and now I was sure my ass was going to be dreaming about him tonight. Although that was better than dreaming about the other thing.
“Hey, where did you just go? You alright?” she asked.
I smiled and waved her off. “Girl, I’m fine. Ignore me.”
I could tell she wanted to say more, but she left it alone, and we continued to enjoy the movie and a few others since we still had the day to waste away. We had so much to catch up on that we hung out the entire day. That was until we both fell asleep and Ryan called Chyna to see when she would come home. I guess he figured he had loaned her to me for the day, but the night was all his.
I walked Chyna to the door and gave her a hug. I pulled the door open, and the man who had been plaguing my dreams stood ready to knock. He dropped his arms to his sides as he nodded at Chyna, who was smiling too big.
