Page 4 of Can't Walk Away

Jase smirks and nods his head to follow him. I continue behind him on the narrow steps. When we reach the top of the steps, we walk into an open floor plan It’s a blank canvas. The walls are white. The floors are builder grade white washed tile The kitchen is all white along with the appliances. It’s not something I’d pick for myself if I were buying a place, but it works in the small space. I leave the front of the apartment and walk towards what I assume is the bedroom door and open it. It’s a decent size space, enough to accommodate a queen size bed, night stand, and dresser. There’s a walk-in closet that I’m thankful for. When I was at college, I’d always find a thrift or second hand store and I seemed to have accumulated a massive amount of clothing. I walk to the next door and open into a decent sized bathroom and again everything is all white. I can already imagine the pops of colors I can add into every nook and corner to make it more my own space.

“What do you think?” Jase asks.

“Jase, it’s perfect. I’ll take it, but you didn’t tell me your price?” I say with glee and hopefulness that I can move in as soon as possible.

“I need some web design stuff done for the shop. Maybe we can make a deal,” he suggests.

“Absolutely, but you know I would do it for free. Right?” I tell him and I still would.

“Not taking advantage of that, Chey,” he grumbles.

“Well okay then, so are we good? Name your price and when can I move in?” I ask. He’s not budging on telling me his price.

“You work on the website and we’ll call it your deposit and first month’s rent. Utilities and internet are included if you can pay $500 a month. Cable isn’t included though,” he says as he runs his fingers through his messy brown hair.

“Yes!” I squeal out and then run and jump into his arms. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t prepared for me to throw myself at him, but he planted his feet and took all of my weight and grabbed the back of my legs and held me. He walks forward and suddenly my back is pressed into the wall behind me. His eyes have a look in them that I’ve never seen in all the years that I’ve known him.

He always held himself back when I was younger. Today though, he doesn’t seem to be doing that at all. Maybe it’s because I’m older now or maybe it’s because he actually likes me and years before that he didn’t see me as a woman but more as a child.

When he leans in towards me, I know this is it. A moment I’ve dreamt about for the past six years. I’m finally going to have my first kiss ever and it’s going to be from Jase. His lips lightly graze mine.

“Jase,” I moan and then his lips are on mine firmly. His tongue sneaks out and licks the seam of my bottom lip. I chase his tongue with mine and then his body is pinning me to the wall. His hands come up and frame my face, holding me where he wants me, he’s kissing me, and I have to say it’s more than I could ever imagine a first kiss to be.

4

Jase

Kissing Cheyenne was unlike anything I could ever have prepared for her. She was hesitant at first, confirming my thoughts that she’s innocent in every single way.

“Fuck, Chey,” I say with emotion. My nose glides along hers. She hums quietly. I find myself not wanting to let her leave me.

“Wow,” she finally says.

“Yeah, was gonna tell you this later on, but I’ll tell you now. I’ve wanted you for the past three years. Every time you came home it was hard for me to stay away. I wanted you to achieve your goals. I didn’t want to hold you back, but now that your home for good. I’m not letting you get away,” I tell her. She’s looking at me, not through me, not around me. She’s looking right at me and I can tell she likes what she sees and what I’ve said.

“But what about my parents?” she asks me with her eyebrows furrowed. I know what she’s thinking. What she doesn’t know is that Phil knows my intentions with Cheyenne. He wasn’t happy when I told him. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact we were at his house and there were people milling about. I’m sure he would have kicked my ass or at least attempted to. He brought up our age difference and how we would want different things out of life. That she’s young and just starting out. That I’d be ready to settle down and she’d be out partying and learning how to live on her own. I kept my mouth shut while he voiced his opinion, staying calm and collected when I really wanted to shut his mouth. I don’t care that we’ve been friends for years. He clearly doesn’t know Cheyenne. She knows what she wants and those rare few times I saw her and was able to talk to her. She knew what she wanted. It’s the one thing that kept me from going after her while she was in college. She needed to spread her wings and see what was out there. It burned to watch her leave, but now that she’s back, I know I can’t walk away from her. She’s what I want in my life, no fuck that. She’s what I need.

---