Page 15 of Drawn To You

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I see a sneaky picture of Joshua wearing my hoodie, and making a silly face, I giggle quietly, and then even more when I read the caption:

Sweater Thief: Update on my sweater?

It’s become a running joke with us. I text:

Abigail: Working on it…

Sweater Thief: Better hurry up before your hoodie, becomes a permanent piece in my wardrobe ;)

The next day, I met up with the girls at Lily and Josh’s place for a movie night. We made popcorn and ordered pizza. At the end of the night, I made sure to get Joshua’s sweater from Lily, so I can return it and put this silly business behind us. When I got home I shot Joshua a text.

Abigail: I have your precious sweater, it’s safe for now, if you ever want to see it again you will do what I say. I’ll contact you soon with further instructions. No police!

Sweater Thief: What are your demands?

Abigail: My black hoodie and $1,000,000.00 in unmarked bills. The clock is ticking.

Sweater Thief: Look, I can’t come up with that kind of cash on such short notice. Would you settle for some good BBQ and the above-mentioned hoodie? If this is acceptable come to our place this Saturday at 2:00 pm to make the exchange.

He was inviting me to a BBQ at their place? I already knew Lily and Joshua and a few of our other friends were planning on going, but we were not really close enough for me to have been invited. I honestly didn’t know how I felt about going. I usually hated going places out of my comfort zone. But on the other hand, Lily would be there and we needed to make the sweater switch. My mind made up I texted him back.

Abigail: I’ll be there.

* * *

Joshua

I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been a big mistake to invite Abigail, as I watched her walk up with Lily and Josh. I’d recognize it later, the ramifications full and clear once all was said and done. But at the moment, I wasn’t thinking about that. Even though I knew in my gut that Shannon was having an affair behind my back, I still felt a sting of guilt each time I found myself enjoying Abigail’s fresh scent that lingered on her hoodie or thinking about the curve of her smile.

But I was beginning to recognize something important when it came to Abigail. I knew underneath my curiosity about her was a building attraction. Interest was one thing, but I knew this was more because so many things held my interest. Playing my guitar held my interest. Working with my hands held my interest because it kept me feeling strong and healthy. When I had the time, watching movies was a favorite pastime of mine. Those were all easy things that held my attention and reduced my stress. But if I thought my newly blossoming friendship with Abigail would fall neatly into that category once I figured her out, I was kidding myself. This was not just curiosity. It was attraction disguised as something far more innocent.

That became very apparent when I watched as Shannon approached them, and I realized I didn’t like seeing them together for some reason. Then with a grimace and a flare of anger, I watched as Robert appeared at Shannon’s side and my sudden pang of guilt was completely overshadowed for the moment. I fisted my hands at my sides and thought to myself, “Fuck it, I would be friends with Abigail if I wanted to!”

As I watched the shy redhead who had sparked my interest, my gaze caught the soft curve of her high cheekbones and the delicate line of her jaw. Even from where I stood, I could see how tightly she clenched that jaw, and I found myself wanting to touch her and tell her to relax and just breathe. If I thought about it hard enough, I knew exactly how she would feel in my hands. If I drew my finger down the line of her neck would she unlock the muscles she was holding so tense? I couldn’t help but wonder if it would soothe her. If I treated her with softness would she melt at my touch? These were dangerous thoughts and I needed to get my shit together.

Besides, even if Shannon was cheating on me that didn’t mean I wanted to sink to her level. Being attracted to someone was one thing, but acting on it. No, that just couldn’t happen. I didn’t want to drag Abigail into my shit show of a life. She doesn’t deserve that. She is way too sweet of a person and I like her way too much to do that to her. Not to mention the fact that Shannon would eat her alive if I put that kind of target on her back. I couldn’t let that happen to her. No way!

After making my way over to them and we exchanged greetings we all headed inside. I’d almost convinced myself that the invitation for her to come here today meant nothing. Almost. But as we walked side by side, I swear I felt a low, humming awareness arch between her body and mine. Denying that I was attracted to her was a fool’s errand. I could lie to myself about a lot of things, but not this, no matter what had grown between us the last couple of months.

But nothing more than friendship would ever be possible with her, I knew that. But I liked being around her. Her presence was like a soothing balm to my wounded soul. Whenever she was around she lifted the constant dark cloud that seemed to hover over me lately. I was finding that I needed her around for my own sanity, as long as it didn’t progress past this. But having her in my home, the place I shared with my unfaithful wife and two kids, felt like I was tempting fate.

“I see you brought my sweater,” I said with a smile. “It wasn’t easy to get, so you better appreciate it.” she huffed out and I chuckled. “Believe me I do, and I’ll grab your hoodie for you in a minute, even though I’m half tempted to keep it.” “Don’t even try it.” if looks could kill I’d be a dead man the way her eyes were shooting daggers at me and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I knew the night we met that I’d like you, Abby. You’re good people.” “How could you have possibly known you’d like me, we barely even talked?” “I learned a lot about you that night.”

“Like …?” her voice trailed off. “You don’t like to burden people when something is bothering you. Talking about it probably makes it worse.” At my accurate statement, she lifted her chin slightly. So I kept going. “You couldn’t decide whether you loved it or hated it that I shined the spotlight on you.” “True,” she conceded. “What else?” “You try to harness your anger into something productive so that you don’t lash out at the people around you.; and you apologize way too much.” She didn’t answer. But watching the flash behind her eyes, like someone dropped a match into a vat of gasoline, I knew I was right.

Abigail was a shiny blood-red apple, tempting just by being herself. She was the thing I shouldn’t want but might burn the world down in order to try and I wanted more of her. More of this. No matter how wrong she was for me, how badly this might go, or how much I might regret it. I wanted more and I knew inviting her today had been a big mistake.

Thirteen

Flowers, Bird Calls & WTF

Abigail

When we walked into the apartment the first thing that caught my attention was the cutest little boy with dark hair and chocolate brown eyes standing in the kitchen behind a man who looked like Joshua might in about thirty years. They shared the same jaw, the same nose, the same build. If I had to guess he was Joshua’s dad, and judging by the pleased smile on his face, he was perfectly content to let his grandson plaster his shirt with Scooby-Doo stickers.

“Uncle Josh!” the little boy squeals and throws himself at Josh. Josh picks him up and throws the little boy up into the air, much to his delight if his peals of laughter were any indicator. “What’s up, little man?”

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