Of course he would only flirt with me when he’s drunk. Everybody looks more attractive if you’re drunk, or at least so I’ve heard.
I’m trying not to get my hopes up about last night. What if everything he said was only a result of drinking too much and hoping to cop a feel? I mean, sure, there’s plenty of other girls who would happily throw themselves at Oliver, I know that. But even so, how do I know it was genuine? I don’t. Still, I can’t help but hold out hope that there was some truth to his words.
I’m slightly embarrassed for being so straightforward with him, telling him I won’t be with someone that drinks. If I did have any chance with him, that probably wrecked it.
I turn over in bed and grab my phone off my nightstand.
Oliver: Hey, sorry again about last night. Can I see you today?
My heart begins to beat twice as fast. What does that mean? He’s sorry that he had been drinking? He’s sorry that he gave me the wrong idea? I don’t know how to decipher the message and I’m terrified to respond.
I agree to meet up with him later today. I have no idea what to expect, but mainly I’m hoping that our friendship will at least still be intact. Even if he isn’t attracted to me at all romantically, I’m terrified to lose this person that’s quickly become my closest friend.
* * *
“I’m gonna go see a friend in a little while,” I say to my mom as I watch her cut up a tomato for the BLT my father requested.
“Oh? What friend?” She asks enthusiastically. Mom is always excited to hear that I have any kind of social life at all.
“His name is Oliver,” I say, preparing myself for more questions.
“Oh, well good. I’m glad you’re getting out of the house, your dad and I will be at the club. You and your friend are welcome to come along.”
I stifle my laugh, I definitely can’t picture Oliver McLeod at a country club. “That’s okay, we’re just gonna go for a walk in the park. Thanks for lunch, mom.” I give her a quick hug, thankful she didn’t give me the third degree about hanging out with a guy.
Oliver and I decide to meet up at the park in between our neighborhoods. I sit on one of the empty swings next to the uninhabited playground while I wait for him, staring out at the tall, looming mountains in the distance.
“Hey,” I hear his deep voice call out from behind me.
I turn around to see him dressed in a long-sleeved Nirvana t-shirt with the sleeves pushed up halfway, accentuating the muscles in his forearms. He always looks so effortlessly handsome.
I swallow the lump in my throat, “Hi.”
“I wanna talk about what happened last night,” he says as I stand up. He leads me away from the playground, towards the path that runs through the park.
“We don’t have to, it’s not really a big deal. I shouldn’t have freaked out over it.” I sit down on a wooden bench that overlooks a small creek, and he settles into it next to me, our thighs just barely touching.
“It is a big deal. I made you uncomfortable and that’s not okay.” I hear the remorse in his voice.
I look down at my feet to avoid his intense gaze. I remain silent for a moment, listening carefully to the trickling of the water below us. “It’s fine. People make mistakes when they’re drunk, I get it.”
“The only mistake I made was getting drunk, though,” he says in a lower tone. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”
I look up at him, confused, but I don’t say anything.
His eyes meet mine again, “I meant what I said to you, Oakley. I just wish I’d been sober when I said it.”
My heart starts pounding wildly in my chest, “Do you remember everything you said..?” I ask, pinching my eyebrows together.
“I’m falling for you, I meant it.” he says straightforwardly. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. I’m always gonna be your friend, no matter what.”
“I’m falling for you too, though.” I blurt out.
Our eyes meet and I watch a smile tug at his supple lips. “That’s what I was hoping for,” he whispers.
He lifts his hand and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, just like he did the night before. He uses his thumb and pointer finger to tip my head up toward him slowly and I feel my heartbeat rapidly quicken. I slowly move my eyes upward to make contact with his, which are already staring at me intently. His blue eyes trail down my face and back up again.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Oakley,” he whispers. I feel like my heart is going to burst right out of my chest.