The Space Between Us(35)
“Open wide,” he said to me with a slimy smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes in disgust and turned away.
“Charlie, I'm kidding. Really, here,” he held up both bottles like they were a prize. I looked at him trying to put a name to his face. I recognized him because he was a part of Asher's frat, but I couldn't remember ever really talking with him. The fact that he knew my name told me he knew I was with Asher, so he was more than likely not trying to use a smarmy pick-up line on me. I relented and moved closer to him, pointed my face up, and opened my mouth like a baby bird, much like I'd seen many girls do in front of him tonight. He smiled. I closed my eyes. I felt the sting of the schnapps as it hit the sensitive skin under my tongue, then I smelled the sugary sweetness of the syrup as it mixed with the cool peppermint liquid.
“Close your mouth and shake.” I heard him say loudly into my ear to combat the noise of the music. I followed his instructions and shook my head back and forth, mixing up the contents inside. My mouth tasted like a peppermint patty. It was delicious. I swallowed and then blushed slightly when I opened my eyes to find him still staring at me.
“Which country is that from?” I asked, partly trying to be a smartass and partly trying to hide the fact that I was uncomfortable. He hadn’t moved back from me, even though there is no need for him to be standing so close anymore. I stepped back to try and put some distance between us but I bumped into someone. My stomach dropped because I knew exactly who I’d backed into. I felt the hardness of his abs and chest up against my shoulders. His hands came up to my arms and gripped me sturdily, helping me keep my balance.
“Blake.” That was all he said. I figured that was the name of the guy I was standing too close to. Blake nodded at Asher and walked away. I felt Asher's hands spinning me and I turned my head up to look at him.
“I was just taking a shot from him,” I yelled over the music. His finger came to my chin and tipped my face up towards his. I thought he was coming towards me to kiss my lips and I involuntarily licked them, tasting the chocolate and peppermint still lingering on them. His mouth bypassed mine and moved to my ear instead.
“I know, Bit. But that doesn't mean I have to like finding you staring up at him with your body so close to his.” My heart dropped hearing his words. I never wanted to give him a reason to feel like I was not completely his. I was nothing if not his. I pressed my cheek into his, putting my lips right next to his ear.
“Take me to your room.”
He pulled back and looked in my eyes for a few moments, then his hand slid down to lace his fingers between mine. He turned and led me to the staircase. Once we were to his room, he pulled out his keys, unlocked, and opened the door. I walked in first and breathed a small sigh of relief to see his roommate was not there. I sat on the edge of Asher's bed and watched him as he placed the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside doorknob. That sign usually bothered me. I didn't like the idea of the guys in his house walking by his door knowing or assuming anything was happening inside. It was none of their business. But in this case, I was glad he pulled it out and announced to the world that we needed some privacy.
I watched as he walked to his dresser and as he faced away from me, he reached behind his neck and pulled his tee shirt over his shoulders. His bare back was strong and muscular. I could see each individual, defined muscle move as his arms free themselves of his shirt. He was beautiful.
“I'm sorry.” The whisper was out of my mouth before I even had a chance to realize I said anything. He stilled, but eventually turned his head over his shoulder to look at me.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Charlie. I know nothing happened. You just took a shot from him; that's the whole point of this party.”
“I'm not sorry for taking a shot. I'm sorry for giving you a reason to feel, even for one second, that I would lend myself to anyone else. That anything I give to you so freely or happily, is ever given to anyone else.”
“I don't like the idea of lending you in any capacity.”
“You'll never have to,” I replied.
“I'm sorry I make you feel this way. You have every right to have fun at a party. You weren't doing anything wrong.”
“If it made you feel anything besides happy or loved, even for one moment, then I am sorry.” I stood up and walked over to him, placing my hands on his ribcage. His skin was warm and tight over his muscles. I reached up on my tiptoes and placed a kiss right between his shoulder blades, then rested my cheek against his back. “I love you.”
“I know, Charlie.” I felt him turn and his hands were on my face. “You don't have to prove anything to me.” I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. The painful lump started to form in my throat. “Bit, what's wrong?”
I got a little relief that he called me Bit. He never used my nickname when he was upset with me, so to hear him say it eased my worries a little. I shrugged my shoulders and immediately saw him roll his eyes with a smile.
“Tell me,” he pleaded.
“I have spent so much time trying to encourage us to be independent of each other that it never occurred to me that we could grow apart.” I took a deep breath. “Back home, no one would have ever flirted with me the way he did. No one. Everyone knew that we were together and no one ever tried to mess with that. And I'm a little disappointed in myself that I let him stand that close to me. That I let him flirt with me.”