Cherishing Her During Adversity: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Alexa McLean

  “It’s not the same.”

  As she tinkered with the machine, I started rummaging through our menu drawer trying to find the right Chinese place. “Drats... Dim Sum Goods doesn’t deliver and I really don’t feel like going out to get it.”

  “You won’t need to. I’ll have this working in a second...”

  My stomach growled. Dinner wouldn’t be served for a couple of hours and that was a conservative estimate.

  To hold myself over, I grabbed a bag of chips from the pantry.

  “You’ll spoil your appetite,” my mother chided. I swear she has eyes in the back of her head.

  With a sigh, I returned them to the shelf. I was about to lend a helping hand when there was a knock on the door. “Were you expecting someone?” I asked.

  “Not that I was aware of.”

  “I’ll go see who it is.”

  At the door, I stretched onto my tippy toes in order to look through the peephole. To my complete and utter surprise, it was Ivan. After our little late night trip to the beach, he had pretty much dropped off the face of the planet.

  I swung open the door. There was so much I wanted to say but my lips felt like they had been glued together. So, instead, my arms did all the talking as I trapped him inside a giant bear hug. Suffice to say — I had missed my best friend. “Where have you been?” I demanded once I eased my grip.

  “Around,” he said.

  “That’s uh... descriptive.”

  He shrugged.

  “Would you like to come inside? Mom and I are trying to make sushi but it isn’t exactly going according to plan. The rice refuses to get sticky.”

  “Sounds like quite the problem.”

  “Oh, it is,” I laughed. “Mom thinks that it’s the end of the world. I swear that I saw some smoke sizzling from the top of her head.”

  “Let’s hope that she doesn’t set off the fire alarm.”

  “I don’t think she would mind if this place was swarmed by firemen.”

  “What about you?”

  His question took me by surprise. “Me?”

  “Actually, never mind. That was a stupid question to ask.”

  “No, no. It’s okay. I’m not really into the firemen. Men in suits are much more attractive, in my opinion.” Really, there was only one guy in a suit that I found irresistible and that was the guy standing at my doorstep. “So, are you going to come inside at some point or are you going to keep interrogating me on my preference of men?”

  Ivan looked hesitant and that’s when I noticed the luggage bag at his side.

  “Oh?” I raised an eyebrow in question. “I thought that you were staying with Benjamin for the time being.”

  “I was but he just had a pair of twins and they are proving to be quite the handful. Having me around wasn’t helping the situation so they asked me to leave.”

  “So, where do you —”

  Before I could finish asking my question, my mother popped her head outside the kitchen. “Lola, who’s at the door?”

  I took a small sidestep, revealing my mother’s ‘adopted son.’ Well, not literally but she had pretty much raised Ivan with the amount of time he spent hanging out at our house. He had the biggest mansion in town and yet our shabby little abode was where he liked to spend most of his days.

  My mother clapped her hands together. “Ivan!” She sped towards my best friend and greeted him with a hug of her own. By the look on his face, my mother was ready to snap all his bones in two.

  “Mom, you might want to let him breathe,” I said when I thought I saw his face turning blue. “Seriously, mom, you’re going to kill him before he can try some of your world-renowned sushi.

  Twinkle twinkle little star chimed from the kitchen indicating that the current batch of rice had finished cooking. She rushed over to tend to it. I had a feeling that it was the exact same consistency as the batch before it but my mother didn’t want to listen to any of my suggestions so she was on her own. If she wanted to keep wasting rice then that was her prerogative.

  “Anyway, I hope you don’t plan to stand there all night,” I said as I reached for his luggage bag. It was lighter than I had expected it to be. Is this all he had left? I wondered to myself. My heart grew heavy just at the thought. I could not imagine what it must feel like to lose everything. Ivan was at the top of the world and now he hadn’t a penny to his name. His whole existence had been turned upside down.

  “I’m not imposing, am I?”

  “Imposing?” I asked. “You know my mother. She always makes enough food for an entire army of men. You are more than welcome to stay and help us cull the sickening amount of rice we’ve cooked this evening.”

  “Last time I checked my dietician doesn’t want me carbo-loading.”

  I slapped his arm. “First of all, you’ve never hired a dietician. Second of all, you look amazing so quit your worrying. I bet you could eat all the chocolate truffles in the world and you’d still look like a Greek God.”

  “Is that so?” he seemed amused by my comment which just made me realize how upfront I had been. Did I just compare his body to that of a Greek God? I wondered with a certain sense of horror.

  To stave off my embarrassment, I pushed him into the kitchen where my mother was once again attempting to make a roll of sushi. There was such confidence on her face that I was sure it would work but of course, we were left with failed attempt number 872. “Mom, give it up.”

  “There must be something we’re doing wrong...” she mumbled to herself.

  “Clearly,” I responded as I grabbed a few plates and handed them to Ivan. I wasn’t even thinking. I was simply acting upon old habits. Back when we were kids, Ivan always helped me set the table and it seemed that even now, he was eager to lend a hand.

  He was finishing up with the utensils when I unplugged the rice maker. It was the only way I would get my mother to stop her impossible crusade.

  She grumbled under her breath but she eventually joined us at the table.

  “Tonight I present deconstructed sushi!” I placed the giant platter of rice, cucumbers, cream cheese, imitation crab meat, and celery on the table. “Five-star luxury right here,” I said.

  “Bon appetite,” my mom added.

  “I think this is going to be the newest must-have item at every oriental restaurant,” Ivan said as he added a couple of scoops to his bowl. Then, as soon as he had a fork in his hand, he started shoveling the food into his mouth like he was a starving man and maybe he was. I knew from all the news stories that he was financially ruined so maybe he didn’t have the means to buy himself a proper meal. It made me happy to know that tonight, at least, he would eat his fill.

  “Make sure you leave yourself some room for dessert because we have a tub of Napoleon ice cream in the freezer,” I said, pointing my chopsticks in his direction. “And we’ve missed your taste for strawberry because we’re always forced to eat it in the end.”

  “You two are insane if you think that strawberry is the inferior flavor.”

  “It is,” I responded. “Vanilla is the only way to go.”

  “Chocolate,” my mother countered. “And I don’t care what you tell me — you won’t change my mind.”

  Ivan shook his head. “Well, more strawberry for me.”

  “And more vanilla for me,” I said, trying to keep a straight face but I ended up bursting into a fit of giggles. Looking across the table at my best friend, it felt like we were kids all over again. There was a sort of magic in the room that I never wanted to dissipate.

  Luckily, it was fueled by our light-hearted conversations. Not once did we touch upon Ivan’s situation and I think he was grateful for it.

  I was just happy to see him smiling.

  BY THE END OF OUR MEAL, I checked the time and saw that it was getting late. “Well, mom, I have got to go. I’ve got work in the morning. Do you want me to load the dishwasher before I go?”

  She waved her hand, dismissing my offer. “Don’t worry about it. You tw
o should get yourselves home.”

  Ivan got up and tucked in his chair, following me to the front door.

  I reached for my coat but he beat me to it. Like a perfect gentleman, he helped me into it.

  “Thanks,” I said as my cheeks reddened to a light shade of pink. Sometimes, Ivan had such a way of making me feel like a princess.

  He stepped closer and fastened the buttons.

  My cheeks went from pink to crimson. “What are you doing?” I breathed.

  “I don’t want you to catch a cold. It’s pretty nippy out there.” The way he looked at me made my heart skip a beat.

  “Thanks...”

  He stepped backward and I immediately felt the urge to reel him back into place because he belonged nowhere else than by my side.

  “I have to ask,” I started. “Do you have a place to stay tonight.”

  Ivan’s expression darkened. “No. But I don’t intend to be a burden —”

  “Stop right there.” I placed a finger to his lips to silence him. “You know that I’d never be able to turn you away.”

  “Lola.”

  One well-aimed glare was enough to get him to stop in his tracks. “I know that losing all your money probably meant losing some of the people you once considered your friends, but I want you to know that I’ll always be here for you — for better or for worse.” In a way, it felt like I was reciting a wedding vow. “So, whether you like it or not, you’re coming home with me because I won’t have you sleeping under a bridge tonight.”

  “You aren’t going to take no for an answer, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  Ivan thought it over for a moment. “Well, I really wouldn’t want you to get charged with kidnapping, so I guess my only choice is to go along willingly.”

  “Smart man,” came my mother’s response.

  “How long have you been standing there?” I asked.

  “Long enough.” There was this dirty grin plastered on her face. “I just wanted to say goodnight but I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  “Goodnight mom.”

  “Goodnight Mrs. Langley.”

  “Goodnight!” She waved us off with a certain twinkle in her eye. It was the same twinkle when Ivan had taken me to senior prom.

  WE ARRIVED AT MY TINY home after a short, five-minute drive. I glanced over at Ivan, trying to gauge what was going through that head of his but his facial expression told me little to nothing.

  So, I waited for him to grab his bag from the trunk and together, we walked to the front door.

  I fumbled with my keys but I managed to find the right one after a few failed attempts. “I should really separate my work keys from my personal keys,” I said in hopes of justifying my blunder. I just sounded lame. But for some reason, I kept going as if that would make things any better. “Although, I tried that once and I kept forgetting one or the other. I’d show up to work and I’d be unable to open up the filing cabinets or I’d come home and I’d be forced to call the locksmith to help me break into my own house.” And now I was blabbing like an idiot.

  “You’re fine,” he said. “I’m not in any sort of rush. After all, it’s not like I have much place to go.” I couldn’t tell if he was joking or whether he was being hard on himself.

  “Right,” was my only response as the door swung back. “It’s nothing to write home about but it’s more than enough for me while I’m single. Of course, when I find a partner and we plan to start a family, I’d have to upgrade a bit but for now, I’m happy with this tiny slice of heaven.” I was doing it again.

  Ivan looked around and I was scared that he was judging me ten times to Tennessee.

  “How big is this place?”

  “About 400 square feet.”

  “400, huh?”

  “Mhm. I know that’s nothing compared to your many mansions.”

  He shook his head. “Those mansions were always so empty. This is different.” He stepped inside and ran his fingers along the bookcase. “This is cozy.”

  “Cozy,” I repeated with a nod. “So, does that mean that you like it?”

  “I like it,” he affirmed. “But I am not surprised because you’ve always had great taste.”

  Chapter 7: Ivan

  ONCE AGAIN, MY BED consisted of a couch but I must admit that Lola’s couch appeared to be in much better condition. I tested it out and just as I had suspected, it was as soft as a cloud. With what little sleep I had been getting the past couple of days, I was about ready to knock out but Lola seemed busy with something in the kitchen and I didn’t want her to have to do it all on her own.

  Fatigue weighed heavily on every inch of my body but somehow I managed enough energy to shuffle over there. “What are you doing?” I asked as I glanced over her shoulder.

  “Laundry,” she answered.

  “In the kitchen?”

  “I have it in place of a dishwasher and this little machine both washes and dries all of my clothes. So it’s really very efficient.”

  “I see.” Lola had bent over to grab some of her clothing from the drum and as soon as I saw that lovely backside of hers, my brain fell right out of my head. I knew it was rude to stare but I really couldn’t do anything else. If she bent over any further then I was liable to start salivating.

  “Yeah. A lot of people say they could never live in a place so tiny but I enjoy it here.”

  “As I said before, it’s a nice little place. You don’t need to keep justifying it to me just because it is small. A lot of great things come in small packages.” Just to prove my point, I bonked her on the top of the head.

  “Hey! I’m not that short.”

  “Short enough to worry every time we’ve waited in line at a rollercoaster.”

  “Okay, some of those ride attendants are really strict. 58 inches and 60 inches isn’t really that much of a difference.”

  “I believe it is two inches too short,” I teased.

  “Who came up with the 60-inch rule, anyway?”

  All this talk about inches had me thinking about something else entirely. And could you blame me when I had the sight of her bent over figure imprinted into my mind? What I wouldn’t give to have her pressed against the kitchen table, screaming my name. Or, better yet, I could have her on the couch, legs spread, eyes rolling back as I got my fix of her sweet, sweet nectar.

  With the threat of an erection looming on the horizon, I stepped forward, hiding its growth behind the counter. “Uh... do you need any help?”

  “Sure. You know how to fold towels, don’t you?”

  “I think that is the most insulting thing you have ever asked me.” I snatched the towel from her hands and rolled it up so I could snap it in her direction. She squealed and jumped out of harm’s way before it could touch her. “Mhm, that’s what I thought.”

  “Don’t start with me or you’re going to regret it.”

  “I’m going to regret it?”

  She nodded. “I know where you sleep at night.”

  “And so do I.” I glanced at the overhead loft where she kept her bed. It wasn’t much in terms of space but it was enough. All I needed to do was get her under the covers and it would be the start of one hell of a night. And maybe I’d bang my head on the ceiling a few times but it would all be worth it if it meant finally enjoying the woman of my dreams.

  All of a sudden, Lola pounced. She was wrapped around me like a monkey. I didn’t know what to make of it and by the time she attacked me with her fingers, it was already much too late. After years of friendship, she knew my every weakness.

  I laughed and tried to get her off of me but she stuck to me like glue.

  “Don’t make me do this,” I warned.

  But she kept on tickling me.

  Oh, she was going to get it now.

  I launched an attack of my own and heard her precious little giggle. It grew louder and louder as the tides of battle shifted in my favor.

  Finally, I was able to pry her legs from my waist and throw her onto th
e couch. Despite her breathlessness, she tried to run away but her tiny home came to my advantage because there was nowhere for her to run. I clotheslined her back into place, targeting her sides where she was most ticklish.

  Lola curled up into a tiny ball as if that would be enough to stop me. Not a chance. I saw the tears streaming down her face and still, I didn’t stop.

  “I can’t breathe...” she begged me for mercy.

  “What was that?”

  “I can’t breathe.” It was difficult to understand her when she did nothing but giggle.

  “I can’t hear you.”

  She pressed both her feet to my chest and shoved me off. It was the same trick she had used when we were kids. Some things just never changed.

  I smiled and offered her my hand but she flashed me the bird instead.

  “So, that’s how isn’t going to be, is it?” I took a step forward, implying that I would tickle her a second time.

  “No!” She grabbed a nearby pillow and used it as a shield to prevent me from getting to her body. “Don’t you dare!”

  “Or else what?” I challenged.

  “I’ll make you go to yoga class with my mother for a whole week.”

  “Yikes. That sounds like its boredom 101.”

  “It is,” Lola agreed. “I was stupid enough to go this one time and I nearly blew my brains out.”

  “Well, I’m glad you didn’t.” I raked my fingers through her hair and ran my fingertips along the nape of her neck. She shivered at my touch and smiled in response like it was the most euphoric moment of her life.

  “Me too.”

  “Anyway, we should probably finish up your laundry so you can get to bed. Last time I checked, you have work in the morning.” If it was up to me, I would have kept her up all night, screaming to the high Heavens but I knew that Lola was a dedicated worker and I didn’t want to get in the way of that.

  So, without further thought, I reached into the washer and pulled out the first thing to come to hand. It was something small and slightly silky. I looked down and saw that it was a pair of her panties. Or rather, it was a thong — a tiny triangle of fabric that would do very little to hide what she had to offer.