The Touch Series Box Set

by t. h. snyder

  “Trisha, this is my wifey roommate Emma and Em, this is my associate from the firm. Trisha.”

  “Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” I say, moving forward to shake her hand.

  “You too, Derrick brags you up all the time,” she replies.

  I look to Derrick and roll my eyes; I can only imagine what he’s had to say about me.

  “Can I get you a glass of wine?” I ask Trisha.

  “Oh yes, please. That would be great.”

  I busy myself pouring Trisha some wine and finishing up dinner while Derrick runs to and from the garage, bringing boxes into the house and getting changed. Trisha and I talk about the things I’ve done since moving to Boston and she gives me some insight into some things that will be coming up in the next few weeks.

  I’ll have to check with Pete to see if he wants to tag along with me to some of the events she mentioned.

  Derrick comes down the stairs and I hand him a bottle of beer.

  “You’re the best, Em,” he says, pulling me into his side.

  “Dinner should be ready in five minutes,” I say.

  “Sweet, thanks,” he responds, letting me go and moving to the other side of the kitchen.

  “So, Emma here just told me about the story of her brother and your best friend Char meeting. How crazy was that?” Trisha chimes in and takes a sip of her wine.

  I have to admit that the way in which Riley and Char met was funny as hell. Only those two could live with one another and be happy.

  Derrick laughs out loud and shakes his head.

  “Yeah, they’re something else, but I can’t imagine anyone else with Charlie. Riley’s perfect for her and he makes her happy. That’s all that really matters,” he tells Trisha.

  I walk back over to the stove to check on the chicken chili. After a few stirs I decide it’s ready.

  I step up on my tippy toes and pull down three bowls from the cabinet.

  “I made chicken chili for dinner; I hope you like things hot,” I say.

  I watch as Derrick looks over to Trisha and she smiles as her cheeks turn a deep shade of red.

  Oh no, I hope I didn’t embarrass her.

  Shit, what is wrong with me and all these sexual comments? I know it’s been a while for me, but geez.

  The three of us sit down to eat dinner, and before I know it, Trisha and I polish off a bottle of wine.

  I don’t know if it was my nerves over the comment between Pete and me or the one I threw out at Trisha earlier, but the wine is going down pretty damn smooth.

  The rest of the night goes off with any further sexual comments. I’m on my best behavior and we all seem to be getting along really well.

  Too bad Derrick and Trisha didn’t touch the box of documents they brought to the house, but at least it was a fun night.

  Around eleven o’clock I say my goodbyes and head up to my room.

  I’m feeling pretty damn good from the amount of wine I drank and I still have to call Pete for our nightly chat.

  I strip myself of my clothes and pull on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. Finding a rubber band on the dresser, I pull my hair back into a ponytail.

  Now if I can manage to make it into the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth I’ll be all set.

  Lucky for me I’m able to finish getting ready for bed and walk—or should I say stumble—back to my bedroom and fall into bed.

  I should really close my eyes and sleep off my buzz, but I don’t want to upset Pete if I don’t call. I lift my head from my pillow and look around for my phone.

  Shit! It’s over on the dresser.

  I pull myself up out of bed and walk to the other side of my room. Picking up my phone, I scroll through my recent contacts and touch Pete’s name.

  “Hey, Belle.”

  “Hey,” I respond, walking back over toward my bed.

  I hear him laugh through the phone.

  “You doing okay over there?” he asks.

  “Ugh, I think I drank a little too much wine,” I say, flopping back onto my bed.

  “Ohh, I see. It’s not like you to drink like that during the week. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, Derrick brought a girl from work over to the house for dinner. Before I realized it we’d drank a whole bottle of white merlot,” I mumble as my face falls into my pillow.

  “Derrick brought a chick over for dinner?”

  “Yep, that’s what he did.”

  “Shit, Emma, are you going to be okay? Should I call Derrick to come in and check on you? No forget that, I’m on my way, just stay where you are.”

  “Mmmmm, ok Pete,” I slur.

  I toss my phone onto the comforter and curl up in my bed, attempting to get under my covers.

  Ugh, this is too much work.

  Shit, I didn’t feel this drunk a few minutes ago.

  If I can sleep this off I’ll feel so much better in the morning. Well, probably not. I’ll be hung over as hell.

  I snuggle into a comfortable position and close my eyes, trying to fall asleep.

  As soon as I hang up with Emma, I call Derrick to let him know that I’m coming over.

  He argues with me for a quick minute that he can check on her, but I insist that I want to come over myself.

  I’ve never cared for a woman like I do for her; she’s different to me in so many ways. The feelings I have for Emma are nothing like I’ve ever felt before.

  With Kathy, I thought we were in love and that we were happy together. But now that I’ve met Emma, I question all the other feelings I’ve ever had before.

  I want something from her, and although I don’t know what we’ll ever be, I need to be near her. Whether she needs me right now or not, I’d feel better knowing that I was there for her.

  I quickly throw on a pair of sweats and a tee-shirt and head out the door to my truck.

  It’s the middle of the night and there’s no one else on the road so I’m able make it over to Derrick’s house in record time.

  As soon as I pull into the driveway, I step out of the truck and head to the front door.

  I turn the knob on the front door and it opens. Thank God Derrick left it unlocked like I had asked. I let myself into the house and start to look around for him downstairs.

  I notice that the majority of the lights are out on the first floor but I see Derrick sitting in the living room watching television.

  “Hey, man,” I say, walking into the room toward him.

  “You’re crazy for driving over here. I told you on the phone you didn’t have to.”

  “I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”

  “Dude, she’s fine; I just checked on her. She’s snoring away like a baby,” Derrick says, getting up off the couch.

  “Derrick, she’s a tiny little thing and shouldn’t have drank that much. When she called me she sounded wasted.”

  “She didn’t drink any more than she usually does.”

  “Did she eat?” I ask with concern in my voice.

  “I only saw her eat breakfast and dinner with me. I don’t know if she ate anything else today. Pete, what’s with you? She’s fine.”

  “I need to check on her to make sure; I don’t want anything happening to her.”

  “Whoa, pal. What’s gotten into you?” he asks, giving me a questionable stare.

  “She’s my friend, Derrick. Can’t I look out for my friend?”

  “I don’t know, dude, you’ve never flipped like this or came running for Chloe or Charlie.”

  “It’s different with her, Derrick.”

  “Ahh I see; I think you’re starting to have feelings for her,” he says, punching me in the arm. “Enough of this friends shit, Pete, just admit that you care about her.”

  I shake my head at him.

  “Look, I’m not going to stand down here and argue with you about this. It’s no secret that Emma is someone special to me and I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

  “Yeah, okay, Pete. Should I lock up down her
e or can you let yourself out?”

  “Lock up; I’ll crash on the couch tonight.”

  He looks at me and smiles. I push him out of my way and head up to Emma’s room.

  Quietly, I open the door to her room and from the light of the hallway I can see that she’s passed out on her bed.

  I walk into her room and shut the door behind me. I move toward her and try not to trip or make too much noise.

  As I move closer, I can hear her breathing slow and deep.

  Derrick was right, she’s okay. I just had to see it for myself.

  I sit down on the edge of her bed and she begins to move.

  Sitting up in her bed, she grabs for her head.

  “Hey, lay back down, Belle,” I whisper.

  “Pete?”

  “Yeah, I’m here,” I reply, reaching for her hand.

  “How come? I mean, why did you come here? You drove to the house and now you’re in my room?”

  “You called me and I was worried so I came over to check on you.”

  “From your house?”

  I laugh.

  “Yeah, from my house. Where else would I have been?”

  “I don’t know, Pete, but I need to lie back down,” she says, laying her head back down on pillow.

  “Okay, well let me cover you back up and I’ll head down to the couch.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” she says, patting the bed beside her. “Lay down here with me.”

  I stand at the side of her bed for a few seconds.

  She has no idea how badly I want to lie down next to her, wrap her in my arms and fall asleep with her body next to mine.

  “Come on, Pete, cuddle with me.”

  Oh dear God, it’s taking all that I have not to fall into her.

  “Belle, I think I should just go downstairs.”

  “Nope, hop in,” she says, lifting the covers next to her.

  Damn her. She’s done something to me that no other woman has ever done; I can’t say no to her.

  I kick off my sneakers and pull my tee shirt up over my head, tossing it over on her desk chair.

  I crawl in bed next to her, pull the sheet and comforter up around us and wrap my arm around her.

  “Thanks for being a good guy, Pete,” she says, scooting her body in close to mine. “I like you a lot.”

  A smile spreads across my face and I pull her in tight against my body.

  “I like you a lot, too, Belle. Now get some rest and we’ll talk about it in the morning.”

  “But what if you’re not here when I wake up? What if this is a dream and you’re not really here with me?”

  “I’m here, Belle, and I promise you I’m not going anywhere without you.”

  “Don’t hurt me, Pete,” she says with a yawn. “I’ve been hurt too much in the past and I don’t want to feel like that ever again.”

  “Shh, Belle, go to sleep. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. You have me now and I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Ok, Pete. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, my beautiful southern belle.”

  I close my eyes and think about every moment I’ve shared with this girl over the past few weeks–from the first moment I saw her until right now. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I don’t want it to end.

  Derrick’s right and I know it, too. I have feelings for this woman. I care about her and there’s no point in denying that I want more than a friendship with her.

  I know that we’re both in a vulnerable state because of everything that we’ve gone through in the past, but something in me screams that I need her just as much as she needs me.

  I won’t let her hurt again; I only want to make her smile and be happy.

  They aren’t kidding when they say time flies when you’re having fun.

  My life has taken such a turn in the past four months and I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone by.

  Living in a new city was the biggest change for me and I had no idea what to expect. I’ve been so independent for so long that having to rely on others to show me around made me feel like I was a pain in the ass.

  Meeting new people was probably the biggest fear I had coming up to Boston. I knew that Riley and Char would do anything to help me out and they have; I’d be lost without them. Derrick is the other brother I’d never had, and at times really wish I didn’t, but we’ve formed such a strong bond that I know I have a friend for life.

  Pete, oh Pete. I never thought I’d meet a man like him. He’s been there for me since day one. I can count on him to catch me when I fall and make me laugh when I want to cry.

  We’ve become so close during the past few months. I didn’t see it coming, but now here we are. We’ve agreed to take things slow and each day as it comes. It took us a while after that drunken night to talk about our feelings, but we both knew there was something special starting to happen between us.

  The one thing we promised each other is that we will always communicate what we’re thinking, no holding back.

  He’s my strength, my biggest supporter and the reason I’m happy every day. I don’t know what time holds for us, but I do know that he’ll always be a big part of my life.

  Without my Boston family I wouldn’t be where I am today and I’m eternally grateful for each one of them.

  Today we all get to celebrate. It’s a big day and I’m so excited for my little brother and Char. Riley’s been a nervous wreck for weeks and hopefully after today he can calm his nerves and enjoy his future with Char.

  I walk downstairs, dressed and ready to go for our morning run.

  “So, are you sure about this, man?” Derrick asks, looking at Riley while he paces the living room.

  “Of course I’m sure, dumbass,” he replies, running his fingers through his hair.

  I walk up alongside of him and wrap my arm around his waist.

  “Well, if my opinion matters, I think you’ve planned a wonderful evening, little brother. Char is lucky to have you,” I say in a sincere tone.

  “Thanks a lot, Emma. I feel so much better now,” Riley says, falling into the couch.

  “I don’t understand why you’re so worked up about this. You two already act like a married couple. It’s not like she’s going to say no.”

  “Fuck you, Derrick. Of course she isn’t going to say no. I just want tonight to be perfect for her. She means the world to me and I want this to be a night she’ll remember forever. This is the kind of thing she’ll tell our kids and grandkids about. I don’t want to blow it.”

  “Look, why don’t you run home, get some running gear on and head to the park with me and Emma. Maybe the fresh air and a good five miles will lift your spirits before the big night.”

  “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” Riley says and walks out the door with Manny in tow.

  Derrick and I just look at each other, shrug our shoulders and start to laugh.

  I feel for my little brother, I really do. He’s taking a huge step forward with Char and their relationship. Even though we all know they’re perfect together, I can’t imagine how he must be feeling. He’s planned an amazing night for her, and knowing her as well as I do, she’s going to love it.

  I can’t wait to meet up with them later to celebrate and see her flash that diamond on her finger.

  Walking into the kitchen, I bump Derrick out of my way and grab a banana out of the fruit bowel.

  “Let’s hope this run clears his nerves. Otherwise, I’ll have to give him a Valium before they leave,” I say with a laugh.

  “Nah, he’ll be alright. He just needs to go through with it and everything will be fine.”

  We walk out the front door and I wave for Riley to hurry up as he starts walking down the sidewalk.

  I hop into the back seat and start eating my banana. Riley gets into the front seat and lets out a huge sigh.

  “Thanks, man, this was a good idea. I need to go for a good run to get this shit out of my system.”

  “Don’t worr
y, Riley, everything will go as planned. Stop stressing and have fun,” I say.

  “How about we make a bet,” Derrick suggests.

  “Last one done with the five miles buys drinks for the other two tonight,” Riley says.

  “Deal!” Derrick and I shout in unison.

  Once we get to the park, the three of us hop out of Derrick’s car and line up along the trees to stretch. Our typical route is to run through the park and meet back at the car. Now that there’s a bet at stake I want to win, but I know there’s no way I can out run these two clowns.

  “Okay, assface, let’s see if you can beat me. On your mark, get set, go!” Riley shouts as we all take off in a sprint.

  As I approach the final turn leading to the parking lot, I see both guys standing next to the car drinking out of their water bottles.

  Shit, piss, fuck.

  “You both suck, don’t even say a word,” I manage to say in between breaths

  Riley and Derrick look at one another and start to laugh.

  Assholes.

  Derrick drives up back home and drops Riley off at his house.

  “Good luck tonight, Riley. We’ll meet you guys out later tonight,” I say.

  “Thanks, Em, see you guys later.”

  Derrick drives down the block and pulls the car into the garage.

  “What are your plans for the day?” he asks.

  “I have some running around to do and then I’m meeting Pete for lunch. He was supposed to get back from his trip to see his sister in Michigan early this morning. How about you?”

  “I got nothing. I think I’m just going to chill at home, maybe even take a nap later.”

  “Ohh wow, Derrick, you’re living dangerously now,” I say with a laugh.

  “Yeah well, I don’t get to do it often so I might as well take advantage of it.”

  “If I don’t see you before I leave, Pete and I will pick you up before heading out to meet Riley and Char.”

  “Ok, sounds good.”

  We walk in the house together and I head upstairs to take a shower.

  Anyone that enjoys flying is just nuts. The airport makes me crazy with all the people and I feel stuffed in like a sardine inside of the plane.

  People are just downright rude. We all have a plane to catch, so chill the fuck out and don’t try to knock me over in the process.