Just Between Us: A Friend's to Lover's Romance

by Bri Stone

  Lori is in the room next to mine. We got there at night, it wasn’t the plan but dad had to consult with a ‘dimwit client.’ His words, not mine. My parents went out into the city to get some things for the cabin. That left Lori and I alone. We had been alone here multiple times, but last year I didn’t feel like this. It wasn’t this bad.

  “Lori?” I knocked on her door. I didn’t want a repeat of last time. Well, I did but I couldn’t handle that again.

  “Come in.”

  I did. She was laying on her stomach reading one of the books I got her.

  “Which one you got?” I asked casually. She shifted up to look at me, her sweater moved up her stomach, exposing the dimples on her lower back. My mouth watered until I could tear my gaze away.

  “Private India. It’s one of the newer ones.” I sat next to her, watching her read. She didn’t notice I was staring at her.

  “Are you okay?” She wore a permanent frown; one she never wears when she reads.

  “I’m fine.” Her voice was dry. I grabbed her book from her and set it on the table.

  “Hey!” she tried to reach for it but I gripped her wrist. She tried with the other but I grabbed that one too. her wrists were small, my fingers overlapped.

  “Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Nothing is wrong.” She shrieked, trying to wiggle free of my grasp.

  “Don’t make me tickle it out of you, Cheesecake…” I warned. She frowned, giving me a ‘you wouldn’t dare’ look.

  “Your choice.” I grabbed both her wrists in one hand and moved so that she was between my knees.

  I tickled her stomach until she was shrieking. Usually it’s the only way to get answers.

  “Okay, okay…” I stopped, “I can’t afford my internship.” I furrowed my brow in confusion. I dropped her hands, she rubbed her face in frustration. I still stood above her on my knees, deftly I noticed the swell of her breasts over the top of her sweater.

  “That doesn’t make any sense.” She sighed, looking up through her lashes with her big blue eyes.

  “I have to find a place to live. I just don’t have the money for a down payment and first month’s rent. Which is what they ask for.” I shook my head. Holding her gaze for a moment then I had to start laughing.

  “What is funny?” She scowled. I shook my head.

  “Your internship is in Clemson and I live in Clemson, Cheesecake.” I grinned. Her mouth turned up, she wasn’t getting it.

  “So?”

  “So, you can live with me dumbass. My apartment is what, like ten minutes from downtown?” Her eyes widened in shock. She smiled a bit but then her face went cold.

  “I can’t make you do that. You have school.” I shook my head.

  “So? That just means I’ll be in class most of the time. Besides, I need someone to cook for me.”

  “God, you’re annoying.”

  “True. Say you’ll do it.”

  I didn’t know what I was doing. Could I live with her? I didn’t care if I could, I wanted—needed to help her. I could get past my raging hard ons, right?

  “I don’t know…”

  “Lorraine.” I threatened to tickle her again.

  “I’ll tickle you into submission.” She flushed. I thought it was cute, how damn ticklish she was.

  “I just don’t know…” I shrugged and started tickling her.

  She laughed aloud and tried to push me away, but I was too strong. She took me by surprise and rolled us over. Then the world seemed to stop. She was on top of me. She has never been on top of me before. I felt her breasts pillowing against my chest, then I felt her crotch right on top of mine. I forced myself not to move, I begged myself. But she was right there, and I was so weak. I shifted my hips, my now extremely hard cock pressed against her. She gasped, but she didn’t move. She didn’t move. Our eyes met and I saw the desire in hers and felt it in mine. My gaze traveled down to her lips, her soft kissable lips. I started to breath faster, trying to control myself. To do anything but grab her hips and rub her against me until I got off.

  “S-say you’ll move in with me. Just for your internship.” I finally spoke. My voice was heavy, masked with desire.

  “Okay. I’ll move in with you…just for my internship.” I nodded and smiled a bit.

  I sighed when disappointment when she shifted off of me, more so that she was sitting over my thighs. Her eyes were on mine, then her eyes were traveling lower, lower. Shit.

  “Oh…” her eyes were on my erection, very obvious in my sweat pants.

  “Sorry. Can’t help it.” She blushed until she was red from her face all the way to her neck. I wanted to kiss every inch of her blush.

  She was staring at it like she had never seen one before. But then I thought…she probably hadn’t. Then I said something completely normal for me, that had nothing to do with secretly being in love with her.

  “You just gonna’ stare at it or you wanna’ suck me off?” She punched me right in the gut and got off of me.

  “God Dillon, you’re such a…” she fumbled with her book, fingers shaking. She laid back on the other side of the bed with a huff.

  “Horny jerk?” I rolled onto my side and propped my head up on my elbow.

  “Yes.” She started reading again. But she was still distracted, kept sneaking glances at it. It was kind of cute, that she didn’t really know what to do.

  “Shouldn’t you go…take care of that?” She mumbled. I laughed a bit.

  “It will go away on its own. Don’t worry.” I smiled sheepishly. I had to admit that I was eating it up, making her uncomfortable and all. So I couldn’t help it.

  “You can’t tell me you’ve never seen one before. Or felt one.” I teased her. she sighed, shut her book and looked up at the ceiling. Still blushing.

  “No.” She barely whispered.

  “No what?” I pretended to be dumbfounded.

  “No, I’ve never…felt or seen one. Maybe in anatomy books back in high school.”

  “But you write about them.”

  “Yeah, based off of what I’ve read.”

  “Then you’re probably getting it wrong…so when you’re making out with a guy doesn’t he ever get hard?” She covered her face with her hands.

  “No. God, why are you asking me this?” I grabbed her hand and pulled it away from her face.

  “You don’t have to be embarrassed. It’s not a bad thing.”

  “I’m not! I just don’t want to talk about it with you.” She shouted.

  “Why? Because you just felt mine?” She shook her head.

  “No, I just…don’t want to keep feeling like this.” She huffed and sat up, crossing her arms.

  “Like what?” I asked, a little more serious now because she seemed really bothered.

  “Like I’m missing out on something. I know it may be stupid, but it’s just how I feel.” I sat up and looked at her, though she was avoiding my gaze.

  “It isn’t stupid. Never discredit your feelings, and don’t let anyone else do it either. Lori, look at me,” she did, “you get me?” She nodded slowly.

  “Good. I would hug you but my cock might scare you again.” She fumed and punched my arm. It hurt, too.

  “Sorry, I’m done now. I swear.”

  She went back to reading for a second, I just sat on the bed messing with my phone.

  “Dillon, can I ask you something?”

  “You just did but you can ask me another one.” I felt her irritation but turned to face her.

  She sat Indian style across from me. She toyed with her fingers nervously.

  “You’ve got to stop being so…prudish, Cheesecake.” She met my gaze, her eyes fleeting.

  “I’m not being prudish. I thought I was…making you uncomfortable. You’re blushing.” I laughed a bit, though my face didn’t feel hot at all.

  “I’m flushed because my hard on is coming down.” I said blankly. Her eyes widened and she blinked rapidly.

  “Oh.” She nearly squeaked.
I laughed again.”

  “You okay now?” She nodded, laid back down and started reading again.

  While she was reading I started looking at the medical schools I got into. Then I thought of dad again, and what he could possibly do to stop me. Even if he cuts me off or something, I can use financial aid, get a job.

  It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Lori worked two jobs to pay for school and still has loans to pay off, that’s why this internship is so important to her. It can get her in the industry, get her some connections. I had to help her, right?

  The rest of our trip was really relaxing. I didn’t fight with my dad, and I teased Lori mercilessly about her new fear of sex. She thought I didn’t see it, but she was growing more and more interested in it. I didn’t know why, but I guess I understood. Everyone our age was just like me or getting married, or at least in some sort of relationship.

  Lori wasn’t avoiding a relationship; she just went about it the wrong way. I was always on the receiving end of the failures, so I know. It’s not that she gets too attached, she just picks people who don’t want to get attached and thinks she can change them, like the people in the books she reads. Even if I tell her I love her, as more than a friend, she’ll either feel the same and try to change me, or not feel the same and still try to change me—change how I feel. I wasn’t prepared for either.

  Fourteen:

  I sealed the last of Lori’s boxes and loaded it on my truck.

  “What about my car?” We stood in her driveway, ready to leave before she freaked out.

  “I have two up in Clemson, you can drive one of them. We should ride together.” She looked back at her car sadly but then agreed.

  She already said goodbye to her sister yesterday, so we stopped at the fire station to see her dad before we set off. I hadn’t spoken anything about medical school and the draft to my father since that day in the house, so when I said goodbye it was amicable. My mom was sad to see me go, as she always is.

  “You coming inside?” She asked. I nodded and shut the engine off.

  Her dad was sitting in the break room with his colleagues. I knew most of them, but not all.

  “You be careful, sweetheart.” Theo hugged Lori tight. She kissed his cheek and nodded.

  “I will.” We were on our way out before her dad stopped us.

  “Dillon.” I turned, Lori was already out the dor. He gave me the stern look I had been waiting for and pointed at me with his face in a tight grimace.

  “You take care of her, understand?” His eyes were beady and hooded, sending daggers right through my heart.

  “Yes sir.” He nodded and I left briskly.

  “What was that?” Lori asked as we walked out.

  “Nothing. Let’s hit the road.”

  The drive was only three hours so I hit it in one shot. We arrived just before dinner time. I led her up to my apartment in The Gallery. It was two bedrooms, and a pretty good size.

  “It’s really nice.”

  “Why do you say that like you’re surprised?” She shrugged and walked farther inside.

  The island faced the front door and the kitchen was off to the side. Mom made sure I had the best, stainless steel appliances and good furniture. I had a leather loft couch and two side chairs. The entertainment system was my favorite. I watched Lori walk around, looking at the few pictures I had. I hoped she wouldn’t notice there were quite a few of us. I had to say, I imagined her standing in my living room a bunch of times, but seeing her here for real, in her shift dress and wool boots, was a hundred times better.

  “I’m not.” She smiled a bit.

  “This will be your room; I’ll clean the equipment out tomorrow.” I showed her the bedroom next to mine, the bathroom was in the middle. “Only one bathroom though, so knock before you come in.” I joked with her, she shook her head in mock disappointment.

  “It’s pretty nice.” She sat on the bed, my mom insisted on me keeping it dressed. It had been like that since she bought the place for me two years ago.

  “Yeah. We should eat after we bring your stuff up.” She nodded.

  She didn’t do any of the work though. I didn’t mind lugging all her bags up either. I was sweating through my t-shirt by the time I was done, my jeans clung to my legs.

  “Finished?” She chirped. I glared at her softly and she giggled.

  I sat next on the small couch in the room—her room. I could get used to her being inches away, it might make my life a lot harder but I could handle it.

  “What do you want for dinner?” She shrugged.

  “You live here, you tell me. Maybe you can show me around a bit too.” She suggested. I stared at her a bit too long, liking how she looked in the light. She looked like a dark haired, raven. A beautiful raven at that.

  “Oh, yeah. We should do that. I’m going to shower first though.” She nodded.

  “I’ll wait here. Maybe snoop around a bit.” I chuckled a bit and stood up.

  “Okay.” She stopped me at the door, touching my arm softly.

  “Dillon,” she looked up at me. I already knew what she was going to say. I pulled her into a hug, she latched her arms around my waist and I squeezed her shoulder—being surprisingly platonic.

  “You’re welcome.” She sighed and released me.

  “Be right back.”

  I left her alone and took a shower. I dressed in jeans and a long sleeved, crimson colored shirt. I ran some product through my hair to keep it down and then met her back in her room. She was hanging up some clothes in her closet and one of her suitcases was wide open. All I saw was lace, and it was enough to make every ounce of the blood in my body rush to one particular organ.

  “Hey.” My voice was hooded. She spun around quickly and smiled.

  “Hey, I’m almost finished.”

  “Lori, I’m starving and your clothes aren’t going anywhere.” She made a face but held up her hands in defense, walking over to her purse.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  We walked outside together. The wind blew softly, because she was right in front of me her smell hit my nose. I smiled, she smelled like lilacs and cheesecake. She was undeniably edible; I couldn’t get through one day, without wanting to taste her; without wanting more of her.

  “Oh, this is one of my cars.” We walked past the Audi coupe I drove up here in the fall, I left it because I decided to fly back.

  “I can’t drive that.” She eyed it suspiciously.

  “Why?”

  “It’s too…flashy.” I laughed to myself.

  “Your only other option is the Mercedes.” I pointed to the mid-size C-class my mom drove up here…and then ended up flying back too. I guess that’s what happens when you have too many cars, they get left places. She didn’t reply.

  “Let’s just talk about it later. I’m too hungry to argue with you.” My voice was a little shorter than I intended but she didn’t flinch at all.

  I took her to Todaro Pizza, the best pizza here in my opinion. I ordered a large pizza that I could probably finish myself and she got a personal veggie pizza. It’s actually funny, sometimes she pretends she’s a vegetarian. It’s cute.

  “I’m sorry about before, I appreciate you letting me even use your car. And live with you.” She gazed at me from across the table. I leaned back, arms crossed and legs open, my most comfortable position.

  “It’s okay Cheesecake. I know you don’t like people helping you, but I’m not people. I’m your best friend.”

  She smiled a bit and nodded. Then she pulled out her phone and started reading, she was good as gone.

  When our food came, she put her phone away and ate.

  “When do you start class?” She asked me. I finished chewing and replied.

  “Next Thursday.” It was only Saturday so I had a while.

  “You excited?” I took a swig of my beer and shook my head.

  “God no. I held off on some core classes too long. I’ll be in class with a bunch of freshmen.” I
dreaded it. I wanted to get all my pre-med courses out of the way and take my MCAT a year before med school, which I did. But now I was stuck in English and some biology electives. The only thing I was excited for was this homicide course I signed up for and my biomedical ethics class.

  “Well at least you’ll have a whole new hook-up pool. Eager freshman.” She wiggled her brows and I laughed a bit, but it was uneasy.

  She joked about my sexual accolades so casually, it really made me think she didn’t think of me romantically at all. Like…at all. Girls don’t joke like that when they like you. We finished eating and I paid the tab, of course she argued but I always win. She didn’t say anything about it making it a date or something, I was the only one who thought like that. I had never even taken a girl out on a date before, but I’m sure it involved paying.

  “I want to show you around campus.” I said when we got in the car.

  “Oh cool, I’ve never seen it, have I?” I shook my head. When she visited she had only been to my apartment.

  I drove to the athletic facility and came in through there. I went in through the football stadium. It was rarely ever locked.

  “Can we even be here?” She trailed behind me.

  “Yeah. It’s no big deal.”

  I showed her every interesting thing I could think of. My locker, the sidelines, the viewing room at the very top of the stadium. She was only slightly interested. I showed her around campus a bit but it was getting cold so we headed back.

  “Hey, I haven’t read any of your blogs in like two weeks.” I thought of it in the car, the last one I read was when she graduated. She usually does a new year’s one and one after that. Sure, I could read it myself on her site but if she doesn’t give me the go ahead, I don’t read it. It was an unspoken rule.

  “Oh, yeah. Um…you can read the next one.” She was acting extremely weird about it. Remember when I asked her before and she said the same thing? Weird.

  “Why can’t I read these?” She shook her head. I glanced at her but she kept her eyes forward.