I stumbled through my apartment door and struggled to get my sticky Under Armour shirt off of me. Unfortunately, the combination of moving out our stuff from the company's building, the roller coaster of yesterday's emotions, tossing in bed all night without sleep, and finally deciding to go for a 10 mile run before the sun had risen robbed me of the strength I needed to separate the second skin from my actual skin. At that point, my arms were tangled and stuck above my head. I had seriously begun to worry that I may suffocate inside my own sweaty shirt when a voice spoke by the door that I had left open. I recognized it instantly.
"You know if you're really serious about trying out stripping to compensate for the loss in income, you definitely have the body for it. Your technique needs some improvement, though."
During his rant, I had spun in surprise not realizing that the couch was in the way and flipped over the back of it partially. Now my trapped arms and face were planted in the seat of the couch with my legs, ass, and bare back sticking up over the edge. I kicked in vain to try to gain the momentum I needed to get myself up right again.
"Although, who needs technique when your showing off something like that."
"Damn it Brett, just help me out before I suffocate on my own sweat!"
Suddenly, two strong, rough hands grabbed me about my waist and hoisted me back. I took every bit of self control that I had not to moan from the direct, skin on skin contact. (How could the man still affect me in this way after all that had happened? Was it ever going to stop?)
Suddenly, the shirt was ripped from me and I instantly gasped in some fresh oxygen. I felt my entire face, neck, and torso redden as the eyes I looked up at burned my bare skin.
"What the hell are you doing here? How did you find out where I live?"
"I have my ways buddy. I wanted to stop by and offer some coffee and breakfast in hopes that I could have the chance to formally apologize about your job along with the offer for us to try this again."
"This being-???"
"Whatever you want it to be, Luch. I'm putting it all in your hands. I won't overstep any boundaries you set up or break any rules you create. Please give me the chance?"
Despite everything the bastard had done to me, I couldn't say no to the pathetic face he was making. I ripped my shirt from him, sighed, and stomped away.
"You can sit at the breakfast bar if you want to start on your drink and breakfast. I'm going to shower first, though, then we'll discuss this."
He didn't say anything as I entered my bedroom and crossed over to my bathroom while quickly undressing. I didn't want this to be long a shower. I felt uncomfortable being in such a vulnerable state with the guy sitting alone in my kitchen. I didn't trust myself around him almost as much as I didn't trust him. About 5 minutes later, I walked out in to the kitchen in some fresh lounging clothes as I ran my hands through my damp hair. I sat down and helped myself to the coffee and muffin that he offered me. As I looked at the barista's writing on the side of my cup, I couldn't decide if I should have been surprised that he knew exactly how I liked my coffee and what my favorite muffin was (blueberry).
"Thank you." I mumbled as I took a sip of the coffee. This time, I didn't even attempt to suppress the moan.
He chuckled in response, but his eyes seemed to glaze over. "Like coffee, do you? No problem, though." We sat in silence for a moments, when suddenly, he broke the ice in the most shocking and unconventional way possible.
"So... have you and Justin fucked yet?"
As amazing as my drink was going down, it was awful coming back up. My nose didn't really appreciate the flood of coffee either. Sprayed myself, Bret, the counter, and wall with coffee as I took what I was sure were my last breaths (I admit, I tend to get dramatic at times). After finally regaining my burning, teary eyed posture (I'd say dignity, but that was long gone by this point) I glared up at Brett, who had that arrogant smirk on his face again while trying to hold back his laughter. Leave it to him to be that bluntest ass wipe around and then be smug about it.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I croaked.
"Exactly what you just said, you and that cute, blond co-worker of yours bumping uglies under the sheets." he calmly replied.
I stared at him a few seconds to gauge how serious he was.
"There are so many things that are wrong with you, I haven't a clue where to start. I mean who the hell says something like that?" I asked scoffing. "Especially someone in your current position. If this is all are conversations are going to cover in this friendship, then I really don't have any interest to follow up on it."
Before he could he reply, I picked up his trash, threw it in the can and then walked over to the door to open it. I turned to face him. He didn't move from his stool however, he just stared at me with a confused face.
"You can look at me all you want, it doesn't change that what you said was pretty forward and dickish for a new friendship."
That seemed to snap him out of it, he finally jumped from his stool. Unfortunately, though, he walked up to me and didn't continue through the door. I really was ready to slam it in his face, too.
"OK, OK, I'm sure, Luch. I worded that pretty poorly. I just noticed yesterday that there was something going on there and I thought it'd be a good step in getting to know what's going on in your life. What I should have asked was: 'Is there anything going on between you and Justin?' Can we move on as if I had asked that, please?"
I stared at him for a few seconds before sighing and making my way back to my coffee. I really wished he had caught me after I had refueled myself. I may have had the energy to follow up on kicking him out then.
"Fine, Brett. It still doesn't change the fact that you're wrong. Let's start off with the fact that I don't date. PERIOD. I have no desire or interest to get in to relationship. Even I did, it wouldn't be right to the other person, man or woman. It'd be a guaranteed, unhealthy relationship from the beginning. Next, let's consider the fact that, Justin is straight. He's never made a hint that he's in to other guys. He would have told Maria and I if he was. Finally, even if Justin were gay or bi, he hasn't shown any interest in me. He could have a much better selection that me, anyways. Man or woman."
I struggled to keep my calm as I went through my reasoning because Brett had started to shake his head after I made my first point, and hadn't stopped even after I finished.
"Luch, aside from you not dating in the past, all of what you just said was bullshit. I'm going to skip over your first point for now, since that's a conversation all on its own. The other points I can take care of at once. Justin IS gay. I knew that after short time I spent in the same room as him."
"How could you possibly know that? Maria and I have spent every weekday with him for MONTHS, and he hasn't given us a single hint of his sex preference."
"I can't speak for Maria, although, I think I'm going to have to have a word with her. The reason he didn't tell or give any sign to you is obvious though, he has a MAJOR crush on you, Luch."
"The hell he does, man. I've shared the same office as him for a long time and hung out with him more times that I can count. I haven't noticed a single sign."
"No offense buddy, but you aren't exactly the ideal gay detector. And you certainly aren't the best when it comes to picking up on others feeling or the art of flirting."
"And I have you to thank for that."
As much as I tried, I couldn't pass up on the chance to hurt him. I felt sick with myself as soon as the words came out of my mouth, though. I wasn't sure if I had just wanted to hurt him, or if I was hoping to get out of this conversation and get him to leave by hurting him. Brett apparently knew which one it was, though.
"Nice try. You're not getting out of it that easy. You had every right to say that but if I'm going to be your friend, I will see to it that you finally find the healthy dating relationship that you deserve. Trust me, Luch. I watched just yesterday. I saw how looked at you and talked to you. "
"How could YOU possibly know that he was crushing on me just by him looking at me when talked?"
