Circles

Chapter Thirty Two

            “Okay, now I really have to go,” I say. Matthew and I are sitting in his front yard watching the sun come up.

            “No, you don’t.”

            “Matthew…”

            “You can live in my closet,” he says.

            I laugh. “I’m not going to live in your closet.”

            “Okay, fine. I’ll live in your closet.”

            “Matthew!”

            “Just stay,” he whines.

            “I think you only want me to stay because of last night,” I tease.

            “Oh, my God, you know that isn’t true!”

            “Well, I’ve never seen you try so hard to get me to stay,” I say.

            “Seriously, Alex, you know that is not the case. I love you for more than just that,” he says quietly.

            “Uh huh.”

            “But that was pretty good, too,” he says, even quieter and trying not to laugh.

            I give him a shove. “I have to go.” We stand up and he hugs me. “Not too tight,” I say. “My ribs.”

            “Figures,” he says. “So when do I get to see you again?”

            “This sounds way too familiar,” I say.

            He laughs. “I know. But seriously, when?”

            “I don’t know, you tell me,” I say, attempting to flirt. It isn’t really my thing.

            “Tomorrow?”

            I stand on my toes to kiss him. “Tomorrow it is. I’ll be here at eleven.”

            “I can hardly wait,” he says with a smile.

            “Try to get some sleep tonight,” I say with a wink before turning around to walk to the bus stop.

            “Hey, Alex?” he shouts when I’m at the end of the driveway.

            I turn around. “Yeah?”

            “I love you!” he yells goofily.

            I laugh as I jog down to the bus stop.

            I walk into the house at eight, and Liz seems to be the only one up. How coincidental. I go into the living room and sit next to her.

            “I’m guessing you didn’t end it,” she says.

            “No, not exactly…”

            She looks at me quizzically.

            “What?” I ask.

            She gasps. “Oh, my God! You had sex!”

            “Why would you say that?”

            “I don’t hear you denying it!” she says.