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I scoff. “Wow, classy.”
“Exactly. Look, I don’t want to give the asshat a minute more of thought. What are we watching? And what are we ordering?”
“Hallmark Channel. You know what time of year it is.” I love the Hallmark Christmas movies. My TV pretty much stays on this channel until January. “And Bryce made me breakfast, so I’m not hungry. I think there’s still some fruit that’s cut up and some toast you can make.”
“He cooked you breakfast, huh? So, what happened last night? Did you give him your v-card yet?” She hops up and wanders towards the kitchen.
I shake my head, though I doubt she can see. “No. Nothing happened. But he undressed me, apparently. I don’t remember it. Then, I guess I asked him to sleep in my bed. That’s pretty much it. And then the breakfast part. When he left, he kissed my cheek.”
“What? Girl!” Vicki stops dead in her tracks and stands in between the living room and the kitchen threshold. “Okay, let’s unpack all this.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Shut up. He undressed you? So, he saw your goods?” Her face lights up.
I grimace. “No, I don’t think he did. He said he closed his eyes and tried to do it all without having to look.”
“Yeah right!” She bursts out laughing. “What guy would not look at what you got going on if he has to dress your drunk ass? I don’t buy it.” She waves her hand in the air dismissively. “Let’s get to the other part of this story. He slept with you in your bed.”
“Yep. He said I asked him to. I obviously don’t remember. Bryce said he probably would have done it anyway since I was so drunk. He wanted to make sure I was okay.” My heart skips a beat at the thought of him caring so much for me.
“Pfft. Oh, please,” Vic walks back into the kitchen just as my phone chirps.
Bryce: Hey, Kitty Kat. How are you feeling? Please tell me you’re staying hydrated?
Me: Hey. Yes, I am. Vicki is here now. We’re both barely functional with our hangovers.
Bryce: Ha. Ok. I just wanted to check in. Hey, Austin has been acting a little strange. Do you know if something happened with him and Vicki?
Me: I think he wasn’t much of a gentleman to her this morning. That may have pissed her off.
Bryce: Yeah. He can be a little rough around the edges. Ok, so I’ll stop by after work with some food. Rest for now.
Me: I am. I have the Hallmark Channel on and I’m watching all the girly, lovey story Christmas movies.
Bryce: Oh no.
Me: Oh yes!
“What are you smiling about?” Vicki emerges from the kitchen with a sandwich, raising a brow at my expression.
“Nothing. Bryce was just checking to make sure I was doing all right.” I shrug, I grab the blanket on the back of the couch and wrap it around me.
“He has a thing for you, doesn’t he?”
“What? No! We’re just friends. I’m not dating material, Vic. You know that. Bryce knows that. I would never be someone he would date. He probably dates the model types.”
“Kat, I love you. For fuck’s sake. Yes, you totally are dating material. You had some shitty things done to you in life, but that doesn’t disqualify you from being loved. If anything, it makes you more lovable.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you value people. You understand how mean they can be or how nice they are. Trust is a big part of relationships, and you’ve had your trust tested so many times. It also means you’ve had enough shit in your life that you deserve to be happy. You deserve that Hallmark shit you watch.” Vicki giggles.
Guys I dated in the past were always in and out of my life in a flash. If they didn’t run because of my issues, they left because I wouldn’t giveitup. I’m not trying to hold on to my virginity or wait till I find the one I’ll marry; I just won’t give it up to the first guy who says he wants to have sex.
Bryce seems like he’s sticking around for the long haul. The man is amazing and thoughtful. I’m still not sure why he’s single or how his ex even let him go.
I simply cannot can’t lose him as a friend. I can’t. Besides, I don’t have many to begin with. If things were to heat up, we stand to lose more if we don’t work out. I stand to lose more if we don’t work out. There’s no way I can part with how safe he makes me feel, even at my heart’s expense. I would rather long to be with him than hurt because I lost him.