Page 60 of Surviving Slater

"It's a good thing you're a really good friend or I'd have to let you go for that," I returned in a teasing tone, and she laughed.

They stayed for another couple of hours to visit and catch up.

"Why don't we go out tomorrow night?" Taylor suggested.

I was surprised and my eyes met Sin's. The hesitation on his part made me reach for Taylor's hand. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she said, but my eyes went to Sin.

"That sounds great," Sin said. Taylor turned to smile at him.

She seemed excited about it but I wondered if she was ready. It had been a while since her abduction and she was still dealing with the trauma of it. Sin would be there to watch over her and keep her safe. He would probably bring Jeff to keep an extra eye on her.

It was only after they left that I realized Slater might join us. My stomach felt weird and knotted as I imagined seeing him again after my emotional scene and his reaction to the name Shannon. I wasn't sure if I could face him again. The fact that he hadn't contacted me made his choice clear.

Our arrangement was over and it was time to move on. Just as well. My attachment to him had allowed him closer than any other guy. It had led to him being able to open up the demons I had been hiding from for years.

I couldn't allow him any closer for fear of the pain he could inflict on me. I had spent years keeping myself closed off from getting too involved and for a moment I had lapsed with Slater. But I could fix this. I could stop my growing closeness to him. It would be made easier by his distance.

Everything would work out.

Alone, I wandered around the apartment and came to a stop outside Matthew's vacated room. I exhaled deeply before I turned away and walked to the sofa, dropping on it. I flicked through some channels before selecting a cooking channel. The background noise helped me not feel so alone.

Seeing them had made me think of Slater but I dared not ask about him. I got my phone and glanced down at the screen. Still no call or messages from him. There had been a few times I'd been tempted to call him but I couldn't figure out what to say. I didn't think there was a standard response for soothing over an emotional meltdown and his issues over the girl he had mentioned in his sleep.

Without the emotions, I knew this was for the best. It was easier to follow through with because of the medication. He had issues with getting close to people and I had issues from a past I was trying to bury.

Despite my agreement to enter into an arrangement that was only based on physical gratification, I had felt something for him, more than I had ever felt for a guy.

Did Slater feel something more for me? Did it matter? The answer was no. It would be safer for my emotional wellbeing to push aside any growing feelings I had for him and move on.

He was still on my mind when there was a knock at the door.

"Hi," I greeted Levi as I opened the door. He walked in with a box.

"Hey," he said, looking around the apartment. "This is amazing."

Connor had good taste. I showed him to the room next to mine and he put the box down on the bed.

"Thanks for not making me stay here alone," I said to him.

"Really? If I'd been in your shoes I wouldn't have shared," he said with a smile.

"Where's the rest of your stuff?" I asked as we left the room.

"Downstairs in the car," he said.

I followed him down and got some stuff. It didn't take us too much longer to carry it all back up to the apartment. By the time he was unpacked, I was tired as I slumped down on the sofa. Levi sat down next to me.

"Thanks for helping," he said.

"You're welcome." I felt like my life was back in balance with the arrival of my new roommate.

"I don't suppose you can cook?" I asked, and he chuckled.

"Not if you don't want the kitchen burnt down," he answered.

"You can't be that bad," I said, giving him a skeptical look.