Moving In With The Enemy

Chapter 27 ~ "I'm Just Me"

"Fine, I'm walking home from the library." I shrug, turning down the next street on my way home. "Yours?"

"Still going." He chuckles. "I just wanted to know what your week looks like, see if I could plan something? You free tonight?"

"No I....." My mind goes into another universe when I see Walker running on the other side of the street. Hair damp with sweat, long sleeve clinging to his muscles. He didn't notice me, he always got in the zone when he was doing something physical.

"Annie?" He asks and I clear my throat.

"Yeah? Oh sorry, I have a midterm on Monday so I was hoping to study for it tonight." I sigh. "I'm just going to head home for dinner and then I'll go back to the library."

"No plans to study at your place?"

"No, I have three roommates and things aren't always....peaceful at home for me to get things done."

"Well.....what if I came to pick you up after I was done at the office, you could do your work at my place?" He suggests and I blink. The thought made me nervous, I'd never been alone with him before for a long time. But the thought of doing work in a quiet neutral space was enticing. 

"I guess that would work, but I'd need to get things done. Actually work." 

"I'll be on my best behaviour, I have some numbers to finish up for the month so I'll be working too." He assures me and I smile. 

I think this would work, might be a nice way to kill two birds with one stone. It would also be a good time to talk to him about Halloween. By the time Friday came we'd be verging on almost three weeks and that was probably the time to have him meet my friends.

"Don't eat, I'll order-in for us." He says and I shrug.

"Alright, when should I expect you?" I ask, seeing that I'm coming up on my place.

"Say....thirty minutes?" He suggests and I nod. "Have you decided that I'm not a serial killer by now? Because I still don't have your address."

"I'll send it to you." I smile. "Bye Dane, see you soon."

"Later Annie." He answers and I hang up the call, putting my phone in my pocket.

I don't remember dating being like this, how everything was an event or an excuse to do stuff. I remembered it in less glossy ways, but maybe that's because those were high school guys. Dane was an adult.

I try the door, seeing it's unlocked and I step in seeing Mark and Dustin sprawled out on the couch. They never seemed to be in their rooms, always comfortable in their space.

"Hey Annie." Dustin smiles and Mark waves. "How was the library?"

"Busy, I think it's midterm season for most people." 

"Not for us." Mark chuckles and I sigh.

"Business majors, I wish I was you." I laugh, taking off my coat. "Can I ask you guys about something?"

"Shoot." Dustin says and I nod.

"How would you feel if I invited Dane to Halloween?" I ask.

"Is that his speed?" Mark asks and I furrow my eyebrows. "We're going to play pong and do shots, not sip brandy."

"I say bring him, Annie." Dustin chimes in and I sit in the armchair in the living room. "I want to meet him, if he hates it he can always leave."

"True." Mark chuckles. "Things serious between you two?"

"I don't think so, yet." I shrug. "I'm trying to feel everything out, see if he gets along with everyone."

"That probably is important, huh?" Mark asks and I chuckle. "Does he know you live with three guys?" He asks and I blink.