No Strings Attached

Chapter 15

It was five thirty in the fucking morning and I was giddy with excitement.  I fiddled aimlessly with my still damp strands of hair. The bitterly cold wind compared nothing to the bitterly cold feeling that had settled down onto my stomach.  My hair had already caused darkening circles to appear against my gray button up shirt. I proceeded to cuff and uncuff my black skinny jeans until it was perfect, I guess. My breathing was slow and raspy and my knee, out of habit, jerked up and down.

I kept stealing glances at my phone whose screen was always black and each time I looked it felt like a slap to the face. I was half way don gnawing at my thumb when my thigh began to tremble and it was a call from Louis.

I clutched the phone and let it ring twice before finally answering, “Hello?” I steadied my voice to a calm whisper as if I had barley woken from a great night’s sleep.

“Jaime, love, it’s me Louis. I just got off the plane and I’m on my way.” He explained softly.

“Oh that’s great well I’ll get ready. Hey do you want me to make my famous French toast?” I asked coolly.

He chuckled, “No its fine I kind of want to bring breakfast, if that’s fine.”

“Oh no yeah sure it’s cool. Okay well I’ll see you in a few.” I felt like a gawky teenage girl and when I hanged up I immediately tried to tidy anything I could land my hands on. I was barley moving around a vase that sat on my island when I heard grumbles and groans come from behind me.

I turned to find a horrible looking Danielle. “The hell are you doing?” her voice was laced with pure heaviness as she trotted lazily up to the counter. I chewed my lip nervously before answering, “Did you forget? Louis is coming over? You know we’re supposed to work things out and our friendship and possibly our relationship hangs by a thread now.” My hands had subconsciously begun to wipe up the counter over and over again.

I hear Danielle laugh and walk back to the room and it was like some magic spell because she came back out a new person. “Well I guess I’ll be on my way. I’ll leave you two to your fixing and mending and whatnot.” She looked bright eyed and gorgeous, practically glowing.

I finally plopped down, “You don’t have to leave.”

She pecked my cheek, “Oh but I must. I don’t want to be a third wheel and besides this gal is on a job hunt.” She sent a quick wink my way before disappearing out into the world. As she shut the door it was like she knocked the wind out of me.

The realization that Louis fucking Tomlinson would be in my fucking apartment and we would be talking about us had finally sunk in. Is there even an us at this point?

I felt so clammy and light headed and my heart was beating like a drum and I could feel last night’s diner claw its way up my esophagus.  Suddenly a harsh knock erupt me from my thoughts. I began to shake slightly.

“Coming.” Was all I could manage to speak and as I rose I felt the blood rush from my temples. I took a timid step towards the door and then another and I counted the steps. It was eight from where I stood in the kitchen. It also took my six seconds to open the door. Four seconds to loose myself in Louis vibrant crystal blue eyes. And two seconds for him to wrap his sturdy arms around me.

His touch felt so foreign and yet so comforting. He hadn’t touched me in so long I almost forgot the exhilarating the feel of his hand brushing past my waist or arm was. His warmth transferred to me as our embrace prolonged and for that second everything felt great. I was in his arms and this was the moment that I was waiting for and it was finally here.

As lame as it is, I cried. I felt so emotionally unstable that the only thing I knew to do was cry. Cry of happiness of triumph.

I felt his hand linger from the small of my back up to the crook of my chin. He tilted my head up and I was instantly flooded by his eyes. His eyes were blue. Blue like the sky, but also like ocean during a storm. Like my favorite worn out jeans.

“I’ve missed you.” His voice was like those scratchy knit sweaters you’re forced to wear during the holidays, raspy but oh so sexy at the same time and with that he plunged his lip onto mine. It was soft and quick and then it deepened and I felt his tongue frisk by occasionally and honest to God my legs turned to jelly. My knees buckled and I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and his hands hoisted me up by my waist and he giggled! By God Almighty he giggled this cute frilly giggle that was girly and manly all at the same time and it made me blush and it sent butterflies to erupt in my nearly empty stomach.

“So I thought we could get food at some really great sushi place,” his hand found its way into mine. Noticing that I was shooting him a rather quizzical look he then added, “It’s very secluded not just anyone can get in.” His upper lip pulled into a tiny smile, like if he held the key to eternal youth.

My heart swelled at seeing him smile like that knowing that I was the reason for that and he tugged me out into the hall and marched into his small Honda which was perfect going unnoticed and all the while us driving he held my hand and for the first time in forever I felt happy with life.