Page 4 of Only You and Me

“Um, I guess we could drop you off first. It’s a little out of the way, though.” Emily bites her lower lip and looks at Shayna.

Trina chuckles, throwing her head back. It’s a good look on her.

“I’m sorry to inconvenience you,” she says, grinning at Emily and Shayna. “It’s fine. I can get an Uber or something.” Trina reaches into her pocket and pulls out a set of keys, handing them to Emily.

Both girls lean in and hug Trina. I’m pleasantly surprised to see her hug them back.

“Make sure you thank the Donleys before you leave.” Trina tries to whisper it in Emily’s ear, but I hear anyway. Emily nods.

When Emily and Shayna stand upright again, they thank her and take off toward their friend group.

Trina pulls out her phone and starts swiping at the screen.

“What are you doing?”

She doesn’t glance up but answers. “I’m ordering an Uber. What does it look like I’m doing?”

I risk her wrath and grab her phone from her hands before she has a chance to stop me.

Her eyes bulge, and she jerks her head back in disbelief. “What the hell? Give me my phone back.”

“You’re not calling an Uber. I’m gonna drive you home.” My voice is firm, and I hope it’s enough to convince her.

If looks could kill, I think I’d be halfway dead right now with the way her eyes home in on me. It takes everything in me not to swallow the lump in my throat while she’s watching me so intently.

“Fine. But give me back my phone, Benjamin.”

I pass her the phone, and the skin of our hands barely graze against each other, but I swear I feel a tingle in the spot. Trina jerks her hand back like I shocked her, then looks down at it, her brow momentarily furrowed before she recovers.

“I’ll go get my keys and meet you out front if you want to say goodbye to anyone.” I stand and walk back into our house, saying nothing else.

Twenty minutes later, I pull up in front of the brick building Trina’s new apartment is in and park the car. I unbuckle my seatbelt, and the click must get her attention. She whips her head in my direction.

“What are you doing?” She squints at me as her brow wrinkles.

“I’m walking you to your door.” I open the car and practically leap out before she says no.

When I make it over to her side of the car, she’s already out and walking toward the front of the building. I follow closely. As she reaches for the metal handle on the door, she whirls around to face me so quickly that I almost run into her.

“Thanks for the ride. And, uh, for walking me to the door, I guess.” Her eyes dart around, looking everywhere but at me.

“This isn’t your door, Trina.” I say quietly.“I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

Trina huffs. “Ridiculous is what you’re succeeding at being,” she snaps. But she opens the door, walks through, and I follow her as we climb the steps.

I don’t want to leave yet. That’s the weird thing about Trina and me. Since the very first time I met her, I consistently get this odd pang in my chest when we go our separate ways. It’s not painful per se, but I hate it.

Trina turns to me. “Okay, well. This is it. So, thanks. See ya.”

She faces the door and puts the key in the deadbolt and unlocks it. When she grasps the knob to open the door, panic rises in my chest, and I place my hand on top of hers to stop her. She stills.

I don’t know what to say, but I need to say something. I swear I’ve had a thing for Trina since the first time I saw her across the soccer field in high school. Though I thought it would fade or go away completely, it’s only intensified over the last few years.

“It’s almost dinnertime. Let me take you to Pat’s Diner for a simple meal. No strings attached.” I want my voice to sound confident, manly, but it sounds raspy and quivers a little.

“We just came from a party with more food than we could ever want. I’m not hungry.” She stares at the door, our hands still grasping the handle together.

I move my mouth near her ear. “Please, Trina. Take a chance on me.” I practically beg.

---