Page 53 of A Brush with Love
“I said, ‘We’re really,reallyexcited you’re coming tonight.’ It means a lot to us that we finally get to do this with you.”
The earnestness in her friends’ smiles punched the air from her already deprived lungs. She didn’t want to let them down, ruin their fun. She didn’t want to be chained to her apartment bythe iron restraints of anxiety. She wanted to feel like a normal fucking woman doing a normal fucking thing. Not this shameful, unstable bundle of nerves that controlled her every step.
So she’d go.
But Harper was scared.
CHAPTER 17
DAN
Dan was excited.
Like, stupid excited. For somethingschool-related. He didn’t even recognize himself.
He spent most of the day pacing aimlessly around his apartment, doing dishes, scrubbing floors, double-checking all the clocks with his phone because it seemed impossible for time to actually movethatslowly.
All the while, Alex trailed him like a nervous puppy, asking an endless slew of questions.
“You sure it’s chill if I come along with your group?”
“So… Thu’s gonna be there, right?”
“Should I wear the silver tie or the yellow tie?”
“You said you think Thu will be there?”
“Hey, do you know if Thu has a boyfriend?”
Dan had responded curtly with “Yes. Yes. Silver. Yes,” and “How the hell would I know?” before getting so annoyed that he subjected himself to a long run in the freezing winter day.
By the time he returned home, he’d burned off enough restless energy and wasted enough time that he could start getting ready. He hopped into the shower, letting the hot water ease the tension in his shoulders as his thoughts inevitably drifted toHarper, and the ultimate fantasy of having her in there with him, her slick body beneath his hands. Too soon the water started to cool, and he stepped out, wrapping a towel around his hips.
He moved to the sink and wiped condensation from the mirror before lathering shaving cream over his stubble. He dragged the razor down his cheek, letting himself get lost in the rhythm of the movements as his mind continued to feast on fantasies of Harper. Her lips. Her touch. Her hands.
He was absorbed in a daydream of what it would feel like to press his shaved cheeks between her thighs when Alex pounded on the door.
“Dude, you almost done? I have to shit.”
Poof.
His fantasy (and erection) disappeared without a trace.
Before Dan even answered, Alex threw open the door.
“Sorry, man, but I can’t wait. I got that gas station sushi again for lunch,” he said, frantically shuffling for the toilet.
Dan closed his eyes and did a quick calculation on how many weeks until his lease was up. Alex was a great friend but a disgusting person to live with.
“Was last time not lesson enough?” Dan asked, setting his razor down and moving into the hall as Alex found noisy relief. Maybe finding a sublease wouldn’t be that bad?
“I know but it’s so cheap. And it tastes good going down,” Alex said, the sentiment emphasized by an exceptionally loud fart.
Sleeping on the streets might even be something to consider. He was glad the door was closed, but noise still traveled.
“So, you excited for tonight?” Alex asked.
“No, don’t worry, make yourself comfortable. Let’s chitchat while you destroy our bathroom. Not like I was doing anything in there. I wanted a half-shaved look anyway.”
