Page 10 of Accidentally Falling For My Best Friend
Being best friends with the owner’s kid had its perks, like being able to work the same schedule, which made it way more enjoyable. Mom had worked her way up to GM, and after a few months, we transferred into the housekeeping staff. After a few months of that, we spent some time working various positions in the food and beverage department. About a year ago, our parents decided that we were ready to work the front desk.
All of the different jobs have been interesting for different reasons, but I think we both appreciate everything that goes into running a hotel a lot more now. A few weeks ago, I got to spend time shadowing different people in the finance department and confirmed that that’s where I see my future. I’ve always loved math, and it’s cool to see how it’s applied practically to the business I’ve spent years learning about.
We’re both going to college soon, obviously the same one. Ivy League because of theCaldwellname, but only one actually has a hospitality management program, so we’re going there. Oakley’s older brother, Beck, goes there now though, and he said it’s a lot of fun and is always going on about how great the parties are.
“Drew was telling me all about how hehooked up with Angela again at some party last weekend,” Oakley tells me as we walk the few blocks from my house to the hotel.
“And?” I ask.Why does he think I’d care?
“Well, it reminded me that we’re eighteen-year-old virgins and that we’re going to go to college as virgins if we don’t do something about it soon,” he says in a tone like his concern should be obvious. “I’m rich and popular, how am I still a virgin?” he jokingly adds.
“When would we have time to hook up with anyone?” I ask with a laugh. “We’re always working or hanging out with each other,” I point out.
“That’s true,” he agrees.
Honestly, I haven’t given much thought to the whole virginity thing. My hand works just fine if I really feel the need to get off. Not that I even jerk off much, to be honest. Oakley and I are usually in the same bed, so I have to wait until I’m in the shower and he does the same. We’ve joked about it before because sleeping in the same bed means waking up in the same bed, morning wood and all. But Oakley and I talk about everything, so even that isn’t awkward.
“Hey, what about next Friday, when our parents are all at that new hotel opening in California, we could invite Mia and Chloe over to your place, so my brothers don’t bother us,” he suggests.
Mia and Chloe are in some of our classes, and Mia and Oakley are constantly flirting, laughing, and casually touching each other.I’m surprised that he hasn’t tried to date her.Chloe is Mia’s best friend; they’re both cheerleaders, and they definitely fit the stereotype of peppy popular girls, but they’re nice enough.
Oakley’s been on a few dates over the past few years, we both have, but neither of us has had a serious girlfriend. I’ve really only gone out with girls who’ve made the first move, and I’ve never cared to give much effort.
“Why would Chloe want to hook up with me?” I wonder aloud.
“Um, because you’re already over six feet tall and are made of like solid muscle?” he answers. “Parker, you have to know you’re hot,” he adds, like it’s an obvious fact. “Plus, you’re like the coolest guy I know, I’m sure a bunch of girls want to sleep with you,” he says matter-of-factly.
I can feel my cheeks heat a little at the compliment. People always tell me how much I look like my dad, which is great. That’s really the only thing I’ve ever given much thought to as far as my appearance goes.
I’m also not as socially awkward as I used to be. After years of being friends with the most popular kid in our year, I've become more comfortable in social situations. Most of the time, at least. I would even consider some of the people we go to school with to be my friends, which is a big step up from where I was before moving here.
“We can have them over if you want,” I concede, not wanting to hold Oak back if he wants to hook up. “Am I supposed to ask Chloe over, or can you handle it?”
“I’ll text Mia and see if they’re both free,” he answers, already pulling out his phone.
I’m kind of hoping they aren’t, but I guess Oakley has a point. We probably don’t want to go to college with no sexual experience.
So when the girls are available, we all hang out at my house that Friday night. Oakley ends up in the guest room with Mia, and I ask Chloe if she wants to go to my room. When she eagerly agrees, practically dragging me there, I let her take control.
And once again, Oakley and I check off another first on the same night.
6
OAKLEY
NINETEEN YEARS OLD
College is awesome.
The classes are actually interesting and relevant for my future, and the independence of not having to constantly tell my parents where I am is amazing. We can go to parties and meet new girls, and I still get to spend all of my time with Parker.
I figured out pretty quickly that drinking heavily isn’t for me, but I can still be my usual outgoing and happy self, and no one seems to notice if I’m not drunk.
The first week that we were here, Parker and I went to a frat party and got really wasted. We made it home okay, but Parker’s continuous glucose monitor, the small wearable device that’s attached to the back of his arm and is constantly communicating his blood sugar level to his phone, kept beeping that his blood sugar was too high to read. He was too out of it to program his insulin pump to give himself more insulin to bring his blood sugar level down. It was very scary and dangerous.
Luckily, I know how to work his pump and use his glucometer, the portable hand-help back-up machine that can read a higher range from a finger prick’s worth of blood than his continuousmonitor can, and I was able to program his insulin pump to give him the medication he needed to get it down safely.
Thank fuck the adrenaline and anxiety I had over not knowing if he was alright sobered me up, and I was able to do everything properly. But after that night, I decided that being so drunk I couldn’t help him if he needed me, wasn’t for me. Parker had a great night out, and I would never want to take that away from him, so if he wants to drink, then I don’t care. But I’ll make sure that I’m available both physically and mentally if he needs me.
