19

"Good day, beautiful," Daniel greets me when I approach the table. It's on the rooftop and I got a little sick just looking over the edge and into the horizon. I wonder how badly an ant would be damaged if it was to fall over.

"I like this sight," I say sarcastically and he chuckles as he looks over the edge with me. Just then a waiter comes to take our order.

"I'll have the Mexican special," Dan says, handing him the menu. I didn't have time to look at the menu so I just ask for the same thing he did.

"Coming right up," the guy says, walking away and casually turning to look back at me. I just shrug it off and talk to Dan.

"Did he call last night?"

"Who?"

"Your boyfriend, dummy," he laughs, taking a sip of the drink he had. That's when I noticed I also had one.

"No, he didn't. But he texted asking me to join him for lunch. I told him I would be meeting a friend instead."

"So I'm a friend now, eh?" he smirks.

"Well," I elongate, "about that," I say and he chuckles with me.

"Here you go," the waiter says, placing our plates on the table. He looks hesitant at first and his whole face turns red. "Excuse me, are you guys together?"

I look at Dan before looking at the guy again. I clear my throat and politely ask, "Together how?"

"Are you taken?" He asks, raising his eyebrow.

"Something like that," I say, looking away. Am I taken? Am I not? It doesn't feel any different.

"I didn't catch your name," he said with a smile, sticking his hand out to me.

"She didn't throw it in your direction," Dan said, making the waiter part his mouth and form an 'o'.

"He's my possessive best friend," I excuse, giving Daniel a silent glare. "I'm Tess," I say, giving him my hand.

"Nick," he says with a smile before walking away. As I watch him walk away, I see him talk to a brunette waitress that has been standing at the entrance the entire time. She looks back at me and they both disappear behind the door, probably to get back to their work. There was something about the way she looked at me that didn't sit well with me.

"That's weird," I say, shrugging as I pick up my fork.

"Maybe she's the ex," he dismissed as he sipped on his drink. "Anyway, bestie, let's eat."

The rest of the afternoon was spent laughing with Daniel. I learned that he's interning at a publishing firm. After that, someone came and collected our empty plates and cups. I paid the bill after arguing over it. Needless to say, he was a bit grumpy when I won the argument and paid.

In less than ten minutes, we were back at his place and we set up a fort and got snacks. It's frightening how comfortable I'm becoming with him so soon. He also gave me his favourite fluffy blanket and his hard drive. How can I not swoon? After closing the dark curtains to block some he came to sit beside me on the carpet.

"Pick any movie, just not Insidious or any other paranormal stuff," he said with an air of dread. I won't admit I also don't like scary stuff so I chose a high school movie.

"'Love, Simon'?" I asked and he nods. "What's it about?"

"I haven't watched it bef-" he was saying but I cut him short by stuffing popcorn in his mouth.

"Shh, the movie is starting," was all I had to say.

And that's how we spent most of our days. In the morning he'd go to work and in the afternoon we'd watch movies either at his place or mine. I tried my best to ignore the feeling that Kyle and I were parting, mostly because he accepted the job at his mom's work place and now we didn't hang out much.

Three months later.

"I know, god dammit!" I yell, restraining myself from strangling him.

"Then why the hell are you upset about it?"

"Because I didn't expect it to come so early."

"But you said you keep track of your cycle."

"It changed," I mumble before adding, "everything does," under my breath.

"So does this mean you can't-"

"If you say one more word," I threaten, pulling him by the collar and staring deeply into his eyes. He tries to bite his lip but ends up chuckling, making me close my eyes as my own laughter bubbles up.

"I mean, at least we know you aren't pregnant," he teases.

"You're useless," I say as I get up. I go to my room to get away from him. Where is my dumb best friend?

"I love it when you walk away," he says outside my door. I groan into my pillow. Today is not a good day. Damn these emotions.

"Baby," Kyle asks as he stands next to my bed but I just ignore him. "Babe?" He calls in a heart melting voice and I hide my shameless smile. Two hands gently grip my shoulders and he turns we around. He gets in bed and lies beside me, one hand on my waist and the other under his head. "I'm sorry," he says, kissing my neck. For a moment I forget why I was even upset with him.

I turn around and put my head on his chest, pulling the covers up to my shoulders.. "It's not your fault."

"Then why the hell were you yelling at me for?" He asks sweetly and I lift up my head and give him a peck.

"I'm sorry. Thank you for being here."

"It's alright. I guess I'd better get used to it considering all the years ahead of us," he says.

"Don't you have to go home?" I ask when I look at the time. It was almost midnight. I'm kind of surprised his mom hasn't sent the FBI to search for him.

"Mom isn't home for the weekend and Leigh-Ann and her mom went to see some relatives."

"What about Lupita?" I ask, earning a sigh from him. Lu literally inhales the air he exhales. She's always around him asking him if he's okay or if he needs anything. I don't have a problem with her though; it's what she's paid to do. But I've seen how overbearing it can become.

Which is why I close my eyes and soak this in. After all, how much longer will I be in his arms for?

*

The next morning, my cramps are intense. I roll around in bed, clutching onto my stomach as I pray for them to go away. My phone rings and I lift the covers off of me to see who it is. I inwardly smile as I answer.

"Hey, love. Does your period start today?"

"Yesterday. How did you know?"

"Ah, I got my dates wrong. I'm coming over in a few. Chocolate or Caramel?"

"Surprise me," I chuckle.

"Okay, Blueberry it is," he says and then hangs up.

Sure enough, the doorbell rings a few minutes later and I get up out of bed. I pass the mirror and groan at the girl I see. But I really couldn't bring myself to look presentable right now. When I open the door, Daniel envelops me in a hug and kisses my forehead.

"I'll put the kettle on. Coffee or hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate, please," I grin as I go sit on the couch.

"How was your day?" he asks from the kitchen. I rest my head against the couch and curl my legs to my chest, covering myself with the fleece blanket.

"Bedridden," I reply, smiling when he walks toward me with a steaming mug of chocolate goodness. He also added tiny marshmellows. "You're truly god-sent. Thank you."

"Don't worry about it," he says as he sits next to me and starts massaging my feet. My head rolls back as I groan in satisfaction.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I'm off this week," he shrugs. My eyes shoot open and he's staring right at me. His eyes hold a promise, one I can't decipher but completely recognize. Then he squeezes my feet again, making me moan and close my eyes. I hear him clear his throat and shift to sit comfortably.

I could get used to this every 28 days.

***

A/N it's about time I got through with this book. More action coming up.