61. The invitation

Although he was teasing as far as I could tell from the smug look on his face, still what he said left me feeling shy and embarrassed, I playfully slapped him on the shoulder, "Rule #3 Dirty jokes are forbidden". 

He burst out laughing, "I feel like we will have more rules than anticipated" 

Feeling even more shy, "Get off!", I kicked him off the bed but I heard a thud sound, shortly followed by an, "Ouch!", he yelled in pain.

 I instantly felt bad and tried to pull him up but instead, he overpowered me and pulled me to him. We playfully wrestled on the ground while giggling like small children. For a second we forgot about our worries and the position we were in, he tickled me as I rolled on the floor until I accidentally hit my head on the bed leg, and with that, we were reminded of our reality. He wore a worried face as he abruptly pulled me closer to look and blow away the pain, but we accidentally locked eyes for a good long second until I reacted prompting him to pull me to his chest, "Two minutes, just two minutes. I promise I will go back to being your normal friend." knowing exactly what he meant, I found myself giving in, being in his chest felt incredibly peaceful, it felt like home and I found myself wishing to stay there forever, 'Did it always feel like his?', I wondered as I found myself slowly fading to sleep.

It was the best sleep I have had in months despite the hardness of the floor, I was woken up by the food aroma that emanated from the kitchen and I was now covered with a blanket. 

Hearing my stomach growl, I made my way to the kitchen," Oh hi bestie, you are up!", he teased with a smile

"Oh My God! You don't have to be so dramatic...". I said as I sat on the kitchen counter.

He laughed, "Anyway. Thank you for letting me crash at your place last night and I made breakfast as a token of my appreciation. I am leaving now.", he said as he took off the apron. I couldn't help but compare the current scenario with the past. If we weren't friends, he was probably going to insist that we stay indoors since it was a Saturday or at least stay for breakfast before leaving, but knowing him, he would probably come back later in the afternoon, but he was my friend now, my married friend and leaving first thing in the morning was the right thing to do. I was the one who agreed to the friendship, but why did it hurt to see him leave just like that?

Despite my heavy heart, I managed to smile, "You are welcome. Don't drink and drive, ever! You have way too many people who care about you.". He winked as he took his car keys," Uhm, see You. I guess, um maybe for friends' hang-out stuff and texting", not knowing what to say, he opened the door, and after a few minutes, I heard his car leave.

After he left, the place felt hollow and lonely, I never noticed how cold and tormenting silence could be, I missed him already, 'Was the apartment always this big?', I wondered as my phone dinged and it was his text:

"I forgot to tell you. I am having a get-together at my apartment later around 6 or 7 pm, please do come

Your friend,

Walter :)". 

Another one followed shortly:

"P.S. Angela won't be here" 

I smiled as I replied, "Okay, will be there." 

Suddenly my apartment felt warm, and despite it being 10:00 am, it felt like I didn't have enough time to prepare. I spent the whole day looking forward to his get-together, I wondered how many people were invited, and if these were the same people that attended the housewarming party the previous year. I was nervous, for sure they saw Khalinda's post and knew that our relationship was beyond friendship, but now I was his friend while he married another woman, 'were they going to judge me?', I asked myself, but I quickly averted those thoughts, Walter wanted me there and any good friend would show up. I went shopping for a casual outfit, I kept it simple with blue jeans, blank ankle boots, a black trench coat, and a white knitted sweater. 

My phone dinged again while I was at the mall, and I checked to see a location, I immediately recognized the place. It was the same place he took me when I got drunk, "were they staying there?" I asked myself thinking about the married couple. 

I quickly went home to freshen up and change clothes, then made my way to the location, I even bought a bottle of wine as a gift, it seemed fitting that I do so. I could hear the soft music from the elevator as I made my way to his door. I first knocked, but there was no answer, I then switched to the doorbell, before it could ring the second time, the door flung open; my heart almost limped out of my chest when Angela stood right in front of me with just a towel on.