Moving In With The Enemy

Chapter 26 ~ "Am I The Rebound?"

Ever since Walker went to dinner with my mother she's been talking my ear off about him. It's only been two days and yet I've already heard about him twice from her. 

I'm not even sure what she thinks is so great, sure Walker was tall and handsome, kind when he wanted to be, charming but in this confusing way, had dimples when he smiled.....

God I'm doing it again. I'm thinking about him when I shouldn't be, we're finally sort of getting along and I can't stop letting my mind wander. We'd established we were friends and he'd been clear about boundaries and that he wouldn't mess with them again. I needed to let this weird thing go, because it's stupid and it's just making my head spin for no reason.

He can't be in a relationship, the fact that he's told me he can't should be enough but its backed by his behaviour and the things I've seen. I know Walker's got a lot going on in his brain all the time and I get the sense he really didn't have a good upbringing. He's got enough to sort out and I won't get involved.

We could keep this a secret, just one mishap between friends in the dark. I was capable of keeping it under control, so was he and I had to try to just let it go.

It was hard as hell though, for the first time ever I had nothing but a boy on my mind. The thing making me feel guilty was that it wasn't the one I was going out with tonight.

"Hmm, try on the red one!" Abby calls over FaceTime and I walk out of frame shrugging off my black dress and stepping into my red one. I'd called her for a consultation on my outfit for tonight, I didn't have a clue about the restaurant he was taking me to, but I needed to be well dressed on the very real chance that we were going somewhere nice.

"Okay thoughts?" I ask, walking back in front and she squeals.

"That's the one!" She insists, picking up her phone and I grin, smoothing it out. It was a simple cocktail design, thin straps but mature. I hadn't worn it anywhere since high school graduation, this was the first time I'd fit into it since high school.

"I like it too." I admit, searching my jewelry drawer for something to wear. "I'm shocked it fits."

"Annie, that dress fits like a fucking glove, this man is going to fall at his knees." She assures me and I try to smile at her. "What's that face about?" She asks as I find a pair of earrings to put in, nice simple studs that would compliment the small pendant necklace I wanted to wear.

"What face?" I ask, shoving in my earrings and finding my necklace.

"That constipated one." She accuses and I shake my head. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know.....I'm just not sure how I feel about this date, I haven't dated since high school and he's a bit older than I am." I shrug. And I can't stop thinking about my roommate who wants nothing to do with me.

"It's like riding a bike." She insists and I sigh, maybe for confident flirtatious people it was. For me it would be like riding a unicycle, an awkward train wreck only slightly helped by alcohol. "He really likes you, you said he really wanted to go out with you right?"

"Yeah."

"You're just nervous." She encourages and I sigh, rolling my eyes. I grab my heels and start doing them up while I sit talking to her. I'd already showered, done my hair and my makeup before calling Abby for an outfit suggestion. "Look.....is this about the Chase thing?"

"No." I assure her, shaking my head. "I'm way over that."

"Chase isn't." She whispers with a chuckle and I sigh. "He keeps asking if I've heard from you."

"I need a lot of time away from Chase, he's fuelling drama into my life."

"Totally understandable." She says with a chuckle. "Annie, you're hot stuff. This is your special date, have fun and enjoy yourself. Oh and try to get the best stuff you can, you know he's paying for dinner."