Set Me Up

Chapter 5. Just Friends

I woke up the next morning to knocking on my door. I groaned, silently cursing myself for drinking so much the night before. Before I could think about who would be knocking on my door so early on a Sunday morning, the door opened, answering my question.

"Someone better be dying, that key is for emergencies only."

"It is," Bash's voice rumbled over me and I remembered our odd encounter from the night before and they way it had made me feel. I was glad I was under the comforter so he couldn't see my blush. "Your mom will kill me if you don't make it to brunch because you're hungover. And I refuse to go out that way."

I smiled, fighting back a laugh. As if my mom would ever hurt Bash. I pulled the blanket off my head and met my best friends eyes. He looked the same as always, glasses on his face, black polo shirt tucked into jeans, and holding two large starbucks coffees. He held one out and I took it, taking a quip sip.

Sighing, I set my coffee cup on my end table and stretched. "Probably a good thing you did come to wake me. I did not set an alarm and I was definitely intent on sleeping all day."

Bash chuckled before turning to head to my living room space. It was hard to define spaces in a studio apartment but I liked to think I'd done a good job. There was an oversized area rug to define the living room area. It was bordered by a large grey couch and two pale blue chairs with a coffee table in the middle. My kitchen was defined by the two person peninsula, which was currently buried under a pile of books. Then I had two grey dressing screens that blocked off my bedroom area from the rest of the apartment. Along the entire back wall the exposed brick was covered by custom bookshelves housing my collection. It wasn't much, but it was home.

"You seemed like you had quite a few last night so I thought that might be the case."

I stood and headed toward my small bathroom, which was right off the bedroom. I wasn't sure if I was happy Bash brought up last night or nervous. My stomach was fluttering unnecessarily. "You know how girls night gets," I said with a laugh.

The conversation ended when I shut the bathroom door. I hopped in the shower, washing as fast as possible. Bash was right, my mom wouldn't be happy if we were too late. Mom was a lot of things, patient was not one of them. One of the lesser traits I'd happened to inherited.

I brushed my teeth before slipping out of the bathroom and into my closet which was right next to the bathroom door. I shut the door before letting the towel fall. Biting my lip I reached up and pulled down my favorite blue flowered sundress. I absolutely loved sundresses. They made me feel so feminine. I loved how easy they were to slip on and instantly look put together. Going out to brunch, sundress. Heading into the office, sundress. However, it was not doing me any favors today. I wiggled around in the closet, desperately trying to catch the zipper.

"I'm sure they are all waiting patiently," Bash's voice came from the other side of the door, "As you know, that's such a strong skill in your family." I could hear the laughter in his voice.

I sighed. It was fine, he was my best friend. Nothing weird. It wasn't like he hadn't helped me get dressed hundreds of times. I reached out and opened the door, holding the dress to my chest with my free hand. "I need help, the zippers' stuck."

We stood there, staring at each other, a smile growing on Bash's face. Finally he asked, "Are you going to turn around or...?"

My face instantly flushed and without a word I turned, presenting him with my open back. I'd never been so aware of another person standing behind me. There was a tug on the zipper as he pulled it. Still stuck. "Looks like some of the fabric is caught," he said quietly. He struggled with the zipper for a moment. Then warmth exploded on my lower back. My breath caught in my chest as I felt her cheeks flush. "Sorry, it seems like it's stuck in here." His knuckles grazed along my lower back as he fought to release the fabric from the stubborn zipper teeth. My back and cheeks were on fire and my body was tingling, nipples straining against my bra.