Versailles Series Book 5: The Barista

CHAPTER 26

~ calhoun ~

I made sure my entertainment room had been cleaned and our drinks had been chilled. I haven't had a movie date in a while. I'm not sure what she wants to watch but I'll watch anything from any horror movie to rom-coms. I'll watch whatever movie if that means I can spend time with her.

I should be used to spending time with her since we've been doing that since our diaper days. But I've never felt these feelings whenever I'm with her. I want her close enough that I can get a whiff of her fragrance or feel her warmth. I want to hear her voice. I want her with me always.

When I heard the doorbell, I almost ran to the door. She has two bags of popcorn in her hand. Kinuha ko iyon mula rito at pinapasok ito sa bahay. I watched her as she walked to where the entertainment room was. She is so familiar with the layout of my house that I don't need to go ahead of her.

I can see her living here. I can see her here with me.

We plopped on my recliner chairs as I turned on my 70" television. I handed her the remote which she excitedly retrieved from my hand. I opened our popcorn and placed our beers on our chairs.

I watched her browse through the streaming service. My hand holding my beer stopped midway when I saw what movie she selected. She cradled her popcorn bag like a baby and a mischievous smile is permanently etched on her face.

People saw my filmography as remarkable. I've done all sorts of things. I've acted out all sorts of people. This particular film that she chose is one of my controversial ones because it's too sexual for most people.

This is one of the movies I haven't seen with Tabi. I know she watched it already but we haven't watched it together. I glanced at her and saw how engrossed she was. The movie centres on the rivalry between the two companies. As the two characters fight for the top spot, the sexual tension between them is amplified so a casual relationship is started on the sidelines.

I tried to watch my own movie but my thoughts wandered back to the woman beside me. When the first sex scene came into play, I saw how she subtly bit her lip. She readjusted her legs and squeezed them. Even her breathing slowed down.

I can feel myself starting to harden beneath my pants. Fuck. Down, boy. I saw how fast she was gulping on her beer. This movie is affecting her somehow. Well, she isn't alone. I'll be lucky not to get a full-on boner by the time this movie ends.

By the time the movie was done, both of us remained silent. Even our popcorns were not halfway eaten. Both of our beers are empty.

"I never thought you'd choose that movie." Sabi ko rito.

"I haven't watched it for a long time." Her eyes are averted as she tries to look for another movie.

"Was it a good movie?"

She nodded slowly her cheeks still stained with her blush.

She chose another movie, comedy this time. I refilled our drinks and I'm glad I can keep my dick in control this time. I don't want to walk around with a boner with Tabi around.

***

I pulled on the reins of my horse, Cookie, to make her stop. I'm on a ride this morning with Jarvis. I will meet with Tabi tonight to celebrate our 30th birthday together at my house.

"Good, girl." Haplos ko sa kabayo habang nagpapahinga ito.

"I always wondered why you named your horse Cookie."

Cookie is a full-bred Appaloosa which is why she has a beautiful spotted pattern all over her body. "She reminds me of cookies and cream ice cream." Tabi's favourite ice cream. Plus, Tabi liked cookies a lot before. She's trimming down on sweets now despite her love of baking. She eats some on certain days but not as much as before.

"You've been spending time with Tabi a lot lately."

Jarvis' words sounded more like a statement than a question.

"Yes."

"Not because you're best friends?"

I sighed. "For her, it's because we're best friends."

"But not for you?"

Umiling ako. "Not anymore."

Tumawa ito at tinapik siya sa balikat. "Finally, man. I thought you'll never come to your senses."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we always thought you two would end up together. I mean why not? And we all love the best friends to lovers story, Calhoun."

I chuckled. "It isn't that easy, Jarvis."

"How? You have the most important foundation which is friendship. You have two decades of it, man. That's hard."

I sighed. "You have to think not only twice or thrice when crossing the fine line. Because if things go to shit, I lose my best friend and a girlfriend. If anything, it's Tabi that I don't want to lose ever in my life. Apart from my family, she's the only constant person I have. She keeps me grounded. She makes me...happy."

"If she's going to ask you why only now, can you answer her?"

"I didn't deserve her then. I don't deserve her now. I never will deserve her. She's a gift to anybody she knows. To anything she touches. I only want the best for her and I am not it."

"Cal, you deserve her more than any man. Based on the stories you told me, her exes are douchebags. You're a fucking saint for keeping their dicks attached to their bodies. If I was in your place, their face would just be a figment of their imagination. And you know what I noticed?"

"What?"

"Maybe subconsciously, you think about her in everything that you do. Look at your horse. What would you have named her if Tabi wasn't in your life? Your kitchen in your house is top of the line even if you don't cook at all but want it that way because you want her to enjoy cooking at your house. Man, you munch on lactase tablets just to enjoy ice cream with her. If that's not love, I don't know what is. And don't tell me she's your best friend. I wouldn't do that to my best friend. And you would have done a lot more for her in the past years I didn't know."

I know I don't need Jarvis to tell me those things. I know that the things I do for Tabi are to make her happy. In my mind, I do it because I was that reliable friend who was always by her side when she needed him. Kinapa ko ang puso ko. Maybe I was doing them not only for those reasons after all. I always say I want her happy but maybe because my happiness depended on hers.