State of Grace - Jack Hughes

010

Jack 

As we were walking to the car, my phone started ringing, and I saw it was Luke am promptly pressed ignore. We were seconds from Allie putting the car in drive when her phone started ringing. Luke's name popped up on the car screen. She looked at me and all I could do is roll my eyes.

She pressed the bottom on the steering wheel "Hello?"

"Do you know where my brother is?" I groan and Allie chuckles softly.

"I do. What's up?"

"Lukey what do you want." I stress hoping he hears my agitation.

"Are you going home? I would rather sleep in my own bed instead of this hotel. Everyone is going out and I am already bored. I would rather be bored and alone at home."

Allie turns and faces me and softly says "I can take him back."

"You don't have to. He's fine," I say quietly. "Lukey, everyone can't be going, and if you wanted to you know you could get in with them."

"It's the principal of wanting to sleep in my own bed."

"Where are you? I can take you back." Allie chimes in.

"I'll send you my location. Thank you for answering me, I apricate your service."

"Yeah yeah yeah, see you soon," I huff and reach over to end the call. "You did not have to answer."

"Yes, I did. I don't mind. We are going that way anyways." She says with a smile, leaving the garage to Luke's hotel.

"So," I stress the end of the word reaching over to draw little circles on her leg. "If I am being to forward, tell me and I'll shut the hell up, but I didn't really have any intention of going back to my apartment."

Allie turns quicky and smiles, "I'm sure Luke will love the alone time. I'll warn you, I have not one item of furniture other than a mattress on the floor."

"Good, I wouldn't want to break any new furniture," I tease. She chuckles as we pull into the pickup circle at the hotel. "When we drop off Luke, I just want to run up and grab a change of clothes."

______

The ride to Allies from my apartment was short. It makes me happy to know she is not too far away when she's here.

"You weren't kidding about the no furniture. Where do you sit? You don't even have a chair/"

"The floor, the counter, my bed take your pick."

"You don't even have a rug to make the floor comfortable."

"Okay, it's been 3 days! And I can't make décor choices without my roommate." She huffs. I watch her slip around the island to the fridge. "Are you hungry? I should have warned you I have been living off frozen pizza and smoothies. Oh, and protein bars!"

"Pizza?" I smile, "please and thank you." She takes the pizza out of the freezer and turns on the oven. Her movements, however simple they are, are elegant. It feels like ballet music should be playing with every step she takes. I lift myself off the counter and wrap my arms around her waist. She's still in her work clothes, small heels, and id badge still intact.

I spin her around. "I have to shower," she mutters.

"So go," I whisper back, tucking a lose strand of hair behind her ear.

"But you're so warm," she complains tightening her grip around me.

"I could take another shower. The one in the locker rooms are never good." The moment the words leave my mouth my heart stops. I have known this girl for only a few weeks, and I just said I would shower with her? Who the hell does that? Me, I guess. The silence is killing me, and it's been a few moments too long.