It All Started with a Lie

Chapter 23

There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.
~ Sarah Dessen

Chapter 23
Her POV
I don't hear Klaus pull into the parking lot like I usually do—I can only assume that it is because he took the car since Richard wanted the bike—so when he makes it to my apartment I am not already standing outside waiting for him, like I usually am.

It is our little routine lately. He comes over after work—with Richard unable to work until she is cleared by the doctor he's had to pick up extra shifts, whatever they are willing to give him; this week they've worked him like a dog. Then I will wait for him outside like I am just excited to get laid and not that I am just happy to see him. Some nights we will have sex, but others he looks too exhausted, no doubt from just having finished a twelve hour shift. And on nights we did have sex, he left after, but the other nights, my favorite nights, I will ask him if he is staying and he'll ask me if I want him to and I can't tell him that yes I do want him to so instead I will tell him that he looks too tired to drive home, and he will stay.

I open the door to him when he knocks and I'm a little relieved to see he isn't riding the bike, his helmet not in its typical spot under his arm. My brother used to want to ride a motorcycle but I sent him enough terrible motorcycle accident stories that he is terrified to even get on one with his girlfriend driving.

I don't kiss him immediately, as much as I want to, because tonight is another night we won't have sex and I'll hope he stays. "I have to finish an assignment. I totally forgot it was due in two hours and I just started." I gesture to my pile of work that is spread across the couch. If it wasn't worth so much of my grade I'd half-ass it and spend my night with him.

He looks exhausted, and for a second I think he might just collapse in my doorway. He is too tired to even be phased by my bad news. He rubs his face and tries his very best to smile. "That's alright, there's always tomorrow."

Tomorrow he will still be too tired to have sex, but we pretend that's not the case. He turns ever so slightly like he's planning to leave but is leaning so heavily on the doorframe, practically forcing his eyes to stay open, that he doesn't make it far. I reach for him, running my hand down his bicep to steady him. "You should stay. You don't look very good."

He grins faintly. "Gee thanks, darling,"

I roll my eyes. Like he could ever not look good. On instinct I reach forward squishing his cheek between my fingers. "I mean you look too tired to drive." So tired he doesn't even fight me on it.

He follows me inside. "You can go lie down in the bedroom, I'll be in there as soon as I finish my assignment." He's been here enough to know exactly where everything is. We even sleep on designated sides, I sleep on the left, he sleeps on the right.

I kind of like the idea of knowing there is someone in bed waiting for me, not for sex but just to sleep together in the most pure form of its meaning.

He shakes his head. "I'd rather sit out here with you."

His statement catches me off guard. He says it so casually, like it is ever so normal for us. I stumble on my words, a crimson blush flooding my cheeks and the sight earns me one of his beautiful smiles as he brushes a loose strand of hair out of my face. "Okay."

I lead him to the couch where my laptop is and take a seat on the middle cushion, my back facing the armrest. I wait until he sits to get comfortable. He takes the spot between me and the armrest and I decide that I will not waste this moment because if he wants to sit with me, be with me, then that's what we will do.