Cherry Bomb [H.S.]

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Looking over at Marlowe as we sit criss-cross on the floor of her at home recording studio, I watch as she steadies her cigarette between her lips while holding the guitar in her lap with one hand - leaning forward to scribble something into her notebook laying out in front of her. Over the past couple of weeks, my days at Marlowe's have consisted of a lot of this, as well as a lot of planting in her garden and flower beds outside. She told me growing a mini garden, and also planting a lot of beautiful flowers, was something she's wanted since moving in - she just hadn't found the motivation to do so until recently.

I keep my eyes on the way her pen glides across the page before trailing back up to her face. Her brows are cinched together as she closes her lips completely around the filter of her cigarette, drawing in a drag and laying her pen down in order to pull the stick away after a moment. Just barely dropping the corner of her bottom lip, she allows the smoke to seep out as her sight stays transfixed on her notebook.

I can't stop thinking back to the paint night we took part in and the concert we went to together. We haven't really had the chance to go out and do something like that again since she's been a bit busy with meetings and recordings, but hopefully I'll be able to change that soon.

I've managed to get myself a job at the music supply store where Marlowe had gotten most of her at home equipment. Mostly I was starting to save up to be able to get a place of my own. No matter how many times Marlowe told me that I could just stay here, part of me still felt guilty for doing so. Another big thing I've been tucking money away for is to properly take Marlowe out. I didn't want her to think that I was mooching off of her, or just looking for a place to stay and that's why I've been hanging around her so much.

I've been hanging around her so much because she manages to force that dark part of me down.

Not to mention the fact that I've found myself even more captivated with her than I ever did before. The way she holds herself now, and the confidence that I can see in her - it makes me proud and turns me on all in one.

The last night we went out together, I wanted to kiss Marlowe. I want to wrap her in my arms, to cherish her and feel her lips against mine once and for all, but I chickened out. I left her with a kiss on the cheek, and I was so nervous that I couldn't even turn back and look at her before I went into the guest room.

I knew that we had pretty much let each other know that we were curious about what it would be like to cross that line of our friendship, but I didn't want to rush this. I wanted to do right by her.

Over the weeks we've been spending time together, we've definitely had instances where we've been more flirty with each other. She touches me more than she used to, even when we were friends before, and I feel like that's because I've found myself doing the same. I just always feel the need to be touching her in some way. Whether it be her holding my hand, or my thigh pressed against hers as we sit on the couch - the physical contact with her is something that I crave. It's a warmth I've never felt before in my life when I'm around her. It scares me, but I know I also need it more than anything.