Sleeping With a Friend

Chapter Nineteen

I looked down at my feet, watching as they walked in-step with Michael's. Right, left, right left. They walked so perfectly next to each other I felt so silly paying so much attention to them. Michael was in the midst of tell me this story about his childhood, something I wasn't really interested in, yet when he told the story, I was intrigued to learn more.

"You're kidding? The lady didn't make you pay for her window?" I brought my head up to look at him. In the street light, his features became so much easier to see the carving in his cheek bones; also making it easier to admire.

"No! But she did make me mow her lawn for the next month to pay it off!" We both laughed at his heart-warming tale. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a lady smiling at us as we walked past her. She quickly put her face back into her phone, but the smile was still on her face. Michael and I continued walking, I wasn't sure if we were heading to his car or what. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm certain we're walking away from where the car was parked.

"Michael did you park down there?" I brought it to attention, stopping and pointing down the opposite end of the street toward where the movie theater was located.

He smiled, I would never not feel my heart flutter when I saw it, "Yeah, but I thought it would be nice to walk for a bit. There's even an ice cream place down a little further I wanted to go to-I mean if you'd want to." He stopped himself from rambling, smile still adorning his face.

"No, no, that sounds great." I told him. Michael held out his arm, bending it slightly.

"Well then shall we?" I wrapped my arm around his and we began walking. "But really, how great is Adam Sandler?" He started a whole new conversation in which I couldn't help but agree.

"Seriously! He's like my favorite actor! Although I do have to admit I love his older movies better.Billy Madison was my favorite for years!" I laughed.

"Oh man but what about Happy Gilmore! That one is hands down the best!" He argued, but it was all good fun. My eyes grew wide at him.

"What? You're kidding me right?" I played along with the charade.

"No I'm so serious! That one was the best one. You're lying to yourself if you think otherwise."

"You're crazy." I added, "You're totally forgetting about The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates. Anything he did with Drew Barrymore is definitely at the top of the list."

"Alright, you got me there. Those ones are pretty great." We both laughed and I didn't even realize we were already at the ice cream shop. "This isn't something you can fight me on." He grinned, opening the door to the shop. I stepped in and took in the oh-so-sweet smell of ice cream and chocolate and caramel. "This place is the best." I heard Michael say.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The woman behind the counter asked.

"Hi," I grinned back at her. She was a sweet woman, looked to be in her 40's, with a visor on that had the logo of the ice cream shop on it with her hair in a waved ponytail. "Um," I turned to Michael, "You go. It takes me forever to pick something." I turned back to the ice cream bar, "Everything looks so good!" Michael and the lady chuckled.

"I'll just have a hot fudge sundae please." The lady nodded and got to work. "The milkshakes are really good here." Michael told me.

"Ugh, I want like one of everything." I groaned and Michael laughed at me once again.

"Here you go." The lady handed the bowl over the counter and Michael took it, his eyes going wide with anticipation. He immediately began digging in.

"I'll just take a chocolate milkshake please."

"Going with what the boyfriend says I see." The lady joked and I blushed, here we go again, another person assuming I was in a relationship with someone and totally ruining it for the both of us.

"Oh," Michael began and I whipped my head over to look at him, seeing that he was already staring at me. "A little guidance might do her some good." His words weren't at all what I expected. I assumed he would have said something like "oh we're not together" to crush any hope that I almost had.

I coughed lightly, covering my mouth with the side of my fist, "Yeah but maybe not from you." I laughed, playfully hitting him on the arm. I wasn't upset that he didn't deny our relationship like I had been before. Honestly, I was glad he didn't.

I started fumbling with my purse, looking for my wallet, Michael had paid for the movie and the popcorn, the least I could do was pay for the milkshake.

"No, I got it." I heard him say, handing the lady a ten-dollar bill.

I shook my head, "Why are you so nice?" I had smile on my face, but I was serious. The whole night he was the sweetest guy, opening doors, letting me hold his arm, he even let me pick where to sit in the movie theater for the movie (of course it was in the way back with the best view). Once he had his change, we went to sit outside and I waited for him to finally answer my question.

"To be honest with you, I had been wanting to take you out for a while now. But you were hanging out with Ashton and I didn't want to interfere with what that could be."

I felt dumbfounded. Had Michael really liked me this long and there I was too wrapped up in some idiot who only cared about getting me in bed to notice. I felt terrible. I had missed out on this, on everything Michael had to offer me. And even from tonight, just one night, it seemed to be much more promising then what Ashton did.

"Really?" I felt my cheeks grow fiery red.

Michael nodded, "Yeah really." He took a big bite of ice cream, staring down at his bowl.

"Well you have nothing to worry about now." I gulped down my milkshake. Michael gazed up at me, silently waiting for me to continue. "I'm all yours now."