Let's Play Pretend

VII. As the Rain Pours

Day Four 

It was cloudy when I woke up the next morning, leaving me to be confused about what time it was and, for a brief moment, where I was. I blinked a couple of times, regaining orientation. I remembered where I was only when Andrew moved in his sleep beside me. 

He was sprawled across the right side of the bed, laying on his stomach. The muscles in his back ripped with each sleepy breath he took. I wanted to reach out and trail my fingertips over the bare skin that stretched across his back. But I refrained myself and instead sat up in bed and took in my surroundings. 

It was obvious that he shared his room with at least one other guy. Andrew’s bed was tucked into one of the corners, leaving Andrew’s closest to the wall as we’d slept. The other bed was diagonal from this one and empty. But the covers were thrown about, like its occupant had left in a hurry. I suddenly felt self conscious. Had the occupant of the other bed been in here last night or had they, by some luck, spent the night out? 

Andrew made a sound in his sleep and rolled over towards me, throwing an arm across my lap. My fingers danced across the back of his hand absentmindedly, making random shapes. 

“He’s not bothering you too much, is he?” I jumped out of my skin at the unexpected voice. 

Heart still pounding, my eyes found a smirking blonde boy leaning against the doorway, his muscular arms crossed over his equally muscular bare chest. 

Self consciously, I too crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly very aware that all I was wearing was a gray tank top and a borrowed pair of Andrew’s boxer shorts. I gnawed on my bottom lip while the blonde boy continued to smirk and stare. 

“Um, no?” I answered while nonchalantly poking Andrew in the ribs, trying to wake him up so he could save me from this grossly uncomfortable situation. The blonde boy laughed. Andrew drowsily batted at my poking hand but I was consistent. 

“I’m Josh. You must be Charlie.” Josh threw some air quotes around my fake name. It was obvious that Josh found our little agreement strange. 

“For the week,” I confirmed. Josh shook his head, blew out a whistle, and dropped himself down on the end of Andrew’s bed. Andrew stirred. 

“So that’s what wakes you up,” I mumbled. Josh raised an eyebrow but I ignored him. Andrew rolled onto his back and looked at me with a smile. I returned the smile, still feeling awkward with Josh sitting there. 

As if reading my mind, Josh cleared his throat. Jackass. Andrew’s eyes wandered over to a smiling Josh who was waggling meaty fingers at him. Andrew rolled his eyes and groaned. 

“Well...shit.” 

“What?” I asked, while Josh just looked smug. 

“I was really hoping that you’d spent the night out.” 

“You just didn’t want me to meet mystery girl.” Josh retorted. 

“You’re absolutely right.” Josh rolled his eyes, still smiling. Ever smiling. 

“I think we’re going to be best friends,” Josh assured his groggy friend. 

“Don’t hold your breath,” I told them. 

“Oh, Charlie,” Josh cooed, clutching his heart and feigning a hurt expression. “How you hurt me so.” 

“Can you just get out of here? Please?” Andrew was practically begging. And he said that he never begs. A shiver shot up my spine as Andrew tangled his legs with mine under the thin covers.