Only If You Knew

Chapter 7

"Why do you keep asking me over & over again?"

"I'm just trying to make sure you're serious! This is a big step."

She looked at me, eyes wide.

"Normani, I said I'm ready. What more do I have to do to show you?" I said to her.

She let her jaw go slack as she leaned back further.

"I'm going to go use the bathroom. You think about this some more."

She slid from under the sheets & left the room.

I walked around the bed to the side Normani had just vacated & attempted to climb in. That is, until Val marched up to me, arms folded over his chest.

"That was a low blow; telling Normani you're ready when you're clearly not." He spat.

Oh he was pissed.

"Yeah it was a low bow for you to come in here & try to sleep with her, but you don't see me complaining."

"Well you told me to leave." He said snidely.

I cut my eyes at him before rolling them. I'm not in the mood for him tonight. I reached around him, grabbing the sheet & pulling it back.

"Good night, Valentin." I sighed.

"Hold on!" he said, pulling the fabric back to the top of the bed. "After all of this, I think I deserve to know what the next step is."

"What?"

I looked at him quizzically.

"What's your next move? What are you going to do now? Are you doing this psych me out? What? What's the plan?"

I pulled back the covers once again before saying.

"There is no plan."

And again. He pulled them back up.

"Aren't you going to take my advice?"

"Nope." I say, climbing into bed, no longer caring for the sheet.

It's late. I want to get comfortable.

But, he pulled me back up.

"Lauren listen, I know you don't trust me, and if you want to keep your game plan to yourself, fine. But please take my advice. Mani deserves for us to give this our best shot. Don't ruin it just because you're mad at me. If you would just listen to me, you could finally have the upper hand in this thing."

Alright, now I'm getting in his face (well...kind of...I'm only 5'2") because I'm angry.

Look, I'm not mad at you for what you did, even though it was really shitty of you to do. I'm only pissed because you keep trying to tell me what to do! And I'm not talking your advice because I don't need it. I'm not worried about having the upper hand because I'm done playing the game."

Finally, he stepped back (thank you!) & looked at me. I hurried up & snatched the sheet back, climbing into bed.

Uh....is he ok? Why is he looking at me like this?

"I...I don't know what you mean. Not playing the game? You're just giving up?"

I didn't say anything.

"Well what about Normani? You're just going to leave her?"

"No I'm not going to leave her!" I spat.

"Then help me understand! What are you doing?"

"I DON'T KNOW, OK?! I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going with this. This whole thing makes me feel like I'm spiraling out of control. But I'm falling for you and I can't help it, so I'm just going to let it happen."