Even Wilder

Chapter 11.

The rest of the day dragged on.
Alyssia and Jackson asked to hang out after work but I declined, we exchanged numbers and I told them to text me, but I'd still see them in two days on shift. The afternoon shift came in, they said hi to me but no names were given. Two younger girls. They looked like they were still in school. Connor stood in the kitchen when I was about to leave. He didn't say anything just gave me that same weak smile and a wave. I couldn't tell if the negative vibe was him being hurt from bringing up the past, or if it was from something else.

The walk home was long and quiet, it started to rain about half way through, the sun was beginning to set and the wind picking up. I though Michigan was bad but it's colder in Chicago and it's not quite winter yet. Living so close to the water sucks.

I couldn't help but smile when Lip's house came into sight. A few of the lights towards the back of the house were on. I made my way up the porch, the boards creaking and shifting under my weight. I brought my fist up and knocked on the door. "Just a minute!" I heard Lip yell from the inside. There was a thud then the door opened quickly. He stood shirtless out of breath "Jess" he was breathing deeply to catch the air he had lost.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. He looked at me and without saying anything pulled me into his bare chest. He was warm, his masculine scent filled my nose. "Let's get you in from the rain, yeah?" He shut the door behind us not taking me away from his chest. He kissed the top of my head, then pulled me away rubbing his large hands over my arms trying to warm me up.

"I'm sorry..." I croaked out. He smiled and leaned down so he was eye level with me, I brought my eyes up to meet his stare. "Here let's go to the kitchen. You take your jacket off and put it on the rack. I'll be right back. Kitchen is through there" he pointed. We walked into the living room and he took off jogging up the stairs to the left. I moved to the kitchen and took a seat at the table. I heard doors shut then the stairs creaking behind me. Lip appeared with a pile of clothes in his arms. His once bare chest was replaced with a Pink Floyd shirt. "Here these are mine..your clothes are wet and I guarantee you're freezing. Change into them and I'll throw yours in the dryer." I stood up and walked to the bathroom behind me.

I closed the toilet lid and had to literally peel off my shirt. I unclasped my bra and tossed them on the floor. They made the same noise a wet mop would. I put on the shirt he gave me. It was black so it would hide my chest or lack of bra. I was flat chested anyway so it's not like it would make a difference. I picked up the green jacket he gave me and slipped it on my arms, zipping it up. I picked up the sweat pants, dropping a pair of boxers. I laugh to myself. Even if I did put them on they'd slide right off. He's not big, but his hips are thicker than mine. I take off my jeans and underwear with them. I shrug to myself and put them on anyway. They feel like a loose pair of pajama shorts. I drag the sweat pants up my legs tying the strings tight against my waist.

I pick my soaked clothes up from the ground tiny splats of water hit the tile. I unlocked the door and stepped out. Lip was leaned up against the counter. When I opened the door his attention snapped to me. A smile grew wide on his lips "well don't you look charming" he teased. He came over to me and grabbed my clothes from my hand, he tossed them in the dryer with a static sheet and started the machine up. The silent house filled with the noise of the dryer tumbling. "You forgot your socks" He frowned getting on his knees in front of me. He tapped my leg for me to lift it up and took off my converse tossing them to the side. He took one sock of, then the next. Opening the dryer door once again and closing it quick resuming the load.

"So...did you need to talk to me about something? Or yell at me again?" He crossed his arms and hummed. "Talk...is there somewhere more...private we could go?" His lips formed a thin line and he nodded walking towards the stairs. They were crowded with shoes and clothes until the landing at the top. He went to the second door on the right and pulled it open. A single bed, a night stand and a dresser sat in the room. He walked over to the window and pulled the blinds up, I could see my bedroom window and smiled. He turned and leaned against the window frame. I closed the door behind me and sat on the bed.