When You Least Expect It

26

After our shower I run down to the kitchen to find Jason sitting at one of the tables. He shakes his head at me when he looks up. I shrug, "It's been a while."

He returns my gesture, shaking his head. "I get that. I'm just wondering where you two are going with this."

"I don't know. I mean I was just trying to help her out of a bad situation. All that shit happened with Travis and she was scared to go home but she's better now. Do you want her to go back to her place?"

"I don't know. I mean I feel like a dick even bringing it up but she bitches every time we try to do anything and as much I as I hate to say it, you go running when she calls." His expression is sympathetic.

I sit in a chair across from him and sigh, "I know. I guess I need to make a decision huh? I mean she's going out again, her arm is better. She doesn't act like she's afraid anymore. I guess I could talk to her about going back. Just not tonight."

He grins, "You think she'd be pissed if after all of that hot loving you told her to get out?"

"Yeah, probably so." I laugh.

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So a week later I finally talked to Whitney about going back to her place. I promised her she could still stay the night and that I would come stay with her sometimes. Then I put all the blame on Jason. You know, he was tired of not being comfortable in his own room and yadda, yadda, yadda. Thankfully she didn't seem to mind all that much. I mean we aren't a couple after all.

When she left it got me thinking, maybe we should just make it official. I don't plan on doing anything with anyone else anyway while we're messing around so often. I don't think she does either. Then again she may not want to be in another relationship so soon. It just seems weird to have this conversation with her.

We're creeping up on Valentine's Day. I suppose that would be a good day to ask her. In the meantime it's been nice to have a little room to breathe. I finally got make up the time with Sam after the chaos that tore me away last time, it was much needed.

She's funny, level headed, and she always calls me on my shit. I really enjoy being around her. And I got to spend a little quality time with Ash too. She's been staying at Corey's quite a bit and I got to hear the reason why.

They've been talking about what comes next. Corey graduates in May and he's moving to another town a few hours away. He told her he's ready to settle down, start building a life, a family. Ash says she isn't sure she's ready for all of that but she doesn't want to lose him. She still has a while before she's out of here. I could see the sadness in her eyes when she talked about him leaving. I feel for her she's had a rough family life but I also know that Corey would never hurt her, or let anyone else for that matter. He would kill for that girl.

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It's been a few days and I can't help but think about making it official with Whitney. I don't know how it's going to go. I don't know how to go about this either. There is only one person who can help me with this kind of thing.. Ashley Grace.

I knock on her door and hear her yell, "Come in!"

Peeking around the door I see she is not alone. Two of her roommates are in the room with her. "Sorry, don't let me disturb you ladies, I can come back another time."

Ashley laughs waving me in. "Derek, get in here."

I step in then close the door behind me. "Ladies. How are you this fine evening?"

I chat with them for a few minutes before Ash turns to me, "Did you need something D? Or did you just come up to get in a little girl time with us 'ladies'?" She air-quotes "ladies" which makes me laugh.