Text Me Back

17. Finally

"So this is where you live..." Eric said once they entered her apartment.

Eric knew she'd live somewhere nice and he was proven right the moment he entered her home. The place looked pristine, except for some papers that were spread out on the coffee table. For a 21-year old she sure knew how to take care of a home; him and Jennifer wasn't even close to this tidy when they had left college. After a quick tour of the place, Eric making note of the soft bed she slept in, they returned back to the kitchen and living area where they began eating left Skittles from the movie showing.

He laughed loudly at Florence the way she shoved a mouthful of the tiny round treats and chewed them carefully. Despite from his sisters he had never known a girl who had been this comfortable around him and after only months of talking to him – Jennifer included. Looking at his newfound friend he hoped she felt as comfortable as she came across, because a few days ago he'd began doubting. It all started with their first meeting and the questions she'd asked about Jennifer and their friendship – if he would ever tell Jennifer the truth when she came back. Honestly he hadn't planned on it.

If Jennifer ever came back, to him specifically, and asked for another chance Eric knew that if he told her about Florence she would ask him to cut contact with her. A beautiful young woman like Florence would cause Jennifer to go into mama-bear mode and even if he'd never given her any reason to be jealous before he knew she would be – if he was her he probably would be too.

"What are you looking at?" Florence asked once she could talk. Eric got a glimpse of her blue tongue and shook his head nonchalantly.

"Do you always eat Skittles like that?"

"Yes I do, so what?"

Eric said nothing; instead he chuckled, walked around the countertop to reach her. His heart was beating fast reading his mind way too thoroughly and while he pushed those thoughts away, along with the countless alarm bells, he reached for her arm and pulled her in to his arms. She felt stiff, as if she couldn't breathe in his embrace, which caused Eric to worry.

He slowly pulled away, "What's wrong FloMo?"

"Don't call me that silly name," she closed her eyes and smiled tiredly.

"But you love it," he teased.

When she opened her eyes to look at him then her eyes had changed. The darkness in her eyes trapped him firm in his position. Their chest rose and caved in quickly, their shallow breaths were mixed together and different flavors of Skittles filled the air around them. He couldn't deny his attraction to her in this moment. He had been dreaming about her, longing for her and secretly waited for this exact moment; the time when they would finally be alone, face to face and every opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

They were friends first; he knew that, but kissing her had become a secretly obsessive fantasy to him now. And who wouldn't want to live out their fantasy?

"There is something you're not telling me..." he whispered while trying to take focus from her pursed lips.

"No there isn't,"

"Are we going to start lying to each other now?" He pressed her.

"I'm not lying to you Eric, I'm just—"

Eric sighed and took a few more steps back, "You're just what? Pretending like you aren't confused about what's going to happen if I get back together with Jen?

"Eric—"

"That's what this is about isn't it? You're scared I'd stop talking to you, see you and call you because of her. That's why you've been acting strange and asking me all these questions..."