Just Friends

Chapter Forty-Two

I awake, relieved I don't have to rush out of bed and go to university today. I was surprised when I got home last night to find Ellie wasn't waiting behind the door, prepared to bombard me with her list of questions.

The house was quiet, apart from Tyler watching TV in the lounge, yet again wearing nothing but his boxers.

He told me Ellie had gone to bed, and I quickly made myself scarce. I did not want to stand around, talking to Tyler as he lay on the sofa half-naked. I didn't want anything to ruin what turned out to be a fantastic night, and hanging around Tyler for too long, would do precisely that. Does he not have his own home to be 'comfortable' in?

I grab my phone from the side, making no rush to get out of bed. I have two unread messages, one of them from Braden. I must have fallen asleep before he sent it.

Goodnight Josepha.

Reading the message, butterflies flutter deep in my stomach. I laugh, knowing that Braden only sent it to tease me, but honestly, it's a lovely message to wake up to.

Goodmorning Braden Brady.

Hitting send I'm aware that a smile spreads across on my face.

I can't wait to talk to Ellie about last night. It was an amazing evening, and the food was to die for. I expect to get Ellie's thorough list of questions soon, and for once, I find myself eager to answer them.

I open the unread message from Ellie.

Hey! I'm off to uni. I finish early though so don't expect this to let you off on telling me all of the gossip later!

My smile widens as I type my response.

I wouldn't dream of it. See you later!

I hit send and look at the time. Ellie sent her message like two hours ago, which gives me at least one more hour until she comes home. That's enough time to lay in bed for a little longer and have a couple of coffees in preparation.

Who are you, and what have you done with my Jo?

Ellie's response is quick; she must be bored.

I don't bother to respond. Instead, I rest my eyes for a moment, my hand clutching the phone by my side. I lay like this for all of about a minute before the phone chimes, indicating yet another notification.

I lift the phone, peering at the screen and expecting to see another message from Ellie, but I find myself opening the Snapchat app.

Instead of receiving a message from Ellie, Tyler's name is highlighted in bold text, indicating an unread message from him.

Hey.

That's all it says. What?

Erm... Hi

I respond, not knowing what else to say. What the hell does he want?

Tyler's reply comes through quickly.

Are you home?

Maybe he left something here?

Yeah. I just woke up.

I send my message back, hoping he's going to get to the point soon. Why did he message me on Snapchat of all places? Although it's not as though I ever gave him my number.

Me too...

Okay, well that's weird. Didn't he stay here last night? If he's just woken up, I assume he's still here.

I don't reply. I don't think I want to. If Tyler has something important to say to me, I'm sure he will.

My phone charms once again with another alert. The alert tells me that this time its an image followed by a message.