I didn’t need her to make me her latest research study.
The air outside the bathroom was colder, making my skin prickle when I opened the door. I’d soaked in the hot shower for quite a while, so I probably needed some water.
Clutching the towel in one hand, I walked out to the kitchen.
“Hey there.”
I whipped around at the voice, almost dropping the towel. Paisley sat on my couch, her legs crossed at the knees. Why wasn’t she wearing pants? And was that my shirt?
“What are you doing here?” I hiked up the towel, fumbling so I wouldn’t drop it.
She licked her lips. “Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to see you.”
“How did you get in?”
“I have your key, silly. You gave it to me.”
My key? “That was in case I locked myself out.”
Her lower lip protruded in a pout. “I didn’t think you’d mind if I surprised you. I thought it would be fun.”
“But why are you wearing my shirt? And where are your pants?”
She stood and walked closer. “You weren’t picking up on my hints, so I decided it was time to take bolder action.”
“What hints?”
She stopped in front of me and draped her arms around my shoulders. What the fuck was happening right now?
“See? You’re so clueless.”
Without letting go of my towel, I grabbed one of her hands and took it off my shoulder, then moved the other one. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. I’ve been trying to let you figure it out, but I’m tired of waiting.”
“For what?”
“For you.”
My brow furrowed. “What?”
She laughed softly. “I like you, Corban.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded. “No you don’t.”
Her smile faltered. “Yes, I do. That’s why I’m here. I kept hoping you’d get the hint and ask me out, but you’re obviously not going to. So I’m taking matters into my own hands.”
I took a step backward. Paisley Hayes had been waiting for me to ask her out? I was so confused. “This is very… weird and unexpected.”
She tilted her head, her full lips curling upward at the corners. “Why weird? I thought maybe you liked me, too.”
“I did.”
“Good.” She moved closer and reached for my bare chest. “Let’s explore that feeling.”
“No, I mean past tense.” I stepped back so she couldn’t touch me. “I liked you in high school.”
“You did? Oh my god, Corban, that’s so cute. You really liked me?”
“Yeah, but that was a long time ago.”
She reached for me again. “It was, wasn’t it? Now we’re both grown up. We know how to do things right.”
I sidestepped to avoid backing into a wall. “This is… Paisley… I don’t…”
She kept after me, matching me step for step. It seemed like her hands were coming at me from every direction. “You don’t what?”
“I don’t like you like that.”
Eyebrows lifting, she stopped in her tracks. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression somehow, but I’m not interested.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying right now.”
“Really? You’ve never had a guy tell you he’s not into you?”
“No.” She crossed her arms. “Corban, I’m basically throwing myself at you. Do you know how many guys would kill for this chance? In case I’m not being completely clear, we can have sex. Right now. You just said you liked me in high school. Let’s make that teenage fantasy come true.”
Paisley Hayes was standing in my apartment in her underwear, telling me she wanted to have sex. Seventeen-year-old me would have died if he knew what I was about to say.
“No.”
Her mouth dropped open. “No?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Are you kidding?”
“I’m not kidding. It’s cool that you’ve been friends with my sister for so long and it’s been nice to be friendly with you, but I’m not interested.”
“Why?”
“Really?” I adjusted the towel again. “Should we get dressed first or…”
She put her hands on her hips. “No, I want you to tell me right now. Why aren’t you interested in me?”
“We don’t have anything in common.”
“Of course we do.”
“Like what?”
It took her a few seconds to answer. “I’m sure there are plenty of things. We just need to get to know each other better.”
“Do you like comic books? Or rock climbing? What about penguins?”
Her forehead creased. “What do penguins have to do with anything?”
“How do you feel about them?”
“I have no idea. Corban, I’m your sister’s best friend and we’ve known each other since high school. That’s like fate or something, don’t you think?”
“No. And you were kind of shitty to me back in high school.”
“How was I shitty to you in high school?” She crossed her arms again.
“It doesn’t matter now. The bottom line is, I’m not into this.” I pointed back and forth between the two of us. “I’m sorry you thought something was going to happen, but it’s not. I’m already…” I trailed off before I could say I’m already in love with someone else.
“You’re already with someone?”
“Not exactly, but that doesn’t matter either. Even if I was totally single, my answer would be the same.”
Her eyes narrowed, flicking up and down, and her jaw tightened. “Fine. I gave you a chance with me and you won’t get another one. I hope you don’t regret it.”
Not even for a second, Paisley. Not for one second.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and swept out.
“You’re still wearing my—”
The door slammed behind her.
“—shirt.”
I didn’t really want it back anyway.
“That had to be one of the top five weirdest experiences of my life.” I didn’t know who I was talking to. I half expected to look down and see Erwin blinking at me.
I went into the bedroom and put on a t-shirt and pair of sweats. Had that just happened? Had Paisley Hayes just told me she liked me and wanted to sleep with me?
There was a time when that would have seemed like all my dreams coming true. But seventeen-year-old boys weren’t exactly the smartest creatures, even ones who were otherwise geniuses.
I didn’t want Paisley Hayes. We weren’t right for each other, and I’d known that for years.
But it figured. I’d liked Paisley in high school, and she hadn’t liked me. Now Paisley wanted me, but I wanted Hazel.
And Hazel? To her, I was just a warm body and a science experiment.
35
Corban