Closing the door behind me. I made my way to the living room. I'm already taking up Tara's space. Taking her bed is too much. I stopped at the hall closet to grab a blanket and a shirt out of my bag.
Laying on the couch my feet hung over the armrest. I would be sleeping in a nice big bed at my aunt Claire's house if my cousin and his new girlfriend aka my ex-fiancé hadn't changed their plans and came a month early. I had planned to be gone by the time they got there. It shocked the hell out of me when they walked in as we were eating dinner saying something about her family wanting them to go to their house for thanksgiving instead. It didn't take Tara long to come get me after I told her whats going on and asked to stay at her house for a few weeks and an hour later I was at her place with a drink in hand.
Damn this couch is uncomfortable. I wish I could've stayed in bed with Arielle but she looked like she might have punched me. It doesn't help that I was messing with her. I'll be here for a few weeks. I should probably take it easy on her but I like what she looks like when she's mad.
I wonder why Arielle didn't stay with her boyfriend? I'm sure it has something to do with the mark on her face, I think it's safe to say they're not together anymore. That's good news for me. I can help her get over her ex by the time I get a place she won't even remember his name. I'm going to have to ask Tara what happened.
Finally letting sleep take me, with my last thoughts on the bright-eyed girl in the next room, that I plan on getting into my bed or more likely get in her bed.
The next morning I woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon. I Slowly opened my eyes to see who's in the kitchen, silently hoping it's bright eyes. It's not. "Hey Tar what's for breakfast I'm starving?"
"Morning to you too Jace. I'm making bacon, eggs, and pancakes with coffee." She looked up at me with her light brown eyes. "Why didn't you take my bed? I told Arielle to let you know didn't she tell you?" She moves around the kitchen effortlessly. Her chocolate brown hair is on top of her head in a messy bun. She's an amazing cook, I guess that's why she went to culinary school.
"Yea, she told me but it's okay. I'm already here uninvited taking up your space. Sleeping on the couch isn't a problem. I just couldn't stay there with Cody and Sophia there." I got up and walked to the kitchen. "By the way thanks for leaving work and driving all the way back to come get me after you already dropped me off."
"No problem. I can't believe she left you for him." She flipped some eggs and put them on a plate soon after.
"I don't even care. If they're happy whatever, right? As long as I don't have to see it." pausing for a second. "Hey I thought you said Arielle wouldn't be here. What happened?" Grabbing a cup of coffee as I sat down at the table.
"I really don't know. She didn't tell me when we were texting last night. She told me she'll tell me today. That's why I'm making breakfast for her, to make her feel better. Well that and you were in her bed when she got home. I'm sure she had a shitty night."
"Hey hey hey, me in a girls bed is not a shitty night." Tara acts as if I never said anything.
"Can you not be a jerk to her this morning please?"
"I mean, it might be hard but I'll see what I can do. We can only see how the morning goes." Stretching my hands over my head. She gives me a dirty look. Only Tara and my mom can give me that look and make me cave. "Okay, yeahI'll be nice. I'll be really nice. Would you like me to give her a kiss too?" Getting up and heading for the bathroom.
"Eww gross! And don't even think about it! You're not going after her, she just broke up with her boyfriend." Tara said something under her breath as she seats three plates on the table. I laughed at her as I shut the door to the bathroom.
Doing what I had to do in there then brushing my teeth and washing my face. I walked out and found the girls talking at the table. Tara was touching Arielle's face where it had been red last night. Arielle stopped talking as soon as close enough to hear them. I walked around the table and Pulled out the chair next to Tara. Arielles face has started to turn a light shade of purple. "Morning bright eyes, how did you sleep? Probably not as good as you could have without me there." They both Looked at me like I lost my mind. "What I'm just making conversation?"
"What'd I say Jace?" Tara gives me a dirty look. I Shrugged my shoulders at her.
"You told me to be nice. Is that not nice?" I looked back at Arielle and winked. She rolled her eyes at me in a way that made me laugh.
"There's so many things wrong with you." Arielle says while Giving me a dirty look.
"I love it when you're mean to me, bright eyes." The girls started eating their food so we didn't talk the rest of breakfast which bugs me, I want to know what happened with her and her ex and more importantly why her face is like that. I hate men who think it's okay to hit a woman.
Arielle was the first one to finish her breakfast. "Thanks Tara it was amazing but I gotta go. I'm meeting Kevin at the gym, today is our normal day to work out." I watch her get up, take her plate to the sink and head into her room. She gave me one last glance before she shut the door behind her.
"There's a gym close by?" I ask Tara, eating my eggs with my pancakes.
"There's one right down the street for people that live in this community. Nothing fancy but it gets the job done." She ate the last piece of food on her plate and got up. Putting her empty plate in the sink she grabbed the sponge and started to wash. "I don't use it much but Arielle works out like three times a week."
"Could I use it?" I ate my last bite. I get up to wash my plate but Tara takes it from me. "I don't wanna lose my muscles now that I moved back and don't have a gym until I start work."
Turning to me Tara leans against the sink with a serious look on her face. "I think you have to have muscles to lose them." laughing at me, she turns back around.
"You're so funny." I splashed her with water from the sink. "So, is that a yes?" Giving her my cheesy grin. She can never tell me 'no' when I do it.
"Yeah, yeah." she swatted at me. "You need a key so you'll need to ask me or Arielle for it." The sound of Arielle's door opening made me turn my head. She's wearing a black sports bra with blue stripes down the side, with yoga pants to match, along with white tennis shoes. She looks better then ever. I hope she wears something like that every day. I can see a hint of makeup on her face where the mark was, hiding it from everyone else.
"Hey bright eyes, do you mind if I come workout with you today? I haven't hit the gym in like two weeks." She looked at her watch then back at me.
"I'm already late and Kevin will kill me if I'm late again sorry. Maybe next time." shrugging me off. I stopped her before she could get out the door.
"You go now and I can meet you there after I get dressed. Yeah?"
Sighing, she looks up at me. "Fine, whatever but I have to go now. Tara can tell you where to go." She's out the door without another word.
"What are you doing?" Tara looks at me with an eyebrow raised. She crossed her arms and gave me the look my mom used to give me when she was about to yell at me.
"Going to the gym with a new friend. You said I could use it. Whats the problem?" Getting my bag off the floor. I made my way to the bathroom before she could yell at me.
"The problem is I know what your up to buddy. You may be able to fool everyone else but there's no way you can fool me."
"I'm not trying to fool anyone, I'm just going to the gym Tar."
In the bathroom room, I lock the door and get a pair of sweatpants and a thin t-shirt out of my bag. I tossed my old clothes in a side pocket to wash later. When I open the door, Tara's right there blocking the way.
"Jace, why do you always do the opposite of what you're told to do?" shaking her head at me disappointed.
"Don't look at me like that. She's hot. What do you want from me? I'm a guy?" I ran my hand though my hair as I continued. "What's wrong with some mindless flirting? Your getting mad at me but I can only go as far as she'll let me."
"Fine!" throwing her hands up in the air, as she walked away from me. "I don't even know why I try. She'll never go for you. She thinks you're a jerk and you're not even her type."
She turns to stare at me. "I can change her mind. And what do you mean, I'm not her type. I'm everyone's type." I head for the door. Distracting her with directions to the gym. She tells me how to get there. I walk out the door before she can complain about me and her roommate all over again.