Why the Straight One? - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"Is it too early to pay a visit?"
"It's the evening. What do you mean too early?"
"Is it too early to go visit Elliot?"
Thomas sighed, and looked up from his book, his finger marking where he must have left off.
"It's only been two weeks. I know they didn't go on a honeymoon, but still, it seems a little early—"
"But—"
"Unless you have a reason." He finished, ignoring my interruption.
"I've been wracking my brain, and I can't think of any good excuse, except that I'm worried about him, but I don't think Jasper cares about that."
He looked over at my feet on the pillow next to him, and grinned.
"Do your feet always move that much when you're thinking?"
"That is the sign of feet that want to pace the room, but I'm too tired to get up."
"You know, most people use the pillow for their head."
"No, really?" I sat up on my elbows to give him a withering stare. "And all this time...of course I know that!"
"Alright, forget I mentioned it." He held up his hands defensively, and dropped back down onto my back.
"Sometimes it's just fun to do things different then they are supposed to be, you know?"
"I guess."
I lay there in silence for a few moments longer, flipping my phone and catching it. I don't exactly know why I was doing that, but I just couldn't keep still when I was trying to work something out in my mind. I just had to be doing something.
"You're going to drop that on your face."
"I am not." I argued, throwing the phone a little higher. Glancing at him out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shrug noncommittally.
"Whatever, it's not my face that's going to hurt when it falls."
"You just read your book, and I'll worry about my face."
"Deal." He said, a little too quickly for my liking. Seriously, he read like every night out of that same huge book.
"What are you reading anyways?" I asked after a minute of silence, and a few phone flips later.
"Hmm?" He tilted his head slightly towards me, but kept his eyes trained on the book, eyes darting back and forth as he read each line.
"Damn." I breathed out before I had time to stop myself. He was just too attractive to be real, with his lips parted slightly, and that light in his eyes.
"What?" He blinked, finally tearing his gaze away from the book to look at me.
For that one second, neither of us spoke a word, and I wished it could have gone on like that. Just me looking into those deep, mesmerizing eye, without having to look away before things got awkward or strained.
With an effort, I pulled myself out of the trancelike state I was falling into, and cleared my throat.
"I asked what book you were reading."
"Oh, umm," He blinked again, and for a second I dared to think that maybe I wasn't the only one getting lost in someone's eyes.
"It's the Count of Monte Cristo." I found it funny that after he had been reading it all this time, he still had to check the cover before he remembered the title.
"Any good?" I flipped my phone again, forcing myself to not make eye contact again.
This actually isn't awkward right now. Don't ruin that. Once again, the voice of reason sounded in my head.
"It's my favorite book. I've read it like 10 times I think."
"Seriously? I've never read a book more than once. What's so great about this one?"
"Well, I don't know. It's just something about the way he writes. The emotions and struggles of the characters are so real, so tangible. I can't explain it, but I always come back to this book."
"Hmm, maybe I should read it some day."
"I would definitely recommend it. You can read mine if you want."
I glanced over at the book in his hands, and sighed.
"Thanks, but I don't know if I'd ever have the patience for that length of a book."
He chuckled as he turned the page, a sparkle in his eyes.
"Maybe I'll read it to you someday then."
"Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
The sharp, unexpected ding of a text scared me so bad that I dropped the phone I was flipping. The edge caught me right in the cheekbone, and I yelped in surprise.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay!" I whined and rolled over to bury my face in the blankets that covered our bed. I can't believe he warned me of that, and it happened. And it hurt like hell.
"I'm sorry, but I really have to say it."
"Don't!"
"But I-"
"You told me so! I know." I rolled back around to glare at him.
"Oh wow. You already have a bruise."
He had pushed his book aside, and was leaning forward to get a better look at my face. One hand came forward, almost touching my bruised cheek, but before he came in contact, he hesitated and let it drop to his side.
"Does it look bad? Will I be scarred for life?"
He laughed, and the awkward moment was quickly forgotten.
"I think you'll get over it very soon. It shouldn't have any lasting effects on your face."
"Okay good, because that's the money maker right there."
I glanced down at my phone to see the text that had caused all of this. I struggled to keep my laugh in when I read it.
Raymond:
Was going to call, but didn't want to interrupt anything 😉😏😉
Call me when you aren't...busy. I have an idea for how to visit Elliot.
I shook my head, and clicked on his contact to dial his number.
"Are you telling me I didn't interrupt anything? You guys have been up there forever!"
"No, you didn't, so stop insinuating things. What's your idea?"
"Cutting right to the chase, huh? Sure you aren't in a hurry to get back to anything?"
I could almost picture him wiggling his eyes brows, and I rolled my eyes at his immaturity:
"Quite sure. Did you have a real reason for calling?"
"You guys are so annoying. Anyways, so my idea is simple really, I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. It's Eva's birthday next week, and it's about time I paid her a visit. Why don't you come with?"
"You think it will work?"
"I don't know why not. It's not like Jasper can actually keep Elliot's family away from him."
"True. Genius, Raymond."
Thomas' eyes darted up to meet mine at this, and I could tell I had his interest.
"Thank you. I can't wait to see Elliot. I feel bad for not going to the wedding. Thank you for being there for him when I couldn't."
I hadn't expected the sudden real emotion that I heard in his voice. I'd hardly ever heard Raymond say anything not in a joking manner.
"Of course. I know he'll love to see you."
"Yeah. Well, see you tomorrow. Don't stay up too late, you guys."
And just like that, the old Raymond was back.
"Whatever."
I hung up, and met Thomas' eyes.
"What was that all about?"
"Raymond said that it's Eva's birthday next week, and he said we could use that as a way to visit Elliot."
"I forgot about her birthday. Yeah, we should totally do that."
"We?"
Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but I just hadn't factored Thomas into the visit at all. Somehow it just didn't seem like he cared as much as me or Raymond did.
"Of course I'm going! I'm almost offended at how easily you would exclude your own husband from your plans."
Husband.
Something in that word brought a massive smile to my face, one that was mirrored in my husband's eyes.