“Thanks, but no.”
“And why not?”
“Because.”
“Mayhem.”
“Turner?”
I sighed, irritated with the laughter bubbling at the back of my throat. “You’re being complicated for no reason.”
She walked faster. “I’m not trying to be annoying; I don’t want you to help me because I know how busy you already are.”
I was honestly surprised. Surprised that she wasn’t saying no to be stubborn but thoughtful of my loaded schedule. Not that Maybelle wasn’t usually thoughtful. Since deciding to be just friends, she made it a mission to make it impossible for me to take care of her. Like if she were to agree to any of my offers of help, she’d let me in too close.
“I know Sundays are your only day off. I don’t want to take up the little time you have. I appreciate the offer, though.” She began to skip-walk which was what I determined to be her attempt at a run.
I widened my walking strides to keep up.
“Maybelle.”
I knew that would get her attention; I rarely used her first name. The name was too cute, too adorable to call the infuriating woman I found so unbearably attractive. And calling her Mayhem always brought a gleam to her eyes that challenged me in the best sort of ways.
She stopped her trot. She quit moving all together, facing me fully and gave me her undivided attention.
I would need to use that strategy more often, apparently.
“As your friend, I would want nothing more than to spend my free time with you. Especially if it will help you pass your class,” I vowed, the platonic word tasting bitter on my tongue.
She stared up at me with considering eyes.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
My god, yes, woman.
I’d spend every waking moment with you if you’d let me.
“Yes, May.”
***
“I got it!”
The apartment door tore open. I couldn’t help the slight disappointment I felt when it was Penny smiling on the other side of the door.
“Oh, Trey. Hey, what’s up?” she asked, blatantly taking in my disheveled appearance.
I’d been at the gym, working myself into a frenzy. Maybelle had only been in my world for a couple of weeks. She was barely a few minutes’ drive away, and it was killing me. I was trying to give her space, respect her friend boundaries, but tonight I surrendered to what I wanted.
Just this morning I’d been with her for our walk, but it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I needed all of it, all of her.
Earlier I was antsy. I wanted to call her, ask her how her day was. See if she wanted to move up the tutoring we scheduled for Sundays to today. But I controlled the urges and instead threw myself into strength training at the gym.
That hadn’t lasted long. Before I knew it, I ditched my equipment in the middle of a set, threw my stuff into my car and sped straight to her. Still dressed in my sweat-drenched shirt and shorts.
“Hey, Penn,” I breathed, still winded. “Is May here?”
Her smile turned smug as she opened the door for me. “Come on in, Loverboy.”
