7. Ella

CHAPTER 7

ELLA

It's late Sunday afternoon when I receive a text from Xavier. I've spent most of the morning moping about for absolutely no good reason other than my stupid overthinking brain. Of course, I automatically jumped to the conclusion that Xavier wants nothing to do with me after last night and think that's why he bailed. It wasn't until I called Millie to explain what happened that she told me I was overreacting and to do some journaling or something to clear my head. She obviously felt awful about what happened with my blind date, whose name I discovered is Conor, and she has told Clay that he needs to get answers about why this guy just decided to not show up. But then I told her about Xavier, and she pretty much forgot all about Conor.

She actually squealed when I told her he slept over but was promptly disappointed when I said that he slept on the couch and not with me. She still demanded to hear every little detail. I told her about the hug, and she agreed that it was best to not read too much into it. We ended up talking on the phone for an hour, where I cried for a little bit about not feeling wanted and she comforted me. It feels like a routine at this point, and I sort of hate the fact that I'm always crying to my best friend about my love life. Though if she was sick of hearing about it, she hasn't let on. So I did what she said, wrote in my journal, and was halfway through a walk when Xavier's message appeared.

Xavier

Okay I've read seven chapters of this book and I'm worried you might be corrupting me. I like it, but I'm scared.

Xavier

Sorry for leaving so quickly this morning. I had to meet Jade to talk about house stuff and I didn't want to wake you up. How are you feeling today?

Well, there you go. He had to meet with his ex; he wasn't running away from me. I'm immediately relieved and then angry at myself for once again being so damn dramatic.

"Stupid overthinking brain," I mutter to myself as I'm walking along. Also, damn. Seven chapters? He reads quickly. I type out a reply.

Ella

Just you wait, it gets soooo much better. And yeah, all good. I'm feeling fine. Just trying not to think about it too much, you know? I'm currently on a walk to clear my head. I'll be okay, thanks for checking x

Ella

How has the rest of your day been?

I put my phone back in my pocket and decide to start running instead of walking. This lasts for about 30 seconds before I remember I fucking hate running and have to pause on the footpath to catch my breath. I am ridiculously unfit, and so I make a mental note to try and go for a walk every day to try and fix that.

I get back to my house and am about to jump into the shower when Xavier's reply comes through.

Xavier

I can't put it down and I'm slightly disgusted in myself. The rest of my day was good, after I left Jade's I came home, did a bit of housework, and fed the chickens before settling down to start this book. I'm about to run myself a bath so I can read in comfort. If you ever wanna talk, I can lend an ear ??

A smile spreads across my face as I picture him sitting in a bubble bath reading my book. It's a hot image. His offer to talk is really sweet, too, since I only really have Millie in my life—well, my real life. I have a whole bunch of internet besties too, but it's not quite the same. You can't just show up and vent and cry like you can with real life besties. I have other friends, but I'm not as close with them. Then there are my parents, though I don't tend to talk to them about my love life. They ask too many questions and make comments like, "When are you going to settle down? You're not getting any younger Ella." So, having someone else to talk to is really nice.

Ella

Never would have picked you as a bath guy, but that sounds perfect! And thank you, I do appreciate it. I like talking to you. I'm really glad you rescued me on that shitty date. I didn't get a boyfriend out of it but I definitely got a new friend, and I'm not mad about it!

Xavier

I fucking love baths. Have one every Sunday if I can! I'm glad I rescued you too. You've definitely got a friend in me.

Friend. I can settle for a friend. A hot friend.

I hop into the shower and start washing my hair. The scent of my favourite shampoo, pineapple and coconut, envelops me. I start to picture Xavier in the bath again, and what would happen if I were in there with him. I'd be lying between his legs, my back to his chest. I'd be all soapy, and his hands would be gliding across my skin, starting at my arms. When he reaches my breasts, my nipples would already be peaked, and he would pinch one of them, teasingly. Ever so slowly, he would explore my body, moving his hands down, first reaching my stomach, and then dipping lower, getting closer and closer to my cli….

"Oh fuck!" I'm shaken out of my daydream when shampoo runs into my eyes and I'm temporarily blinded. "Goddamn, that stings." I reach out of the shower for a towel to wipe the shampoo from my face. Serves me right, I guess, for objectifying the man. My FRIEND . But shit, that was hot. I don't know how I'm going to be able to look him in the eye the next time I see him. I finish washing my hair, and my body (which is extra sensitive in some areas now), and hop out of the shower. There's another text from Xavier waiting for me.

Xavier

HE HAS A BARBED DICK?!?!?!?

Ella

Hahahahahahahahaha

Xavier

Ella. Honey, are you okay? This is not normal reading lol

I try to ignore the warm fuzzy feeling I get in when he calls me honey.

Ella

… but it's hot, right?

Xavier

I refuse to answer that question.

Ella

*insert smirky emoji*

Xavier

Shut up.

I am still laughing as I make my way to my bedroom. I throw on my pyjamas and plop onto the bed. Suddenly, my phone rings. It's Xavier.

"Hello, Xavier." I answer the phone with a smile on my face.

"Hey. So, I'm calling for two reasons. The first: I'm going to need the number of your therapist after reading this book, because I should not be into this, but I am. Damn you."

"You did want the smuttiest book on my shelf."

"Yes, but I wasn't expecting barbed penises, okay?"

"You're welcome. What's the second reason you called?"

He clears his throat. "Uhhh, well… I kind of, accidentally, maybe dropped your book into the bath. I was quite rattled after he, you know, did the thing with the barb… and it just slipped out of my hands, and I dropped it. I'm so sorry!"

Now normally, as a book lover, I would be absolutely pissed at him for this. I never loan my books to people; it was a miracle I gave one to him in the first place. But for some reason, I don't even feel annoyed. In fact, I find it highly amusing and burst out laughing."Oh my God, that's hilarious! It's okay, shit happens. You uh… you weren't reading it one handed, were you?" I ask, wondering if he understands what I mean by that.

"One handed? No, no I was reaching for a glass of wine…." He trails off. "OH. Oh God, no I was not doing… that. God. Ew. Why would you ask that?"

I start laughing again, he sounds so flustered it's comical.

"I'm joking Xavier. But if you were, hey, whatever floats your boat!"

He groans into the phone. It's a hot sound, and for a moment my mind wanders back to the little daydream I had in the shower. "If I had known you would tease me, I wouldn't have bothered calling to tell you," he says. "I do owe you another copy of the book, though. I can salvage this one enough to finish reading it, but I don't want it going mouldy."

"You don't have to, it's fine. I was going to go book shopping at Dymocks next Saturday anyway, so I'll just grab myself another copy."

"What time are you going on Saturday?"

"At about 11am, I think. I was going to take myself out for brunch first."

"Do you want company?" he asks.

"Oh! Um… really? You want to go book shopping with me?"

"Yeah of course. It sounds like a lot of fun. I'll be able to buy you a replacement, and also grab the next book in the series that I'm reading."

"Well, yeah, okay then. Let's lock it in. We can plan where to meet up later in the week."

"Perfect. I'm looking forward to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to try and dry this book so I can continue reading this absolute filth you call literature. Have a good night, Ella."

"Actually, it's called cliterature. I hope you manage to salvage enough of it. Goodnight Xavier." I hang up the phone to his laughter and smile to myself. Book shopping and brunch with Xavier. I'm trying to convince myself that it's not a date. It's just two friends, hanging out. If it was a date, I'm sure he would have said, ‘hey, it's a date'. The butterflies in my stomach don't know the difference though, and of course they are now doing somersaults. This is going to be a long week.