My stomach twists and there’s something about him frowning which turns my gut. I don’t like it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised to see you. What’s up?” I ask in a much more friendly tone.
He looks up at me, nervousness shining in those bright green eyes. “I wanted to see if I could take you out today?” The confident, cocky Saxon is gone, and I would’ve never believed this insecure one existed underneath.
He wants to take me on a date? Hell no.
“Bugger, I’m actually just on my way out,” I say with fake disappointment.
Saxon raises his eyebrows at me, and the cocky bastard is back. “Really?” he says as he looks me up and down. I follow his eyes down to my outfit.
Sometimes even I can’t believe how stupid I am. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest in defiance, as I also remember not only am I in my flannel pyjamas but I don’t have a bra on. He smiles a cocky smile while looking at my chest, clearly letting me know he caught that also.
Knowing I’ve been caught and not sure where to go from here I decide blunt is best. “You should’ve called.”
“I knew if I called you wouldn’t have answered. Especially after last night,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine.
I look away from his intense stare. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about that again.” Frustration is clear in my tone.
“We’re not going to discuss it again, but we’re not going to pretend it didn’t happen either, Brooke.” His voice is determined, and I know he’s not going to concede on that.
I look past him out into the street, lifting my chin in defiance while my arms are still crossed over my chest. Saxon sighs deeply, which causes me to bring my eyes back to him. “You said we were okay, Brooke. You said we were all right and things wouldn’t be weird. I’m here as a friend wanting to take you out. It’s a beautiful day, and you clearly had plans to lie in bed all day. I don’t want to spend all weekend in my study. Let’s keep each other company. As friends do. Let me take you out.”
“I wasn’t planning to lie in bed all day. I was actually on the couch,” I huff like a petulant child.
He stares at me in silence, not even bothering to respond. I think back to this morning and the decision I made, deciding to just go with the flow and stop analysing every little thing.
I huff and open the door wide, stepping back to let him in. A huge smile lights up his face as he passes me, and it melts something inside me. He doesn’t smile often. Not nearly as often as he should when his smile is that intoxicating. I hate how I notice that. Is that new?
Has last night made me look at him differently? Made me see intimate things about him like his smile that I normally wouldn’t notice.
Realising I’ve been standing at the front door for a much longer period than is necessary, I quickly close it and head into the lounge room. There is yelling come from the TV and I find Saxon standing there, watching. He turns to me with a cocky smirk on his face, “Really?” he asks.
I look to the TV and find it’s the episode where Snookie and Angelina get into a punch-up. There’s bare ass and hair extensions flying about everywhere. “I was watching a cooking show, it must have finished,” I say nonchalantly.
“Really? A cooking show? On MTV?” Humour laces his voice.
“What? Do you study the cable guide?” Just as I’m asking this, the channel goes to an ad break. ‘We hope you are enjoying today’s Jersey Shore marathon. Stay with us for more after the following advertisements.’ I shake my head. Why does this shit always happen to me? “I’m going to have a shower,” I mumble as I turn to leave. Not even bothering to try and dig myself out of that hole.
Saxon laughs a full-on belly laugh as he settles himself on my couch. “Take your time,” he says, still laughing at me. Asshole.
Once I’ve quickly showered, blow-dried my hair, and put on a light layer of makeup, I head into my wardrobe to get dressed. I decide on my most comfortable pair of black skinny jeans and pair it with a beige floral sleeveless blouse.
I have no idea what we are doing so I want to look casual and dressy at the same time while still being comfortable. I also don’t want this to seem like a date, so casual for a friend’s outing it is.
I slide my feet into my black ballet flats and dress my outfit up with a long gold necklace, dangly earrings, and a bunch of different gold bangles. Why did I agree to this?
As I’m entering the living room Saxon is leaning forward on the couch, elbows on knees and watching the TV intently.