Chapter 24

It had been a few days since Avril saw any sign of Thomas. She wanted to believe it was due to him having a busy schedule but part of her felt a bit disappointed, the thought that he was probably avoiding her like the plague circling in her mind.
Maybe she shouldn't be so quick to judge him. After all she wasn't exactly social these days. She looked at her cell and muted the call that was coming through. She had been somewhat avoiding Sarah as well. Their conversations were short, focusing on Sarah. The moment she asked after Avril, she found some way to cut the call. She hadn't told Sarah about the whole Nate situation yet, nor about the unusual talk she had with Thomas.
Avril shook her head. She didn't want to wonder about Thomas. It made her even more nervous after she had opened up to him.
Avril closed all of her books and stacked them up neatly. It was Friday and she desperately wanted to relax. She decided to push through with work from tomorrow.
******
Thomas slouched back on his chair and rotated his neck. He had been drowning himself in reports and job requests. To say he had been keeping busy was an understatement. He didn't mean to avoid Avril, especially since she was all he could think about, but he didn't quite know what to say to her.
No.

That's not it. He didn't know how to deal with the temptation. He didn't know if he should resist.
God knows he doesn't want to. He closed his laptop, pushed back on his chair, and got up. His legs carrying him. His body responding without any command.
As she came into his view, his footsteps paused, his hands sliding into his pockets as he gazed at her.

"Hey." He called out from behind the sofa. He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he could have sworn that she was startled. Her hand instantly went to her chest, her body jerking backward into the soft folds of the cushions as she gazed at him. Once recognition struck her, her eyes relaxed and then a different emotion caught on.

"Hey." She replied softly.

"Didn't expect to see you out of your room." He replied casually as he walked closer towards her.

"I could say the same of you." He didn't know why he thought her voice sounded sad.

" I am taking a well-deserved break." He announced with a smile.

"Me too." She smiled. "Want to watch a movie with me?" She offered.

He remained silent for a bit, wondering if it would be such a good idea.

"I am sorry, you probably already have plans." And there it was again...that sadness oozing from her voice. She turned around to face the television, remote in hand.

" It's not a romantic movie is it?" He questioned and saw her turn around a small smile spreading across her lips.

"Let me guess, a cool guy like yourself doesn't believe in monogamy right?" She teased.

"I do, in a sense." He replied, playing along.
She raised her brows at him.

"I only have one woman at a time, doesn't mean I keep them long but it is monogamy. I am not the kinda guy who has the patience and time to deal with more than one sexual partner at a time." He passed his fingers through his hair.

"Ahh, I see. " Avril couldn't help but focus on the phrase 'sexual partner.'
Yes. She supposed that Thomas Lynne had little need for a permanent partner. How could a man like him not test the waters?

"It's not a romantic movie..." Avril changed the topic. "I decided on a thriller." She saw his eyebrows elevate. She thought him surprised by her choice but secretly, she also didn't want to watch something romantic...she didn't think she could deal with movies giving her unrealistic relationship goals these days.

"Good." He walked over to her and stood next to the sofa, picking up the house phone.

"How about I order some pizza?" The words were rhetorical because before she could answer he was already conversing.

"Do you mind waiting until I take a shower? By that time the pizza should be here too." He questioned.

"No problemo." She replied. As Thomas took his shower, Avril set up the movie, pausing it before it began.
She sat, her legs folded under the blanket she brought down from her room, the only sound echoing faintly in the silence was that of the shower.
Her mind inadvertently wondered about Thomas. Then it wandered some more.
Especially about Thomas showering.

Would his body be as perfect as she thought? Smooth, taut, and muscled? What would he do if she reached out and touched him, trailing her fingers across his chest? Would he stop her? Enable her?
Or perhaps he would teach her those things that she was ignorant of?

"How ridiculous!" Avril tussled her hair and laughed. " I must be going crazy."
In the midst of correcting herself, the doorbell rang.

Ahh! The pizza.

She rose instantly, the sound of water continuing to echo, and for some reason, she thought of him again, his body covered with water droplets, his hair damp, moisture sliding down his perfectly sculpted features.
The doorbell sounded again. This time she ran towards the door, grabbing the money for the pizza that Thomas left behind.
She pulled opened the door and smiled. " Goodnight." She looked up at the boy.
He seemed stunned for a second. His eyes roaming over her body. She was now conscious that she was wearing black shorts that sported a litter of colorful heart-shaped patterns, and a pink vest.

"Hi." He said slowly. His eyes downcast. He seemed almost shy.

"Hello," Avril responded good-naturedly.

"I have your pizza." He said. His dark hair blowing slightly in the wind.

"I see that." Avril played along. She didn't want to be rude to this baby-faced visitor. He made no move to give the box to her, he just stared.

"Um, do you want to take the money first?" Avril questioned, trying to get his attention.
He seemed to snap out of these thoughts. "I am so sorry." He began handing the box to her. "You're just really pretty," he said, the corner of his lips rising upwards in a demure smile.

"Oh?" Avril's eyes widened. Things like this never happened to her. Perfect strangers never got sidetracked because of her and neither did any of them think she was pretty.

" I am sorry." He said again. "That was rude."

"No, it's not." She assured. "I am actually flattered." She smiled.

"I'm David." He extended his arm.

"Avril." She responded. Before she could extend her own arm, another hand clasped David's.

"And I'm Thomas." Avril stared at him. She hadn't even heard the shower come off. He stood beside her, glaring at the delivery boy.

Their hands disconnected. Thomas stood beside Avril, his gaze coming to meet her's.

"Isn't it time to head inside?" The words not intended to be a question.

"What's his problem?" Avril muttered as she rolled her eyes at him.

She turned back to David, who seemed affected by the encounter. She sympathized with him, Thomas could have that effect on people.

"It was nice meeting you, David. Have a nice night." She smiled at the boy. He flushed crimson.

"Are you going to stay out here all night?" Thomas questioned, his voice rougher. Avril rolled her eyes at him again and waved to David as she made her way in.

"Are you leaving?"Thomas glared at David. The boy collected himself and left, a smile plastered on and his cheeks red.
"The bastard even had the audacity to blush?" Thomas muttered to himself as he closed the door.
He made his way to the living room, where Avril was setting down plates and glasses, along with the pizza on the center table.

"Were you going to stand outside all night talking to that idiot?" He questioned. She didn't look at him and he tussled his hair in frustration. It was then that he noticed what she was wearing.
The sight of her long smooth legs churning the desires, waking them up and bringing them back to the surface.

"You shouldn't be wearing such clothes either. It's too short."
This time she did turn to face him. "You want me to change?" Her tone made him feel guilty about telling her how she should dress. He averted his gaze.
"No. Just be more careful when leaving the house. It's not proper for you to let men see so much of you." He said as he sat on the sofa, drawing the blanket over his legs.
Avril couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Are you afraid my innocence will be compromised by men seeing my legs and arms? If that's so then don't you think by living here with you...with a man, being an unmarried woman, I am already compromised?"
He looked at her and rolled his eyes. She was teasing him, he knew.
Avril went over to the sofa and sat down dramatically. " Then Thomas, since I am compromised, shouldn't you marry me to save my honor?"

"Alright, you have made your point." He reached out for a slice of pizza.
Avril turned serious now. "Seriously, what time period does he think this is?" She muttered as she pulled some of the blanket over her legs.

"I have great hearing remember." He pouted as he tore into his food.

"Thought I said that for no reason?" She asked as she played the movie and took a slice for herself.

He gave her one last look of annoyance before focusing on the television in front of him.