Chapter Thirty-Eight - It Would Be The Most Logical Thing

Chapter Thirty-Eight - It Would Be The Most Logical Thing
Orson

I’m impatiently sitting at the dining table in the kitchen, drinking my coffee as I wait for Everly to get up. I thought she would be up by now, but there is no sign of her. I want to find out if she has considered my question and what her response will be. We don’t need to like one another to fuck. The sexual chemistry and connection are there, we don’t need anything more than that to have fun with one another. I don’t see it as a big deal. We may as well get something out of it. 

I tap my fingers against the table. She never sleeps this late. Sighing, I rise from the chair and go towards her room to wake her up. I am not waiting any longer. I knock, but there is no response. Is she still in a deep sleep? I push the door open slightly and pop my head in. I am met with an empty, made-up bed. Where is she? I didn’t hear her leave. What time did she sneak out? Is she trying to avoid me? 

Groaning in frustration, I return to the kitchen, grab my cell and text her. 

Where are you? When did you leave? 

I contemplate putting a kiss at the end. No, I shouldn’t. I send it as it is. I set my cell down on the table, sipping my coffee again, staring at the screen to see when Everly reads it. She does, but no reply comes. What is she playing at? She can just up and vanish without a word. If something happened to her, I wouldn’t know. God, what is wrong with me! I shouldn’t be this concerned. She is a grown-ass woman who has no trouble taking care of herself. What she does is none of my business. It isn’t like she is my real fiancée. But the more I stare at the screen, the more annoyed I become. I hate being ignored. I am ready to tap the call button, but before I do, I hear the front door open. 

I head through, making sure it was Everly and not my brother or parents walking in without permission again. Thankfully, it is. 

“Where have you been?” 

She looks at me with furrowed brows and points to herself. “Where does it look like I have been? Not like it is any of your business.” 

Everly is in her running gear, holding two coffees and a paper bag in her hand. 

“I was worried, that is all. You disappeared without a word and didn’t reply to my text.” I sound like her boyfriend! Real, not pretend. 

“Where did you think I went? I can’t exactly leave, can I?” she replies with an eye roll, heading to the kitchen. 

There is no need for her attitude. I was concerned. What is wrong with that? God, this woman is infuriating. I follow her to the kitchen. 

“I only wanted to make sure you were okay.” I sigh as I enter. 

Everly places the things on the table, lets out a loud sigh too, before she turns to face me. “I am fine. I woke early and wanted to go for a run.” 

I nod and bite my lip to stop from saying anything else. I don’t want to seem like some possessive jackass. 

I sit at the table. “You should have woken me. I would have come a run with you.”

“You were sound asleep. I needed a little time to myself. I picked up some bagels from that bakery you like. Do you want one?” 

I try not to seem too shocked at her nice gesture. “Sure. Thanks. I will get the cream cheese from the fridge.” 

Everly grabs us some plates and knives, settling down at the table and putting the bagels out. I notice she brought my favourite poppy-seed bagels. I am surprised she remembered. Joining her, she places it on my plate, smiling.

“It is that one you like, right? I couldn’t remember if it was that or the sesame one.” 

“It is this one, thank you.” 

She took a plain one for herself. Silence falls between us as we prepare them. 

“There are some muffins in there, too, if you want something sweet for after.” 

“I am sure I will want one.” 

We are being nice to one another. It isn’t like us, not like this anyway. We fall silent again as we eat, it is a comfortable one. Who knew we would ever be comfortable with one another outside of sex? 

“Did you think about what I said?” I ask, nervously, not wanting to ruin us getting along. 

Everly finishes the food she has in her mouth, sets her bagel down and lifts her head to look at me. “Yes, but I am still not sure if it is a good idea, Orson.” 

“Why?”

“Because it could end up complicating things. I don’t want emotions to come into play, and I don’t care what anyone says, if you have sex with one person enough, no matter what the situation, some emotion or feelings develop, whether it be romantic or attachment. Either way, for us, I don’t know if it would work, the sex thing I mean.” 

“I don’t believe that. I have had sex with multiple women, multiple times and haven’t developed any feelings for them.” I reply honestly. There is no point in my lying, Everly knows what I am like.  

“The difference is that you didn’t stay with any of them. You weren’t pretending to be engaged to them. I don’t want lines to become blurry, Orson.” 

“Take all of that out of the topic of conversation. Imagine we were just two people who worked together. What would your answer be? Without thinking about those things?” 

Everly takes a moment to think about it. “I would maybe agree.” 

“Okay then. If it is something we both want, then why not try it? If things become complicated? Those lines begin to blur, we stop.” 

She rests back on her chair, crossing her arms. “Why are you so adamant about this? You can get any woman you want, Orson. Why so fixated on your fuck buddy being me?” 

“Because no matter how many women I have fucked, none of it was as good as it is with you. I believe it is the same for you. We are stuck together. Why look for it in other places with strangers when we can be there for one another’s needs? Less complicated, less hard work, and we don’t need to worry about who can be trusted and who can’t”. 

It would be the most logical thing for both of us. 

Everly stares at me, lost in thought as she tries to make up her mind. “Fine, but if things get complicated and those lines become blurred for either of us, we tell each other and stop. Deal?” she asks, offering her hand to me.

I take it. “Deal,” I reply with a smirk. 

“Okay, not shut up and finish your breakfast.” She snickers. 

I don’t need to worry about developing feelings. It isn’t going to happen.