There she was. She was standing in the middle of his apartment. Honestly, he knew he had been a little pessimistic thinking he’d never see her again. He’d been hoping he’d get over her eventually and the feelings would float away from him. It had been weeks.

The summer was full swing in the middle of August and there she was standing in the living room, lit by the sunset behind her, head turned to look at him, smiling wide. The pretty one he knew wasn’t reserved for him, but she sure knew how to make him feel like it was. In an instant it was gone, and she was facing the tv again and turning it off. Brayden fixed his face into one of comfortable indifference as he faced James coming out of his bedroom.

She had made James apologize just days after the incident, or he assumed it was her idea since the apology didn’t really feel all that genuine. In all honesty his apology back wasn’t either. Since then, they’d been rather indifferent towards each other, perhaps Brayden warmer than James, if only to get her back into the apartment.

Her smell and presence were fading, and it was wearing on him too much. James shifted a cold look in Brayden’s direction and gestured her towards him. She followed him into his room and disappeared.

She was more gold, Brayden thought enviously, then the last time he’d seen her. Like she’d spent her whole summer outside in the sun. He glared deeply into his bedroom ceiling thinking about all the tiny clothes she’d worn to get it that way, for there to be no visible tan lines on her legs or chest. Brayden lifted a pillow over his face and smothered a deep groan of frustration.

He hadn’t had another girl in weeks maybe months? The last one he’d invited over, just last week, he couldn’t even get it up properly for. He had been trying to get the smell of her out of his nose, which probably would’ve helped if he’d washed that shirt she’d worn. He’d kept it gently rolled under his bed since and had caught a glimpse of it that night and knew he’d never be able to fuck in the bed she’d slept in without him again.

He was frustrated in so many ways he was deeply unaccustomed too. To top it all off, his roommate was following her around everywhere she went. He’d spy her in the kitchen and turn and find James standing on the other side of the island. He’d see her leg draped over a couch leg and find James right next to her. It had only been one day of her here, but Brayden had a feeling getting her alone would prove much more difficult than previously. He lounged on his bed just staring at the ceiling and frowning. He was listening to them on the balcony through his window.

“Really James you can go play your game I’m perfectly happy to read just here.”

“No, it’s fine.” James replied grumpily.

Brayden had been listening to James watching videos on his phone just loud enough to be annoying if you’re trying to read. Brayden rolled his eyes but listened still.

“James seriously, go play. I know you want to, and I’d like to enjoy the breeze out here. It’s too hot in there and you know how the fan dries my eyes out when I’m reading.”

James grumbled something Brayden couldn’t hear and then said,

“I’ll be right there if you need anything, just through the window.”

“Of course, but don’t worry. I’m very capable of getting my own water.” She chirped back.

He heard the quick peck of lips together and then the silence he knew she was craving.

Brayden waited, what he thought was very patiently, for the clicking and muttered voice of James playing a game to start before he exited his room.

He’d grabbed a new book he was reading, from a series of books she’d mentioned in the past, that she “simply adored” as she put it. He found he enjoyed it too, a little girly but the sex was good, admittedly, and the action was better.

He lived here too and wouldn’t be confined by some arbitrary idea that he couldn’t be in the same room as her. No one had mentioned that to him. He waltzed onto the balcony with all the grace he could muster.

He smiled at her the moment his eyes found hers. She smiled back, the pretty one again, but glanced sideways at the window behind her. He smiled again and sat down next to her. She was tucked deeply into the corner, and he followed suit in the other. She stared warily at him for a moment before returning her gaze to her book. Every muscle in her looked tense and worried. He decided he’d just sit and read there. No words, no touching. Just reading there next to her. At first, they both sat tensely in the silence, but eventually they lost themselves in different worlds.