Love In The City

Blurred Lines

     My swollen ankle woke me from my nap. I sat on the edge of my bed, thinking about what happened with Raul. I pick my phone up off the floor and look at the time. 

Shit! Melly would be home soon. I looked down at the large button-up shirt I have on. Melly will know it’s not mine.

I hear a knock at my door, “Gabby,” Melly said, from the other side of the door.

“Just a minute,” I tell her.

I hop on one foot to try to grab some clothes from my dresser.

“Are you okay in there?” she knocks again.

Distracted by the sound of the knocking I bump into the corner of my bed, “s**t,” I exclaim a little too loudly.

Melly opens up the door, “Are you okay?” she takes one look at me and laughs.

“It’s not funny,” I sit back down on my bed. Now both of my feet throb. The good thing is, one will only hurt a few hours.

“What happened in here?” she motions to the scattered clothes around my room.

I groan internally. I’m never going to hear the end of this one, “I hurt my ankle at work today,”

“So, you came home and scattered your bra, panties, and are those men’s boxers?” Melly leaned down to inspect.

“Melly!” I’m so embarrassed. The mental image of Raul running around San Francisco Sanz boxers made me blush.

“It’s just a halter top. Whose shirt is that?” Melly stepped closer to inspect me better. “Maybe, it’s the guy who left this note on the pillow,”

My heart stopped in my chest. What note? Did he leave me another note like before? My heart slammed back down at the thought of another letter.

Melly read the letter out loud, “Gabby, I’m heading to the pharmacy to pick up the things you need. I’ll grab dinner on the way back too. P.S. This letter replaces the first.P.S. S You look sexy in my shirt. XOXO Raul,” she then handed me the letter and rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Gabby,”

“I told you I hurt my ankle at work,” I said.

“So, you two came back here to play doctor?” She placed her hands on her hips and eyed me sternly, “He’s a player, Gabby,”

“I’m a grown woman,” I snapped back. I tucked the letter in my nightstand.

“You don’t have flings!” Melly lectured me.

“You’re right, because now it’s been two nights,” I said.

“What did he do? Did he carry you into bed like a Damsel in distress?” she shouted.

Raul’s tall, muscular body filled the door frame, and my heart raced.

“She’s not a Damsel in distress,” Raul said.

“Who the f**k let you in my house?” Melly yelled.

“I believe Gabby lives here as well. I used her key. In case you didn’t notice, Gabby’s injured. I went to pick up the things she needs,” Raul sat the bags down on the floor as he stepped forward in front of Melly.

“Gabby, why didn’t you ask me? You didn’t have to get seduced by this ass again,” she said, her voice a little softer now, “He took advantage of you,”

“He didn’t take advantage of me. I wanted it too,” I told her.

“I’m calling my brother,” Melly huffed.

Raul chuckled, “What’s he going to do?”

“You can’t date your employees. He’ll handle you. Isn’t he always cleaning up your messes?” Melly stomped off.

“I’m sorry,” I told him.

“She’s a good friend,” he kissed me on my cheek and I smiled at the gesture.

“Come get this playboy out of my house!” I could hear Melly yell.

“Is this going to cause an issue at work?” I asked.

“I own the company. I’m the Founder who gave him a partnership. My private life is my own,” Raul laughed.

“So, what did you get?” I changed the subject.

“Ibuprofen, Icy Hot, crutches and food,” he grinned.

“What kind of food?” I licked my lips.

“Gabby, if you lick your lips like that again, do you know what I’m going to do?” he whispered.

“What are you going to do?” I asked him once again, licking my lips.

He ran his tongue along my ear, and his hot breath sent shivers down my spine. “The first time was by accident. You did it on purpose the second time. You’re going to pay for that, but not today. I’ll leave it up to your imagination,”

Damn! I hate how he makes me feel. I’m not even sure what’s going on between us. We had s*x, but he’s still here.

“Are you two dressed?” Melly covered her eyes with her hands and my mouth fell agape at her.

“My door is open,” I rolled my eyes at her dramatics.

“I’m going to get dinner ready and let you two talk,” Raul stood up and grabbed the bags. Madge slammed the door once he left my room.

“I’m sorry,” Melly sat down next to me.

“Can you get me two Ibuprofen out the bag he left,” My foot is throbbing.

“Here I am acting like a b***h on wheels and you are in pain,” she said as she handed me the Ibuprofen and some water, “How did this happen?”

I told Melly everything about how I sprained my foot, leaving no detail out. She’s my best friend, “I’m sorry I didn’t warn you Raul is here. I fell asleep,”

“At least let me help get the stain out your shirt,” she said.

“I’ll go to work on it. I’m going to spend the night at Jeff’s tonight to give you two some privacy,” she said.

“You don’t have to. He’ll likely leave after he heats the food,” I readjusted myself on the bed.

“He brought groceries, you got a man in the kitchen cooking,” Melly said.

I thought he just grabbed me some fast food. I didn’t expect him to be cooking. Maybe he just felt terrible it happened at work.

After Melly left my room, I hobbled into the bathroom and took a shower.

 I gasped when I came out of my bathroom into my room. The room is lit in candles. A variety of plates sat in the middle of my bed. I’ve never been one for eating on my bed, but I can make an exception today.

“I hope you like Chicken Parmesan,” Raul picked me up and sat me gently down on my bed,

“This is too much,” I whispered.

“I had a feeling I cooked too much,” He laughed as he sat across from me on the bed.

“No, Raul. I mean, this,” I waved my hands between us, “is just s*x,” 

“It is,” He said before taking a bite of the Spaghetti.

“How many times have you cooked dinner for a woman?” I asked.

He shoved another bite into his mouth as he looked lost in thought for a few moments. Finally, he said, “Look, I wanted to redo our date from before,”

“So, this is a date?” I asked him, aware I’m making him uncomfortable, but secretly loving it.

“I’m making up for the first date, and the letter I wrote I don’t do second dates,” He wiped off Spaghetti sauce from the corner of my mouth.

“I feel so special,” I laughed.

“Let’s just eat so I can get you settled into bed,” he said.

“It’s too early for bed,” I laughed.

“We’ll watch a movie,” he shrugged.

“All a part of this date redo?” I ask.

He set his fork down and took my hand in his, “There’s something else you wish to ask, but you’re beating around the bush,”

“I’m just not used to all of this,” I sigh.

“I told you I can only offer s*x, nothing more,” he lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it.

He made no sense to me. We agreed last night on all of this, but today he comes with a candlelight dinner. I need to make sure I don’t blur the lines. 

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