– Present Day –

The anticipation of seeing Kayla again was getting to him. He was not productive at work on Friday, knowing she was to be back sometime on Saturday from her spring break canoe trip. He went home early and cleaned up all the messes he had made the week since Kayla had been on her trip. He even did a load of his own laundry, proud of himself that he still knew how to work the machine.

As he tried to go to sleep that night, he realized how much he’d begun to rely on Kayla. For her help around the house. And for her companionship.

He felt lonely without her.

He missed her.

The depth of their friendship finally seemed to register for Jason. He knew that he felt deeply for her.

On Saturday afternoon, Jason was lying on the couch reading, when Kayla pulled into the driveway. He stood up and walked to the door, but then caught himself. He didn’t want to seem overbearing or too eager to see her, but he shouldn’t have worried.

Kayla threw open the door and jumped into Jason’s arms, a beautiful beaming ray of delight. They stood in the front hallway hugging for almost a minute, until she kissed his cheek and whispered, “It’s crazy how much I missed you.”

He had lifted her up just a bit to more comfortably hug her, so he lowered her back to her feet, and then kissed her forehead, with a hand on the back of her neck. “Yeah, it’s been quiet around here without you.”

They looked into each others eyes, and Jason felt an overwhelming sense of — something — for her. Was it love, or care, or had he just been lonely?

He felt like something had changed. Like there was less tension, or fewer barriers between them. Still looking into her eyes, still with his hand on the back of her neck, he waited. For what, he didn’t know.

Finally, she kissed his cheek again, and then asked, “Wanna help me unload the car?”

They spent the next couple hours laying out the tents and tarps to dry properly. Pushing through laundry and cleaning the car.

Kayla talked nonstop about their trip, and Jason got the sense that Kayla had a great time, but that she wasn’t fond of Margo’s boyfriend, Caleb.

After everything was put away, or in the laundry, Kayla announced she was going to take a shower, and that she really wanted to watch a movie. Jason agreed to get a movie queued up for them.

When she came back upstairs, she was only wearing a pair of pajama shorts and a thin tank top. Jason could see her dark areolas through the white shirt.

He decided to comment on it. “Nice outfit.”

She smirked, and one eyebrow twitched up. “I like to be comfy.”

He set the movie to play, and Kayla sat on the floor to stretch. She said, “Every muscle hurts right now.”

After she stretched for a while, Jason asked, “Want a shoulder rub?”

She bit her lip nervously, but her eyes were gleaming. She nodded enthusiastically.

Jason spread his legs and motioned her over.

She sat on the floor in between his legs, and he gently massaged her neck muscles, and her shoulders. He wasn’t paying any attention to the movie. All he could think about was making her feel good.

He whispered, “Harder or softer?”

She moaned. “Harder, please.”

He pressed his fingers and thumbs into her nicely toned back and shoulder blades, but he couldn’t go further down her back because she was leaning against the couch.

He slid his hands under her armpits, and lifted her to the edge of the couch, still sitting between his legs.

She sat up straight, and kept moaning.

He rubbed, wanting to continue hearing her moan, wanting to continue touching her body.

While Kayla had been gone, Jason had thought about the question Margo asked them, if they were sleeping together. Neither Jason nor Kayla had answered right away, which Margo might have taken as a sign of sorts. Kayla told Margo she hadn’t been dating because she was too busy, but Kayla often told Jason that she loved how much free time she had lately. Something didn’t add up.

Jason had thought about it the whole time Kayla had been gone, and he needed to ask, regardless of the consequences.

“Kayla, I want to ask you something, and I want you to tell me the truth.”

Kayla turned to the side, still sitting in between his legs, throwing one leg over his so she could turn around more comfortably.

“You haven’t dated anyone since you moved in here, right?”

Kayla nodded, and folded her hands together, absentmindedly playing with her fingernails. Perhaps nervously.

Jason asked, “Please don’t think I’m crazy for asking this, but…”

He hesitated.

Kayla put one hand on his leg, which encouraged him to finish his question.

“Is it because of me?”