No. Ross became protective

I really wanted to be Chandler’s wingman. He seemed so sweet, and I felt guilty because I had led him on. But before I tried to approach a group of girls in their daisy dukes, Ross stopped me.

“Hey let’s get a drink.”

“I’m good. I had a few while waiting.”

“So you’ll get drinks with a guy you never met, but you won’t have a drink with me?”

I had a Coors light. He got a double Jim Bean with ginger ale. I remember because he called it a high ball then laughed with the bartender who knew what he was talking about.

Chandler was off standing by himself. We didn’t go stand with him. Ross kept me close to him while he drank. He quickly finished and got another.

“Gotta catch up. How many did you have again?”

He was chastising me when he was the one who was talking on the phone and made me wait. It pissed me off.

When he went back to the bar, I snuck back over to Chandler. I touched his arm. “Hey would you like another dance? Practice makes perfect.”

He glanced over at Ross. “You sure?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.” I took his hand and let him back to the swirling dance floor.

We were better this time. The **** had loosened me up, and without the pressure of trying to impressive a lady Chandler was loose and goofy. He spun me around without a clue of what he was doing. It was so much fun.

Ross smoldered at the railing staring at us. I tried to ignore him.

He caught my arm as we passed by him. “You gonna dance with him all night, or you gonna spend time with the guy who invited you?”

“Are you going to ask me to dance?”

He was annoying me. He couldn’t be pissed at me when he wasn’t making the effort.

He turned around and stormed off.

Chandler and I danced through the entire set. By the encore our sleeves were rolled up and we were drenched in sweat.

I had forgotten about Ross. He was nowhere in the bar. I texted him. He didn’t reply. His car wasn’t in the parking lot.

Luckily Chandler stayed by my side the whole time.

He didn’t want to throw his friend under the bus. All he said was “That’s shitty.”

I asked him I could get a ride home with him. He lived with Ross. All my stuff was at their place. I needed to get there anyway.

He looked embarrassed when he said he took the bus home and was hoping for a ride home with Ross.

So Ross had left his best friend and roommate out to dry as well.

Chandler said we could walk and take the bus back.

I’d never taken public transportation before. I’m from a small town. And now I was about to take a bus late at night in a strange big city. I tried to play it cool but I was so nervous.

We walked a while to a bus stop, or at least a place Chandler’s phone said was a bus stop. Chandler must have noticed me fidgeting and reached out to hold my hand. Just his touch comforted me.

We got onto the bus. There were a couple people on it, but nothing like I was fearing. It made me feel a little foolish, but I still got nervous every time the bus stopped and let someone back on.

We made one exchange then we walked the rest of the way. My flight here was shorter.

I was exhausted by the time we reach his house. My stuff was in the basement in Ross’s room.

Chandler saw my hesitation in going to the basement.

“You can borrow some of my clothes to sleep in. They shouldn’t be too big on you. Then you can sleep in my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

I felt bad kicking him out of his room. He was being so sweet. But I really didn’t want to wake Ross after he abandoned me.

I asked, “Do you mind if I take a shower first? You don’t want this grossness in your bed.”

He got me a fresh towel, a pair of his shorts and a shirt. I guess I’d be going commando.

I lost myself in the shower, rinsing off the night, trying to forget that I traveled across the country for a guy who’d leave me at a bar.

I didn’t hear the door click. I didn’t see the shower curtain slide open. I only felt the pair of hands touch my shoulders.