“I didn’t think so,” he says as he pulls his phone out.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Calling Carl. Sit and eat,” he says. I huff and sit back down as he makes his call. “Hey… yeah, it’s piss pouring rain out there and Riley is drenched so I’m sending her home for the day… you know you are capable of driving too, right? Well, you’ll be okay. I’ll send Finn up there to help you close… Okay.” He ends the call and sets his phone down.
“Did I just get him in trouble?” I ask quietly.
“He got himself in trouble a long time ago, Riley. You just made the decision that much easier to make,” he says.
“Let me get you something dry to put on so you’ll stop shivering,” he says.
“Cole, seriously. It’s fine. I can change when I get home,” I say.
“You could cut glass with those things, girl,” he says, gesturing at my very visible nipples. “Let me get you something so you can at least get warm. Okay?”
“Uh… yeah,” I say, crossing my arms again. When he walks away, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“Here ya go,” he says as he hands me a T-shirt. “Bathroom is the second door on the right.”
“Thanks,” I say slowly.
“It’ll be like a dress on you. Don’t worry,” he says, understanding my hesitation. I nod and walk down to the bathroom. When I close the door behind me to see that the shower is bigger than my closet. I live in a tiny one-bedroom trailer on the outskirts of town, so I think this bathroom is as big as my bedroom. This is only a guest bathroom too.
I take off my wet clothes and put on a massive but soft shirt. It comes down just about to my knees and even though I am completely naked under this, I feel less exposed. I gather up the courage I need and walk out of the bathroom.
“Here’s a blanket to cover up with,” he says as he hands me a throw blanket and takes my wet clothes and shoes. “I’ll put these clothes in the dryer.”
“Thank you,” I say as I sit on the couch. With the towel gone, I pull my feet up to sit cross legged and spread the blanket over my lap.
Cole comes back and sits beside me. A sudden wave of panic comes over me, but I try to hide it. I set my pizza down and lean forward with my elbows on my knees. I rest my forehead on my palms hoping it will help with how shaky I feel. I know it’s anxiety, but I can’t make it stop. I try to go with the flow, but the flow is so goddamn confusing.
“Riley,” Cole says softly. I shake my head. I don’t want to have to explain that I have near debilitating anxiety, especially not to him.He places his hand on my back and I flinch, but he starts rubbing my back anyway. His touch is soothing in a way that doesn’t make sense.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Don’t be. What’s wrong?” he asks.
“I have problems with anxiety. I’m fine most of the time, but I’m just confused,” I say.
“Confused about what?”
“Why I’m sitting in your living room with no pants on,” I say. “I don’t understand why you always request me and now I’m…”
“What?” he asks.
“You’re not going to like… wear my skin, are you? You’ve always seemed nice but who knows these days.”
“You are far too tiny to make anything for me to wear,” he says with humor in his tone.
“I’m being serious,” I say as I look at him.
“I am too,” he laughs. “You are what… five foot max? I am six foot five. I could probably make you into like… a bracelet.”
“Four foot ten,” I smile. “And I guess I’m just afraid of being I don’t know… raped and murdered.”
“No rape or murder, but I won’t lie. I am very tempted to touch you,” he says. “I sense you might actually implode if I do that.”
“I’m not a prude,” I say. “I just have no idea what to do or how to handle myself. You’re sitting over there cool as a cucumber with no shirt and I’m just practically naked on your couch now when I was just delivering pizza twenty minutes ago. Then come to find out you’re my boss who I vented to about his shitty manager wholikes to try and touch me… sorry. I ramble when I’m nervous. I don’t know what to do with myself.”