Part 6 (2/2)

”Sure, in the top right-hand drawer. Help yourself,” Lynn answered, and pulled out a pair of shorts and a T-s.h.i.+rt.

”Thanks.” Chris walked back into the bathroom, pulled out the hair dryer, and proceeded to dry her hair.

Lynn walked into the living room just as Matt was opening the front door, carrying the pizza that had just been delivered.

”I guess we're having pizza for dinner?” Matt asked sarcastically. ”Where's Chris?”

”She just got out of the shower. She'll be out in a minute.”

Just then, Chris walked into the living room wearing only the borrowed T-s.h.i.+rt. Looking at Lynn, who still had wet hair, Matt asked suspiciously, ”What's going on here Lynn?”

Lynn, rolling her eyes with disgust, replied, ”What do you think?” Not getting an immediate answer, she crossed her arms over her chest. ”We went for a run. Chris threw her clothes in the washer, and I loaned her a T-s.h.i.+rt. Is that okay, Matt?” She threw her arms in the air. ”G.o.d, Matt! I gave you my word!” Taking the pizza from his hands, she walked into the kitchen. ”Chris, your clothes are done, I'll throw them in the dryer for you.”

Not really understanding the exchange that had taken place, Chris called back, ”Thanks!” Then turning to Matt, she gave him a look of confusion.

”Honey, I'm home?” Matt said to Chris, trying to look innocent. ”I think it's my turn to take a shower,” he said as he slunk down the hall.

”Come and get your pizza!” Lynn called from the kitchen.

”What was all that about?” Chris asked in regards to the former conversation.

”Don't worry about it. You want beer, wine, or soda?” Lynn asked as she opened the refrigerator.

”Better make it soda if I'm going to get any studying done,” Chris answered. ”What time is it, anyway?” she asked as she looked around the kitchen for a clock.

”You've got plenty of time,” Lynn replied. ”What cla.s.s are you studying for?”

”Kinetics. I have a whole bunch of flash cards made up, I just need to go through them over and over again.”

”Can I help? I mean if you have your materials with you?” Lynn asked.

”Really? That would be great, if it's not too much trouble!” Chris cut some pizza and placed it on her plate. ”I'll go out to my car and get my stuff*” Then, looking at her outfit, she said, ”Would you mind getting it out of my car? I feel a little indecent.”

Lynn picked up her plate and their drinks. ”No problem, what am I looking for?”

”Just the backpack,” Chris answered as she took her plate and followed Lynn into the living room. She grabbed her keys off the entry table and handed them to Lynn. ”Thanks again.”

For the next hour, between bites of pizza, Lynn quizzed Chris off of the flash cards. Matt finished his shower, served himself some pizza, plopped down on the couch, and proceeded to flip through channels with the remote control.

”Excuse me, can't you tell that Chris is trying to study?” Lynn quipped.

”I'm sorry, is this disturbing your concentration?” Matt questioned.

”It's okay, I probably should be going anyway*” Chris said as she started gathering her materials together.

”No, we're not finished with your flash cards, we can just go into the bedroom*” Lynn, raising her eyebrows, said sarcastically while looking at Matt.

”No! I'm turning it off, I'm turning it off!” Matt glared, then flipped the television off, threw the remote back on the table, and lay down on the couch.

Lynn couldn't believe that he didn't trust her. ”Now, where were we?”

The two women continued until they heard a loud snore coming from the couch. Turning, they found Matt fast asleep. Trying not to giggle, Lynn whispered, ”Are you sure you want to marry this man?”

Chris shook her head no and smiled. ”I've heard much worse, believe me. One guy I dated, I swear, the walls were going to cave in!”

Lynn, taken aback at realizing that Chris had a s.e.x life, tried to recover. ”Guys aren't the only ones who snore. I thought one woman was going to suck the sheets right off the bed!”

Chris laughed nervously She wanted the picture going through her mind to vanish. She got up from the couch and turned away. ”Well, I really should be going. Thanks for all of your help.”

Helping collect all of the books strewn around the couch, Lynn looked up and saw the curve of Chris's nipples through the white s.h.i.+rt. Feeling a burning sensation below her belly, she stood and walked briskly out of the room. ”I'll get your clothes from the dryer!” she called back.

Chris was anxious to get back into her clothes. All evening, she had felt her nipples rubbing against the cotton material. She was sure that they were taut because she was a little chilly; at least she hoped that's what it was.

”Here you go, still nice and warm.” Lynn was also anxious for Chris to get back into her clothes. It seemed that it was all Lynn could do to keep from looking at Chris's b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Chris changed and picked up her backpack. ”Well, I guess tonight was a bust, I mean for me and Matt. Apologize to him for me, will you?” Just then Matt let out a tremendous snore, Chris smiled and looked at Lynn, who was also smiling. ”I guess we'll have to cram tomorrow night, since it's the last night before his parents arrive. I'll be here around five-thirty again.” Chris backed away from the intense eye contact between her and Lynn. ”Good night.”

”Good night,” Lynn said and watched as Chris climbed into her vehicle. Closing the door, Lynn walked directly to the bathroom and turned the cold water on full blast.

Chris drove home with her windows wide open. She needed the cool breeze hitting her face. She was enjoying the preparation for this charade more than she thought she would. Or was it just the company that she was enjoying? Shaking off the feeling, she pulled into her parking s.p.a.ce and lugged her backpack up the stairs to her apartment. Once she had settled in, she opened her backpack in preparation for another hour or so of studying. She reached in to pull out her flash cards and felt something wrapped in foil. Retrieving the package, she found several pieces of leftover pizza. She smiled when she read the note affixed to the wrapping. ”Just in case you need a midnight snack!” was written in Lynn's handwriting, and, ”Good luck on your test, I know you'll do great!” Chris leaned back on her couch. She hadn't felt this good in a long time.

Chapter Six.

”Okay, I'm ready for another game of Scrabble!” Chris said as soon as she entered the doorway the following day.

”Great! Dinner is ready, so we can play while we're eating,” Matt answered, and then whispered, ”Lynn made her chili verde burritos. I just wanted to warn you, before you take the first bite, sometimes they're extremely hot, spicy hot.”

”Cool, I love hot and spicy food.”

”Not me, it gives me heartburn. There, that's something my fiancee would know.”

Lynn popped her head around the corner of the kitchen. ”Hi! Grab what you want to drink and head out to the deck.”

When they were all seated at the table, Matt just sat, staring at the burrito in front of him.

”Mate's a real wimp when it comes to spicy foods. I hope you're not!” Lynn said to Chris.

”I love hot things! The hotter the better!” Chris popped her first bite into her mouth.

Lynn watched as Chris chewed and swallowed. ”Well?”

”Delicious! Come on Matt, dig in, they're not that hot!” Chris teased.

Matt cut a small bite and tested it with his tongue before slowly putting the food into his mouth. His face turned red. He swallowed, and immediately drank his entire gla.s.s of water. ”I can see this is going to take more than water,” he choked out.

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