A few days have passed since the incident with Henry. I'd be lying to myself if I weren't replaying the feeling of his body, the warmth of him, the feeling of his large capable hands holding me close. I honestly needed to get a grip. My phone buzzes and thankfully interrupts my thoughts, It's Sofia.
Sofia: Heyyy! Saturday night=wine and shit talking?
Matilda: It's like you read my mind! I'll come and pick you up and we can go get some wine. Be there in 20?
Sofia: OK! See you soon! <3
After swinging by Sofia's apartment and getting at least three bottles of a nice Merlot we head back to my cozy apartment. "OK. Spill I need every single detail on Lucas!" I say while grabbing a bottle opener from the drawer.
Since earlier this week Sofia has been spending every evening with Lucas and has not required a ride into work. "Well, he is amazing. Like I know this is sudden and happening so fast but my god. He is so kind and just awesome to talk with. I think I am falling for this man. Oh, and he is fucking amazing in bed" She sighs.
I smile "Well I can't wait to meet him!" I tell her sincerely. Sofia has been my best friend since I first moved to the United States when we were freshmen at Boston University. She was impeccably fashionable even then, we ended up being assigned as roommates in our dorm. Honestly, I found her intimidating when I first saw her but then she suggested that go to a local chocolate-themed café and we talked and talked until they finally kicked us out of the place because they were closed. We've been inseparable ever since. Even when I moved away to do my graduate studies at Brown, we still video chatted or texted at least 4 times a week. I missed her a lot, and I am so happy to finally be living in the same city again.
I debate telling her about Henry. I mean it isn't like anything has happened with him. I worry that maybe she will call me out for breaching the creepy stalker area. But I decide that maybe telling her will help me clear my head. "Hey, do you remember that hot professor that I told you about in my lab, the one that I'm being pitted against for a full-time slot?" I ask she smiles, the biggest grin on her face "DID you finally
sleep
with him??" she demands.
I frown "wait, why would you jump to that?" I ask, confused. God am I that obvious?
As if reading my mind, she answers "well you are obviously into him. And you guys certainly have chemistry (literally). Every time I've come and visited you at your lab, I see him looking over and watching you. It really isn't that far fetched of an idea."
I sigh even though I hadn't really worked out how I was feeling, Sofia knew and called me out on it. She was right I was into him, absolutely and completely into him. But I didn't believe that he was into me, especially considering that he could have kissed me that night while I was swooning in his arms. Or he could have even asked me out.
I pull out my phone hearing the familiar ping of a notification, probably an email from a student or faculty member. When I open my phone, I notice that Henry has accepted my follow-on Instagram. Sofia peers over my shoulder wondering what I was looking at. She smiles and hands me a very full glass of wine, "well now I know what we are doing! Stalking Henry on Instagram!" She states excitedly.
I blush with embarrassment but she's right I was going to do it anyway when she left so might as well do it together. "OK, Fine," I say.
We settle in at my kitchen table and start scrolling through his photos. For someone who seems extremely serious and professional, he certainly had a lot of pictures. Although most of the pictures were landscape photographing, stunning mountains, sparkly blue oceans, yellow and green farmland. It was incredible and made me suddenly want to know him even more.
I scrolled further down hoping to not find any photos of him with beautiful women. Even though we obviously weren't anything I still couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when the thought of him and other women. I gulp, thankful that as we reach the bottom of his account there are no pictures of him with other women other than a couple of photos of him and his family.
One picture stands out to me, it is over a year old from back when he lived in California, but it was a shirtless picture of him with a surfboard giving the goofiest happiest grin. I smile because the grin is just so infectious. Also, damn. HE IS FIT, like washboard abs and all. Then, as I was pinching the way too small phone screen to get a better view, I accidentally LIKED his picture. Meaning that he would see a notification indicating that I was CLEARLY Instagram stalking him. "Shit! He is totally going to know!" I hysterically tell Sofia.
After guzzling nearly all three of the bottles of wine. A very tipsy Sofia called Lucas lovingly telling him to come and get her so "they could fuck" as she put it so gracefully. Ah Sofia can't deny that the girl knew what she wanted and when she wanted it.
After Lucas came and picked her up, I plopped down on my comfy green velvet couch. My head spinning a bit from all the wine. I open my phone telling myself I won't click on Instagram, but clearly, my finger is incapable of following my brain's orders and clicks on the little square anyway. I notice I have a DM; curious I click on it. My mouth falls open. It's him...Henry.
Henry: So, Instagram stalking, a new hobby of yours?
Cheeky bastard
. I quickly type my response.
Matilda: I'd call it some Saturday night research.
Henry: uh-huh. Whatever you say ;)
Henry: Don't worry I thoroughly checked your profile too.