Say You Like Me

“Nice sock tan lines you got there, Nat.” An oh-so-familiar sarcastic voice said behind me. “But you still look sexy,” he whispered in my ear which sent shivers down my spine.

“Gabe, what are you whispering to my girlfriend?” My boyfriend, Ryan, said as his teammate sat down next to him on the couch in Ryan’s living room.

“I was just telling her how much of a clown she looks like with those tan lines,” Gabe said while he winked at me.

“Hey, I’m sorry I play a sport!” I defended. Gabe laughed his signature laugh which immediately made me smile. I couldn't help it! Gabe’s smile and laughter were contagious.

Ryan chuckled too but then added in a serious tone, “You do look ridiculous, Nat.”

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the TV that was playing in front of us. Of course it was NHL network. I mean, what else would we be watching? A knock at the door came a few minutes later.

“It’s open Skins,” Ryan bellowed, intently watching a replay of an amazing goal Patrick Kane got the previous night. An awkward Jeff Skinner walked through the arch way a few seconds later. He looked at the couch that Ryan and Gabe occupied and realized that there wasn't that much room left for a third hockey player. I scooted over on the love seat I sat on and patted the spot next to me. Jeff smiled and sat down next to me.

“How are you, Jeffery?” I asked with a grin.

“I’m fantastic,” Jeff said with a smile, “And how are you, Natalie?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I can’t complain. Though, Gabe and Ry are making fun of my tan lines.” I gestured with my hand the two different skin tones that were present on my ankles.

“Oh,” Jeff tried to stifle his laughter, “They’re not too noticeable.”

I playfully hit him on the shoulder. “Thanks for laughing! I thought I could always count on you to not make fun of me.”

Jeff looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry.” He smiled and I knew I couldn't stay mad at him.

“I forgive you Skins!” I announced as I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and wrapped my arm around his shoulder. I could see Jeff blushing a little bit. It was cute how Jeff could get embarrassed by the simplest things.

“Whoa there! Ryan, you better watch out. Skins is making a move on your girl!” Gabe playfully said as he noticed the interactions between Jeff and I. Ryan fake laughed and shot Jeff a death glare which made Jeff scoot away from me a little bit. I removed my arm from around Jeff and frowned. It was so like Ryan to get jealous when I hung out with his friends. I noticed the awkward tension between Ryan and Jeff so I got up and walked into Ryan’s kitchen. I opened his fridge and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea. I set it on the counter and reached up into the cabinet for a cup. I heard footsteps behind me and then felt a body press up against my back. I then saw a tan, muscular arm reach for a cup in the cabinet above me. I knew immediately that the owner of that tan and muscular arm was Gabe. He backed away and poured himself a glass of iced tea. I did the same and then jumped up and sat on the counter. Gabe stood in front on me and with me on the counter, we were the exact same height. Gabe put a hand on my knee as he sipped his drink.

Gabe and I had been best friends since he moved here from Sweden. We even became friends before he met Ryan, so this innocent flirting meant nothing. We were just playing around and knew the boundaries because Ryan was Gabe’s best friend and my boyfriend. Although, and I’d never admit this to anyone, but those boundary lines became a little fuzzy at times, for Gabe at least. It was all fun and games though. This was just his personality. From the first moment I saw Gabe walking through the main office at school I knew he was very, very attractive. But I also knew that someone as perfect as him would never like an average girl like me. Obviously, when I started dating Ryan, those feeling disappeared. This “thing” Gabriel and I did was simply platonic. Plus, I knew as soon as Gabe started talking about all the girls at our school that I was “friend-zoned.”

“How is your day going so far?” Gabe asked, breaking me away from my thoughts.

“Gabe, you know how my day is going. We text all the time and when we don’t it’s usually because we’re hanging out.” I told him matter-of-factly.

“Or when you’re with Ryan,” Gabe added.

I shook my head and laughed a little bit. “I text you all the time when I’m hanging out with Ryan!” Gabe smiled because he knew it was true.

“Even when I’m on a date with him,” I added quietly. Gabe cocked his head slightly and stared into my eyes.

After a few minutes of silence he said, “He really hates it, doesn't he?” I gave him a confused look.

“That we’re friends,” he clarified.

I slowly nodded my head. “I mean I get where he’s coming from. But he should trust me. I would never in a million years even think about cheating on him. I mean so what if I kissed Jeff on the cheek. It’s Jeff! He’s as innocent as it gets! And you, well we were friends before you met Ryan so he shouldn't tell me that I can’t text you.” I ranted. “And so what if you sexually harass me every day!” I jokingly said to lighten the mood. “You flirt with hundreds of other girls all the time.” I added.
Gabe smiled, probably thinking about all of the gorgeous girls he’s met while he’s been here. He looked at me and his smiled faded. “Ryan has no right to get mad at you.” Gabe said.

“And why is that?” I asked curiously.

“Well… because he,” Gabe looked at me sympathetically. “He… um… he’s ch-“ Gabe was interrupted by Ryan bursting through the door saying, “What’s going on guys?”

“Nothing,” Gabe said as he backed away from me. I jumped off the counter and lifted my drink to my lips only to have Ryan snatch it out of my grip and down the rest of it.

“Thanks Ry,” I said sarcastically and walked back into the living room where only Jeff remained. I sat down next to him, took out my phone and began to play games on it. Gabe and Ryan came back into the room and sat down on the couch. Gabe gave me another sympathetic look and sent me a text saying, “We’ll talk later.” I pushed the conversation with Gabe to the back of my mind and went back to aimlessly playing with my phone while the guys talked about their upcoming playoff games.