Someone's bound to get burned

‘’I should have skipped the extra French toast piece this morning, it feels like it is dancing the samba in there’’ complained Bryan Bickell, walking into the locker room, a hand on his stomach.

-Oh the first world problem of a newlywed, spoiled by his wife and all. I think I’m gonna drop a tear, responded Kane.
-Jealous, Kaner? You’re getting sick of your morning Honeycombs? Teased Sharp.
-Honeycombs is the food of God. Watch your mouth, Sharp.
-Hey, Tazer, got a moment?

Jonathan, sitting at his place, undoing his skates, raised his head to see Bollig standing in front of his. Players constantly were coming to him when they needed to discuss something before going to coach Quenneville. Just another day on the job. ‘’Yeah, of course, what’s up?’’

-I wanted to ask you something. About Chloé, started Brandon.

Jonathan was startled by the subject that was brought up. Why was he coming to him for something related to Choé? What was wrong with Chloé? He tried to conceal his twirling thoughts as he continue took off his skates of his feet. ‘’What about Chloé?’’

-I need your advices, man.
-Something’s wrong? Asked Jonathan. Dude, play it cool. It’s not like you are supposed to be happy about it.
-No, no, nothing is wrong. Actually, everything is doing great. She is quite something. She is... said Bollig, words trailing as he searched for the right one.
-Different? Said Jonathan, drying the blades of his skates with a towel.
-Yeah. That’s it. Different. I don’t know... it is like... there is no pressure. She is fun, she is sweet, she is caring.
-Yeah, she’s a great girl. Where is he going with this?
-You know at first, I wasn’t sure. I thought I’d give it a try, you know... just have some fun, said Brandon as he winked at Jonathan.

Jonathan blandly looked at him. ‘’Chloé is awesome. ‘’If you are just going this to have your fun...’’ started Jonathan, a smidge of threatening tone in his voice.

-No, no, that is the point! Cried Brandon, raising his two hands as to make a peace offer. I did not think I’d care about all this thing... but I kinda want to take things up a notch now.

Jonathan glanced at his teammate and turned to look at the wall on the other side of the room, elbows on his knees and hand together, thinking.

‘’Listen, Jonny, I know you two are friends. I wouldn’t come to you and ask for your advices if I just wanted to let the girl go out in the curb at the first occasion. ’’
-I’m just surprised. I wasn’t expecting you two to become all... serious, I didn’t think you were looking for something like that.
-I wasn’t. At the beginning, I mostly enjoyed spending time with her because she was funny and relax... and maybe a bit because it seems like she couldn’t give a crap about me being a hockey player. It was maybe a bit of the situation of trying to get what you can’t get... you know? Said Brandon, thoughtful. I had my share of picking up girls at the bar and one-night stands, continued Bollig. I want Chloé to let me in.

Jonathan could see miles ahead to where all of this was heading. Chloé and Brandon were already texting and talking on the phone frequently. He could see it on Bollig’s face when he was reading a text from her, the face of someone who is sharing something with someone, keeping it from others, cherishing what was going on between them. Something new, something exciting. Jonathan knew. He probably had the same text when he received something from her.

It has been clear to Jonathan for a while now. It was clear that Chloé wasn’t just a new girl, randomly entering his life, spiking momentarily his curiosity. She was the person he was looking forward to meet up, for a drink, a coffee, a lunch or a run. He was happy to received texts from her of Internet memes she saw online and found hilarious; he could hear her laugh out loud in his mind. She was the person who was making him reconsider his current life status, his current ‘’okay-not-bad-but-could-be-better’’ relationship he was in. He had thought his curiosity and interest in Chloé would pass and he would come back to this state of contentment he had toward his relation to Amanda. But he did not. Being around Chloé just reminded him, over and over, that he’d been lazy for the past year, floating through his life and being just okay with this ‘’okay’’ situation.

He now wished he had done something about it. He wished he had ended this relationship that was going nowhere but somewhere he wasn’t willing to go, he wished he was the only guy Chloé was texting, he wished he was the one to be allowed to put this strands of hair that had escaped her headband behind her ear, when they were left panting and catching their breathes after a run.

He wished all that but right now, it was his friend and teammate that was sitting next to him, looking at him, waiting for a piece of advice on how to make this girl fall for him. And because it was only wishes, because he had a girlfriend, because he was supposed to be the happiest man alive to find Amanda in his bed when he was coming home at night, because Chloé was his friend, and only his friend, and because he was the one who thought about getting those two to meet, he turned to Brandon and told him what he would do if the roles were reversed.

***

‘’This is nice’’, said Jonathan, swallowing a piece of Vietnamese orange beef.
-What is nice? The beef? Hey, spoilers, I haven’t tried it yet! Joked Chloé.
-No, no, not the beef. Well, the beef is nice. But I wasn’t talking about that. This is nice, responded Jonathan, pointing at the living room coffee table standing between them. Tonight is nice, continued Jonathan.
-Yes, it is nice. But are you trying to sugar-coat me so I don’t see you are standing on my estate?
-How could I do something like that!? Said Jonathan, acting highly offended.
-Cut it, Jon. Even you got to pay if you want to enjoy the pleasures of Baltic Avenue. Send this four dollars my way and hand me the box of spicy shrimps while you are at it, sucker.

The coffee table of Chloé’s living room was with a classic monopoly board, fake colorful money and boxes of Vietnamese takeout food. Jonathan, sitting on Chloé’s couch, handed the money to his friend, sitting cross-legged on her armchair on the other side of the table, chopsticks in hand.

‘’Here, four dollars. Don’t let it go to your head though. You know what they say, people can get crazy when they become wealthy really fast’’ said Jonathan sarcastically.

-Yeah, go ahead and make fun of my purple estates. You won’t make fun of me anymore when you lose all you money while passing through Baltic Avenue. God, these are good, mumbled Chloé, her mouth stuffed with shrimps.
-So. What is going on between you and Bolly? Asked Jonathan, rolling the dices another time after his double.
-I-I don’t know, actually. But whatever it is, it is... great, said Chloé, smiling.
-Just great? Wondered Jonathan. Don’t push it, dude.
-No, no, not just great. It is really, really nice, actually, said Chloé, smiling a bit wider. You’ll never guess what we did yesterday!
-Hmm, is it a TMI situation? There might be stuff happening between my teammate and my friend I might not want to know, tried to joke Jonathan. Like, really, REALLY don’t want to know.
-No, not stuff like that, idiot, said Chloé, throwing her friend a crumpled napkin. We went to an animal shelter and we walked dogs around the park all afternoon! Cried Chloé, completely ecstatic.
-No kidding! ‘’Maybe do something involving animals. She is a complete animal lover, you’ll score big time’’
-I know, right!? That was such an original idea! He is something special, said Chloé, thoughtfully smiling.

***

‘’I’d bring them all home with me, if I could’’ sighed Chloé as they walk out of the animal shelter’d door.

-You sadly can’t save them all, said Brandon, rubbing her back as he walked by her side.
-I know. At least they had a nice time walking around this afternoon. That was an awesome idea, Brandon. Surprising, but awesome, smiled Chloé, turning her face toward him.
-I’m glad you liked it, responded Brandon, taking her hand and intertwining his fingers to hers.

Despite the many dates they had so far, Chloé was caught off guard by the gesture for a split second. She knew she liked Brandon. They were having fun together, he was sweet and caring. She also knew that, whatever was going on between Jonathan and her, it would never go further than friendship. Her attraction to Jonathan was the same as the invisible force that pull you to go back home, to the safe warmth of home. She always knew Jonathan wasn’t hers. It was about keeping a hold on their friendship but letting the rest go. Just let it go.

They were standing on Chloé’s porch after a pizza and a few beers downtown. They had talked all night long and, it was maybe the beers, but Chloé couldn’t help blushing and feeling her cheeks getting hot when Brandon momentarily placed his hand on her thigh. They were staring in each other eyes, watching and waiting for the other’s reaction. But wasn’t moving forward and taking the lead a part of letting go, wondered Chloé, back against her door.

‘’Well...’’started Brandon.

-I had a great time, said Chloé.
-Me too, said Brandon, moving closer.

Leaning forward, he lightly kissed Chloé’s lips. He smells good, thought Chloé. She laced her arms around his neck as he placed his hands on her hips, pulling her against him. Their kiss slowly become more passionate; his tongue made his way between Chloé’s lips as he cuped her right cheek with his hand. As independent and free spirit as Chloé was, she loved the manly vibe coming from him and how in control he felt. Maybe that was what she needed, after all. And no matter what it was, it was good.

She placed her hands on Brandon’s chest and slightly pushed him back, leaving them both breathless. Her forehead still leaning against his, she whispered ‘’Would you maybe... like to come in?’’

His hands on her back, he lifted her, placing her on his hips, her legs crossed in his back. He twisted the doorknob with his left hand and pushed it open and managed to say, before joining his lips to hers again ‘’I thought you’d never ask’’

***

''Your turn'' said Jonathan, handing her the dices, bringing Chloé back from daydreaming land.

-I did not know you were a Monopoly-enthusiast, Mister Toews, smiled Chloé while advancing her boat piece on the board.
-It’s not really about the Monopoly... It is just nice, hanging at a place, ordering food, instead of going out... all the time.

Chloé took a sip of the beer she was holding, staring at Jonathan. His eyes leaving the board game for a second, glancing up at her, he admitted ‘’Amanda and I have been disagreeing on that a little bit, lately’’.

-There is nothing wrong with you, you know, said Chloé, smiling softly. It is okay to want to stay home sometimes.
-I know, said Jonathan, a gloomy look on his face.
-Maybe you should just talk to her, about how you feel about this?
-What is up with you girls, wanting us to talk about our feelings constantly, tried to joke Jonathan.
-I did say to go all Dawson’s Creek on her and throw all your feelings at her face.
-Oh yeah, Dawson’s Creek, that show I used to watch... like, ever?
-Dawson liked to talk. A-LOT.
-That is what I though. It was that or you were suggesting me to marry Tom Cruise like Katie Holmes did... which I wasn’t sure about either.
-You could just explain to her that you’d like the two of you to spend a bit more time at home than out in town, suggested Chloé.
-Hmm. Not sure how it would turn out... and Kentucky Avenue is mine, by the way. Twenty-two dollars, please.
-Dammit! Whispered Chloé. But why are you saying that? Wondered his friend.
-She genuinely likes to go out... she likes the lifestyle. She’s not as easy going as... Jonathan hesitated.
-As what? Asked Chloé, distractively, gathering the money that was due to Jonathan.
-As you, finally answered, his eyes focused on his beer bottle.

The two friends fell silent for a few moments. ‘’You know, I’m not easy going. I’m just a lame girl who has nothing better to do on a Friday night to accept drinking beer and playing Monopoly.’’ Joked Chloé, attempting to light up the mood.

-Well, if you’re lame for accepting, I am the lamest for suggesting it.
-You sounded like you needed a friend when I got you on the phone, said Chloé, a pitying smile on her face.
-Yeah, needed a friend, said Jonathan, contemplative eyes fixed on the bottle he was holding. And some beer, added the tall guy, bending over to fetch a new bottle in the box on the ground.
-To friends? Asked Chloé, motioning her beer bottle above the table and waiting for her friend’s reaction, unblinking.
-To friends, responded Jonathan as he clinked his bottle to Chloe’s, an unreadable expression on his face.

Notes

Sorry for the delay! So busy lately :(
Hope you enjoy!