they don't implode."
Luke nodded and grinned. "I've never seen him this happy. I mean, he is stupid happy. He actually let me do the inventory this month. I've been begging him to let me do it- to get it done electronically. Today he decided I could do it so he could go on this date. This is so awesome Holly. I don't know if it is going to help get Tyler back home, but it is certainly making my life better. I can't thank you enough."
"Why is everybody thanking me for this? I didn't do anything! But I am glad it is working out so well," I said, smiling.
Luke finished setting the hammers on their shelf and helped me find the supplies for my dad. Luke didn't bring up Andrew again, and I decided that the whole thing must have been in my head. Andrew would never want me anyway. We had been friends too long, knew too many stories about one another. I must have just imagined it.
I heard the door bell ring, thinking it was a customer. I was shocked when it was Andrew's voice I heard. "Hey Luke, can you cover my shift next Thursday? I have a dentist appointment," I was glad Luke had his back to me or he would have seen me stiffen and blush. Luke popped his head out from the aisle, and called him over. I wanted to hide as Andrew strode around the corner. Nothing happened, nothing happened, nothing happened!
Andrew's face twitched, a blush creeping up into his cheeks as soon as he saw me. Our eyes connected and I knew I was just lying to myself. Something did happen.
"So Thursday? That should work. Let me check Holly out and I'll pull up the calendar. I think I have all the stuff your dad needs," he said, balancing screws and lathes. He headed towards the checkout desk and I followed meekly, avoiding Andrew's gaze.
"OK, $10.34," Luke announced as he bagged all the items and took my money. I was amazed he didn't feel the tension in the room. I could feel Andrew's eyes on me, his look burning into my skin. I could feel the blood rushing to my face and my hands started sweating.
"Thanks Luke. I'll see you guys around. Bye Andrew," I said hastily, shoving my change into the plastic bag and heading towards the door. My mouth hung onto Andrew's name, desiring it like it desired another kiss from Andrew's mouth.
I made it to my car, throwing the bag in the passenger seat and breathing hard. I sat for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. I could barely keep my thoughts straight. I wanted to kiss him again so badly, but I knew I never could. What if Andrew and I had been the ones making out in the backseat? The idea made me want to laugh and feel hot inside at the same time.
I heard a loud knock on my window, and nearly jumped out of my skin. "Holly, you forgot your gloves," Andrew said loudly.
I rolled down my window and took the gloves with thanks.
"Holly, I want to talk to you about the other night," he said leaning into the car. I could catch just a faint whiff of his cologne through the open window, his arm stretched out onto the roof and displaying his muscles through his long-sleeved shirt.
"Nothing happened. Nothing can happen. We promised, remember? We can't do that to our friends," I said quickly, trying not to focus on his arms.
"OK, good. That's just what I was thinking," he responded a little too quickly. He dropped his arms off the car and folded them in front of him. "Good, so I'll see you around then."
"Yeah, definitely," I nodded. He backed away from the car, his eyes unreadable. I headed back home, feeling my head spinning. I told myself I was glad I had told him no, but somehow it made my chest hurt. Nothing happened, nothing happened, nothing happened. Maybe if I repeated enough times, it would be true.
▪▪▪
I effectively avoided Andrew for almost two weeks. I texted him as little as possible, and when I saw him in public, I always made sure there was another person nearby. I thought that maybe if I didn't spend time with him, I would stop dreaming about him.
It didn't work. If anything, my dreams became more vivid. I loved and dreaded sleeping because I knew I would dream of his hands on my body,