Chasing My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 7

Bianca hung up the phone feeling anxious and once again surprised by his behavior. James had made it perfectly clear that he didn't care about her crush on him, she didn't even think he really wanted to be friends. But he had agreed to come over to her place for dinner tonight. What was that about? Whatever it was she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She got up and got a couple plates out and unboxed the Chinese food that had been delivered right before James called. Should she make him a plate? Should she wait for him? Would it seem too date-like if she set up the table and got some wine out? Jesus Christ, she had to calm down. She was a grown woman having dinner with a grown man, it was not the end of the world. She set out the food, grabbed the plates, and started looking for a show to watch. She would wait for him to eat, he should be here in a few minutes anyway, and they could eat while they watched something, that would take the pressure off of any uncomfortable silences. She jumped up and ran to the door as soon as she heard someone knocking.

"Hey," she said throwing open the door to see James standing there with a strange look on his face.

"Do you always just throw your door open for random people? I could have been a mugger or something."

"Oh please," she said rolling her eyes, "I knew you were coming over and I hardly have anything worth stealing. I used my critical thinking skills and made an educated decision to open the door."

"Okay, smartass, but don't come crying to me when someone comes in and steals all your s.hit."

"Whatever, come on, the food's gonna get cold." He came in and they both got their plates and went to sit down in the living room. "I thought we could watch something while we eat. Have you ever seen Psych?"

"No I haven't is that a movie or a show?"

"It's a show, it's so good, one of my favorites. We can start it from the beginning, I bet you'll love it." After a few minutes of eating and watching TV Bianca turned to James, "so are you going to tell me what happened at the dinner that never was tonight or leave me hanging."

"Oh right I almost forgot, you're right by the way, this show is pretty good."

"I know right?! It's my anxiety show."

"What the f.uck does that even mean?" James asked while laughing.

"Shut-up, don't laugh at me," Bianca told him even though she was also holding in a laugh. His laugh was infectious. "I've seen all the seasons of this show so I know everything that happens, so when I'm watching it I'm not waiting wondering what's going to happen next, I already know. So if I'm feeling down or anxious I like to put this show on. It's familiar, it makes me laugh even after watching it a million times, and I know exactly what's going to happen so it doesn't keep me on the edge of my seat."

"That's the strangest thing I've ever heard."

"I very highly doubt that, anyway back to the dinner tonight. Tell me all about it." And he did, Bianca was worried about Jen and neither of them knew what had really happened. She tried to text and call her but she was ignoring her.

"Just give her time" James said as she picked up her phone to call her for the third time in a row. "I'm going to go over there tomorrow to talk to her, she needs space tonight."

"Okay, I guess you're right. But if she hasn't gotten back to me by then will you please text me and let me know what's going on?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Hey, can I ask you something?" She had to know why he agreed to come over for dinner tonight. It had left her on edge wondering about it because of how adamant he seemed about maintaining some kind of distance.

"Of course, what is it?"

"Why did you agree to come to dinner tonight? You seemed like you wanted to maintain some distance between us, even just as friends but here you are."

James set his plate down and paused before answering her, "honestly I'm not totally sure why, I guess I just wanted to. I thought about saying no but I had a good time the other night and I ah," he stopped talking for a minute a light blush spreading up his face as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I liked spending time with you. I didn't feel like the a.sshole with a scar covering half my face, it was like you didn't even notice it. Most of the time even people I know and see every day, like my co-workers, can't help but stare at it. They have some sick fascination with it or something, and it's almost like they think I won't notice. But you didn't even look at it, not once. Every time we talked your eyes were on mine. It was nice."

She wanted to cry, she wanted to hold him to her and never let him go. She was sure it was hard for him to be vulnerable like this so she didn't push him for anything else. She just sat her plate down and scooted over on the couch so she was sitting closer to him. "I'm really glad I make you feel like that. It's true though you know, I don't even see your scar when I look at you." She said softly as she slowly lifted her hand to his face. She wanted to turn him fully towards her so she could see all of him. The last time she tried to touch him didn't go well and if he didn't want her to touch him again she wouldn't, but she could hope. As her hand got closer to his face and he didn't move to stop her she finally touched him and turned him to her. "You're so much more than this scar on your face. I hate that it has such an impact on your life. I hate that it makes you hide when you should be the center of attention."

She slowly moved closer to him until they were just a breath away, God she wanted to kiss him. She had wanted to kiss him almost from the moment she met him. "Bianca" he said in a strangled voice.