Darn Knit All (All Access #3)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

THEO

Mai

At what point do you decide to end a relationship?

Theo

Depends—is it an unsafe relationship? If so, now. If it’s okay but not working for you anymore, then let it fade. If it’s important to you, then fight for it

Mai

I hate that you’re right

Theo

I always am. Unless you’re talking about us in this scenario then the correct answer is never. I am legion

Mai

Thank God you’re humble or you’d truly be unbearable

“ I can’t believe it,” Mai repeated for the hundredth time as the elevator slowly ascended to our floor. “I cannot believe it.”

“Believe it,” I told her, grinning. “You’re making a dress for Bea’s Oscar appearance. I’m so fucking proud of you, Mai.”

She jumped in my arms for another hug, beaming up at me. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I squeezed tight. “You did it despite me.”

Mai slowly let me go and shook her head as the elevator doors slid open. “We did it together. Honestly, I’m in shock. This is so far beyond anything I could have ever imagined.”

I pretended to hold a microphone. “Ms. Bellinger! Ms. Bellinger! Who are you dressed by tonight?”

I turned, switching the pretend microphone to my other hand, speaking in falsetto. “Only the winner of Perfect Fit, Ms. Mai Sakamoto, of course.”

“Of course,” Mai said, cackling. “There’s no ‘of course’ about this. This is beyond my wildest dreams.”

It hadn’t surprised me that Mai’s design would be chosen. One look at Beatrix Bellinger, and I’d known that our dress would look stunning on the actress—and I didn’t even have formal training.

I pressed the key card against the door and sighed gratefully when it opened.

“Thank God they brought our bags up for us,” I said, shoving the door open and holding it for Mai. “I’m ready to devour some greasy room service then hit the?—”

I stumbled into her when she stopped dead.

“What are you—oh.” I coughed. “I see.”

A single queen bed stood in the middle of the hotel room, the pristine white bedding mocking us.

“Looks like the universe has a twisted sense of humour,” I quipped.

“It’s a couples competition,” Mai said, her voice strangled. “They must have….” She glanced at me, and I relaxed seeing the amusement dancing in her eyes.

“I never even….” She giggled. “I can’t—we?—”

Belly-jiggling laughter burst from her, turning her into a silent clapping seal. Tears began to stream down her face as she bent over, gasping for air.

And, if I’m honest, I wasn’t much better. The laughter exploded until I couldn’t stand. Falling onto the bed, I dragged her down with me, setting off a new round of hilarity.

We were exhausted and pushed so far beyond our limits that at this point it seemed we were choosing to laugh rather than cry.

“I needed that,” Mai said, swiping at her face between chuckles as she rolled onto her side beside me. “Do we ask for another room?”

I shook my head. “Don’t want to inspire closer scrutiny.”

“True.” Mai sighed, her eyelids fluttering shut. “I’m too exhausted to think straight.”

I brushed the hair back from her face. “How about I order us some room service while you hit the shower.”

She sighed again. “But I want to sleep….”

“You know you’ll never sleep if you don’t wash your feet.”

She chuckled. “True. I also can’t remember how you know that.”

“Our camping trip. You refused to get in a sleeping bag until you’d washed every inch of your toes.”

“Some of us care about our hygiene.” Groaning, Mai lifted into a sitting position. “Fine. But whatever you order, make sure there’s a lot of it. I could eat an elephant.”

I reached for the in-room phone as she kicked off her shoes and straightened them by the door.

The light in the bathroom switched on as I turned away, ordering us two giant pizzas, some garlic bread, and a side salad—I could be healthy when I wanted.

“And would you like any dessert?” the concierge asked.

I heard the shower turn on and glanced over as I answered. “No, that’s?—”

I spluttered, jerked out of my exhaustion by the unexpected sight of Mai’s silhouette against the frosted glass of the bathroom wall.

“The… the shower wall is glass.”

“Yes,” the concierge said happily. “It’s our best room for couples.”

I hadn’t taken a good look at the room when I’d entered, too focused on the one-bed situation. But now, as I glanced around, I could see what he meant.

The white wall I’d assumed was some kind of frosted glass feature was actually a semi-transparent wall that allowed the person on my side to see the outline of the person in the shower.

In one corner of the room sat a kinky-looking swing which, upon closer inspection, appeared to be less swing and more kink. Innuendo infused artwork featured on the other walls, while a small box beside the bed labelled “Essentials” listed its contents as condoms, silk cuffs, a blindfold, and small packets of water-based lube.

My gaze jerked back to Mai as she began to sing in the shower, her arms reaching over her head as she washed her hair.

My brain short-circuited as the shadowed outline of her body came into stark attention. I couldn’t see anything—the frosted glass created just enough of a barrier to preserve her modesty. But the outline of her was more than enough to send me over the edge.

This is Mai! MAI! YOUR FRIEND, MAI! my internal voice screamed at me. Look away! Look away!!!!

“Sir?” the concierge asked. “Dessert?”

Spell broken, I jerked away, physically turning my back to the wall as I gulped in air.

“Nothing, thanks,” I said, my voice hoarse.

“It will be up within the next thirty minutes.”

We hung up, and I kept my back to the X-rated wall, trying to sort out my thoughts.

Thoughts? How about you sort out your physical reaction first?

My cock had joined the party of confusing messages my body had decided to throw at me.

I closed my eyes only to be assaulted by a vision of water sliding down Mai’s skin as I pressed kisses to her shoulders, her neck, her mouth.

“Fuck,” I groaned, jerking up from the bed to cross to the window. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

Heat raged through my blood, turning me to fire. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, fighting for calm.

Puppies in reindeer ears, Astipia losing the World Cup qualifying match, Annie when she’s angry.

The fire in my veins slowly eased, leaving behind a throbbing, empty need.

Mai and I had been friends for far too long for me to be having this kind of reaction. She deserved more respect. She deserved a friend who wasn’t tempted to perv, she deserved?—

To be pressed against the glass and worshipped.

“Fuuuuuck,” I groaned again, banging my head against the window. “What the fuck am I doing?”

It was fine. Totally fine. We were just friends, after all. Friends who touched now and then. No big deal. Friends who had kissed. Not a problem. Friends who were about to sleep in the same bed and pretend they were a couple, and maybe see the outline of each other’s naked body.

IT WAS FINE!!!!

The shower switched off, but I didn’t move, unwilling to subject myself to additional torture.

I heard the door open a minute later, and Mai stepped out of the humid bathroom carrying with her a warm waft of coconut-scented air.

“What did you order?” she asked, and I could hear her fiddling with her suitcase.

“Pizza.” I cleared my throat, knowing I’d have to come clean. “Mai?”

“Mm?”

I swallowed and slowly turned to see her sorting through her things on the hotel floor. She wore a fluffy white robe that engulfed her, and on her feet were two tiny white slippers.

You have to be honest. Admit your trespasses and then ask for forgiveness.

Pulling up my big boy pants, I opened my mouth to do just that.

“Do you think they’ll have actual food tomorrow?” Mai asked, pulling her toiletry bag from the depths of her suitcase.

“Probably. Mai, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Is it about the bed? I’ve already decided I’ll sleep on the floor.”

I jerked. “You will not.”

She waved a dismissive hand, still digging through her things. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve slept in worse places.”

I glanced at the bed. “We’ll both be sleeping on the mattress. It’s comfortable and gigantic. There’s no need for either of us to get a restless sleep and put our game in jeopardy.”

She glanced up, her cheeks flushed. “Damn, you’re right.” She sighed. “I guess we’ll just have to hope one of us doesn’t snore.”

I snorted. “Babe, I already know you snore.”

She tossed a sock at me. “No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“How would you even know that?”

I lifted my hand, ticking off the ways on my finger. “Let’s see, camping, vacations, that time you passed out on Ren’s couch after breaking up with the she-witch.”

Her lips twisted on that unpleasant memory. “Drunk snoring doesn’t count.”

“Oh, it does.” I kept going. “Every time we go on a road trip, and you fall asleep within three hours of us starting?—”

“I do not!”

“—the fact you slept on my shoulder on the plane.”

She stuck out her tongue at me. “At least tell me I’m a cute snorer.”

“Adorable,” I agreed solemnly.

She chuckled, returning to her bag-digging. “What were you going to say?”

I glanced at the now-dark wall, briefly wondering if I could just avoid the whole conversation.

No way, pal.

“The wall is see-through.”

Mai lifted a dress from her suitcase. “What wall?”

“The bathroom wall.” I gestured at the glass. “Well, not exactly see-through so much as it’s….”

How did one describe a peep show without the nips?

“Shadow puppet erotica.”

Mai spluttered out a laugh. “What?”

Unable to explain without digging an even deeper hole, I pushed off the window, stepped around her, and moved to the bathroom. “It’s easier if I just show you.” I stuck my head back out the door. “And you have my permission to watch since I kind of did—though entirely by accident.”

“Watch what?”

I switched the light on, grateful to see that—despite the voyeur wall—the rest of the bathroom appeared to meet the accessibility requirements we’d requested.

Walking gingerly over to the shower, I stood under the head, feeling awkward as I waved at the frosted glass.

“OH MY GOD!” came Mai’s strangled screech. “Oh my God!”

I snorted. “No, just Theo.”

“Not the time!” she yelled back.

I waggled my fingers, then turned them into a dog, then a bird, then a weird squid-thing. “Appreciate my puppetry of the hands—and not another appendage.”

“Theo!”

I chuckled. “I’m going to shower.”

I heard her say something but couldn’t quite catch the words.

“What?” I called, pulling the adjustable bench from the wall.

“I questioned all that is holy.”

I chuckled. “Baby, holy? Nah, this is Satan’s work for sure.”

Showering when you knew someone could see your outline had an entirely different feel about it—and my cock seemed to misunderstand the assignment. The prick bobbed up, slapping against my thigh as I tried—and failed—to ignore the itch on the back of my neck that reminded me that Mai stood on the other side of the thin partition.

I washed quickly and reached for a towel only to realize I’d made a fatal error—I’d forgotten to bring my crutch and clothes in.

Shit.

I pulled myself up to a stand, leaning against one of the assistant bars in the shower. “Mai?”

“Yes?”

I cleared my throat as I tied a towel around my waist. “Could you bring me my crutch, please?”

There was a long quiet moment before a soft knock sounded on the door. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

Mai pushed the door open and stepped in, holding my crutch out in front of her.

Her gaze met mine, then dropped to the towel at my waist, her mouth falling open a little.

“Oh!” She flushed.

“Thanks.” I took the crutch, shuffling toward the robe on the far side of the bathroom. “Sorry, I should have realized.”

“No problem.” Mai ducked her head. “I’ve already eaten. Do you mind if I brush my teeth?”

“Go ahead. I’ll get changed in the other room.”

I changed into a loose shirt and baggy gray sweats, inhaling the food that had arrived while I’d showered. Mai exited the bathroom after a few minutes and stood awkwardly by the bed.

“Swap?” I asked with a grin, tossing my plate onto the small table tucked in one of the corners of the room.

“Sure.”

I brushed my teeth and checked the room lock, trying desperately not to think of Mai lying in my bed.

It had been an age since I’d slept beside anyone I found attractive. Damn if that didn’t make me as nervous as a teen on prom night.

I paused at the end of the bed, surprised to see one very scruffy unicorn sitting on the bedside table.

“You brought Urma?” I asked.

Mai looked up from her book. “Of course. She’s our good luck charm.” She folded the corner of her page and tossed the book beside Urma. “Bed?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, glancing pointedly at her novel. “Did I really just see you fold a corner?”

She rolled her eyes as she settled under the blankets, watching me move around the bed. “I forgot a bookmark.”

“You’re a monster and you know it.”

Switching off the light beside the bed, I pulled back the covers and slipped between the sheets.

“Theo?”

“Mm?”

Mai sighed. “This is weird, right?”

“Totally.” I turned my head to grin in her direction. “But weird isn’t bad.”

“No,” she agreed. “It’s not.”

“Night, Mai.”

“Good night, Theo.”

And smiling, I fell asleep.