Contradiction by Salina Paine Page A

through her tears. 
    As we are leaving she looks back and whispers.” "I love you, Caleb and you will always be with me."
    I pull her closer to me and put my arm over her shoulder. "Do you realize how amazing you are?" I ask. She shrugs and climbs in the truck.
    “"Do you remember where I told you the apartment complex is?"
    I nod and buckle my seatbelt. I watch her as I pull out, and she sighs deeply. "If all this is weird to you I don't know what to tell you. This is me coping with life."
    "I don’t find it weird at all, we all have our quirks and coping mechanisms." I reply taking her hand.
    The small two bedroom apartment she found is perfect and its only three blocks from mine. What she doesn't know yet is that I've paid the first three months and the deposit. I'm sure she'll be upset with me, but I'll feel better when she is in a safer area.
    I drop her off at her hotel room and head back home. I'm lying there in the darkness and can still smell a faint hint of her perfume. Closing my eyes I keep thinking about her, the way her hair swings when she walks, and the blushing of her cheeks when she is embarrassed. My phone whistles indicating I have a text message and I almost ignore it. After a few minutes, curiosity gets the best of me and I open the message.
    "You awake? "
    My heart thumps a little faster as I answer it."Yeah. Everything ok?"
    "Yeah, I'm just bored and my bed is cold."
    I smile because I’m feeling the same way.
    "I'’m sorry."
    I reply, waiting for the invitation.
    "Want to come watch a movie with me? "
    "Sure."
    "Good, come on then and bring a good movie."
    "Ok, be there in a few."
    I sit there for a good ten minutes before I rush over so that I don't seem expectant or anxious. She answers the door in a pink tank top and black running shorts.“
    "No wonder you're cold. I say, jokingly. “
    "All my jeans are dirty, I need to go to the laundry mat tomorrow." She says, embarrassment in her voice. “
    "How about this, you gather your clothes, wrap up in a blanket and you can wash your things at my place, tonight." “
    "Ok." She says slowly, looking at me.
    Trying to decipher the expression on her face is impossible. I wonder if I'm being too available and that it s turning her off?
    "Thank you, I don’t know how I will ever repay you." 
    Loading up the clothes basket into the back of my truck, I chuckle at myself then take off back to my house.“"I have to go to work tomorrow but you are welcome to hang out here, if you'd like."
    She nods pouring the soap into the washing machine. "Why don’t you go put on a movie and pop some popcorn."  “
    "Yes, ma'am." I reply with a salute. She laughs and shoos me from the laundry room.
    I put in a movie and have the popcorn waiting when she comes in. She sits down close to me pulling the blanket over her and laying her head on my shoulder. The feel of her bare skin against mine makes it hard for me to concentrate on the movie. When she puts her legs over mine, I do everything I can to control myself.
    She looks up at and smiles. "I get to go back to work the day after tomorrow."
    “Well then, after work we will get you into your apartment." I reply.
    "It’s fine.“I really don't have anything but my clothes to move. “
    "Don't you worry about anything, ok? You will have everything you need. As a matter of fact, I have a bed in the spare room you can have and I'll check with my parents and see if they still have anything in storage."
    "You would do that for me?" She asks, surprised .
    “"Of course. That’s what friends do, they help each other." I reply with a sly wink.
    She kisses me and hugs me tightly, each move making it hard to control all the blood rushing south. She pulls away and her leg skims across the fabric of my pants making me groan. “
    "Are you ok?" She asks.
    "I’m fine." I quickly reply in a strained whisper. Closing my eyes I try to think of everything that turns me off.
    Thirty minutes into the movie and she's asleep on my shoulder. Picking her up