When I get back, I head to the coffee shop since I know all my friends will be there on a Saturday morning.
They all perk up when they see me.
"How'd it go?" Rachel presses immediately.
"Great," I smile, falling into the arm chair.
"We need more details!" Rachel whines.
"Yeah - spill Bing!" Phoebe echoes.
I look at my friends, feeling funny telling them the truth.
"I mean, obviously I woke up at his place so I don't know how much more I can tell," I blush.
"More than that!" Monica debates.
I laugh.
"Listen, I had a good time," I conclude.
"Well, are you seeing him again?" Ross asks.
I press my lips together.
"Yeah," I state simply.
"Ooh, when's the next date?" Rachel inquires.
"I don't know, he said he'd call me," I say.
On Monday, I'm embarrassed to admit, I'm waiting for Joey to call me all day. Every time my phone rings, I nearly jump to pick it up, but he never calls.
I feel like an idiot. How could I think he liked me? He didn't even want to do this casual thing with me. Why can't I stop thinking about him? This is so stupid.
After work, I meet my friends at the coffee shop again, like we do most days.
"So, when are you seeing Joey again?" Monica finally asks. I'm surprised they waited all weekend to ask again.
Everyone waits for my response.
I don't know what comes over me, but I lie. I don't know why, the words just come out.
"Actually, tomorrow night," I make up.
They look at me excitedly.
"What are you guys doing?" Rachel asks.
"Having dinner," I pretend.
"That's great, man," Ross comments.
I fake a smile, they are all so happy for me.
The next day, I call the restaurant Joey works at and ask if he working tonight. They tell me he's working until 5.
That presents a bit of a problem. So, around 4:30 I go to my boss and tell him, I'm not feeling well. He lets me leave early.
I try to catch a cab, but I'm having no luck. So, I start running, actually running, to the restaurant. I need to catch Joey before he leaves at 5. What am I doing? I'm actually crazy.
I'm rounding the corner to the restaurant, completely out of breath. I hunch over trying to wait for my lungs to stop burning.
I hear a door opening and look up to see Joey leaving the restaurant.
He sees me and I try to wave, but I'm still huffing like crazy.
"Chandler?"
"H-hey," I exhale.
"You okay?" he asks, walking over to me.
I wave away his concern.
"I'm so great," I wheeze.
"Did you... run here?" he questions me.
I feel my face burn hotter.
"I like to exercise," I proclaim.
He begins to smile at me.
"In a suit?" he observes my work clothes and brief case which is really not helping my cover.
"Yeah, you never worked out in a suit before?"
He shakes his head.
"No."
"Well - you are missing out my friend," I tell him, still breathing way too heavily.
"So, you run by here all the time?" he tests.
"Oh, uh... no actually I was... hoping to run into you," I admit.
"Oh, really?"
He doesn't seem mad, that's a good thing.
"Yeah."
"To ask me on a run?" he teases.
I smile, finally breathing somewhat normal again.
"No, uh... actually some other type of exercise," I hint.
He smiles.
"Could you be more specific?" he plays dumb.
I smile wider.
"Come on, you know," I blush. "Look, I know you didn't call, but I just figured it's casual... so maybe, I mean, I totally get if you don't want to - I'm sure it's me, so if-" I start rambling until his cuts me off.
"Chandler."
"Huh?"
"I have a shower you can use."
"Oh, I don't need to shower," I shake my head.
I'm such an idiot for thinking I could simply run into him and he would sleep with me again. He clearly doesn't like me, he clearly isn't attracted to me and I show up covered in sweat, chasing after him like a total loser.
"You sure? You're sweating a lot," he comments.
I wipe my forehead, knowing how awful I must look.
"Well, running does that to me. Anyway, I'm gonna go," I respond.
I turn to run as far away from this embarrassing moment as I can, but he hand catches my wrist.
I look back at him.
"I meant a shower with me," he clarifies and before I can say another stupid thing, his lips press against mine.
I kiss him back, melting at the familiar feeling.
He finally leads me back to his apartment so I can take off my sweaty clothes and his.
After, we're both fully satisfied, it doesn't take me long to remember I'm supposed to leave. I'm not used to this level of casualness. I don't really care for it honestly. I mean, I was never the commitment type either, but I like to cuddle afterwards, maybe grab some breakfast in the morning. I'm not asking for marriage here, but I'm too weak to give this up, so I force myself out of the bed.
Joey watches me find my clothes on the floor.
"Hey, I can lend you some clean clothes," he offers.
"Oh, no. Then, I'd have to return them to you, so I shouldn't," I decline quickly.
"You're not planning on coming back?" he asks.
"You want me to?" I ask, hating how giddy I already am.
"Well, I was thinking maybe I'd catch you on a run again," he smirks.
I shake my head at him.
"You know what, I'm going to be changing my route actually," I play.
"Really?" he plays along.
"Yeah, wasn't crazy about all the people and restaurants. Might run in a park," I decide as if I actually run.
"Now that's unusual."
I try not to smile too wide at that. I can't like him, this is only casual.
He gets up from the bed. He walks to his dresser and grabs some clean clothes to hand to me.
I accept them.
"Thanks."
I begin to put the clothes on and he watches me, which really makes me want to keep my clothes off, not put any on. But I guess I have to leave, so I continue getting dressed.
"I can give you my home number, if that's easier," I suggest since I'm pretty positive now I will see him again.
"Sure," he agrees and finds a piece of paper and pen for me. I write down my number and he takes it back from me.
"Do I look good in your clothes?" I can't help, but keep the conversation going even though I know I should leave.
He looks me up and down, which I'm not prepared for.
"Yeah... but you look better without them," he hums.
Dammit, why's he making this even more difficult?
"You know, I have a few more minutes," I try.
As if I have somewhere to be, I would literally stay all night if he would let me.
He takes the hint and closes the space between us. This time, his lips fall to my neck and I'm embarrassed by the moan that falls out of my mouth. He doesn't slow down and keeps moving down my body. When he pulls open the pants he just lent to me, I'm beyond aroused again. He doesn't stop until I cum again.
When he's done, I'm happy to return the favor. I push him to the bed and take over.
A few minutes later, I'm re-zipping my pants for a second time and pick up my sweaty work clothes and brief case yet again.
I walk out this time.
Walking home, I feel a little empty.
When I get home, Monica and Rachel catch me in the hallway.
"Ooh, whose clothes are those Chandler?" Rachel beams from the door frame. Monica pokes her head out too.
"Already swapping clothes, you two getting serious?" Monica comments and it makes my heart sink from how far from the truth that is.
"A little," I fake.
I hate this.
The next night, I get home from work and grab a beer from the fridge when the phone rings. I pick it up.
"Hey, you free?" I recognize the voice instantly, it's Joey.
"Yes," I respond without even thinking.
"Could we do your place tonight?" he asks and I panic. I can't have my friends run into him. They would talk to him, ask him about us - they think there's an us, when really there's not.
"Oh, um..." I stall, trying to think of an excuse.
"It's just my roommate is home," he says.
I'm not sure why that's an issue, but I realize it's either agree or miss out on a night with him.
"Yeah, meet me downstairs," I tell him and I give him my address.
When Joey arrives, I walk him carefully inside. I'm stopping and watching every corner on each set of stairs.
Joey quickly notices my obvious behavior.
"You hiding something?" he calls me out.
"No, no..." I claim as I peak my head around the corner and check the next hallway.
We finally get to my floor and I peer around the corner. The hallway is clear and I don't hear much commotion from the girls' apartment. So I quickly rush to my door and open it. I look behind me to see Joey walking at a very relaxed pace.
I motion him to move faster and then grab his arm and yank him inside when he doesn't speed up. I close the door behind us.
"Wow, so I'm really a secret," he determines.
"Well, you're hiding me from your roommate," I fight back, realizing I have something to use.
He looks guilty about this too.
"I'm not hiding you, he's sort of judgmental when it comes to the whole casual thing," he shares honestly.
"So, you're pretending we're more serious?" I question.
"I don't know... I guess I'm hiding you too," he admits with a sheepish smile.
I wish I didn't find him being shy endearing, but I do.
"Are you guys friends a long time?" I inquire.
"Since I moved here four years ago," he tells me.
I nod.
"I'm really close with my friends, so I don't want them to know," I confess.
"They wouldn't be cool with it?"
"They just don't want me to get hurt," I explain.
"You seem pretty new to this," he remarks.
"I do casual, just not this casual usually," I defend.
"A more serious casual?" Joey confirms.
"Exactly."
"So, a relationship," he concludes.
"No, like dating - exclusively," I argue.
I avoid his gaze, realizing how foolish I probably sound.
"Are you sure you can do this?" he questions me seriously.
"Yes," I answer.
"Really, I don't want you to get hurt either."
I should tell him the truth, but I don't know how I can give him up.
"I won't," I lie.
He accepts this and moves in to kiss me.
I feel terrible for constantly lying to everyone until his lips touch mine, then I forget everything.