Another Bed

Benji

“Come in.”

The door opened, but I didn’t look up right away. I kept on typing away before hitting send on the email, then looked up and let my hands rest across my stomach.

“Julia,” I said in greeting.

Julia gave me a small nod and looked around. “I can go if you’re busy.”

“No. I’m not busy. Never too busy for you. What’s new? How’s your friend doing? Is she still crashing on my couch?”

Julia shook her head.

“No?” I asked, puzzled. “Where is she sleeping?”

“In my bed with me.”

“Oh.”

“Not like that,” Julia said hurriedly.

“I wasn’t thinking anything.”

She licked her lips as her cheeks turned bright pink. Being a teenage girl seemed like it would be such a nightmare. So many things were inferred, assumed, supposed. All false things in my experience. “She sleeps in my bed because she’s afraid to be in here alone.”

I frowned. “You both sleep in a single bed.”

She nodded.

“That must be cramped.”

“We manage.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose before rubbing my forehead. “Alright. Do you