Chapter Sixteen
Ryker
Ryker was unusually grumpy by week’s
end.
Even his fur babies ignored him. He was
terse with his editor and lambasted his agent. Then he called back
to apologize to both of them. He couldn’t seem to get into a
regular sleep pattern, and his anxiety grabbed hold of him once
again. And last night, he’d had a nightmare—a bad one.
The rest of the week, he’d woken in the
middle of the night and just couldn’t fall back asleep. He’d tried
to distract himself by working long hours finalizing his current
book. Meanwhile, Wes had traveled to Miami and then New Orleans,
texting about his travels and sending ideas and suggestions for
their collaboration. Ryker reviewed Wes’s notes and decided that
they should formalize their partnership and get an agreement done
up. It was time to get off the fence and commit. Ryker should’ve
been happy. He was starting a new venture that would hopefully mean
bigger things for his career. Instead, he was irritable and
frustrated.
Ryker kept his communications with Wes
focused on work even though he’d been tempted to ask about his
latest social media posts. He’d seen a picture of Wes at the
PrideAtlanta benefit, dancing with a very good-looking man named
Chase Declair. Ryker had Googled the name and found out he was the
head anchor at the Atlanta Evening Edition. In the picture,
Declair had his arms around Wes, and Wes was smiling at the camera
as if he were on top of the world. Which he should be, Ryker
supposed, since it appeared he had men falling over him everywhere
he went.
Not that it’s any of my business,
Ryker repeated to himself for the tenth time.
Then there was another picture of him with
Ashton Langley, the CEO of PrideAtlanta. They were sitting together
at dinner, laughing and drinking wine.
Only a week ago that was me, laughing and
drinking wine with Wes. And then we kissed.
Ryker’s phone pinged, and he glanced down
hopefully. When he saw Javier’s name, his mood soured again. He
missed Wes’s fun and flirty texts. Stupid. Admonishing himself for
such ridiculous behavior, he willfully ignored his heart’s truth.
He rubbed his chest absently in the hopes of making the strange
ache in it go away. Feeling this needy and wanting was fucking with
his head. He needed a diversion.
Javier: Hey, we still on for tonight at
5:30?
Ryker: Yup, meet you at the Gambit. I’ll
grab a booth near the back of the bar.
Javier: Sounds perfect, can’t
wait.
Good thing he was going to get some
much-needed relief tonight. He’d agreed to meet up with a man named
Henry at the same pub around eight. He would get his mind off Wes
and focused on someone else. A good sexual release, and all would
be right again in Ryker’s world.
A quick shower later, Ryker changed into
dark jeans and a plain black t-shirt. He decided to leave his hair
in a ponytail, then added eyeliner.
Before he left, he made one important phone
call. It went to voicemail.
“Hey, Cal, it’s me. Just checking to see if
you’re okay. Call or text me when you get this, doesn’t matter what
time. Later, bud.”
After taking Spock for a walk, he fed the
fur babies and was on his way. He arrived at the pub early and
grabbed the last booth at the back, motioning to the waitress.
“Hey, I’ll have a pint of the Devil’s Kiss
and two food menus, please,” he said.
“Sure thing,” she replied.
Ryker waved when he saw Javier enter,
dressed up in slacks and a nice button-down. They both ordered the
bacon cheeseburger and fries, then chatted for a bit about the
latest rescues at the shelter and the upcoming benefit.
Ryker leaned forward. “Look, I know you mean
well, but large events are not my thing. I get anxious in big
crowds, and small talk with strangers is like tiny talk to me. Just
thinking about it is making me twitch.”
Javier smiled and reached out to touch
Ryker’s hand. “But everyone from the shelter will be there. It
won’t be like you’re with total strangers. As your date, I’d be
there with you.”
Ryker interrupted. “Javier, you seem like a
great guy, but I’m not interested in you that way. I like you, as a
friend, but that’s it. I don’t do romantic relationships. Trust me,
you’re better off. I’ve got baggage you don’t want to open.” Ryker
pulled his hand away and rubbed his bracelets.
Javier shook his head. “Everyone has
baggage, Ry. You know, we could just hook up, keep it casual.”
“That’s not what you’re looking for. If it
was, you’d have suggested it the first time we met.” Ryker paused
and let out a big sigh.
Javier nodded. “True. Well, I still hope
you’ll attend the event. We’d love to have you there.”
“I’ll think about it and let you know.”
Ryker rubbed his hand over his face.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not sleeping well this week.”
“You mean since Wes left?”
“Yes. I mean, no!” Ryker paused and took a
deep breath. “Yes, since then, but not because of Wes leaving.
Insomnia is common for me. It’s been a stressful week,” Ryker
babbled, his face flushed.
“I see.” Javier smiled slowly. “Well, I’m
going to take off. How much do I owe you?”
Ryker waved him off, picking up the bill.
“I’ve got it.”
“Thanks for dinner. I’ll see you next
Monday, per usual.”
Ryker nodded. “Have a good night,
Javier.”
Half an hour later, Ryker was sipping his
second beer, waiting for Henry. Ping!
Wes: You have time to chat?
Perfect fucking timing. Not. The last thing
Ryker needed was Wes on his mind when his hook-up was due to
arrive.
Ryker: No
Wes: K
Ryker inhaled quickly. Don’t be a
dick, he admonished himself.
Ryker: Sorry, bad week. What’s
up?
Wes: Nothing that can’t wait.
Ryker: Tomorrow?
Wes: Sure, take care.
Ryker: You too.
“Ryker?” A strange voice called out his
name. Ryker looked up to find a slim man in his twenties staring
down at him. “Henry,” the man said, taking a seat across from
him.
Ryker was surprised by two things: one, how
cute Henry was in real life, with his dark curly hair and big grin;
and two, the fact that Ryker had no physical reaction to him. At
all. It was like Ryker’s cock was the only part of him now capable
of sleep. Wake up!
Henry ordered a drink, and they sat quietly,
throwing out a couple of awkward questions and answers here and
there. But Ryker was struggling to find words now that his sex
drive had decided to go on vacation.
“Look, I have to get going.” Ryker stood up
and placed a couple of twenties on the table. “Sorry for wasting
your time.”
Henry smiled and looked around. “Not a
waste. You paid for my drink, and I’m sitting in a bar with lots of
potential for the evening.”
He extended his hand and Ryker shook it.
Nada.
“Have a good night, Henry,” he said.
Ryker entered his apartment at eight thirty
when Cal called back.
“Hey, bud. Everything okay?” Ryker
asked.
“All’s good. No more weird texts, so I’m
relieved. Sorry I missed your call. I just got caught up working on
a new piece. Oh, and I have some interesting ideas for the book
cover for 1,000 Days. I’ll send you my samples next
week.”
“Cool. I’m headed to bed.”
“It’s eight thirty! Is your insomnia worse
again? Wait, maybe you’re lovesick,” Cal teased.
“No. And knock it off. I’m just not sleeping
well. You know, with work stress.”
“You miss having a warm, handsome Canadian
author in your bed, don’t you?” Cal laughed.
“I’m hanging up now,” Ryker said, and did
so.
He shook his head, grabbing the TV remote.
He searched for a movie to help him relax before going to bed.
His phone rang again a minute later.
“I told you, Cal, I’m not lovesick. I’m
tired.”
There was silence before a familiar voice
chuckled. “Well, hello, Sleeping Beauty. Or should I say Sleepy
Beauty? So, you miss me, huh? I knew you couldn’t resist the lure
of my magnificent being.” Wes’s deep laugh echoed on the phone,
warming Ryker from the inside out and doubling his heart rate.
Check before you answer, idiot!
“I’m rolling my eyes right now. You really
are the most ridiculous, egotistical man I have ever met.
Seriously, Wes, I think you need a larger body to hold up your big
head.”
“But you like my big head, baby,” Wes
teased.
“Baby? Have you been drinking
tonight? Wait, why are you calling me?”
“Your text said you had a bad week. I wanted
to be sure you were okay. And, yes, I’ve been drinking just a wee
bit. New Orleans is wild, Ry. I attended a writers’ conference
today, and they had free drinks flowing all fucking day. By the
time five PM rolled around, I needed to go back to my room to take
a nap. And now I’m headed out again for the closing dinner.” Wes
paused and lowered his voice. “But enough about me. Why did you
have a bad week? Are you sleeping okay?”
No, because you’re not beside
me. That was the first thought that entered Ryker’s head, even
though he didn’t say it out loud. Couldn’t, when he didn’t even
know how to process it. Spock must’ve sensed Ryker’s distress; he
bounded up onto the couch beside him, throwing his small, furry
body over Ryker’s lap and cuddling close. Ryker hugged Spock for
comfort before he could speak again.
Wes must’ve put a spell on him or something,
because the last time Ryker had slept soundly was the night they
spent together.
“It doesn’t really matter. Besides, I told
you I’ve been busy.”
“I know that, but I’m worried about
you.”
“Wes, the social butterfly, managed to find
time between events to worry about little old me?” Ryker
teased.
Wes hesitated in his reply. “You’re my
writing partner now, so I have a vested interest. We need to be
honest with each other if this collaboration is going to work.”
Ryker sighed. “I told you I was a
journalist, right?” Ryker paused. “Wait, do you have time for this?
I thought you had to leave.”
“I’m not making a speech. I can be there
whenever. Let’s use FaceTime instead.” They switched, and Ryker
could now see Wes’s gorgeous face and the hotel room beyond. “You
were saying?”
“Sometimes I have nightmares. It all goes