Chapter Ten GlideControlZ
RYLEE
Lying in bed, I stare up at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
I can’t stop thinking about my conversation with Zander earlier today.
God, he’s so frustrating! I spent the rest of the day avoiding him, even going so far as to pick up sushi to eat in my room like a hermit when all my friends ended up being busy.
The containers are stuffed in the trash, and Gizmo is yowling at them.
Now that Zander and I both know that it was his tongue on my pussy the night of Grace’s wedding, things are only going to be more awkward.
Why couldn’t he have just found another place to stay?
Everyday, I’m going to have to interact with him in what should be my personal space, which is only going to make me think of the wicked things he can do with his mouth…
Which is only going to lead to heartache and disappointment.
It doesn’t matter how good he is with his tongue.
At the end of the night, he fucked me and left, knowing full well who I was.
I am not going to settle for a guy who hits it and quits it like that.
He’s already shown me he can’t be trusted to stick around, and that’s a non-starter for me.
I was taught never to settle for anything but the best, and well… a hit it and quit guy is settling.
Giving my head a sharp shake, I burrito myself in my covers and grab my phone.
I should go onto that Cloak app. I’ve checked it out a few times, made a profile, had some pings, but haven’t really used it seriously yet.
Now is the time. I need to find someone new so I stop thinking about that infuriating giant hunk sleeping out on the couch.
There’s gotta be someone else out there for me. Someone better. I start exploring through the app, feeling hopeful. Flipping through a few profiles, though, I get a sinking feeling deep in my stomach. Man… none of these guys are really standing out to me. Some of them are straight up creeps.
Hey there. Photographer, huh? Ever take spicy pics?
I could send you a few pics of this dick.
Step on my balls, Mommy?
Uhhhhh… gross. No thanks.
Suddenly, I come across a message that makes me pause.
GlideControlZ: I don’t normally chase people, but for you I’d put my crocs in sports mode.
GlideControlZ: Sorry, that was cheesy. I Googled pick up lines and that was my favorite
I smile and giggle. Yeah, it’s pretty cheesy, but also charming. Before I respond, I click on his username to go to his profile.
Username: GlideControlZ
Age: 28
Location: Nashville
Bio: Tennessee born and bred. Athletic and nerdy - let’s go for a run then play video games way past our bedtime.
Interests: Video Games, Sports, Dogs, Fishing, Hiking, Running, Documentaries, WOW
I grin. Cute! He’s in Nashville? Perfect! Twenty eight isn’t too much older than my own age, twenty-five. And he’s a runner?
That’s a really good start.
Sure, I’m not really a dog person, I think fishing is gross, documentaries are boring, hiking’s fine I guess, and I have no idea what WOW is, but we can’t have every single thing in common, right? How dull would that be?
Deciding to give him a shot, I send him a reply.
ClickTease: That’s a pretty good one, not gonna lie. Well done
Message sent, I switch to Insta to scroll through my FYP. Within minutes, though, I receive a reply.
GlideControlZ: Thank you, thank you very much. Now answer me this - would you rather be a reverse centaur or a reverse mermaid?
Laughing, I quickly type out my response.
ClickTease: Uhhhh… those both sound terrible, but I guess reverse mermaid. At least I could breathe underwater… I think?
GlideControlZ: Honestly I feel like that’s the only correct answer.
ClickTease: Yeah, being reverse centaur would just be horrifying. Would that include the front legs, do you think? Or just the head?
GlideControlZ: See, I’m not sure, and that’s a risk I’m just not willing to take.
ClickTease: Totally fair. Okay, how about this - would you rather have more time or more money?
GlideControlZ: Oooh, getting deep. All right, I see you. I’ll say more time - more time with friends and family. More time doing the things I love. More time traveling. I think time in general is more valuable than money.
Damn… that’s a good answer. Okay, he values his relationships and experiences. I like that. I like that a lot.
ClickTease: I agree, 100%. I would take more time with my loved ones over more money any day.
GlideControlZ: I got a good one - would you rather fulfill your biggest wish or resolve your biggest regret?
Oh, shit. The man came to play. When I think of regrets, my first thought is of Miles - what I wouldn’t give to go back and never run into that fucker in the first place.
Except, if I’m really honest with myself, Miles isn’t my biggest regret… my father is. Not doing more to convince him to stay. Yeah, I was just a little kid when he left, but…
Fuck, no! Why would I go back and try to fix his mistake? He made his choice, and there wasn’t a thing I could’ve done to change his mind.
ClickTease: Fulfill my biggest wish - become a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer.
GlideControlZ: That’s so cool! I saw your profile said you were a photographer. I hope I get to see your work someday.
I think I like that idea, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I don’t want to rush things and ruin them before they really get started.
ClickTease: I told you my answer. Your turn!
GlideControlZ: I’d like my greatest wish fulfilled as well.
ClickTease: Which is?
GlideControlZ: To have a family of my own, with a woman I can love deeply and without condition.
I stare at his message for several moments, speechless. That’s a… really sweet thought. Are there guys who really think this way?
Perfect ones, maybe. Men that a girl wouldn’t be settling for.
We continue chatting and the conversation flows easily, though I change it to more light topics to keep things from getting too deep too fast. I eventually wiggle out of my blanket burrito to sit up and rest against the headboard, giggling and lightly chewing on my fingernail as I read his responses.
I don’t remember the last time I had such an enjoyable time texting with someone other than my friends.
ClickTease: What’s your favorite movie genre?
GlideControlZ: Oh, good question. Gotta go with action, but more specifically superhero movies. The Dark Knight trilogy is a damn masterpiece.
ClickTease: Agree 100%. Heath Ledger as the Joker is iconic. I enjoy a good fantasy flick too, though. I was obsessed with The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings when I was a kid.
Back and forth. Back and forth. We ask each other simple questions, nothing too deep, which is fine. I’m not about to pour out my deepest darkest secrets to a total stranger.
Still, there’s something comfortable about him. I’m not struggling to come up with things to say and the conversation doesn’t feel stiff and forced. It’s like we know each other already and are just friends bouncing questions and answers.
As our conversation continues, I change positions on the bed.
I go from sitting, to lying back down with my legs propped on the headboard.
I’m relaxed and can’t help my grin, feeling like a teenage girl chatting with her crush.
I laugh, over and over again. Then I roll to my belly and kick my feet in the air.
Finally, I find myself at the end of the bed, cross-legged and hunched over my phone like Gollum with the One Ring.
Before I know it, almost two hours have passed, but it feels like it hasn’t been any time at all.
ClickTease: I should probably go to sleep, now. I need to be up for work.
GlideControlZ: Yeah, I should probably quit for the night too. I’d really like to keep talking to you, though. Maybe we can do one of those virtual date things the app offers?
I bite my lip as I smile, my cheeks heating with delight.
ClickTease: I’d like that too. And yes, 100% to a virtual date. Some of them actually seem kind of fun.
The app has different options that are kind of impressive - virtual casino night, art gallery, board games… they even have this thing where you can arrange to watch the same show or movie together and chat during it.
GlideControlZ: Can I message you tomorrow?
My heart hammers and I can’t stop myself from giggling like a psycho.
ClickTease: Yes, you definitely can.
GlideControlZ: Great. Sleep tight
ClickTease: You too. Good night.
Still smiling, I roll over and place my phone on the nightstand, then cuddle into my blankets and pillows.
Gizmo hops up to join me and snuggles into my side, sensing it’s time to sleep.
My heart is still racing as I close my eyes, and the thought crosses my mind that maybe this guy could be the full package I’ve been waiting for.
It’s nice to enjoy a conversation with a guy without instantly diving into the physical side of things.
I’ve always based my first judgement on men on my physical attraction to them, only to later find out just how shitty they really are.
It wasn’t just Miles, either. He was just the most significant.
It seems as if every guy I judged based on looks and every relationship I started as a result has blown up in my face.
Maybe this time will be different. Maybe, since I’m getting to know him without seeing him first, I’ll actually be able to build something real.
When I wake up the next morning, there’s still a bit of a smile on my face and I’m in an exceptionally good mood. Checking my phone, I see that it’s still early… not even seven yet. Woah. This is new for me. I’m such a night owl, I don’t typically wake up until after nine in the morning.
I don’t feel tired at all, though. In fact, I’m well rested and eager to get started with my day. Is this how regular people feel all the time? It’s crazy.