15. Wanna Bet? #3
There go those stupid butterflies again. I clear my throat to try and calm the flutters in my stomach. “I should get going.” I make to get off the couch, but Ryan keeps his hands resting on my shoulders, holding me in place.
“Isa, it’s late. I really don’t want you driving home at this time of night.”
“Lucky for you, I didn’t drive. I’ll just call an Uber.” I shrug.
“No, nope. That’s worse.”
I sigh. “I need to get some work done tomorrow and you’re leaving in the morning for an away series anyway. I should really go home.”
“No, you don’t. You can stay here. Maybe… um, maybe we can get a coffee in the morning before you need to head home for work?”
I don’t know what it is, but something about him being so nervous and vulnerable around me makes it nearly impossible for me to say no to him.
I watch him longer while I try to think of a plan here.
I really should go home. But I also don’t really want to.
I shouldn’t stay. I shouldn’t have even come over in the first place.
My entire career is at risk being near him outside of a work setting. And yet… I can’t help myself.
“Please, Isa?”
It’s the please. The one single word pushes me over the edge and makes the decision for me. He must see it in my eyes that I’m staying because they flash with momentary surprise morphing into relief. He didn’t think I’d actually stay which breaks my heart a little.
I let out a resigned sigh and fight the smile blooming on my lips. “Fine, but only because it’s late and the drivers I get after midnight always give me the creeps.” I let out an exaggerated shiver to make my point.
“Whatever you want to tell yourself, firecracker. I know you’re staying for me,” he says with a wink before he grabs my hand, pulling me up off the couch and down the hall toward his room.
“Wait, where’s my phone? I should let Jordan know I’m staying the night.”
He takes my phone from his pocket and hands it to me as we make it to his bedroom. He gives me a sheepish smile before releasing his hold on the device. “I, um, may have already told her you might be staying the night.”
I lift an eyebrow at him. “That was rather presumptuous of you.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I like to think of myself as persuasive,” he says with a wide, innocent smile. This fucking man. He’s like a golden retriever in human form, and I hate that I find it so fucking adorable.
I roll my eyes but walk over to sit on the edge of the bed. Swiping open my phone, I read through the conversation between Jordan and Ryan.
Jordan
please tell me you’re snuggled up with that fine man on his couch
Isabella
Hey Jordan, it’s the “fine man” ;)
Unfortunately we’re not currently snuggled up :(
She’s passed out snoring on the couch next to me
Jordan
oh hell yes!
tell me, ryan. did you make a move?
Isabella
No :(
Jordan
COME ON, MAN!! YOU HAD ONE JOB!!!!
Isabella
She fell asleep!
Got any tips?
Jordan
ugh *eyeroll* men are useless
Isabella
Hey! I resent that!
Jordan
i can’t give away all our secrets
but i think you’re already on the right track so keep on keeping on if you know what i mean ;)
Isabella
Haha alright, thanks Jordan
Jordan
should i be expecting our sleeping beauty home tonight?
or tomorrow morning? ;)
Isabella
Let’s plan for tomorrow morning
Jordan
good answer
I roll my eyes at the messages. God these two are like peas in a pod. I need to keep them far, far away from each other.
“I do not snore!” I grouch to Ryan while he rifles through a dresser drawer, removing an oversized black LA Suns T-shirt and throwing it my way. Well, it’ll be oversized on me, but I bet it fits him perfectly.
He leans back against the dresser and crosses his arms. “That’s what you took away from the conversation?” A smirk kicks up one side of his lips, putting one of his dimples on display.
“Oh, shut up. We’re just friends, so I’m not sure what kind of moves you think you’ll be making.”
“What about pulling a one bed on you?”
My brows furrow. “Excuse me?”
“You know, in novels where the enemies are on a quest and end up at the inn but—GASP! There’s only one room left, and it only has one bed!”
“How in the hell do you know about that?”
“Um, I have sisters that love that kind of shit?”
“Mhmm, sure, Ryan. Your sisters. Whatever you say. We all know you’re talking about yourself.
” I laugh at the horror on his face at the possibility that I actually think it’s him.
Although, I probably wouldn’t be surprised if it was.
“Seriously though, we’re not sharing a bed, are we?
That may be a bit outside the scope of our friendship if I’m being honest.” I chew at my lip, nerves thrumming through my veins.
Would I love to share a bed with him? God yes.
I bet the man would cuddle the shit out of me.
But I’m also worried that sharing a bed might lead to… more.
More that I shouldn’t do.
More that I can’t do.
“Nah, I’ve got a guest room you can crash in. I just needed to grab you something to change into, unless you planned to sleep in those clothes.” He smirks as his eyes rake over the jeans and T-shirt I changed into before coming over.
“I definitely don’t. Thanks for the shirt. Now about that guest room…”