Chapter 14 Kyran
Kyran
Vicki can't make up her mind, can she? And everything with Damon and this weird faction thing is getting out of hand.
Is it Friday yet?
Who would have thought that I'd be texting a girl I'd never met before about how intrigued I am with a show about vampires?
Also that I am desperate to just talk to her.
I would have said never, but I am, in fact, keeping her on my mind for reasons I can't explain.
And after our FaceTime this morning, my desire to talk to her has only gotten worse.
She was so shy, I could tell in the way her eyes could barely look straight at the camera. But damn, is she attractive as hell and her beautiful smile she tried to hide made it hard for me to keep my cool.
And even now, I can't contain it. I want to be talking to her all the time, which is not something I can say I've ever admitted before about any woman I've ever talked to. But there's something different here. She's different and I can't wait to learn more about her.
3:18pm
You're an impatient man, I can see.
I didn't mean to. I slipped.
Let me guess… you landed on the remote?
I don't understand how gravity works more than the next guy. It just happened.
You're ridiculous, Kyran.
But promise you'll save episode 5 for me.
Promise.
So how was work today?
Not over just yet. Still have a few more accounts to analyze for the month. With Thanksgiving coming up, I have a lot of clients who will be leaving town, the country even, and it's my job to make sure their money works for them the right way while they're away.
Do you even get time off for the holidays then?
I take time when I want to. But I usually make myself available for important clients and whatnot.
I see. Do you have family to visit or anyone who visits you?
Not really. Parents are retired in Italy and I'm an only child.
So, you'll be alone during the holidays. Does that get… lonely?
Yeah, sometimes it does, I guess. But that's why I keep myself busy with work as much as I can.
And you'll have me to text if you ever get super bored.
This is true. That's something to look forward to.
So I'm about to go to the store for snacks for our date. Any suggestions?
Snacks? I guess I didn't even think about that.
Well, you can't watch your favorite show with someone without snacks.
I guess you're right. What do you like?
4:45pm
Sorry, I was driving. Umm… I like chocolate dipped pretzels and apples and peanut butter. I'm not really a big popcorn fan. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies lol.
Chocolate chip cookies, huh?
Yeah, homemade is better but I'm not very good at baking.
Well, now I need to go grab some snacks too.
Grab enough because I can tell you right now, we won't stop after episode five.
Don't do this to me.
You started this journey.
You made me.
I did not make you do anything. I simply encouraged you.
You're very encouraging then.
I try.
How's snack shopping going?
Good. Almost ready to check out.
Well, I'd like to pay for your snacks if that's okay.
What? No, that's not okay. That's crazy.
Crazy? Lol. Come on, Weslyn. It's a date, remember?
Yeah, but you don't have to buy my snacks, Kyran.
I wouldn't have let you pay for your own meal if we had been on an in-person date, so what's the difference here?
Who said I would have let you pay for your meal if we were on a real date?
Okay. Well, I offered first. It's just snacks, Weslyn.
You're right but seriously, you don't have to.
You're stubborn, aren't you? I know I don't have to, I want to.
Well, I'm going to send you money anyway, please just accept it.
There's no saying no to you, is there?
5:34pm
And I take the word no very seriously. But it's a first date and I really insist. Just let me do that.
Fine, but I have to tell you… you sent me way too much money. $30 for snacks? I hate to tell you this but I'm a really cheap date, Kyran.
Lol. Save it for the next one.
The next one?
Yeah, the next date.
Who says you'll want anything to do with me after the first one?
I have a feeling.
I have a question.
What's up?
Can I call you before I go to bed?
I kind of want to hear your voice again.
I'd really like that, Weslyn.
Okay, I'll call you when I get home.
I'm flipping through the channels on my TV, trying everything not to continue watching that vampire show as I wait in my bed for her to call. Eager, might I add.
I'm still not over FaceTiming her this morning.
Finally being able to put a face to the name is surreal, and my god is she fucking beautiful.
I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised when her face popped onto the camera screen.
And her voice; she had an angelic voice, one that I will never allow myself to forget.
I lean back against the headboard, trying to pretend that I don't notice the thirty minutes that have passed since she last texted.
I've never in my life timed the minutes it took before anything, really.
Except for meetings. Those were precious minutes that I made sure to charge for, so of course time mattered most then.
But waiting for a phone call from Weslyn feels like watching the sand of the world's slowest hourglass slip away at an agonizingly slow rate.
You'd think I was a teenager and not a grown man.
Then my phone vibrates next to me and I jump to answer it.
"Hey."
"Hi, so sorry that took longer than I expected. I was on my way to my car when I ran into some kid from school in the parking lot and he asked me a question about class and one of the assignments and . . . Oh, god, I'm rambling now. Sorry."
She sighs through the phone and I chuckle.
"Don't be sorry." I don't miss the way I feel slightly jealous at the fact that another person, a male at that, got to take up a moment of her time.
That idea feels ludicrous to me, or course, considering how long I've actually known the girl.
But the feeling is there, and I don't know how to process it.
"So, umm… what is Mr. Almost-A-Billionaire up to at this time of night?"
Again, I chuckle, but this time at her silly nickname.
"Honestly, just lying here in bed. I have an early day tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I can totally let you get to sleep if you have to-"
"No. I'm good, Weslyn. I don't mind. I want to talk to you." I stop her from attempting to hang up the phone, but she doesn't respond right away. In fact, I can hear her breathing for a beat and I wonder if she heard me at all. But I just listen for a moment, taking in how unreal this is.
"Weslyn?"
"I'm sorry it's just…" she sighs, "you using my name in a text is one thing. Hearing it is…" she trails off, and I can tell that she's nervous now by the tone of her voice.
"It's what, Weslyn?"
"It's surreal, Kyran. Still just so surreal." Her admission has me smiling like a fool.
"I don't mean to be too forward here, but I do really enjoy talking to you. It's been really great getting to know you."
"That's really sweet. I feel the same way, honestly," she responds, and I like that she feels confident enough to actually reciprocate the truth.
"So, how many times have you watched this vampire show?" I ask her.
"A gross number of times. It'll make you sick." She laughs and I have to take a minute to take it in before answering her, seeing as the sound of it makes my heart beat faster.
"I don't think anything you do could make me sick," I tell her.
She giggles and it sends a jolt to my dick. I'm shocked by it to be honest, but I can't help the way my body responds.
"You say that now…" she trails off and I can hear hesitation layering tone. But before I can pick up the conversation for her, she moves on to a new question. "So be honest, how hooked are you on the show?"
"I think you already know the answer to that question. I slipped on our date and watched an episode without you. It almost felt like cheating on a significant other or something."
I chuckle when I realize just how addicting the show really is, but her silence greets me and I still.
"Yeah…" she whispers in a somber tone, one that I know can't be good.
I realize it was what I said that dampened the mood and I immediately feel a knot in my stomach.
"I'm sorry. That was a really bad analogy. I've never cheated on anyone before, just to let you know. I didn't mean for it to come out that way," I attempt to defend myself so that I don't look like an idiot. But I can hear it, I've already ruined the moment.
"No, it's totally fine, I don't have any rights to your business one way or the other."
"That's not true," I say to her.
"But it is. No biggie." She yawns. "Listen, thanks for the snacks again but I'm gonna let you go.
Should probably get to bed. I have a big day tomorrow with school and stuff.
" I hear the defeat in her response and I berate myself for not filtering what I had said. wondering why it upset her so much.
"Weslyn, I didn't mean to-"
"Oh, no. It's fine. It's just that I'm really tired. Talk to you later?" she asks, but it feels different.
"Yeah, of course," I respond knowing that I'm not satisfied with allowing her to leave.
"Goodnight, Kyran."
"Goodnight, Weslyn."
And then the phone clicks dead.
I fucked up. I don't know why I made a stupid joke like that.
I just felt natural with her, I didn't think about what I was saying or how it would come off.
But I know I've upset her, and I can probably bet why.
But as much as I don't want her to be right, she is.
What right do we really have to each other's business or our pasts for that matter?
Unless we can establish some boundaries between us, but otherwise, all we truly are to each other is strangers.
But it doesn't feel like that. Not one bit.
And with the acceptance of our date this Friday, I'd like to potentially talk about more than whatever this can be considered.
I want to learn more and feel obligated to the girl.
Is that crazy? Yeah, maybe. But I've never been so clear about a decision in my life.