Chapter 17 Weslyn
Weslyn
Fuck. My. Life.
My boss hasn't let me out for work yet, which I know is probably illegal but it's been busy and I haven't even had the time to argue with him about it.
It's nearly eight-thirty when he finally tells me to clock out and I don't waste a second rushing to the back. As soon as I'm in my car, I dig for my phone.
Four text messages and a missed call.
I scramble as I immediately decide to call him back, but he doesn't answer. I sigh, hating that he might feel as if I'm standing him up. So I type out a quick message before starting my car and heading off to my apartment.
8:34pm
I'm so fucking sorry. Just got out of work. My boss is an asshole. But I'm on my way home now if you're still up for it?
By the time I walk through the door of my apartment, I still don't have anything from Kyran.
I take this opportunity to take a quick shower and just hope that he won't blow me off like he probably thinks I did.
I don't know if he'd even care if that's what I was doing or not but I know how I feel imagining that he thinks I would.
After my shower, I throw on my pajamas and wonder if that's even appropriate for a FaceTime date. Surely, he wouldn't mind, right?
It's near nine pm when a message finally comes through on my phone and I gasp as I jump toward my bed to grab it.
8:58pm
I'm ready whenever you are. Do you have Prime? I can set up the watch party through that.
I don't get a whiff of anger from his text, which relaxes me a bit but I'm still pissed that I made him wait this long and I really hope that he understands.
I do. Let me get it up.
But before I have time to put my phone down, he's already FaceTiming me.
I wait a minute, needing to calm myself down before I decide to answer him.
"Hey," I say as I answer it, not thinking to make sure I even look FaceTime ready, really. But I'm too caught off guard to care because I'm faced to face with Kyran—save the screen between us of course—and he's freaking shirtless.
I try to avert my gaze as I log into my Prime account but I can't help but want to stare at him. He's gorgeous and tempting.
Awkwardness settles in the air as I watch a little bead of water drip from his hairline down to his sculpted jawline, indicating he too just got out of the shower, and I feel nerves invade my core.
"Figured there was no reason to postpone the inevitable," he states, breaking me out of my trance. Likely talking about the sudden FaceTime call. Or maybe referring to the fact that he's shirtless.
"Oh, right. That's fine. You look good," I stammer, trying my best to stop being so weird on these calls with him.
It's easier via text for some reason, but I don't want it to be that way.
I want it to be just as easy to talk to him as it is to text him.
I think maybe it's because when we text, I don't have to look at his gorgeous face and attractive body. It's a bit overwhelming, I'll admit.
"Kyran, I am so sorry again about being late. I did not think I would do that to you."
"Don't sweat it. I figured you were working, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. You said your boss is an asshole?" he asks, his lips smirking toward the end of his question.
I continue my conversation with him, carrying my phone in my hand, as I head to the kitchen to gather my snacks before heading to my bedroom.
"More than. He is always working me later than promised and I never really cared as much, but it's starting to get annoying."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I wish I could help," he tells me and I hear the pure sincerity in his tone.
"I wish I had the balls to tell him no."
"I know the feeling. I had a client who demanded my in-person presence for a meeting with his attorney this weekend."
"I saw you said you have to fly out of state. Are you gonna go?"
"I kind of have to."
"That's actually crazy. Where to?"
"I wish it was Rhode Island," he says to me and my heart flutters.
A beat of silence falls between us but it's far from awkward, and I'm sure he can hear my labored breathing as we just look into the phone at each other.
If he were to come to my state, I don't know how I would act.
What would happen between us? Would we spend time together?
The thoughts swim in my head and excitement blooms in my belly, but I know that the chances of us actually meeting in real life is likely slim to none, unless we can make plans otherwise.
"I'll be heading to Texas," he finally speaks up. "Flight is first thing in the morning."
"Oh, well we can reschedule this for another night if you'd like to get some rest?"
"Absolutely not. This is more important. Besides, I hate to admit it, but I don't think I can wait another day to watch the next episode."
I giggle at his admission as Kyran sets up the link for me to click into the watch party and I settle on my bed. We both set up our phones so that they face the both of us, allowing us to watch our reactions as we start the episode.
He reacts to some parts, and I just watch him more than I watch the television, having seen these episodes more than a handful of times already. So many times, that I don't even catch myself repeating certain lines until he points them out.
Doing this feels one hundred percent natural and I sense no awkwardness between us as we laugh and talk about certain scenes, and I tell him my favorite parts as they approach.
We move on to the next episode and before I know it, we're nearing midnight with three episodes behind us and I feel myself getting sleepy.
"We probably shouldn't do another," I say, noting that he has to tend to work tomorrow morning.
"You're right. But I had a lot of fun doing this and we should definitely do it again."
"Okay, but I have to know something first," I say.
"What's that?"
"Are you team Stefan or Damon so far?"
"Don't make me choose, Weslyn."
We both chuckle as his eyes wander into thought.
"I have a feeling Stefan is the obvious answer for now, meaning he might become annoying later. So I'm gonna say team Damon."
"I like your answer." I smile at him before a yawn pulls on my lips.
"So next date…" he trails off.
"Hmm mm," I say sleepily not realizing that my eyes are getting heavy.
"I was wondering if we might be able to arrange for us to meet in person."
I sit up a little at his words, suddenly feeling slightly more awake. My heart is thudding in my chest as I look at him, staring at me. In person. Is he being serious?
"Kyran, I-"
And then, my phone dies.