Chapter 10 Cecily #2
When I reach my apartment, I run up the stairs and take an everything shower.
I shave every hair off my body, lather myself in lotion that smells like strawberries, and then I put on the lightest amount of makeup.
I grab my Seattle tee and snicker when I slip it on.
I pair it with cute jeans, flats, and flip-flops.
Dylan knocks on my door at six-thirty. I open it, noticing the backwards hat he’s wearing. His mullet sticks out at the back.
“Hi,” he smiles, and his breath mints along with his cologne fill the air around me.
“I’m almost ready,” I say.
He glances at my shirt, pointing at it. “That’s not––”
I look down, and he brings his finger up, dragging it up my face.
I close my eyes, laughing.
“Go, Seattle.” I throw a fist in the air.
“You didn’t hear?” he asks as he steps in, his height towering over me. I ignore the lumpy feeling in my stomach. “Seattle lost.”
I walk into the hallway and say, “You’re such a liar.”
He follows me and says, “I’m not lying.” He stops at my doorframe and watches me put away my clothes. “You couldn’t decide on what jeans to wear?”
“I’m trying to be modest,” I argue.
“You look great.”I put my jeans in my dresser, closing the drawers. “Thanks. Are we going to the party this early?”
He shakes his head. “I honestly thought you wouldn’t be ready by now, but we can head over if you want to.”
“This early?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah, we can get there before everyone else shows up. Up to you.”
“I’m only ready because I didn’t eat dinner yet.”
“I can take you somewhere to grab food.”
I shake my head with a smile. “No, thank you. I have food.”
His eyes narrow. “Are you against eating out?”
I snicker, walking past him. He follows me into the kitchen. “I meal prep, Dilly. It saves me money and time.”
“I would pay,” he offers, giving me eyes that mean well.
“Are you offering to feed me dinner two times this week?”
He laughs. “It’s not a big deal.”
I grab my precooked meal from the fridge and say, “This is my last meal of the week.” When I plop it in the microwave, I say, “Are you hungry?”
He shakes his head. “Nah.”
“Guess who’s going to be at the party tonight?”
He shrugs.
“Your best friend, Marina.”
He laughs. “She’s not coming to the party.”
“She said she was going to a frat party tonight.”
“That’s on campus. We’re going to Rocky’s.”
“Oh,” I say, looking at my food in the microwave. “She also tried to get in on your training times. She brought her two friends to the gym to ask me if I could train them at the same time I train you.”
His eyes bulge. “Did you agree to it?” he asks politely.
“Oh, yeah. How could I say no? They start on Monday.”
He bites his bottom lip, not saying another word.
I smile just as the microwave goes off. “I’m kidding. I told them I have no time, and neither do you, Mr. Hockey Player.”
“Thank God,” he mumbles, looking up at the ceiling—his Adam’s apple bobs.
I blow on my food, leaning on the counter. “Tell me what I need to know about your friends.”
His eyes dart to mine as I continue blowing on the steamy chicken. He walks over to the dining table and takes a seat. “They all know about you. They ragged on me the entire trip.”
“Harsh,” I tease.
“Annoying as hell,” he corrects. “But uh, let’s see.
So, you met Scott and Westley. Westley is chill.
Man is a saint. He doesn’t hook up; he’s quiet and easygoing.
Scott is the opposite. Stubborn, determined, and out there.
He’s going to pounce on you, so this is just a warning.
Rocky is a good guy, but some say he’s arrogant. And he’s a player.”
“Like you?” I interrupt.
He watches me eat for a moment. “I don’t compare to Rocky.”
“Oh, so you blow him out of the park?”
He chuckles. “No, he’s better looking than me, so he lands all the girls.”
“Okay,” I click my tongue and then take another bite of food.
“Green is chill, easy going. And Russell is a dick, but he probably won’t talk to you. Half of the team celebrates at the frat house, so you don’t need to worry about anyone else.”
“Just Scott,” I point out.
He laughs. “Scott is gonna want to get in your pants.”
I nod. “He wants to measure cock sizes?”He snickers under his breath.
I lean in and purse my lips. “I’m really good at the cock measuring game. I can handle him.” I throw myself back into my chair, finishing my last piece of chicken. “Any girls I should watch out for?”
He leans forward, thinking. “I fucked Viv the day before I met you, so was that two weeks ago?”
I nod, confirming the timeline. “If she comes, she won’t be happy. And so her crew of friends might have a staring problem. And…”
He stares off into space for a minute. I finish my food and say, “And?”
He shrugs.
“Dylan, tell me. We’re friends. I’m not your girlfriend, okay?” I chuckle. “I should be prewarned about what I’m walking into.”
“Layla,” he mutters. “If she’s there, it’s going to be awkward.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened with her?”
He shakes his head. “Not tonight.” He stands. “You ate. Are you ready to go?”
“Let me wash this dish and grab my bag.”
He says, “Okay,” and then waits for me as I wash the plastic container, head to my bedroom to grab my purse, and use the bathroom.
Nerves tickle my spine when I find him holding my front door open. “Ready?”
I nod.
It’s my first party in a long time.
I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.