Chapter 20 Cecily
Cecily
Istep into my apartment, and Alix is searching vigorously through my kitchen. The snack cabinet is open, and now she’s in the fridge.
“You don’t have anything good in here!” she says, hearing the front door click shut.
“What’re you looking for?” I ask, grabbing the fridge door.
“An Oreo or something.”
I laugh. “No Oreos here, babe.”
She stands and hits her head on the freezer door. She clutches the top of her head and falls on her ass. “Ow!”
I close the door. “Shit. Are you okay?”
She shakes her head, then laughs. It starts in her chest, and then her whole body shakes.
I’m not drunk, but I start laughing beside her.
She grabs my neck, pulling me down with her.
I slip and hit my face on the corner of the wall.
We start rolling in laughter now. She’s kicking her feet like this is the funniest thing in the world.
I’m gasping for air, unable to breathe. Then she pulls her knees up and farts.
I cover my mouth and start laughing so hard that no noise leaves my chest. She’s bright red, rolling on the ground.
She starts hitting the tiled floor, unable to catch her breath. My cheeks begin to burn.
I mutter, “You… just… You just…”
And we start rolling with laughter again. I grab my cheeks because they’re hurting so fucking much. I force myself up and offer her a hand.
“Okay,” I chuckle. “Okay. My cheeks are so sore.”
She takes my hand and pulls me in for a hug. “We need to do this more.”
She pulls away, and I agree.
“Screw Dylan,” she says. “He’s kind of a dick.”
“No, he’s not,” I say, turning to my cabinet to see if I have anything sweet.
She scoffs. “Yes, he fucking is.”
I widen my eyes. “He has a sense of humor, but he’s a hockey player, Alix.”
“Oh, really? So, anger problems just come with him?” She slaps the counter. “I didn’t know he was a dick, Ce. He’s kind of a big dick.”
“A hot dick though,” I mutter.
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, he’s pretty hot. I don’t know if he’s boyfriend material––”
I scoff, cutting her off. “No, no, no. He’s not. Definitely not.”
“Maybe you should find out.”
I shake my head. “What?” I laugh. “No.”
“I’m inviting my brother next weekend, and I need to make sure you’re all in before playing matchmaker because if you aren’t ready for Dane…”
I’m gawking, so I turn back to the cabinet. “Trust me. I am so ready.” I feel butterflies in my stomach at the thought of Dane in my territory. “So, you’re going to come next weekend?” I waggle my eyebrows.
“Yeah, bitch, and you owe me a shot.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. I promise I’ll take a shot next weekend.”
“Okay, and I’ll make sure Dane makes it.”
I nod. “You think he’ll actually come?”
She smiles and bumps me. “For you? Yeah.”
She stands up to help with the snack search.
“So, you think I have a chance?”
She pushes the hair out of my face and smiles. “Don’t worry about my idiot brother. Now I need something other than carrots and broccoli. Want to go to the store?”
I shake my head. “No, we are queens. Let’s get it delivered and watch a movie instead.”
She smiles. “Genius!”
We head to the couch with our phones. She shows me the Stories I posted this morning and says, “You should post some of the party. It’ll make you more likable.”
I ignore her. I can’t water down my image online. I’ll lose respect.
“I’ll tag you,” she says.
“I’m not reposting,” I sing.
She gawks at me as I add Oreos and junk food to the cart.
“I have sponsorships and people watching me. It’s more than being well-rounded. I’m a business. You can tag my personal, and I don’t mind reposting it there.”
“Whatever you say,” she mocks.
I submit the store order and have it rushed delivery before we pass out on my couch. I won’t be reposting the party on my personal account either. It’s not my thing.
Harry Potter is always our go-to, so I play it while we scroll on our phones. When the groceries arrive, Alix devours an entire bag of Skittles and a bag of Funyuns. Then she crashes on my couch halfway through the movie.
I leave it on while I shower and do my nightly routine. I can’t stop thinking about what I’ll wear next weekend when Dane comes to the party.
She pushes the hair out of my face and smiles. “Don’t worry about my idiot brother. Now I need something other than carrots and broccoli. Want to go to the store?”
I shake my head. “No, we are queens. Let’s get it delivered and watch a movie instead.”
She smiles. “Genius!”
We head to the couch with our phones. She shows me the Stories I posted this morning and says, “You should post some of the party. It’ll make you more likable.”
I ignore her. I can’t water down my image online. I’ll lose respect.
“I’ll tag you,” she says.
“I’m not reposting,” I sing.
She gawks at me as I add Oreos and junk food to the cart.
“I have sponsorships and people watching me. It’s more than being well-rounded. I’m a business. You can tag my personal, and I don’t mind reposting it there.”
“Whatever you say,” she mocks.
I submit the store order and have it rushed delivery before we pass out on my couch. I won’t be reposting the party on my personal account either. It’s not my thing.
Harry Potter is always our go-to, so I play it while we scroll on our phones. When the groceries arrive, Alix devours an entire bag of Skittles and a bag of Funyuns. Then she crashes on my couch halfway through the movie.
I leave it on while I shower and do my nightly routine. I can’t stop thinking about what I’ll wear next weekend when Dane comes to the party.
The next day, Alix gets out of the shower and walks to the kitchen.
“I thought we could walk ten thousand steps today, but it’s pouring.”
I glance out the window. “Yeah, such a bummer.”
“I think I’m just gonna head home if that’s okay?” she says, brushing her hair.
I nod. “Yeah, totally understandable.”
“I just did your morning routine. I literally put your reel on and followed step by step using your shit.”
I laugh. “Are you serious?”
She nods. “I loved it. Hopefully, my skin does. Do I look dewy?”
I look at her glistening face. “Very.”
“Okay. I’m getting dressed and leaving.” She walks off and then pops her head back in. “Can’t freaking wait for this weekend.”
I squeal. “Me too!”
“Ah!” she screams.“Ah!” I squeal, running my feet in place.
She gets dressed and walks back, accepting my avocado toast for breakfast. I hand her a green juice shot to cure any hangover she might have. She takes it and then eats the toast. “So, Rocky is really hot,” she murmurs.
I nod.
She asks, “Is he a fuck boy?”
I hum. “I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
I shrug. “I don’t really know him.”
She eats half of the toast and says, “Sorry. I can’t finish this.” She kisses my cheek and says, “I’ll see you this weekend.”
I nod, walking her out.
The rain is pouring, so she turns to me. “Do you have an umbrella?”
I shake my head. “Sorry.”
“Shit!” she says, running out. “Okay. Bye. Love you!”“Drive safe!” I call after her and shut my front door before the wind gusts blow in heavy raindrops.
I walk to my bedroom to grab my laptop and craft a more concrete content plan for the week.
Once that is handled, I get dressed and head to the gym to walk my ten thousand steps on the treadmill.
When I arrive, I spot Marina in the corner chatting with some random guy I’ve never seen before.
I walk to my regular treadmill and power it on, looking around at who’s in the gym today.
The place is packed for a Saturday. It must be the rain.
While I’m walking, I can’t stop thinking about this weekend. I’m so excited that Alix is on board to bring Dane. I feel a little nervous, so I increase the machine's speed and walk off my jitters.
Dane is hot. He’s difficult, closed-off, and a sarcastic asshole.
He’s challenging to access. I could text him and never hear back.
The only glimpse of hope I have is that he watches and likes what I post. And call me stupid, but that means something to me.
Maybe I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but with Alix’s help, I think I have a chance.
If Alix hooks up with Rocky, then I can bring Dane back to my place… alone.
Shit.
I have to revamp my place before the weekend comes around.
If he’s going to be in my space, I want to impress him.
While I’m walking, I start searching online for different styles I can lean into.
I refuse to be anything less than what I deserve, and I deserve someone like Dane.
He’s so beautiful that it hurts. He dates rich girls, so if that’s what I have to pretend to be, that’s what I’ll be.
Once my steps are done, I wipe down the machine and head out. I stop at the exit and watch the rain for a few moments, wondering whether to give it five minutes.
Forget it.
I walk straight into the pouring rain and get drenched by the time I reach my car. Now I’m on my way to Target. I can buy a few décor pieces from there and condoms.
When I get back to my apartment, the new décor stays in the bags while I cook myself a late lunch and post something new, along with a few stories. It’s a sponsored post, so I have to make sure all my ducks are in a row while I cook my bacon.
I slap together a BLT, approve the post, and then dive into homework due this week.
My life is a routine. Wash, rinse, cycle, repeat. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This is simple. Easy. Predictable.
An email pings through my notifications, and the first thing I notice is the brand’s name. I jump off my bed and click on the notification. I can’t believe this brand is emailing me back on a weekend. My eyes scan the email, and they’re eager to work with me!
I squeal, running in place. This means that I can hire Dylan for a side gig and help him make extra cash he’s always joking about. My terms with the company are that the male model remains faceless, but he’ll wear their product.
I throw on a hoodie and Uggs and head to Dylan’s place without much thought. I’m just excited to tell him we got the job we joked about.
I notice there are a few vehicles parked out front that I haven’t seen before, but I throw my car in park behind his truck and walk to his front door. I knock while opening it.
“Hello?” I say, sticking my head.
Scott is in the kitchen with a girl.
“Hey,” I say, walking in. It’s only drizzling now, so I wipe my feet as I step inside the house and close the door behind me.
Scott glares at me. “Cecily.”I smile at the girl standing next to him. She’s cute.
“Does he know you’re here?” Scott asks.
I shake my head, so he walks down the hall and knocks politely on his bedroom door. “Dylan. Cecily’s here.”
I walk to the hallway, hearing Dylan and a female’s voice inside the bedroom.
I turn to Scott. “Oh. Am I interrupting something?”
Scott shrugs.I hear Dylan whispering, and my heart races when I hear a female’s voice arguing. Shit.
Dylan cracks the door. “Ce?”
“Hey,” I say, noticing the panic on his face.
“What’s up?” he asks.
I point at the front door. “Sorry for stopping by unannounced. I just…” I try to look in his room, but he closes it tighter. “Is it a bad time?”
He slips out of the room, trying to hide whoever’s in his bedroom, and shuts the door behind him. “Yeah… I just…”
He ushers me out of the hallway. When I catch Scott’s eyes, he’s pretending this isn’t awkward.
I lean in. “I’m sorry.” I try not to laugh. “But do you have a girl in there?”
Dylan doesn’t answer that. Instead, he says, “Is everything okay? Why are you here?”
I nod. “Yeah. I just got really excited because do you remember that job I told you about? The UGC one that you could potentially model for?”
He nods, scratching his head. He turns around and looks at Scott. I look at Scott, too. “Yeah, I remember.”
“We got it,” I murmur, but I don’t think he hears me. “We got the job!”
“Okay, so, uh, I’ll see you Monday at the gym?” he says. When his eyes finally meet mine, he looks stressed.
I whisper, “Dylan, I don’t care if you have a girl in there. Don’t feel––”
He pulls back. “I’ll see you.”
I watch him walk back down the hall, and I’m speechless. I glare at Scott, but he ignores me, tending to his fling in the kitchen. She’s looking awkwardly at the floor.
Jeez.
I leave the house with a pit in my stomach.
What the hell did I just walk into?
Why would I show up unannounced?
Dylan is normally as cool as an ice cube, so seeing him like that has me flustered. I get into my car and turn it on, looking at the parked vehicles. One car has mismatched tires, and it looks really bad with its cracked windows and spray-paint job. What the hell?
I pull away from his house, concerned that Dylan is sleeping with other women while hooking up with me.
I chew on my lip, wondering who the girl is.
I’m an idiot for thinking that I could seduce my best friend without any consequences. I can’t control what he does outside of our friendship.
I hit the steering wheel.
Stupid.
Stupid.Stupid!