17. Dylan
Chapter seventeen
Dylan
Dee’s back in doomsday mode. Her head is draped over the edge of the couch, her calves resting on the back cushions.
“Should I be concerned?” I ask.
“Shh…”
Her eyes are closed and she doesn’t move.
“Uh, Dee? You good?”
“I’m entering a year of transformation. I turn twenty-nine today. And yet…here I am.” She flails her arms, gesturing at the living room around her before letting them fall meekly to the couch cushions again.
I look around. “Here you are. In your apartment. What’s the problem?”
“Ugh.” She groans. “You don’t get it.” She whirls her body around until she’s sitting upright, one hand on her forehead.
“I can’t argue with that. So, what’s the plan for today? Going out with the girls?”
I’m nervous. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. Dee and I have been friends for years, and today is no different from any normal day…well, except that I’m about to ask her if she wants to spend her birthday…with me.
“No.” She shakes her head before flipping over to wrap her hair in a messy bun on top of her head.
“It’s a Wednesday. Not a very convenient day to celebrate, so we’re going all-out on Saturday instead.
I’ll see Emi, Kai, and Morgan on Sunday.
I’m hanging out here today, which I guess is good.
I’ll need all day to manifest a better year than the last one. ”
“Okay. Well, I won’t interrupt…whatever this is.” I turn toward my room, taking three hurried steps before I stop.
Don’t be an idiot. This isn’t a big deal. Just fucking ask her.
“Hey, Dee?” My voice breaks on her name.
“Yes?”
“If you really aren’t planning on doing anything today, I found this thing close by that I thought you might enjoy.”
“Oooo, well this is a surprise.” She claps her hands together, resting her chin on her folded fingers. “Okay, is it…a sex club?”
“Um, no.”
Is it hot in here?
“A book club?”
“Well, no.”
“A bowling club?”
“No.”
“An arcade?”
“Not exactly.”
“We could do this for a while.” She smirks at me. “Want to spare me the suspense and let me in on the secret?”
“You’re going to need to change.”
Her smile grows as she runs past me to her room. “It is a sex club,” she shouts, followed by a cackle that I’m sure our neighbors can hear through the walls. “Leather or lace? What’s the vibe?”
She slams the door shut and I follow, resting my forehead on her bedroom doorframe. “You need to wear athletic clothes.” I startle, stepping back in shock as she swings the door open in a rush.
“Oh, this is some freaky shit, huh?” The smile on her face could rival the Cheshire cat.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we are not going to a sex club.” She crosses her arms, a look of disbelief and disappointment passing over her face.
“Then where are we going?”
“How do you feel about a shot at immunity?” I ask.
Every muscle in her body locks up. Her eyes close and her head drops back. She takes in a huge inhale before she meets my gaze again. Her face completely emotionless.
“Dylan, I swear to fuck, if you’re messing with me right now, I’m going to kick you in the shin.”
“So violent. That won’t help you win any votes.”
Her eyes widen, filling with unshed tears. “Dylan…” Her voice wobbles.
Fuck, is she about to cry? What the fuck, I thought she’d be stoked.
“Deanna, are you a survivor?” I whisper. It might be because I want to build anticipation. It might also be because Dee’s a little scary and I don’t know how the fuck she’s about to react to this.
She pauses before letting out a screech so loud, my eardrums ring. All that ear protection for years playing the drums, all wasted.
“Holy fuck, Dylan.” She launches herself into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist. Her shoulder is an inch away from ramming into my jaw, her arms wrapping so tightly around my neck, I have to force an inhale.
I’m all too aware of every inch of her body pressed tightly to mine, and I remind my brain to keep my thoughts in the platonic roommate realm.
“Best roommate ever. I take back all the shit-talking I did to the girls last weekend.”
“What are you talking ab—”
“Shhhh.” She slaps a hand over my mouth and I smile against her palm.
“Don’t ruin the moment. I’m going to say something nice, with zero expectation for you to return the favor.
A once in a lifetime for me.” She takes a deep breath.
“Thank you, Dylan. This is…this is really sweet.” Her smile drops quickly and she points her finger in my face.
“But don’t think that this guarantees you my vote. ”
With that, she flings herself backward, a blurry Dee-shaped tornado whirling into her room before the door slams shut. “Ahhhh,” she screams. “What do I wear?”
***
“She’s a menace.”
“She’s an inspiration.”
“She’s a survivor.”
I do my best not to roll my eyes at the side conversations happening around me. Everyone…and I mean everyone…is falling over themselves to vote for Dee in this final council, like I knew they would.
There’s no world in which Dee doesn’t approach this amateur’s Survivor group with the same ferocity she approaches everything.
Naturally, she was cutthroat as shit. When she saw me making friends in the second-to-last challenge, I finally became her target. After doing well in the obstacle course and trivia rounds, she sabotaged me in the event I feared the most…the stupid, fucking puzzle.
But seeing her now, downright giddy. Confident and sexy. Charismatic and charming. Playful and bold. It feels like the Dee I know is still in there, underneath the one who has shown her face more recently, a little insecure, unsure, and full of self-doubt.
A part of me revels in the feeling of her showing me her genuine self. I don’t want her to think she has to act for me, but I hate seeing her doubt who she is and her value. It’s nice to see that carefree smile again, even if it’s just for a game.
A game she just fucking won.
I can’t help but smile and slowly clap, standing last to join the rest of our council. The votes were overwhelmingly in Dee’s favor because…well, of course they were.
She lets out a shriek and celebrates with a dance unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, her smile beaming. Then she directs all that sunshine at me, the sight nearly knocking the breath out of me.
Dee runs full speed in my direction, leaping into my arms and nearly strangling me with her koala-like grip. I nearly groan at the friction of her thighs wrapped around my waist. She pulls back, holding my face in her hands, and she leans in.
Holy fuck is she about to kiss me?
I dig my fingers into her skin, pulling her closer before she leans to the side, dropping a quick kiss on my cheek. My lips part on a soft exhale, disappointment nearly tipping me sideways, off balance as she jumps out of my arms.
Fucking idiot. Of course, she wasn’t going to kiss you. Get a grip.
Dee’s attention is pulled away just as quickly as the other competitors gather around to congratulate her. I step back, waiting along the fringes of the group for her to make her way to me once the celebration winds down.
“So…be honest. Did you vote for me?” she says, nudging me with her elbow.
“Dee, you always have my vote.”
“Good answer. Now, I can share my winnings with you. Dinner’s on me.” She holds up a gift card to one of the best burger places near our apartment. I mean, her apartment.
“I can’t let you buy your own birthday dinner.”
“Oh come on.” She nudges me with her shoulder.
“I wouldn’t even have this gift card if you didn’t sign us up for this.
” Her smile falters for a second. “Seriously, thank you. I think I probably would have wallowed at home feeling a little sorry for myself if you weren’t there to pull me out of my funk. I owe you.”
“For the record, I like ice cream. If you’re planning on returning the favor.”
“I was thinking of signing us up for some kind of Fear Factor group as a thank-you.”
“Hard fucking pass. You will have my support from the sidelines in all future fandoms.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” She winks at me before turning, walking backward a few steps ahead of me, facing me with a huge grin. “Let me feel wealthy and treat us with my hard-earned reward.”
I follow her, and it feels like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.