Chapter Fourteen InOut
RYLEE
By the time I get back to the apartment, I’m a bit calmer and more rational. I’m also a little worried that Zander didn’t follow me home, and I don’t know where he’s gone.
I really didn’t mean it when I said he could go jump in a river.
As I think about our fight, embarrassment burns through me. Good Lord, what is wrong with me? Why did I scream at him like that? And to not remember that I puked on him that one time in Nashville…
I could just curl up and die from humiliation.
Needing a shower, I wander into my bedroom. Gizmo is sitting on the bed, as if he’s been waiting for me to get back… and he’s looking at me like he knows what happened and is judging me.
“Stop that,” I hiss before escaping his gaze by ducking into the bathroom.
By the time I get out of the shower and dressed, Zander still isn’t back. My guilt becomes a heavy rock in my belly. Making my way back out to the kitchen, I decide to make lunch and open the fridge.
Holy shit. It’s fully stocked! When did this happen? I haven’t gone shopping and have been surviving mostly on takeout.
Did Zander… ?
Ugh, that rock is now a cement block that’s nearly dragging me to the floor. There’s so much food that it can’t just be for him. He got groceries for both of us.
I’ve never even bothered to ask him if he wants anything when I ordered out.
Dropping my forehead against the edge of the fridge’s door, I let out a long groan. Wow… I’m a huge piece of shit.
Grabbing a package of sliced turkey, mayo, mustard, tomatoes, lettuce, and bread, I set everything out on the kitchen island and make myself a sandwich.
Then I make one for Zander. My attempt at an olive branch. I even put a few olives on the plate. Maybe he’ll think it’s funny?
No, it’s stupid. He won’t get it. Still, I cover the plate with plastic wrap and stick it back in the fridge with a note saying For Zander.
As I’m shutting the fridge door again, my phone buzzes on the island. Heart in my throat, thinking it could somehow be Zander, I lunge for it.
When I see that Sutton sent me a text, my cheeks burn with mortification.
Ugh, I need to chill the fuck out. I suck in a deep breath and open Sutton’s message.
Sutton: SOS! I repeat - SOS!
I frown. What’s going on now? This isn’t the first time Sutton’s reached out with some sort of crisis - usually it has to do with her freakishly controlling family.
Rylee: What’s going on?
Sutton: It’s my mother. She’s trying to set me up again.
Oooooh, that’s unfortunate.
Rylee: What type of guy has she lined up this time?
Sutton: Oh, just another trust fund mama’s boy who spends more on his hair than I do.
Rylee: Maybe he has a nice personality?
Sutton: HAH! You’re funny, Rylee. Always so funny.
Yeah, I thought that’d be a stretch.
Rylee: What are you going to do? Do you need me to make another phone call as ‘Dr. Benson’ and tell you about your new herpes medication while I’m on speaker?
Sutton: Noooo… I wish. Mom’s caught on to that one, and she’s warned Dad about it too. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, but it might involve a spur of the moment trip to Europe. Wanna come?
I chuckle and shake my head.
Rylee: You know how much I love to go with you on your escape-an-unwanted-fiance trips, but I can’t right now. Gotta stay in Denver.
Sutton: Damn. Fair. Okay, I’ll keep you posted on what I decide.
Rylee: I have total faith that you will shake this mama’s boy just like you have all the others.
Sutton: Appreciate the vote of confidence. Love you!
Rylee: Love you too!
Geez, sometimes I forget that Sutton is from a whole different world than I am.
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have my mom playing matchmaker for me, only to suggest the douchiest of douches.
Even though Sutton is a grown ass woman capable of making her own decisions, her family insists on trying to control her and mold her into their ideal socialite girl.
Ooph, I don’t envy her, no matter how much privilege she had growing up.
I grab my sandwich and make my way back to my bedroom. As I reach the door, my phone buzzes again. Geez, when did I get to be so popular?
When I look at my phone, though, I see that it’s Miles again.
I freeze in place, my heart pounding. Again? What does he want from me? Why won’t he just leave me alone?
For a moment, I consider answering it, but I decide against it.
Instead, I shove my phone into my pocket and turn back for the kitchen.
I need a drink. Walking to the fridge, I yank it open and search for anything alcoholic, but there’s nothing.
What? Why wouldn’t a bro-dude like Zander stock up on beer or something?
Huffing in frustration, I shut the door again and briefly consider the bottle of tequila I know is in one of the cupboards, but I shake my head. No, no, I can’t do hard liquor like that in the middle of the day. Uhhhhh… whatever.
Grabbing a bottle of water, I make my way back down the hallway to my bedroom and I cross to my bed. Plopping down, I take a bite of my sandwich as I scroll through my phone.
Gizmo comes strolling in and hops up onto the bed next to me. He pretends not to want my sandwich, but plays his hand too early and pounces, but I hold it out of his reach, anticipating his attempt to snatch it.
“Not today, buddy,” I murmur.
He lets out an annoyed meow and moves to the end of the bed to pout. Finishing my sandwich, I stretch out across the bed with a sigh.
I’m bored. I hate being bored. The girls are all busy today, and I hate that I’m still wondering where Zander went. No matter how much I tell myself I shouldn’t care, there’s an uncomfortable twisting in my stomach that I can’t ignore.
Damn it! I don’t like feeling this way. I need a pick-me-up. Nibbling my lip, I open the Cloak app and shoot a message to GlideControlZ.
ClickTease: Hey, how’s your day going? Last night was a lot of fun.
I don’t expect him to respond right away - maybe he’s busy having a social life - but my heart races when a message comes in just moments after I’ve sent mine.
Well, good… I guess he’s not out with anyone else for a lunch date or something.
I’m grinning as I open the message.
GlideControlZ: My day’s off to a bit of a rocky start, to be honest, but things are looking up. I had a lot of fun last night too. What are you doing now?
ClickTease: Nothing. Just lounging in bed.
GlideControlZ: Ohhhhh, in bed, huh? Wish I was there with you.
Heat pulses through me and I go a little breathless.
ClickTease: Is that so? I don’t think I’d mind that one bit.
For a moment, I consider taking things a little further - getting a little dirtier - but I stop myself. No… no, I don’t want to rush this. That’s been part of my problem with past potential relationships. I let sex get in the way of actually getting to know someone.
I really like this guy. I don’t want to ruin things by letting my horniness get in the way.
ClickTease: Wanna play a quick game? If you’re not doing anything else right now?
Yes, a game is safe. No one wants to fuck when playing games… unless they’re sexy games. But this won’t be a sexy game. Just a regular, good old fashioned, family friend, non-sexy bit of fun.
GlideControlZ: Sure! What were you thinking?
ClickTease: You ever play “In or Out?”
GlideControlZ: No, I don’t think so. How’s it work?
ClickTease: We each say something crazy that we’re willing to do, and the other person has to say whether they’re in or out. It’s pretty easy
GlideControlZ: Sounds fun. I’m in!
Rolling onto my stomach, I kick my legs back and forth like a teenage girl as I consider what to say first.
ClickTease: Okay, here’s one - scuba diving in the Barrier Reef.
GlideControlZ: Easy - in!
That was a bit of a softball suggestion, but I don’t want to dive in too fast too soon.
ClickTease: Your turn!
GlideControlZ: How about eating a Carolina Reaper whole?
I laugh. Oh, he’s busting out the big guns.
ClickTease: In. Sleeping in a haunted house.
GlideControlZ: Oh, that one’s trickier. I don’t necessarily believe in ghosts, but I keep an open mind so I never piss one off if they do exist. So… in. Maybe I’ll see a real ghost.
ClickTease: Hmmm, I suppose that makes sense. Yellow flag that you’re not a true believer, but I’ll let it slide this once.
GlideControlZ: Wooh, thanks. I suppose you were going to find out eventually that I’m not perfect.
ClickTease: Don’t worry. I’m perfect enough for both of us
GlideControlZ: That is absolutely true.
Oh, gosh, this guy knows how to make me blush. Talking to him makes me feel… giddy. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this with a guy before.
The more we get to know each other, the more I feel like he could actually be the real deal. The full package. A guy I could take home to Mom and she’d approve of.
I try to imagine what he looks like, or, more accurately, what I hope he looks like. Tall and fit would be nice… dark hair, maybe. I’ve always preferred brunettes to blondes, which I know is ironic given my own golden mane.
And maybe he has green eyes… bright green eyes that look like emeralds.
Wait! Hold on! I’m imagining a guy that looks a little too much like Zander. No, no, no! I have to get that image out of out my head - I don’t want to associate Zander with GlideControlZ. That would just ruin everything!
I do my best to ignore the unwanted thoughts floating through my head and focus back on the game. We continue to play for a while longer, but I start to get sleepy. I don’t realize how tired I am until my eyes start to droop.
ClickTease: I think I need a little nap. Thanks for playing with me.
GlideControlZ: You’re welcome, beautiful. I’ll talk to you later.
I exit the app and let my phone fall to the bed as I curl up onto my side, my smile never leaving my lips even as I drift off to sleep.