Chapter Eighteen Blackjack
ZANDER
The apartment is quiet when I get back home. So quiet, I’m pretty sure it’s empty.
“Rylee?” I call out. “You here?”
Nothing. She must be out.
Dropping my gym bag by the door, I make my way down the hall to her bedroom.
Just in case she’s actually sleeping, I knock, but there’s no response.
I open the door to let Gizmo out so the little dude can hang with me.
He comes darting into the hall and jumps onto my leg, though he doesn’t sink his claws into my calf this time.
Progress!
“Come on, fuzzball,” I chuckle as he lets me go and rubs up against my leg instead. “Let’s go play.”
It’s only five, so I have plenty of time before my “date” tonight.
I walk back to the living room and Gizmo trots after me.
Plopping down on the couch, I turn the TV on, settling into play the beta version of the new hockey video game that Skyler’s given me to test out and offer feedback on, but before I can fire it up, my phone dings.
To my surprise, it’s an email from my apartment complex.
I open it and read that I can move back in next Friday.
Oh. Great… that’s great.
I should be happy. Relieved, at least. This means no more couch and I get my own space again.
All I really feel, though, is disappointment.
This means I won’t be here with Rylee anymore.
Gizmo hops up onto the couch next to me and I give him a small frown.
“I don’t think I can win your mama over in just a week,” I murmur. “And if I move out, she won’t have any reason to be around me outside of work, will she?”
He tilts his head and regards me with his sharp eyes for a moment before pouncing and nipping my arm with his teeth. I sigh and sink back against the couch.
“What should I do, Gizmo?” I murmur, petting him along his back. “I don’t want to leave yet. Not until I’ve won her over.”
I want more time with her, and yeah, sleeping on the couch isn’t ideal, but it’ll be worth it to be with Rylee.
I’ll just keep this little bit of info to myself for the time being.
Grabbing my controller, I start up my game and play for a while.
It’s nice to relax after a long week of practice, and I want to be fresh and ready for our virtual date tonight.
Jayce and Wilder invited me out again, but I turned them down.
I’d really just rather chill before my date.
I’m taking a bit of a risk not going to the hotel again, but I’m curious to see what Rylee will do when it’s time for our “date.”
I’m fully immersed in the game, enjoying it even though it’s not complete and some of the graphics are lagging and textures are off, slapping pucks left and right like a boss, when my phone rings.
Now what?
I grab it, a little annoyed to be interrupted, but when I see that it’s Mom, I answer it with a grin.
“Hey, Mama.”
“Hi, sweetheart!” she replies, her voice bright and bubbly. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Just relaxing. What’s up?”
“I just wanted to touch base with you about Thanksgiving,” she begins. “Everyone is going to be home this year, and I wanted to see if you’re able to join us.”
“I am,” I confirm.
“Oh, wonderful!” she exclaims. “I get to have all my babies home! Do you have any games in Nashville around that time? And what is your home game schedule looking like? You know how your dad and I always try to make a few of those.”
“Uhhhh… ” I have to think a minute to try and remember my schedule. “I actually have a game in Nashville the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so I can just go from your place straight to the game.”
“Yay! That’s perfect! The whole family might be able to go to that one.”
We talk a bit more, going over my schedule for home games.
Mom says she and Dad will likely be able to make a few of them starting in January.
They always try to travel for at least two to three per season.
They’d come to more if they weren’t helping with all the grandkids, but they always watch on TV.
When we finish talking and end the call, I go back to my game. I lose track of time as I play, falling into a bit of a video game haze. It’s only when I hear the front door open that I snap out of it and realize that nearly two hours have passed.
Pausing the game, I turn to see Rylee strolling into the apartment, her arms loaded with shopping bags. Holy shit! She went full Pretty Woman.
She looks my way and purses her lips. “Lower your brows and wipe that shocked look off your face. This is budget shopping.”
I frown. “What’s budget shopping?”
She sets her bags down in front of the island before answering, “I take my finances very seriously, but retail therapy helps me clear my head, so I make sure to always include it in my budgeting. Plus, I work hard… I’ve earned this, okay? So get off my back!”
I put my hands up as if in surrender. “Hey, no judgement. You do you.” Lowering my hands, I regard her a moment before asking, “Have you eaten yet? I thought I’d throw something together, or maybe order a pizza.”
She gives me a small smile before nodding. “I did, thanks.”
Drumming my fingers on the back of the couch, I hesitate before growing a pair and inviting her to hang out.
“Do you, uh, want to play video games?”
She blinks at me, nibbling her bottom lip as she appears to consider my offer.
Part of me wants her to decide to cancel her eight o’clock date with GlideControlZ and choose me, Zander, instead.
However, she sighs and shakes her head. “Thanks, but I’m pretty exhausted and have to get up early to be at the hotel to get everything set up. ”
Yeah… it was a shot in the dark. Why would she choose me over GlideControlZ?
“Oh, yeah,” I murmur. “You gotta be there way before me, huh?”
She nods. “Uh huh, so I’ll meet you there, okay? I’m going to go relax in my room and go to bed.”
“Sure, sounds good.”
“Come on, Gizmo.” She pats her leg and Gizmo hops up and follows her as she turns and heads down the hall to her room.
I watch them go and wait until I hear the door shuts before grabbing my phone and logging into Cloak and typing out a message to Rylee’s profile.
GlideControlZ: Hey! How’s your day been?
ClickTease: It’s been good! I’ve been getting lots of work done on this big project I’ve been assigned and am feeling good about it.
GlideControlZ: Awesome! Might I propose a little break? You ready for our date?
I make sure my phone is on vibrate so she can’t hear it go off when she responds.
ClickTease: Yes I am! What are you thinking for tonight?
I chuckle and shake my head. So much for her being exhausted.
GlideControlZ: Want to try the Casino night?
ClickTease: Ooooh, yeah! That’ll be fun.
I quickly grab my laptop and login to the website and we meet up in the virtual casino.
GlideControlZ: Blackjack?
ClickTease: Let’s go
We hop into a virtual blackjack table and as the cards are dealt, we chat back and forth.
It’s only now that I know who she is that I realize how few details she actually gives about her life in these conversations.
It’s understandable, of course, since in her mind we haven’t actually met in person, but it stands out a lot more now.
ClickTease: Have you ever gone to a real casino?
GlideControlZ: A few times. Mostly at a friend’s request.
Every now and then, Jayce will decide to go full rich-playboy-crash-out and will drag me, Wilder, and whoever he can convince out to the casinos to “see how much we can blow.” Personally, I think it’s his way of getting back at his family whenever they piss him off or force him into doing something he doesn’t want to do.
ClickTease: Okay, what do you think of this hand? Should I hit or stay?
GlideControlZ: A seven and a nine? Oh, that is tough. Ummmm… looks like the dealer might bust, so I’d stay.
ClickTease: Boom! Thanks! And they say the house always wins
GlideControlZ: Just don’t get too cocky. The house loves to lull you into a sense of security before it devastates you.
ClickTease: Lol, noted!
We play another hand and she ends up winning again.
GlideControlZ: Beginner’s luck!
ClickTease: Straight up skill, buddy!
I can picture Rylee saying that. Throwing up her hands with a triumphant smirk on her face, and it makes this whole thing that much more real.
She’s not some faceless girl somewhere out in the world. She’s real and I know what her laugh sounds like and how her favorite perfume smells like. She’s just down the hall… so close, yet so far away.
Ugh, this doesn’t feel right. I feel like I’m being dishonest now that I know the truth and my intentions have shifted. I need to tell ClickTease - Rylee - that I’m developing feelings for… someone else.
Even though it’s her.
But she doesn’t know that.
Fuck! This is getting complicated.
GlideControlZ: Hey, I need to tell you something.
ClickTease: What’s up?
I take a moment to choose my words carefully.
GlideControlZ: So, full disclosure, I think I’ve met someone. And I’m developing some real feelings for her. I want to still talk to you and get to know each other, but I just wanted to be fully honest with you. I hope that’s okay.
I hardly breathe as I wait for her response. It actually comes a lot faster than I anticipate.
ClickTease: I appreciate your honesty, and it’s totally fine!
We’ve already said we’re just friends. Since I’m working out of state, I don’t know when I’ll be back in Nashville to meet you, anyway.
Besides, I’ve kind of got a crush on someone else as well.
Well, it might not really be a crush - I don’t know if this guy is only interested in hookups or not, and if he is, he wouldn’t be worth it.
Holy fuck! Who is she talking about? Me? Zander? It certainly can’t be Kodiak. She said they were done.
Who else would she be hanging out with enough to develop any sort of feelings for?
If it is me, though, it kind of sucks that she thinks I might only be interested in hook ups. I really hurt her the night of the wedding, didn’t I? I never thought leaving like I did would come back to bite me in the ass like this.
I need to make sure she knows I want so much more with her.
GlideControlZ: I’m sure the guy is interested in more. Any guy that wouldn’t want more with you is crazy.
ClickTease: Then are you crazy?
Fuck… she has no idea.
GlideControlZ: Only time will tell.