Chapter Twenty-Five Arcades and French Bistros
RYLEE
When I get home from my evening out with the girls, I walk into the apartment to find the lights low and lit candles resting on the kitchen island and countertops. There’s also a huge bouquet of roses in a glass vase with a folded piece of paper sitting next to it.
I look around as I slowly approach the island, but I don’t see any sign of Zander.
What the heck is that handsome goofball up to?
Grabbing the paper, I unfold it and find that he’s left me a note - an adorable, cheesy, cliche note.
Will you go on a real first date with me next Friday? Circle Yes or No
I grin. The man’s reaching all the way back to middle school flirting, but I don’t hate it. It’s actually rather charming.
Seeing a pen on the island, I grab it and quickly circle Yes.
“Zander?” I call out, moving further into the apartment to search for him. “Zander, where are you?”
I hear a shuffling noise and look down the hallway toward the bedroom, where I spot Zander peeking around the door with Gizmo in his arms. Laughing, I run to him. He sets Gizmo down in time to catch me when I jump into his arms.
“Aren’t you full of surprises?” I ask, waving the note in front of him.
Chuckling, he snatches it from me and flips it open to see my answer.
“Wooh,” he whistles in animated relief. “That would’ve been awkward if you’d said no.”
Laughing, I hook my arms around his neck and kiss him.
“I can’t wait to get your cock in my mouth,” I whisper against his lips.
He lets out a low growl. “Fuck, Wildcard. You know just what to say to get me hard as hell.”
I giggle. “Well, what are we still doing out here? Take me into the bedroom and get your pants off, Kodiak. I want you to fuck me until I’m screaming.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he grins as he turns and carries me into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind us.
The following week flies by and it’s a whirlwind of bliss, crazy orgasms, and the most fantastic sex of my life.
I can’t stop smiling. Zander and I have settled into a bit of a routine together.
We eat dinner together, cuddle on the couch while we watch movies, sleep in the same bed, and text each other throughout the day just to check in and see how the other is doing.
Even though it’s only been a week, I’ve never felt so cared for by a guy and happy.
Finally, Friday rolls around. Our first date is tonight, and I’m both excited and nervous. I don’t remember the last time I felt this way about a date… I think I was a teenager.
To really make this feel like a real, grown up date, I go over to Grace’s to get ready so Zander can pick me up like the gentleman he is.
“Is this too much?” I ask Grace, twisting from side to side to show off the little blue dress I’m wearing with a sweetheart neckline and fluttery skirt. “Or not enough?”
We’re in her bedroom, and Grace is sitting on her bed watching me with a little smile on her face.
“You look gorgeous,” she tells me. “Zander won’t know what hit him.”
I grin, turning to look at myself in her full-length mirror propped up in the corner of the room.
“I hope he likes it,” I say.
“I’m having a bit of deja vu… this same scenario happened when Skyler went on her date with Zander.” Grace chuckles. “If only we all knew then what we know now.”
I feel a flare of jealousy at the thought of Skyler and Zander together, but I quickly shake it off. Zander had a life before me, and I know he doesn’t have feelings for her anymore.
The man can’t keep his eyes off me. Or his hands.
Glancing at Grace’s reflection in the mirror, I see her lips momentarily dip into a concerned frown.
Spinning back around to face her, I ask, “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
She regards me for several moments before sighing. “Nothing is wrong, really. I was just wondering when Zander’s place will be done.”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I haven’t asked.”
Honestly, I don’t really want to think about him having to move out. I like sharing the space with him now.
“What about when you go back to Nashville?” Grace’s tone is gentle now, as if she’s being careful not to upset me with her questions. “What will you guys do then?”
I can understand why she’s asking me this, and I can appreciate her concern.
I’ve never done long distance before, and I really have no idea how it would work.
Yeah, we’re both from Nashville, but he’s going to continue to be in Denver for the foreseeable future while he’s playing for the Night Hawks.
Part of me is pretty confident that Zander would willingly travel back and forth if what we have is as important to him as he makes it seem.
“We’ll figure it out,” I tell Grace with a small grin. “Crazier relationships have worked out before, you know.”
I give her a pointed look and she chuckles and nods. “Okay, okay. Point taken.”
My phone suddenly buzzes and I turn to dig it out of my purse, thinking it could be Zander. When I see that it’s a notification from Cloak, I quickly open it and see a new message from GlideControlZ.
GlideControlZ: Good luck with your date tonight! Really hope all goes well for you!
I feel a tender flutter in my chest and can’t help but gush a little at how supportive and encouraging he’s being.
When I told him about my date earlier this week, he was excited for me, and that meant a lot.
I really like that we’re able to continue to be friends even though neither of us are interested in pursuing anything further romantically.
ClickTease: Thanks! I’m really excited!
Before GlideControlZ responds, there’s a loud knock on the apartment’s front door. Eyes wide and heart pounding, I whirl to face Grace who is beaming with excitement herself.
“Come on!” She grabs my hand and pulls me out of the bedroom and down the hall to the large entryway. She stops and turns to face me, fussing with my hair and dress like an actual mom.
More knocking as me flapping my hands to shoo her away from me.
“The door!” I insist. “I don’t want him to think we’re ignoring him.”
“Oh, it’s good for him to sweat a bit,” Grace teases. “Truth be told, Jensen really wanted to be here to play the overprotective dad interrogating his daughter’s date, but Tyler’s in town and the two went to a Nuggets game together. So I’ll have to be the overprotective parent myself.”
“Good Lord,” I grumble, rolling my eyes. It’s a little weird that I haven’t thought about Tyler since the wedding.
God, I’m so glad he ditched me that night and left me in Zander’s care. This night might not be happening otherwise.
Grace finally moves to open the door and let Zander in.
He’s dressed in dark jeans and a navy blue button up shirt. His beard is trimmed and his hair combed and styled. He looks like he walked right off the cover of GQ.
“Hey, Grace,” he greets her, stepping through the door. “I’m here to get Rylee… ”
His words trail off when he catches sight of me. His eyes go wide and his lips part as he stares at me. My cheeks heat and I feel suddenly shy under his hot, intense stare.
“Zander, you’re being weird,” I chuckle, dropping my gaze bashfully. “Stop staring.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up into that crooked little grin I’ve come to love so much.
“I can’t help myself,” he replies. “You’re gorgeous, Wildcard.”
My blush deepens. “Thanks… you don’t look so bad yourself.”
Grace looks between us with a knowing grin. “Okay, well, you two better get going. Have fun now.”
I scowl at her. “All right, Mom. We’ll head out.”
“You two kids have fun,” Grace teases as I hurry toward Zander. “Have her home by ten, young man.”
Zander lets out a bark of laughter as he places his hand on the small of my back like it’s the most natural gesture in the world.
“Yes, ma’am,” he responds, shooting Grace a wink. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman, I swear.”
I can’t think straight enough to form words. His large palm pressed against me has somehow scrambled my brain, so I just give Grace a little wave as he escorts me out of the apartment.
We make our way down and outside to his large black Chevy truck. He opens the passenger door for me, his gaze dancing over my body.
“Madam.” He gives me a little half bow that makes me laugh and roll my eyes.
“Weirdo.” Sweet, adoring, attentive weirdo.
I climb into the truck and he gets in behind the wheel next to me.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he pulls into traffic.
“It’s a surprise.”
“A surprise? Must be somewhere really fancy, then.”
He shoots me a wink. “You’ll see.”
He remains tight-lipped about our destination the rest of the way, no matter how hard I try to dig it out of him.
“Is it a fancy restaurant? A picnic? Are we going to the movies?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “You’re not going to guess it, but trust me. It’ll be fun.”
I purse my lips together and shake my head. “Sneaky… you’re sneaky, Kodiak.”
Zander shoots me a wink at that. “Very, very sneaky.”
I roll my eyes, but giggle and relax back into my seat to wait and see where he takes me. When we finally arrive at our destination, I furrow my brow in confusion.
“Uh… the mall?” I give him a baffled look. “We’re having a date at the mall?”
He laughs and nods. “You love shopping, and I love video games, and here we’re able to enjoy the best of both our worlds. You’re going to teach me about retail therapy, and I’m going to teach you how to feel like a kid again… in the arcade.”
I furrow my brow. “You want to go shopping with me?”
“Yeah, I do,” he assures me. “I want to spend time with you doing what you like to do, and then share more of what I like. That’s what a first date is supposed to be, right? Getting to know each other better and having fun?”
I bite my lip to hide my shy grin. “I suppose that’s true.”
He parks and hurries around the truck to open my door for me and help me out. Taking hold of my hand, he leads me inside.
“All right,” he says. “Let’s shop..”