Chapter Twenty
Twenty
Elsie
If I wasn’t so locked in on what I was doing, this would be less enjoyable.
Although I’d met everyone at the pregnancy announcement party, I hadn’t been around many of them again.
All the other females were inside, except for Cressida, who had been sitting on Kash’s lap the last time I glanced back at the sofa.
Forge had set up a space on the bar that faced the flat screen with two laptops this time instead of iPads, along with two different iPhones he was using. I’d figured out one was his personal one and the other was for incoming bets.
Gathe was also outside on the patio with us, and I felt a little more comfortable with him than the others.
Saylor and Jude had come out for a while, but they’d left at some point. I wasn’t sure when.
Tonight had heavier betting totals than last night, and right now, we were working with a possible upset, which meant more money to be made, and Forge was riding a high about it.
At one point, he’d looked through the window at Oz and made the devil’s horns sign with his hand and stuck his tongue out.
That got a smile out of me. He’d caught me watching him and winked before turning his attention back to the games.
The only other times I had gotten distracted was when he leaned over me to look at my screen.
I got to smell him, and the warmth from his body always gave me goose bumps.
Today hadn’t been easy, but he had been there. In fact, he didn’t let me out of his sight. He’d stayed with me the rest of the day, done his best to keep me too busy to think about anything else. I knew why he was doing it, and I let him. I wanted to be near him.
“How’s the adjusting going?” Forge asked me while still watching the games.
“Point spreads and money lines are up to date, but …” I paused as I watched the game take a sudden turn. “Changing it now,” I assured him and went back to balancing out the numbers.
“Shit,” he muttered. “I need to hedge incoming bets.”
He sat back down on his stool and went to work on the laptop in front of him.
“You gonna give her a break?” Kash asked.
Forge cut his eyes at me. “You need one?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“She’s good,” he called out. “Mind your own business.”
“Whatever,” he replied.
I wondered if he had asked that because he thought I needed one or if Cressida had said something to him.
“You’ll let me know if you get tired?” he said, clicking the keys in front of him.
“This is fun,” I replied.
He nodded once, then gave me a crooked grin. “I enjoy it more with you helping.”
Off went the flutters in my stomach, and I felt my face heat up. Trying not to smile like an idiot, I stayed focused on what I was doing.
“YES!” Gathe shouted.
He had a heavy bet on the Knicks, and they’d just gotten an even higher lead with seconds left on the clock.
There was some cheering inside too.
Forge glanced at the window. “Raptors season must still be surprising,” he muttered, then turned back to our games.
“Tits and ass to celebrate,” Gathe said. “Forge, you in?”
“Jesus,” Kash grumbled.
“What? Before Cressida—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Kash snarled at Gathe, cutting him off from whatever he was going to say.
“I was planning on swimming,” Forge replied, not looking away from the games. He glanced at me. “Unless you’re too tired?”
Oh, um … what did I say here? I wanted more time with him, but it sounded like he might want to go with Gathe.
I wasn’t sure what tits and ass meant exactly, unless they were going to a strip club?
My stomach sank. Forge had gone out of his way to make sure I was okay and not alone today. He most likely needed a break.
“After this, I’ll probably want to get some sleep,” I lied.
I was going to stare at the ceiling and …
and … and be jealous. UGH! Why did I care?
I shouldn’t care! He had been nice to me.
That was it. He wasn’t some guy I could start feeling things for.
There was no future in that. It was my body’s stupid reaction to him, and I was emotionally needy right now. That was all.
He studied me for a minute, then glanced back at Forge. “All right then, yeah, we’ll head out once this is over.”
“Hell yeah, that’s my boy,” he said as he walked past us toward the patio doors. “I’ll go see if Locke is up for it. He can be the DD. The no pussy at the house rule is bullshit. My cock needs sucked.”
I heard Kash whispering something to Cressida, but she laughed. “It’s fine,” she told him.
The enjoyment of the evening had been zapped. I was ready for it to be over.
Elsie,
First, why the hell have you seen Forge naked? I know you’re not sleeping with him. That’s not like you. But seriously, you can’t end a letter like that! I almost called Forge at two in the morning when I got your message. But I decided I’d ask you and not him.
So, you liked doing the bookie thing? That’s cool. Sounds like something you’d be good at. I’m sure they appreciate the help. Maybe you can keep helping out that way, and it will ease the “cabin fever.”
Speaking of which, the grounds around the house are secure. Oz said you were allowed to go out and walk around. They have a nice pool. Go enjoy it now that the weather is warming up. Staying inside isn’t good for your mental health. Don’t lock yourself up in the room alone. Please.
I have to cut this one short. I’m due on set for a long day.
I will be looking for that explanation. Hurry up with that.
Love ya,
Calvin
I didn’t read through his letter a second time. Folding it and putting it away, I decided I’d go ahead and respond.
When I’d taken the letter to Oz this morning at breakfast, I hadn’t expected him to get it to Calvin so quickly. That had been nice of him. Responding to Calvin gave me something to do this evening.
Forge had left to go handle business that had come up. I didn’t want to think about what that meant. Sometimes, I wished that Calvin hadn’t told me what they were. The games tonight were being watched at Gathe’s house, not here.
I’d been looking forward to a reason to see Forge all day even though I’d heard his bedroom door open and close at four this morning. That was more difficult to swallow than it should have been.
It seemed he’d found what he’d gone out looking for last night.
I’d rolled over on my side and stared at the window for two hours, unable to go back to sleep.
The threat of more nightmares was part of the reason, the other being that my mind wouldn’t shut off thinking about life.
The video of my parents’ funeral, how long I would stay here, where I would live when I did leave, and Forge.
He seemed to creep in, even when I tried not to think about him.
It was better that I left sooner rather than later.
I was getting attached to him, and it was happening at a rapid pace.
I wanted to blame my current emotional state, but I wasn’t so sure that was it.
He was charming, gorgeous, sexy, and fun to be around.
He made me feel understood, seen, safe. More than Calvin ever had, and that wasn’t fair to compare the two because Calvin was a great friend.
He’d always been there for me. He might not have loved me the way I had him, but he had loved me. He did love me.
None of that mattered. I was spending too much time dissecting my feelings for Forge. It didn’t make a difference what they were. He was in my life for a short time.
Picking up a pen, I sat down to write him back.
Calvin,
I paused, letting the pen hover over the page. When I had written about seeing Forge naked, I’d thought it was funny. Now, I wasn’t feeling it.
He opened his bedroom door, not realizing I was walking by, and apparently, he had slept naked and forgotten he wasn’t clothed. Misunderstanding. I was a little embarrassed, but I got over it. You know how awkward I can be about things like that.
I am not locking myself away. I promise. I go outside. They have a lovely backyard, and I do intend to enjoy the pool. It’s heated, so that will be nice. Don’t worry about me.
Tell me about things on set. Anything new? Still replacing me with the new girl, Koralee is it? She doesn’t get BFF position. That is mine. Forever. She doesn’t want to face my wrath.
On a more somber note, Oz was able to get a video of my parents’ funeral. But I don’t think I can watch it. At least not alone. Or with someone other than you. I’m going to wait until you can visit. Not rushing you, but do you have any idea when that might be?
I paused and reread what I’d written. I didn’t know what else to say. I wanted to talk to Calvin, hear his voice, not write him.
Love,
Your one and only best friend