Chapter 33 #2
His eyes shine with mischief and he bites his bottom lip, making his dimple pop. He brings his mouth close to my ear. His minty breath hits that part on my neck, right below my earlobe, and goosebumps break out on my skin as his lips brush the shell of my ear.
“Girl in the rain. I was thinking about one when I was mixing this for you.”
Good Lord! Is he flirting with me?
His thigh brushes mine as he leans back to stare at me. I go back to fidgeting with my cocktail straw. I notice the fizz rising in the glass looks like droplets of rain. The pink swirl of lemon rind dances in the center of the glass.
The things his mouth did to me in that rain.
My lady parts are all suddenly jingling and tingling and clenching with anticipation as his dimple surfaces.
This man owns his dimple, knowing too well what it does to me, he watches me squirm under his gaze.
Grief had suppressed my libido. It was dry as the Sahara down there for me when I was missing Ryan. Now that I have confirmation that he is still single, my lady parts are suddenly awake.
His dimple is in telepathic connection with my vagina.
It’s like the dimple reveals itself to summon my vagina to become a naughty kitty.
And.
Lo and behold!
The hussy has risen from the dark ages of slumber, and now all I am thinking about is the hottest sex of my life, on the edge of a cliff, watching the sunrise.
Ryan scans my features as my cheeks flush.
He smirks.
Oh God! He knows what is going through my dirty mind.
Suddenly Josiah interrupts us, asking me about my apprenticeship at the clinic.
Katy tells me she is a fashion designer.
She is the cousin from Ryan’s father’s side of the family, and while they weren’t close before, she got in touch with Ryan when she heard of his move.
I am glad Ryan wasn’t alone in this new city and that he had someone to remind him of home.
“Oh. My. God. I love your Hermes bag.” Katy gawks. She knows it’s an expensive piece.
“Thank you. It’s a birthday present from my grandma. It’s three years old.”
Ryan is quiet the whole time, but his arm is resting on the back of my stool with his thigh pressed against mine the entire time.
Half an hour later, Josiah and Katy get up to leave. I say my goodbye to both of them, while Ryan stands up to give them a hug.
I turn to check on Sadie once more out of instinct. I search the crowd to find her in the corner booth with the band’s guitarist, his tongue is shoved deep down her throat and pretty sure, Sadie’s playing air guitar with his balls right under that table.
Suddenly my stool swivels and my body spins on the stool. I come face-to-face with Ryan again.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi.” He smiles.
“So.”
“Yeah.”
“Chicago, eh?”
“You look more beautiful than the last time I saw you,” he says.
Oh.
Lowering my mouth, I clench the straw between my teeth and take a long sip of my cocktail. “Nice drink. You should give me the recipe.”
He chuckles with his face leaning on his hand and elbow resting on the bar. He stares at me for a long moment and I stare back. There are so many things I want to confess to, but where do I even start?
“You like working here?” I start.
“It’s good. I have learned a lot in the last few months. I am in the kitchen mostly but today…”
“Hey, bro, you left your drink at the bar.” The bartender places a beer in front of me.
“That’s not my drink,” Ryan grits out.
“Oh good. I can have it then. Can’t let it go to waste, right? Hi, I am Abram. I am almost Ryan’s closest friend at work,” he says, extending his arm for a handshake.
“Fuck off!” Ryan blocks Abram’s arm, making Abram arch an eyebrow.
But Abram is persistent. “Ishika, isn’t it? You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen,” Abram says.
“I know. Every time I look into them, I fall in love with myself,” I reply playfully to Abram and he chuckles.
But Ryan, he doesn’t think I am being funny. His glare turns murderous as he grinds his jaw and glares toward Abram.
“Chill, bro. I’m trying to welcome her to our city,” Abram says chuckling. “Let me introduce you to the team.”
Abram calls out a few names and they come over to say hello and ask me how long I am here for. I also meet Rhonda, the manager, who is sweet to offer me a barback role if I am planning to quit dentistry and change my occupation.
“You want another drink?” Ryan asks.
“No, I’m good.”
He nods and then follows the awkward blaring silence. I had so many things to talk about but I can’t get my tongue to cooperate.
“I like the vibe here,” I add.
The vibe here, seriously. What I meant to say was, I love you. I missed you. I want you. I need you.
Shut up, Ishika. Don’t be that girl. Don’t freak him out.
I don’t want to use the L word too soon. But, I am planning on saying it before I leave Chicago.
“Can I take you out for dinner?”
“Oh! Aren’t you working right now? I’m here for three more days so no rush,” I say, throwing the ball in his court.
Just tell me damnit, that I’m still yours.
“I’m done for the day. But if you’re tired, let me walk you to your hotel,” Ryan suggests with a hint of restlessness in his tone.
I feel deflated.
Is it too late to tell him I want dinner? I don’t know anymore where we stand. Is he treating me as a friend or am I something more to him?
“Where are you staying?” Ryan asks.
Stone-cold bastard. He can’t wait to get rid of me. He actually wants me to leave.
“I can drive. We rented a car. You don’t have to really disturb your evening plans because of me,” I snap.
He tenses. “Why are you angry?”
At the same time, Sadie comes to sit next to me. “Hi, Ryan. Long time.”
I turn to Sadie. “Sadie, where’re we staying for the night?”
“I don’t know,” Sadie answers.
I sit up straighter. “What do you mean I don’t know?”
“You were supposed to book the hotel. Shit! Tell me you didn’t forget, Ishy.”
“No, you said you would book the stay because you have a company discount.”
“Did I? I must have forgotten,” Sadie says. “Sorry, I was so busy the last week. My job’s killing me. I think I should take a break for a few months and travel.”
“What the hell, Sadie? Where are we supposed to stay? I asked you twice before we left if you have the accommodation handled. And you nodded your head.”
“Oh that. I nod my head to all things you say. I don’t really listen to seventy-five percent of those things really. Was I watching a cat video? Hey, Guitar Hero, are you a cat person or a dog person?” she asks the guitarist of the band. I had no idea he was standing next to her.
“Both. I love animals. By the way, I thought you’re staying with me tonight, baby. Your friend can couch surf.”
Sadie swoons a little. I can’t believe my ears.
Fuck. My. Luck.
I have to start looking for a hotel while my best friend sits here and flirts with a stranger.
I address Sadie’s guitar hero, “No, thank you. I prefer a nice bed. Surely, it can’t be difficult to find a queen bed somewhere in this big city full of hotels.”
“I have a nice bed. You can stay with me,” Ryan volunteers.
WHAT!
An involuntary rush of breath escapes my lips. A smile tickles the corners of his mouth.
“It’s not easy to find last-minute rooms. I have a bedroom. You take the bed; I’ll take the couch. I promise to be nice. Cross my heart.”
He makes a sign of a cross over his heart. His arrogant dimple highlights, making me want to kiss his cheek first and then his lips. He already knows I am going to say yes.
“It’s not like we never had a sleepover before. Take a chance on me, Ishika.”
“Great, now that you two are sorted. I’ll call you tomorrow. Take me home, my guitar hero.” Sadie winks.
“Stay safe,” I yell behind her back as she walks toward the exit.
I feel a pair of strong hands grip my hips. “Let’s go home, Ishika.”
His words sound perfect, even though he doesn’t say the three words I so badly want to hear. Baby steps in the right direction is good enough for now.