fear. When you finish, head to my place. I’ll txt when we’re on way.
R u nervous?
This time I had to wait a few minutes for a reply. He must have been called upon to contribute to the meeting.
No. I’m eager to get it over with. Don’t stress, Thea. I’m right by your side. Always.
I love you, I typed.
He sent back a row of heart emojis.
The morning crawled by, every second feeling more like an hour. At twelve o’clock, having heard nothing further from Ryker, I left the office to go to lunch. In need of retail therapy to prepare for the difficult evening ahead, I called into Bazaar, one of my favorite, kooky, off-the-wall boutiques. The clothes were reasonably priced, great quality, and when you bought something, the chances of walking down the street and bumping into someone wearing the exact same outfit were minimal. Some of the items were one-of-a-kind, ensuring exclusivity. I first stumbled upon Bazaar years ago, in my late teens, and I’d been coming back on the regular ever since.
Riffling through the racks, I found a gorgeous three-quarter-length, deep-purple dress with buttons down the back in my size. Stunning. I went into the fitting rooms and tried it on. If it had been a custom fit, it couldn’t look any better.
My mind immediately conjured up images of Ryker standing behind me, his warm breath feathering my neck as he unfastened each button, taking his time, maybe occasionally pausing to kiss between my shoulder blades, along each vertebra.
I shivered, the mental pictures running through my head like a porn movie. Being with Ryker had turned me into a nymphomaniac. I chuckled to myself. Who’d have thought, especially with the odd frigid accusation thrown my way over the last few years when I’d balk at the idea of intimacy with a man who wasn’t Ryker. Hardly their fault, but not exactly mine either.
I changed back into my work clothes and paid for my dress, then headed out onto the street, swinging my shopping bag alongside me. As I waited for the traffic to halt across the street from my usual deli, that weird feeling came over me again. The same one I’d had waiting for Ryker after the Christmas party. I glanced over my shoulder and scanned the crowds of people going about their own business. I shook my head and smiled. Idiot.
About a block from the office, my phone rang. Mom. I smiled. If I had to hazard a guess as to the reason for her call, I’d plump for a not-so-subtle probing of where I’d spent the weekend. Mom didn’t exactly chain me to the house, but when I’d called on Friday night to say I’d been invited to visit with a friend for the weekend, I’d been purposely vague. Lying to Mom, or Dad, or Elliot didn’t sit well, so I found it easier to blur the lines.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. I’m at the store picking up dinner for this evening and wanted to know if you’d be home.”
Translation: I’m trying to figure out whether you’re back in the city, and if you’re planning on spending another night with the man I’m certain you’re sleeping with but I don’t want to come right out and ask.
“Um, not sure of my plans yet, Mom. Don’t worry about me. I can easily fix myself something.”
“All right, sweetheart. As long as you’re sure.” A pause. “How was your weekend?”
I grinned. “Lovely.”
“Oh good. What did you say your friend’s name was again?”
Chuckling, I said, “I didn’t.”
“Oh.”
I could almost hear the cogs of her mind turning, wondering which direction to choose next.
“Is it a man? I’m not prying,” she rushed on to say.
I figured, considering we were planning to tell Elliot first and then head home to break the news to my parents, it couldn’t do any harm to confirm her suspicions without revealing the identity.
“Yes you are, Mother, otherwise you wouldn’t ask. And as you’re clearly so desperate, yes, I was with a man.”
Mom sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh, how exciting. Do we know him?”
An outright question. I wouldn’t lie, but equally, I didn’t want to confirm either. I took the coward’s way out.
“Mom, I’ve got to go. I’m almost back at work. I’ll call you later.”
I hung up. She wouldn’t call back. It wasn’t Mom’s style. Now I could only hope that the Addison’s deal went through today as planned and Ryker and I could stop hiding our feelings. If the deal was delayed, it’d have to wait