by R. Linda
I moved a few paces away and laughed. “Still holding strong?”
“Better than you, it seems.” She looked over her shoulder at me and shook her hips, still dancing to the music. “How was your sleep?”
“Sucked.”
“Miss me?”
I remained quiet until she came over carrying two coffee mugs. Sliding mine across the counter to me, she kept that damn three-foot rule in place. “You know I did.”
She smiled into her coffee mug.
I loved that I could still put a smile on her face with four simple words.
“How was Indie?”
Bailey lifted a shoulder and tilted her head to the side, checking to make sure the coast was clear and that Indie wouldn’t walk in and hear us talking about her. “She was still upset. But she and Linc talked.”
“And sorted out their shit?”
“If you mean they admitted their feelings, then no. Linc remains clueless that Indie is in love with him. And Indie has no clue that Linc feels the same way.”
“So, you agree with me?”
She nodded. “I watched them all day yesterday, and you were right. Everything he does is for her. He got her drinks and food and hovered around her all afternoon even though she was giving him the cold shoulder. I think—” She stopped at the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. It had to be Indie because my mother was working.
With wide eyes, Bailey turned back to the coffee pot and poured one for Indie, just as she slid onto the stool beside me. She groaned and dropped her head to the counter.
“What’s on for today?” Bailey asked, keeping her voice light and happy.
“Home. I want to go home.”
I raised my eyebrows and tapped my fingers on the counter.
“How about breakfast first, and then we can decide?” Bailey suggested, handing Indie the coffee. I knew she wasn’t ready to go home. She wanted to spend more time with her mum and visit the Romanovs at the bookstore. But if Indie really wanted to get out of Dodge, then we’d leave. I could always bring Bailey back another weekend.
“I’m not hungry.” She pushed the coffee aside.
Jesus.
First the bacon. Now the coffee.
Maybe it would be better to take her home. Not sure I could handle another twenty-four hours of this. The more distance between her and Linc, the happier she seemed to be.
“Well, I’m making waffles because I am starving.” Bailey rubbed her stomach and then jumped slightly when her phone vibrated on the counter. Picking it up, she frowned as she looked at the screen.
“What is it?”
“A message?” she replied, sounding as though she was unsure.
“From who?”
“Unknown number.”
“What’s it say?”
“I’m sorry.” She shrugged and placed the phone back on the counter. “Must have the wrong number. So, waffles?”
“Yes.” I drained my coffee and stood. “Am I allowed on that side of the counter to pour another coffee?”
She tilted her head and gave me a brief, sarcastic smile. “Stay there,” she said and snatched my coffee cup.
Her phone buzzed again.
“Well, whoever it is must have really screwed up if they’re this desperate to talk to the other person,” Indie said. “Shut it off.”
“Can I reply?” I glanced at Bailey’s phone, wanting to reach over and grab it.
“If you want.”
Indie, with her head down, slid her arm over the counter until her fingers came in contact with the phone. She pushed it in my direction. “Maybe you should just tell them they have the wrong number.” Her voice was muffled by the countertop.
I could tell them they had the wrong number, or I could string them along for a little.
I opened the latest text while Bailey began mixing the ingredients for waffles.
Unknown: can we talk
“They don’t even use proper grammar. Heathen.”
Bailey laughed. “Only you would complain about that.”
I contemplated what to say. While having fun with them and playing along would provide some entertainment, I didn’t particularly like the idea of a stranger texting Bailey at random times because they thought they were speaking to someone they knew.
I typed out a reply.
Bailey: Who is this?
The three dots that indicated the other person was replying appeared instantly, before disappearing and appearing again. Make up your mind, dude. Either you knew your name, or you didn’t. And if you didn’t, then you had bigger problems than apologising for something.
Unknown: You no who i am
My eye twitched when I saw the lower case I and the no instead of know. Technology made people stupid.
Bailey: Know*
Bailey: Clearly not, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking.
“What are they saying?” Bailey asked.
“Hard to tell. They’re not speaking proper English.”
She rolled her eyes.
Unknown: Know what n stp messin round
My eye twitched again.
Maybe they thought they were apologising to their English teacher for being such a terrible student.
Bailey: I have no idea who you are.
Unknown: Your lying
Twitch.
Bailey: You’re*
Hell, I was practically winking at Bailey’s phone from how much my eye twitched with each of their responses.
Unknown: ???
Hey, look at that. Punctuation. Stranger just won themselves a medal.
Bailey: Forget it. I think you have the wrong number.
Unknown: dont play stupid I no you kept this number b
A heavy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as I hesitated, unsure whether I wanted to type out my next response or not.
“Figure out who they are yet?” Bailey asked. Indie lifted her head from the counter and looked at the messages.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Shit.”
“What?” Bailey poured waffle batter into the iron and wiped a strand of hair from her forehead. “What is it?”
“Give me a minute, love. I think they’re about to tell me who they are.”
Indie scoffed.
Bailey: B, what?
Unknown: Is this Bailey?
My stomach churned. There was only one other person aside from Indie, Jack, and me that called Bailey B.
Bailey: Who are you?
Unknown: chace
Twitch.
Twitch.
Fucking twitch.
My fingers tightened around the phone, and I hadn’t realised I growled until Bailey’s hand covered mine.
“Jones?”
“I’m going to kill him.” I clenched my jaw. Spots clouded my vision.
“Who?”
“She was right.” I slammed a hand down on the counter. “He’s planning something.”
My breath was coming short and fast. Rapid, like my heartrate.
“Jones, baby. Calm down.” Bailey came around the counter and placed both hands on my face. “Breathe.”
She pressed her forehead to mine and closed her eyes. Her fingers playing with ends of my hair, and my breathing evened out. My jaw relaxed, and I loosened the grip I had on her phone.
“You good?”
“Not even close. But I’m not going to punch a hole in the wall, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Bailey smiled and slipped the phone from my hand. Pulling open the messages, she scanned the screen and gasped. “How did he get this number?”
“It’s the same number you’ve had since you were fifteen,” Indie said. “You’ve never changed it.”
The phone vibrated in her hand, and she dropped it on the counter. “I don’t want to talk to him.”
“I’ll sort it out,” I told her.
“No. You’ll do something stupid.”
“When have I ever done something stupid?”
Indie barked out a laug
h. “You’re not serious, are you? Want me to list them? I have Ryder’s greatest stupid moments memorized and sorted by date.”
Bailey laughed. “See?”
“Well, I can’t do anything stupid from here, can I?”
“No…” Bailey bit her lip in thought. “But—”
I shook my head and picked up the phone.
Bailey: Lose this number, Chace. She doesn’t want to speak to you.
“That was much politer than I expected,” Bailey admitted.
Unknown: ryder
Bailey: Obviously. Now delete her number and go find someone else to screw with.
I switched off her phone and put it in my pocket.
“Thank you,” Bailey said.
I shrugged. It wasn’t something she needed to thank me for. I did it because I hated him more than she did, and the thought of him having her number scared the hell out of me. He was almost as unstable as Christina, and I didn’t know what he would do now he could contact her whenever he felt the need.
“Now feed me?” I said, changing the topic before I really did do something stupid.
Chapter Ten
Bailey
The mood shifted after those unexpected messages from Chace. None of us particularly felt like socialising or catching up with people, so after breakfast, we packed our stuff up and got in the car.
We called into my mum’s to say goodbye, and dropped Indie off at Nate’s while Linc was working, before stopping at the bookstore. I wanted to see the Romanovs quickly before I left. I regretted not being able to spend more time with them, because they were some of my favourite people, and that bookstore held some of my best memories. We had a quick cup of tea with them, though, and it was so nice to see how they were doing and reminisce.
Ryder planted himself on the sofa against the wall in the kitchen and smirked at me. Running his hands over the fabric, he said, “This is my favourite sofa.”
“That old thing? Oh, dear, we need to replace it, but it really doesn’t get used,” Mrs. Romanov frowned at the tattered furniture.
“Was one of my favourite things in this place, except for the books, of course,” Ryder mused, and I knew what he was thinking. Or remembering, rather. The numerous times we spent on that sofa, almost being caught by the Romanovs more often than we should have.
Huh, maybe everyone was right? Maybe we couldn’t keep our distance. Maybe we were drawn together like magnets. Even back in high school before we officially began dating, things got pretty heavy on that sofa.
“You okay, love? You look kind of flushed,” Ryder asked.
“She does look a little warm, doesn’t she?” Mrs. Romanov said, feeling my face. “You okay, dear?”
“I’m fine,” I assured her and stuck my tongue out at Ryder, who looked far too amused for my liking.
After we left the Romanovs, we swung by and picked up Indie from Nate’s, went and said goodbye to Cole and Kenzie, then called into the hospital to say bye to Joan.
Heading out of town, I took advantage of the back seat and stretched out across it. It was much more comfortable than Indie had made out. She sat in the front beside Ryder, so I could keep that stupid three-foot rule in place.
“Damn it,” Ryder hissed and slapped the steering wheel.
“What’s up?”
“Johnny.”
“Oh, I forgot.”
“So did I.”
“Urgh,” Indie groaned. “I’m staying in the car if you stop.”
“Nah, it’s fine. He’ll get over it,” Ryder said, continuing down the highway. “Let’s just go home.”
“Yes,” Indie said, relieved, while dread settled in my stomach.
I didn’t really have a home. I stayed with Ryder most nights, Indie the others, and sometimes in the library, though both Jack and Ryder quickly put a stop to that when they discovered that fact. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them, though. Right?
I felt like a burden, always needing a place to crash because my roommate was a bitch, and I was too weak to stand up to her once and for all. After all these years, she still dictated my life.
In high school, it had been my clothes, my hair, my friends. Now it was where I lived, slept, studied, what I studied. Even though I was my own person, she still seemed to have so much power over me, and I hated it.
I couldn’t escape, no matter how hard I tried.
“Want to stay with me tonight?” Ryder asked when we pulled up to the dorms.
I nodded. “I’ll sleep with Jack.”
“Like hell you will,” he bit out and pulled me to him. “You’ll sleep with me.”
“Three feet, Jones.”
“That’s a stupid fucking rule, and you know it.”
“Jesus, will you two just give up already? You made it twenty-four hours without any physical contact, and another twelve after that. But the tension is killing even me,” Indie snapped as she pulled her bag out of the back. “I’m going to bed alone because Linc is marrying someone else. But you two don’t need to be alone.”
She tossed her bag over her shoulder and stomped away without a goodbye.
“She’s right,” Ryder said softly. “This is stupid. Why do we need distance? I want to be able to touch you and kiss you whenever I want. Screw what anyone else thinks.”
“Same. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” I shrugged.
“Only because you panicked when you realised we could have been caught.”
“By your mother.” My eyes widened, and my skin heated from the memory.
Ryder traced a finger across my collarbone. “I love when you blush.”
“Lucky for you, I blush easily, then.”
He picked up our bags and grabbed my hand. “See? Doesn’t this feel much better than leaving a football field length between us?”
“Exaggerate much?”
“Not at all, love. You need to stop by your room for anything?”
I shook my head. “I just need my books, but I can get them tomorrow when Christina is in class.”
We got to Ryder’s room, and I hesitated at the door. “Think maybe we should have called Jack to let him know we were coming back early?”
“Maybe, but it’s too late now.”
“What if he’s busy in there?”
“Well, I sure as hell am not standing out here all night.”
“But what if we interrupt something?”
Ryder narrowed his eyes on me and shuddered. “Payback’s a bitch.”
Taking a deep breath, Ryder pushed the door open. I could swear he closed his eyes as he walked into the room and felt around for the light switch. Flicking it on, he peeled one eye open and looked around the room.
Empty.
His shoulders sagged in relief.
“You really thought you were going to walk in on something?” I laughed.
He dropped our bags on the floor at the foot of his bed. “Not till you brought it up, but you never can tell with Jack.”
Jack. Eternally single. Never alone.
His motto, apparently. Coined it himself, he told me proudly one day.
“Wonder where he is?” I asked as Ryder pulled covers back on his bed.
“Hopefully, out all night.” He turned to me and dragged me into his arms, his hands immediately finding their way into my hair and tilting my face up.
“Oh, really? Want some privacy, do you?”
“You have no idea.”
He captured my mouth with his, wasting no time in sweeping in with his tongue. His body pressed against me. My hands gripped his shirt, pulled it over his head, and…
Jack opened the door.
Again.
Worst timing ever.
“You’re back!” He rushed over and wrapped his arms around both of us. “I’ve been so lonely.”
“Find that hard to believe, Jack.” I patted his back, encouraging him to drop his arms and let us breathe.
He laughed. “You know me too well. I haven’t been home since Friday
night.”
He jumped on his bed and crossed his legs, facing us.
“What are you doing?” Ryder asked.
“Hanging out with my friends.” Jack pointed at us.
“We were going to bed. It’s been a really long day,” I said, covering my mouth as I yawned.
“Don’t let me stop you.” He waved his hand in a circular, carry on motion.
Ryder groaned. “Privacy.”
“What was that?” Jack asked, sitting up straighter, as though that would make him hear well.
“Nothing.”
I picked up Ryder’s shirt from the floor and turned my back on Jack. Slipping my dress down to my waist, I pulled the shirt on before letting my dress fall to the floor.
Turning around, Jack was still sitting cross-legged on his bed, watching us.
“Jack, you’re staring.”
“Just waiting for Ryder to strip down to his boxers.” He winked.
“Piss off.” Ryder kicked off his shoes and climbed into the bed with his jeans on. Once he was under the cover of his sheets, he wriggled out of his skinny jeans.
Jack pouted. “No fair.”
“Sorry, Jack, private strip shows are just for me.”
Jack gasped and fanned himself. “Bet his ass looks really good in…nothing.”
“You have no idea.” I laughed. “And when he—”
“He is right here. Both of you shut up. And get into bed.”
“Thought you’d never ask.” Jack squealed and jumped off the bed so fast, Ryder barely had time to react before he bounced onto Ryder’s bed and lay on his side, head resting in his hand, and the other hand sitting on his hip, in what I imagined was Jacks idea of a sexy pose. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Jack,” Ryder hissed through a clenched jaw.
“I’m just playing.” Jack tapped his cheek and tilted his head. “Unless, of course, that ‘Jack’ was an ‘I want you so bad’ Jack and not a ‘get the hell out before I strangle you’ Jack. Then I’m totally serious.”
