SKYLER
I humas I unload the dishwasher, drying the excess water droplets with a dish towel and letting my mind wander back to the amazing weekend I spent with Ben.
The two days we shared in Chattanooga were an absolute dream. I can’t help but smile every time I think about how adorably helpless Ben was at the start of the cooking class, intimidated by all the spices and unfamiliar ingredients. The dishes we made together were such a departure from his usual method of sprinkling salt and pepper on some chicken, tossing it in the oven, and calling it done. When we finally sat down to taste our delicious meal, his chest puffed up with pride. He liked it. And I was so happy that he was happy, that he’d genuinely enjoyed the process.
But the best part of the weekend, hands down, was the moment Ben confessed his love for me. As soon as he said it, I knew in my bones that I felt the same way, and it was such a relief to hear him say the words.
And now that we’ve admitted our feelings to each other, it’s like our relationship has become a hundred times deeper, a thousand times more intimate. Even the sex is more intense because of it.
When Ben moaned the words, “Daddy loves you, Baby Bird,” while burying himself to the hilt inside me, I saw shooting stars. I came harder than I’ve ever come before, my whole body shuddering with the force of my climax. I whispered my love for him in between moans and whimpers, and I know he felt it because he came soon after, rasping my name into my ear.
We’ve been away from each other for less than a day, but I already miss him like crazy. I can’t wait to see him again tonight, and every night thereafter.
God, I love him, I love him, I love him...
I didn’t think it was possible to crave another person this intensely. But I need to see him, need him to wrap his big, strong arms around me. I’m literally counting down the minutes until I can see his face again—
A series of swift knocks on my door snaps me out of my thoughts.
I set down the plate I’ve been drying and go answer the door.
My heart stops.
Crystal stands outside my apartment with her arms crossed and her mouth pinched in anger.
“We need to talk,” she says tersely.
Inevitability, like a bucket of icy water, pours over me.
She knows about my blog.
I expect to feel mortified, but I don’t. What I feel is a bittersweet blend of pity for Crystal and vindication for myself. Surely, if Nate had shown her my blog, she’d have asked him why he was looking at it in the first place. She’d have to at least wonder what made him seek me out, and then maybe she’d start to question his side of things. Right?
“Crystal, I—”
She steps forward, pointing a finger in my face.
“I knew you were jealous of what I have with Nate, but this is low, even for you. You need to stop sleeping with my uncle right now, or I’m going to tell everyone what you two have been doing!” Her tone is harsh and cutting, and I’m genuinely surprised there isn’t steam coming out of her ears.
“Seriously?” I hiss back at her, swatting her hand out of my face. “That’s what you think this is about? You think I’m so jealous of your life that I’d seduce your uncle just to get a piece of it? That doesn’t even make sense.”
“Well, you’ve done it before, haven’t you?”
“No, I haven’t. Your boyfriend’s full of shit. And while I sympathize with the shock you’re feeling, what Ben and I do in private is our business.”
“So you admit it, then!”
I squint, confused. “I can’t exactly deny the photographic evidence, now can I?”
“What photographic evidence? You guys take...pictures?” Crystal shudders like she’s going to be sick.
“Obviously,” I say. “I mean, that’s what this whole thing is about, right? Nate showed you the photo, and rather than confront your shitty-ass boyfriend about why he’s been following your former friend’s blog all these months, you come here to threaten me.”
That seems to take the wind out of her sails a little bit. She purses her lips, her eyebrows knitting together. “Your...blog?”
Crystal appears genuinely confused, which confuses me even more.
Sighing, I step back into my apartment and gesture for her to follow me. “As much as I love giving my neighbors something to gossip about, can we please continue this conversation behind closed doors?”