Ryan: You know I’m off relationships.
Brendon: And I?
Ryan: Only have eyes for Kaylee. You sure about this?
Brendon: Yeah.
Ryan: You call Anna?
Brendon: You call anyone?
Ryan: Fair enough. I’ll let Dean and Walker know. Can you meet with a lawyer Friday?
Brendon: I’m booked all day. But I’ll make it work.
“Ryan?” Kaylee asks.
“Yeah.” I slip my phone into my pocket. Try to wipe my smile off my face.
She notices. Bites her lip. “You told him.”
I nod.
“It’s really happening?”
“There’s a lot of legal shit first, but—”
She throws her arms around me and buries her head in my chest. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.” I press my palm between her shoulder blades, over her cardigan.
It’s not like with other women.
I feel Kaylee in my bones.
She doesn’t hide her sigh when she pulls back.
There’s something up with her. Something she isn’t saying.
Her eyes find mine. “How is he?”
“Same as always.”
“Pining and moody?”
I chuckle. “Don’t let him hear you say that.”
“He knows.”
He does. Again, I motion after you.
Kaylee nods a thank you and steps into the lobby. The cafe is around the corner. It’s set up cafeteria style, with food in fridges, steam trays, baskets of fruit everywhere.
She grabs a teal tray and places it on the metal railing in front of a sneeze guard. Her gaze flits to the picture menu board. “Veggie meatballs too. This is gourmet.”
I grab a tray and place it next to hers. My body begs me to move closer. To wrap my arms around her. To throw her on that table, roll her skirt up her thighs, and rub her over those cotton panties.
I’m imagining her panties.
That blue pair with Paradise written on the crotch in black.
Fuck, has there ever been an article of clothing that accurate?
I force myself to stay in place. So there’s room between us.
She orders the veggie meatballs.
I get the regular meatballs. And two fountain drinks. Kay fills them. I pay.
We find a table by the window.
Yeah, it looks out on a parking lot then on the 405, but it’s still a nice view. The sky is a beautiful blue. And the light from the sun is casting highlights and shadows all over the room.
Kaylee slides into the seat across from mine and hands over my iced tea. She wraps her lips around her straw and takes a long sip. “Not bad.”
I motion to our plates. “All for under ten dollars.”
“And…”
“Food tastes better when it’s cheap.”
“I get half off everything at The Pizza Kitchen. I never want to eat cheap restaurant food again.” She picks up her fork, stabs a veggie meatball, holds it up and examines it. “No offense.”
“If you don’t like it, I’ll make you something when we get home.”
Her lips purse. “Or I could have an almond butter and jelly sandwich.” She offers me her fork. “You want one?”
“Sure.” I let my fingers brush hers as I take her fork, bring it to my lips, suck the snack off the metal silverware.
It’s better than what I’d expect for three dollars, but it’s not exactly fine dining.
I hand back the fork. “Not bad.”
She stabs a veggie ball and stares at it like it might just kill her. “Okay. I’ll give it a shot.” She bites half of it, chews, swallows. “Not horrible.” She stabs a piece of broccoli—her plate comes with steamed vegetables—and holds it up. “No one could mess this up, right?”
“I have faith in you.”
She flips me off. Chews. Swallows.
“If you’re not going to tell me, I’m going to guess.”
“Huh?”
“The thing that embarrasses you.”
“Oh. Well, if you agree to help…”
I nod. “Shoot.”
“Fan fiction. I write fan fiction sometimes.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t laugh.”
I want to, but not for the reasons she thinks. Not because it’s lame. Because it’s so fucking Kay. “How could I possibly help?”
“Well, there’s this theme I want to include in my next story. And I’m pretty sure you’re the person to ask.”
“Only thing I know shit about is tattooing.”
She shakes her head. “No. Dean… He mentioned something.” Her eyes bore into mine. “That you like to tie women up.”
Fuck. Blood flees my brain at an alarming rate. It’s replaced by the image of Kaylee tied to my bed, squirming under me, begging me to let her come. “Sometimes. It’s not an obsession.” I like having a woman on the edge. Having her desperate for me. Tying her up is the easiest way to do that. But I’m into all sorts of shit.
“Oh. Well. I, um, I thought I’d ask. If there’s anything you think I should know. Or resources.”
No. No fucking way. I’m not explaining bondage to Kaylee. But I don’t want Dean explaining it either. “I’ll send you a few links.”
“Sure.” She forces her lips into a smile. It’s not what she wants.
She wants me explaining it.
I want to do a lot more than explain it.
“Do you… do you do that a lot?” she asks.
“Sometimes.” It’s been awhile. Longer than it’s been since I’ve fucked. Playing hasn’t felt right. Rough hasn’t felt right. Ever since my parents died, nothing has felt quite right.