Chapter Twenty-Five
Rian
I’m getting ready to head over to Ink Envy when the apartment door opens—thanks to someone who obviously still has a key.
“Hello?” I call.
“We’re very disappointed that we had to hear about you and Dylan from Seth.” Sierra barges into the bathroom, almost making me hit my arm against the curling iron.
“I would’ve told you. It just happened.”
Sierra hops up on the counter and Blanca sits on the toilet.
“This is huge. It deserved a text at the very least,” Blanca says. “Hell, maybe even a picture.”
Sierra and I look at her.
“Not a sex pic or a dick pic, just a picture of him in your bed or something.” When we still look confused, Blanca waves us off. “Never mind.”
Sierra wiggles to get comfortable. “Give us all the deets.”
My blush comes quickly, reflected back to me in the mirror. “It just kind of happened. He said he’s liked me for a while but was afraid to cross the line.”
Blanca slaps her thigh. “I knew it.”
“And the sex?” Sierra asks.
“Sex is good. Great actually.”
“I figured as much.” Sierra rolls her eyes, a silent reminder that I’m far from his first conquest.
“What else?” Blanca asks.
I shrug, pulling another chunk of hair to curl. “There isn’t much. I’m going over to Ink Envy and we’re going to dinner. Nothing seemed awkward this morning. He’s very handsy and affectionate with me. It’s just so…”
“Perfect,” Blanca says, her lovesick eyes rolling to the back of her head.
“Is that scary? I feel like it’s scary.” I lay the curling iron on the counter and shake out my curls.
“Why would it be scary?” Blanca asks.
“You’re waiting for something like the shoe to drop?” Sierra understands where I’m coming from.
“Ahh,” Blanca says. “I get that. But maybe this is all turning out perfect because it’s meant to be.”
I nod, not really convinced. Regardless, I’m ecstatic Dylan’s admitted he holds the same feelings I’ve harbored for him. And I’ll live this out until that shoe drops.
Sierra’s hand runs up and down my arm. “I thought the same thing with Adrian. You’re very invested in Dylan. You always have been. Although this is great and we were all waiting for this moment, it’s a big chance. A big step.”
“Not making me feel better.” I leave the bathroom for some space.
“I don’t mean it like that, but you guys have a lot to lose. At the same time, I think you guys are great friends who won’t allow this to tear apart your friendship if it didn’t work out.”
“I’m not sure we should think about the negative right now. It’s way too early,” Blanca says. “Rian.” She takes my hands in hers. “When is the last time you lived in the moment? Without thinking about the future?”
She’s right. Never. Never except when I confronted Dylan yesterday. My life has always had a plan, whether it was my mom’s or my own. I was taught that there’s always somewhere or something I should be striving for. There’s always more to achieve.
“You’re right,” I say. “My fear of the future could keep me from enjoying the here and now if I let it.”
Blanca and Sierra smile.
“Exactly,” Blanca says.
“It could be nothing goes wrong, or if it does, you get through it.” Sierra opens up the bottle of wine they must’ve brought over. “Who would’ve ever thought Adrian would get the rules changed so he doesn’t have to rule?”
She’s right, but my worry isn’t over something we’ll have to face together. It’s Dylan that feels unpredictable to me. He went from zero to one hundred in a night.
My friends stare at me as though they want to know my thoughts, but I’m going to keep these to myself.
“I’m good, guys, really.”
Sierra pours the wine. “Then let’s celebrate. You waited long enough, so enjoy that fine piece of ass.”
We all laugh, clinking our glasses to toast the future.
I walk into Ink Envy. Jax tattoos a girl’s back as she’s sprawled on his table on her stomach. Frankie works on a guy’s chest, and Lyle’s head is buried in his sketchbook.
“What’s up?” Lyle nods and starts drawing again when he sees it’s me. “Dylan is letting me tattoo him.”
“That’s cool. Tonight?” I ask. Lyle isn’t the first to apprentice under Dylan. Everyone gets to tattoo him at some point.
He looks up with a smirk. “No. He said he had plans.” His gaze sweeps over me. “I assume you’re his plans.”
“He’s got two girls tonight,” Jax says.
My heart constricts so tightly, I feel as if it’s going to stop beating.
Frankie gives him a death stare. “Jolie is here,” she says to me. “Way to give the girl a heart attack,” she says to Jax.
“I only speak the truth.”
The girl on her stomach stares lovingly over her shoulder at him. How he’s able to work with some girl drooling over him like that, I have no idea.
“They’re in the office,” Frankie says.
“Thanks.” I walk to the back.
“I do expect details at some point,” Frankie says, her tattoo machine moving along the skin with skilled precision.
“We’ll do lunch.”
“What do you really need to know? They’re fucking. I can record her moans and his grunts as proof if you’d like. I think I counted ten ‘oh my gods’ this morning.” Jax smiles at me, not seeming upset in the least. He must see something else in my eyes though. “Relax, I’m good.”
I nod and disappear down the hallway.
“You can’t just take the phone,” Dylan says. “You have to ask. I was on a call.”
“But Paw Patrol,” Jolie whines.
It’s late for her. She’s probably ready for bed.
I walk through the doorway, Dylan looks up, relief clear in his demeanor and his eyes. “Heaven sent us an angel,” he says, pointing at me.
“Rian!” Jolie runs at me.
I pick her up, situating her on my hip. “I heard you had a great babysitter tonight.” I tap my finger on her nose.
“Uncle Dylan won’t let me watch Paw Patrol.”
Our gazes shift to him, and he blows out a breath. “I had Jax’s client on the phone. He wanted to cancel for tonight. I’m arguing with him that he forfeits his deposit and she stole my phone to put on that talking dog show.”
Jolie’s head falls on my shoulder and her fingers play with my long hair.
Dylan points at her. “Don’t let that sweetness put your guard down.”
I hug her tightly. “I guess our dinner is takeout?” I sit down in the chair next to his desk, Jolie situating herself so she’s straddling me with her head on my shoulder.
“I was hoping you’d be my dinner.” He waggles his eyebrows.