“No.”
“Are you going to?—”
“No, man. I’m not. I went out and got laid twice this week, so clearly all is going well for me,” Ryder said dryly.
I pursed my lips and sat back in my chair in my office. I decided to play the game with him.
“Yeah? How was it?” I asked.
“Good. Wet. Hot. Easy.”
“Don’t get anyone pregnant. Ask Frank how that shit goes.”
He snorted. “Noted.”
“How are you getting along with Trevor?”
“Fine. He’s easy to deal with. It’s these weird fucking fans that are an issue.”
“Well, he’s got a big social media following and does his sex talk show on YouTube. He’s accumulated a lot of good people and crazy people.”
“Truth,” he muttered. “I got hit with a fucking dildo yesterday.”
“Interesting workday.”
“It had shit on it, Klaus. Fucking shit.”
I chuckled softly at that. “Well, you’re welcome to return here?—”
“And who would I be protecting? Huh? Rosalie is gone. You guys can handle yourselves just fine.”
“When Rosalie returns, she’s going to want her bodyguard back.”
“Not… Not interested.” His voice shook. “I’m done. I’m more suited for shit dicks and porn stars with giant egos.”
I nodded. “He has a giant dick too.”
“I’m aware. He had me check him for a fucking itch he’s gotten.”
I chuckled at that.
“You should talk to Anson. Let him know how you feel,” I said gently after a moment of silence.
“I’m not going to do that, man. I love Anson. He’d be fucking disappointed in me. And what’s the point? I come back, and Rosalie is, by some miracle, found, and I pour my heart out to her? Then she tells me to fuck off because why would she want a man who can’t even protect her alone in a hotel room? Nah. I’m good. Talking about feelings and shit is just a dumb idea. Shit like this breaks apart friendships. I value Anson too much for all that. He has trusted me with his girl. I saw his face five yearsago when he learned I’d kissed her at a restaurant to make the horseasses jealous.” He paused. “Rosalie has never even given me the slightest inkling she’s interested in me.” His voice shook again. “So please. Stop. I’m not coming back.”
“OK,” I said softly. “It’s your choice. Just know there is work here for you.”
“I appreciate it and you, Klaus, but I’m good here.”
“Well, if all is well, I’ll check in again next week.”
“Sounds good. Take care. Let… Let me know if she’s found.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks. Bye, man.” He disconnected the call, and I sighed.
I really did think Rosalie liked him right back. I’d seen her watching him from time to time. She even did sweet things for him, like bake him cakes on his birthday and buy him “just because” gifts.
