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Again, he chuckles. “Yes. I do my own cleaning and laundry too. Come by my place around six. I’ll text you the address.”
“Okay.” You know for someone with a bachelor’s degree, I seem to suddenly lack decent communication skills.
Ryan smiles widely before leaning forward and placing his lips against my cheek. The kiss is sweet and chaste, but still packs a hearty punch of lust to my overactive libido. Just over his shoulder, I hear collective “aww” from the meddlesome duo. Ryan’s lips curve into a smile against my skin, which sends another flutter of something decadent in waves through my body.
“We have an audience. I’ll text you later,” he whispers.
Before he pulls away, I hear a sharp inhale in the hair behind my ear. Unable to formulate a response, I stand there, wide-eyed and mouth gaping, as he turns and heads towards the door. When he reaches the doorway, he throws a wink over his shoulder to me and a wave to the gossips at the counter before slipping out the door.
“Holy moly, Jaime, that guy is smokin’ hot. I’ve seen him around town a few times, but never really noticed how gorgeous he is. Please tell me you’re going out with him again?” Lexi asks.
“Of course she is! Look at her face! You couldn’t wipe that smile off with a putty knife and a two-by-four. She has that ‘I’m going to get laid soon’ glimmer.”
“Payton! You’ve been hanging around Grandma too much. You really need to find yourself some friends,” I retort while walking back up to the counter.
“I don’t need friends,” she says casually. “I have you guys.”
And that’s the truth. The six of us are more than sisters. We’re best friends. Confidants. A team. We’ve been through hell and back together and, miraculously, came out smiling on the other side. My sisters are my lifeline; always have been and always will be.
Smiling, I finish out my workday, anxious for my second date with Ryan this weekend. I can try to deny it all I want, but that would be fruitless. I want to see him again. And again and again. I definitely feel something powerful when we’re together, and as much as I want to fight it, I just can’t. I just need to remember to keep my heart out of play here, and I’m sure I’ll come out unscathed on the other side. If I don’t involve feelings and all that other mushy stuff, I’m sure I’ll be fine when he walks away.
Because if I know anything, it’s that he will eventually walk away.
Therefore, the only possible solution to this entire Ryan scenario is to have fun, but keep it light and my heart from getting involved. Mentally, I make a list as if to cement my plan in place. Fun–check. Keep your heart from getting involved–check.
Should be easy enough, right?
