Grant laughs again and Ryland slyly goes back to the game, turning it on and waiting in quiet while the characters load. “Yeah. Aren’t they hilarious?”
I consider whacking him with my controller but I do in general enjoy Grant’s company, and I don’t want to end up banned from Cosmo’s for Brunch. Leaning back into the couch, I bite my tongue and wait for the game to start. I’m ready to claim my enchanted sword.
**
Grant tosses his grease smeared paper plate to Ryland as he walks past us on the couch. With his feet stretched out in front of him, he makes an exaggerated yawn moan type sound and stands.
“Thanks for the food, Ry, but now I have someplace I need to be,” Grant says as he steps over my feet and stops. “Do you still want the name of my bike guy, Marissa?"
“Yes, you never know when I’ll need it. I’ll store it in the hallway.”
I’m not facing Ryland as I flippantly say the words, but I’m pretty sure the audible grinding noise comes from his teeth.
Grant responds with a few chuckles. “What do you need a bike for anyway? How do you get to work?”
The few times I’ve been around Grant, he’s always been nice, but from time to time I get the impression his family money situation leaves him a little unaware of how the rest of us live. This being one of those times. How does he think I get to work if I can't park where I live? Am I hiding a driver in the closet?
“I sold my car since there’s no parking at my new place.” Grant flinches, but I didn’t aim to make him feel bad so I quickly move on. “Now that I’m in the city I don’t really need a car. My job’s close. I walk it in under thirty.”
“Walk?” Grant’s horrified expression confirms my earlier suspicions of his disconnect with the average person’s reality. Not that he doesn’t work hard for his family company. I’ve heard him and Finn talk business a time or two, but I’m pretty sure Grant never did the mandatory stint in fast food during his teenage years.
“I used to. Since I hurt my ankle I’ve been taking a cab.”
“That must get expensive.” Grant rubs at the short stubble on his chin with a single finger. How is it Grant’s stubble makes him look young, but Ryland’s adds an extra layer of sexy?
Now it’s my turn to flinch as his words hit home. The cabs have been eating into my budget, but there isn’t a ton to be done about it. Aspen offered to have Jake, Finn’s… well something, I’m not sure what. Driver? Body guard? Assistant? Whatever he is. She offered to have him drive me to work in the morning, but I'm required at the office an hour earlier than her. It would be a logistical nightmare.
“You let this go on, Ry?” Grant questions.
Ryland takes a relaxed pose leaned against the back of his island counter, but his eyes narrow to inspect me. “Honestly, I didn’t know it was going on,” he answers.
“Didn’t know it was going on? Good God, man, didn’t you ask how your injured tenant got around?”
“Well…”
“Ryland lets me use his elevator and he bought me a coffee table to prop my foot up on.” I rush in to defend Ryland’s honor. Turning around to measure up both boys.
Even though they stand half a room apart, both are stiff as they stare at one another. Ryland still wears an easygoing pose, but his tight jaw and narrow eyes flick between Grant and me as if he’s deep in thought. Grant stands with his feet apart, a hand on his hip in a masculine fashion while his other moves around when he talks.
“Dude, you’re stupid to mess this up. Don’t be a dumb fuck and let her get away.”
“Me?” I ask from the couch my body tension now matching theirs.
My presence in the room all but forgotten, Grant doesn’t acknowledge my question but continues to berate Ryland for his lack of chivalry.
“When I findthe oneor hell even the girl with possibility of being the one, I won’t hesitate. It’s gifts and champagne every night. I’m not talking about coffee tables, friend. You need to let them know where you stand. The least you could do is give the gimp a ride to and from work. It’s not like there’s anything else for you to do.”
This time Ryland flinches with Grant’s accusation. It can’t be easy to go from extreme busyness with a major soccer team to holed up in your condo in San Francisco in February.
“I have it under control.” Ryland crosses his arms over his chest done with the conversation.
“You may think you do, but you do not, my friend. I promise you.” Grant gestures with both hands, the movements growing larger with each argument he adds.
“I’m not some helpless female who needs to rely on a man for a ride to work.” I speak louder this time and draw the attention of both men.
It’s kind of nice having Grant stick up for me, but the bottom line is Ryland doesn’t owe me anything, least of all to become my personal chauffer. The elevator is more than I ever hoped for. There’s no possibility I’ll be riding the Ryland express anytime besides my fantasies.
“Whatever, Ry. Don’t listen, but you’ll regret it one day.” Grant shakes his head at both of us and grabs his coat from a stool and then walks down the short hallway to the elevator.
The elevator dings as the doors close, leaving me alone with Ryland. I risk a look in his direction and find him staring at me. Nerves crawl up my body increasing my heart rate. We need to reach the comfortable kind of friendship we had before our kiss last night. But I worry we’re past that.
“Grant’s crazy.” I wave a hand in front of me to help reassure Ryland, but when he doesn’t move I’m left questioning the effectiveness. I try to laugh, but it comes out squeaky, which doesn’t help my nerves or remove Ryland’s eyes from mine. "Feel like killing stuff?”
With my question his head shakes from side to side, but it’s not a denial as his lips loosen and spread across his face.
