CHAPTER SIXTEEN
In the end Ryland paid for the fish tank and supplies, but it’s worth it. Little Goldie swims circles in his new five-gallon tank dodging the fake seaweed in his path. He stops to make his little fishy face at me through the glass.
“The no fishing sign’s a nice touch.” Aspen taps the glass tank and Goldie swims toward her finger.
“Yeah, Ryland picked it out.”
“Do you plan to keep it on the coffee table?” Simone asks taking another sip of wine.
Both women silently stare at Goldie and his tank like they’ve never seen one before. Aspen and Simone stopped by for a drink and to chat. Or in Aspen best friend terms — to get the scoop on Ryland and me. She’s occupied with the fish tank now, but soon we’ll move on to why she’s really here. The details of our week post sex.
“Ryland said he’ll look for a stand this weekend. Then we’ll put him closer to the window.”
“Ryland, huh?” Aspen pushes.
Here we go.
“I can’t imagine what would have happened if you’d had a fish when you were here, Aspen.” Simone says.
Aspen taps on the glass again. “Me either.”
The two women share a look and I have a spike of jealousy at their connection. Aspen’s always had an easier time making friends. She’s just so damn nice. Not only did she share this place with Simone for a few weeks last year, but now they both live in the apartments above the RDA building. The two softies have bonded and I’m left trying to corrupt two people rather than one. Three if we count Amanda, but I think she’s quite the rebel under her cute pixie cut.
“Oh all right, Aspen, get on with it. We know it’s coming.”
She laughs. “Well, yes. So just give us the details rather than making me pry them out of you.” She waves her hand presumably to get me talking. “I tried to figure it out on my own, but I don’t know Ryland well enough to know how much sex he’d need to overlook the rules for a fish.”
Simone gulps down her sip of wine so not to spill it on the floor. “Before we left she tried to ask Finn, but he refused to discuss anyone’s sex life with her.”
“So…” Aspen asks and leans closer.
I’d try to get out of it if I thought I could, but Aspen will get her answers one way or another. “It’s happened a couple more times, but nothing serious."
She searches my face, overdramatically moving her head from side to side and top to bottom. I must pass inspection because she nods once and remains silent for now.
“Are we doing din—” Ryland’s yell cuts off as he finishes opening my apartment door and spots the two extra women in my living room. "Ladies.”
“Ry, how nice to see you.” Aspen smirks in my direction when she addresses him.
She’s the worst secret keeper in the entire world. At any moment she or Simone might break out in a fit of giggles rolling around on the floor. I need to get him out of here.
“Sorry, Ryland, you can’t come in.” I wave a hand toward the door.
“Why?” he questions.
I keep my eyes adverted from the tight white shirt hugging his chest and the bare feet, which poke out from the black track pants covering his legs. I have firsthand knowledge of what he’s got under those clothes. It’s hard not to visually undress him whenever he's near. I picture my hand, palm flat against his chest as it lowers and slips under his waist band.Focus, Marissa.
“You see, my landlord makes me keep these rules, and number four states I can’t have more than two people over. That means no more than three people total at any given time.”
Aspen grins knowing where I’m going with this as I point to her. “One.”
My finger moves to Simone. “Two,” I say.
Sticking a thumb to my own chest. “Three. Sorry, Ryland.”
“You’re kidding me?” His mouth drops open.
Aspen smothers a laugh with a hand over her mouth, but I carry on. “Those are the rules.”
