The headline hits me first—loud and gleeful and wrong. The comments are even worse. Strangers dissecting my life like it’s a crime scene, arguing over whether I’m naive or complicit. Whether Ryan is a predator or just another rich asshole who also happens to be stupid hot.
My vision tunnels. I lock the screen before I can read any more, shoving the phone into my pocket like it burned me.
I silently count to ten. Just ten more second to wallow and then Iwillbe excited about this.
When I hit ‘one’, I take a deep breath and take in the space with fresh eyes, finding a smile.
I deserve a goddamn victory dance after the month I’ve had. At the end of the day, all the terrible dates were worth it for the promotion. I shoot a quick text to Dad, trying to lean into the excitement before it fizzles out.
Pippa
Guess what? I got promoted!!
My editor was so happy with my 12 Dates of Christmas series, she made me Head of Content for Love and Relationships.
Dad
!!!! I’m so proud of you.
And sorry I haven’t called. Things got crazy on the site this month.
I can’t help the twinge of disappointment in my chest. I texted Dad a few times about doing our Christmas lunch. But I guess he’s still too busy to pick a date.
I shake it off. This Christmas has left me with enough to deal with.
The good: the promotion. The bad: that jerk, Peppermint. The complicated: everything happening with Ryan.
Well, I can only solve one problem at a time. Right now, that’s getting spicy content for Ingrid. I’m not sure I can rely on guys from Keepr for that. I’ll need to bring in a ringer. Swiping over to my text convo with Cat, I type out another text.
Pippa
Do you know anyone you could set me up with?
25
PIPPA
“So, who’s the guy this time?” Ryan asks.
I pause by the door. He doesn’t look over from where he’s playing video games in the living room, but I get the feeling that he’s paying close attention anyway.
It’s the first time I’ve gone out for a date since Ryan had to rescue me—and the first time since we started sleeping together.
We’ve fallen into a kind of routine over the past few days. We’ll fuck—at least twice, sometimes more—but we always spend the night in our own rooms, as a half-hearted gesture toward boundaries. The sex has only gotten better every time. Sometimes Ryan dominates, and sometimes I let him. Other times, I resist following orders until he’s gotten me so worked up, I can’t resist doing whatever I have to so I can come.
It felt weird getting dressed for tonight’s date, knowing that Ryan had his face buried between my thighs just a few hours ago. But we agreed that what we’re doing is just physical, so even though it’s against all my better judgment, I can't seem to make myself stop.
Even thinking about it now, part of me wants to tell Cat I have a headache and climb into Ryan’s lap for another orgasm or two. As fun as that would be, I know I can’t.
Ryan and I are having fun, but I need more than just a fuck buddy. I want love–—real love—and he could never give me that.
“So are you going to tell me his name or not?” Ryan asks, snapping back into reality.
I shrug. “I don’t know it yet.”
He puts down the video game controller and sits up straight. “What do you mean, you don’t know his name? Where did you find this guy?”
“Don’t worry. You won’t need to rescue me from any psycho killers this time. Nate and Cat set me up with him.”
