“Ha!” Ran looks weirdly gleeful. “Nope. He’s apparently ‘out of the picture,’ as she put it in so many words.” He grins, and a flash of something awful roils my guts. It’s that smile I love so much, but now he’s across the country and his ex-girlfriend is there and I’m… scared.
Ran doesn’t seem to notice. “Who fucking knows. Maybe she got what she wanted out of him or vice-versa.” He sounds nonchalant, but the same sensation that was in my chest a moment ago moves down to my guts. With the rock already there, it’s a tight fit. I feel a little queasy.
“Did you two, um, talk or anything?”
I see his wry smile on the screen. “A little bit. “She flat-out asked if I was seeing anybody new.”
What?“What? What did you tell her?” My voice sounds strained.
“I told her I was off the market.” His smile lights up the screen again and I try to focus on that. “I tried to keep our conversations work-related, but she asked if I wanted to grab a drink last night. I was dead on my feet with the time zone difference.”
I frown. “Is that the only reason you turned her down?”
Ran looks surprised for a moment. “Are youjealous?”
I’m hoping it’s a rhetorical question, but when it just hangs in the silence between us, I sigh. “No. Maybe. A little.”
“Don’t be, Babydoll,” he says. It feels dumb, but the nickname goes a long way towards making me feel better. His face softens. “I wish I was there. Or you were here. I’m sorry, I didn’t think to ask if you wanted to come with me.”
“I couldn’t have bailed on any more days of work, though,” I point out.
“Mm-hmm. Guess you’re right.” Ran squints at the screen. “Are you naked?”
That makes me laugh. “Yep, in bed already.”
“I can see that. I’d like to see more, though. If you don’t mind,” he adds. God, that sort of shy note he gets in his voice melts me every single time.
“Of course not. My body is yours to do whatever you want with, so you can definitely look at it.”
Ran groans, and from the way the screen jostles, I’m guessing he just shoved down whatever he was wearing to get to his cock.
“Can I see you, too?” I ask, and I’m rewarded with a grin.
“Let me get it hard for you first, baby.”
“Are you going to want me to —well, let me —come tonight?”
He gives me a contemplative squint. “I don’t know. Do I have to decide now?”
I groan. “It’s kind of easier if I know what to expect, but I guess taking that away is half the fun for you.”
His grin returns, wider this time. “You got it. When you’re so far away, I have to take what I can get.”
I bark out a sound that’s almost a laugh. “Well, I’ll definitely let you have whatever you want while you’re out there, because I don’t want you to feel neglected and go running after Eliza.”
Ran blinks in surprise before his brows lower. “What?That’s not cool, man! I wasn’t expecting to be here! It’s not like I planned some convoluted bullshit to sneak around with my ex in California. I mean, seriously?”
Oh,no. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean —”
He scowls. “Yes, you did. I saw your expression. You were legitimately worried about me being out here with Eliza.”
I’m suddenly fighting to make sure Ran can’t see how — stupidly, inexplicably — close I am to tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” I say hurriedly. “I know you wouldn’t go back to her. I’m just feeling needy.”
Ran blinks. The darkness fades from his expression, and he looks upset. “You can’t really think I’d want to be with her, can you? After what she did to me? After what I —” He breaks off and his swallow bobs in his throat. “After what we found with each other?”
The hurt in his eyes is killing me. “No.” My voice is small. “I just miss you.”
His sigh hums through the speaker, but he doesn’t look or sound angry anymore. “I miss you, too. Trust me. I’m sorry I snapped at you.” He huffs out a little laugh. “I guess I have to admit, it’s a little… flattering that you’re jealous over me. Not like Iwantyou to feel bad —” he adds quickly, “but it is a hell of an ego boost.”
