Dragging myself out of bed, I grab his bag of food and pour some into his bowl. He immediately dives at it and startsmunching away. Grinning, I scratch his ears before trudging into the bathroom to get ready for the day.
It’s been a busy week of photoshoots and player interviews. I’m feeling really good about how things are going and the progress I’ve been making on the group feature. I don’t have anywhere to go today, so I’m going to spend my Friday morning combining all my notes and filling in Juliet on everything I’ve gotten done so far. I also need to make a schedule for next week for the remaining interviews.
Once I’ve gone through my facial routine and gotten dressed, I make my way down the hall to the kitchen. I first glance to the living room and find the couch empty. Zander’s already gone, but when I go into the kitchen, I find hot coffee still in the pot and warm and fresh pastries on a plate on the island. They’re from a nearby bakery I’ve visited a couple times and might have mentioned off-handedly that I like.
It’s an incredibly thoughtful gesture… and it’s confusing as hell.
In fact, Zander’s been acting strange all week. He’s ordered dinner for us a few times and makes breakfast for me or leaves me things like these pastries. Hell, I’ve even sat in the living room with him without immediately bolting for my bedroom. We haven’t fought, made underhanded comments to each other, or bickered at all.
It’s been nice… but strange.
This new considerate, thoughtful Zander has been making my head a little fuzzy. I’ve been unable to get him out of my mind and I’m becoming more and more comfortable around him.
If this was the Zander I’d met at the wedding, I’d have fallen in love with him back then. Maybe this is the real Zander, though. I always blow up on him, and he gets mad too, so maybe I just haven’t given him a chance to be himself…
But then I think of our night together. He used me, knowing who I was and who my friends were, and just didn’t care. I can’t get past that, even if that Zander doesn’t seem like the man I’m getting to know now. No matter how endearing he might be, I’ll never be able to forget that he did that.
It doesn’t matter. I’m not staying in Denver anyway. Once this job is done, I’m gone.
I should just focus onGlideControlZ.
He actually makes me feel good and I don’t second guess his intentions when we’re talking and hanging out virtually. I can relax and be myself with him. There’s a lot of peace in the anonymity of our connection.
Except, now that I really think about it, he’s been a little off this week too. He hasn’t been messaging me as frequently. I mean, he’s not obligated to message me or anything, and I know there’s usually a cooling off period after initial connection. It’s not like I actually know who the guy really is, and we’re not really in a relationship… I wouldn’t even consider us friends since we haven’t met face-to-face
I blindly grab a pastry and bite into it as I think more thoroughly about my situation withGlideControlZ. I don’t consider us to be in a relationship… but does he? What does he consider commitment and exclusivity?
I should ask him… I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings between us.
As I continue eating the pastry - a flaky thing with raspberry jelly inside - I pull up the app on my phone and type out a message.
ClickTease: Hey! We still on for Friday date night?
He responds within moments, which reassures me that he’s not totally cooling off to me.
GlideControlZ: Hell yeah we are!
Smiling, I finish my pastry before asking the question pressing on my mind.
ClickTease: So, random question - what’s your take on dating apps and commitment?
I wait for his reply, chewing my thumbnail nervously. What if he thinks the question is too much and assumes the wrong thing? Part of me wants to clarify, but I stop myself, knowing that will only make it worse. I’ll just seem more desperate.
Finally, a return message comes through.
GlideControlZ: I think we’re becoming really good friends, but I don’t really do any type of commitment before meeting in person. You know how it can be with the internet and anonymity and all.
I chuckle and feel a wave of relief that we’re on the same page. I didn’t realize how much stress this was actually causing me.
ClickTease: I agree, we’re friends, and I’m really glad we’re getting to know each other.
GlideControlZ: However, when I do look you in the eye and stake my claim by calling you mine, all bets are off.
I part my lips in surprise and my cheeks heat. Ooooh, I like
that. Very possessive and dominant in a sexy way.
ClickTease: I’m looking forward to that.
