I purse my lips in thought. My stomach isn’t as upset as earlier, but I also don’t really have an appetite. I know if I tell him “no,” he’ll worry that I’m starving myself again. “I could eat,” I lie.
He lifts me off his lap, setting me down on my feet, and we make our way towards the stairs.
“See ya, man!” Ryder shouts to Hayden, who’s still lifting on the bench press.
He rests the bar on the hooks and sits up, and a glimmer of surprise flashes over his handsome face when he sees me, “See ya.” He rubs the stubble on his chin, “When did you get down here?” He asks me.
“Umm, a couple of minutes ago.”
His lips tilt down in a slight frown, “Oh,”
“Yeah, see ya later!”
“See ya.” He lies back down, and we turn to head back upstairs.
Once in the kitchen, Ryder immediately gets to workprepping our meal. He grabs the ingredients to make salads from the fridge and tosses the chicken breasts into a pan. I click the “messages” app on my phone after I see I have a missed notification.
Jessie:
There’s this really cool club in Charlotte I’ve been wanting to try out.
I look up at Ryder, who has his muscular back turned to me. He’s definitely not going to like the thought of me going clubbing, given the risks, but if he’s with me, it shouldn’t be a concern. “Jess,” I clear my throat, feeling a bit nervous. “Jess wants to go to some club in Charlotte.”
“Absolutely not,” He shoots it down without even glancing my way.
“Why?”
“Do I have to explain? That’s the perfect place for Lilith to hire somebody to come for you.” He sets the fork on the counter and turns to face me now. He’s not angry or upset, but he is understandably concerned.
“What if you went with us?”
He thinks that over for a minute and steps over to the island where I’m sitting. He rests his forearms on the sparkly stone counter. “I have a team meeting this afternoon.”
I grumble, “You can’t reschedule it or hire me a bodyguard?”
“Kelsey,” He gives me a daring look, “I don’t trust anyone but myself to keep you safe.” He slides my salad to me, and my mouth immediately salivates. I decide to let this go, and I’ll ask Jessie later about changing the time and location. I’m sure she won’t mind as long as we get to hangout.
I finished my salad, which surprised me since I didn’t feel all that hungry, and stepped on the porch to smoke. It feels like forever since I’ve had a good smoke sesh. I text Hayden, offering to join me and give me some company.
The large oak front door swings open, and a sweaty, shirtless Hayden steps out. I suck my bottom lip between my teeth and avert my eyes to the open yard ahead of me. The landscapers keep the yard pristine, even in these chillier months. I’m not sure what type of grass they have, but it’s always so lusciously green and fluffy.
Hayden plucks the joint from between my fingers and takes a long drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke. My lungs would explode if I tried inhaling that much at once. He takes another hit before passing it back, then plops down in the chair beside me.
I take a hit, “Can I ask you something?” My words come out wheezy as I hold the goodness in my lungs for the full effects before exhaling.
“It depends,” He raises a brow.
“It’s nothing crazy, but would you go to a club in Charlotte with me and Jessie tonight as my bodyguard?” Hestarts to speak, but I cut him off. “Ryder said he has a meeting and can’t go.”
“I don’t like the thought of you at a club, and I have to go to the meeting too. Sorry,” His mouth tilts in an apologetic half smile.
Damn it. It was worth a shot. I pull my phone out to shoot off a text to Jessie asking about changing plans. She immediately reads it, and the three bubbles pop up as she types.
Jessie:
Fuck no! We’re going, screw them!
“They would be so pissed at us, and what if we get taken or murdered? You know I have a target on my back.”
