Chapter 117

“We’re running late from this fight promo, baby, we’ll meet you at the alley maybe twenty minutes after you get there. Nate says can you tell Jen too.” Arrick is on the phone, surrounded by background noise and sounding cheerful. I’m already home, where he was supposed to meet me, and getting ready, and I sigh heavily. Irritation rising because he’s never late and because Nathan can go fuck himself as far as I am concerned. Still not pleased with the way he’s treating my girl.

“You suck. You know how much I hate getting cabs alone at this time of night. Tell Nate to text Jen himself, I’m not his secretary!” I snap a little harshly. I’m not really mad at Arry, just irritated that it’s going to be another hour before I see him, and all day I have only wanted a hug from him. So listless and all over the place with my emotions, and he always makes me feel so much more grounded. It was a shitty day at school, thanks to everything going wrong today, and I need some real TLC from the boy who knows how to make me feel so much brighter.

“I know, gorgeous, and I shall. Guy needs to man the fuck up and stop being such a pussy when it comes to women. I won’t be too late, and I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He sounds sexier on the phone today, more husk to that manly tone, his voice deeper since he’s trying to keep his cell close to his mouth to blot out all the noise of the promo event they are at.

“In what way?” I ask saucily, knowing fine that sex is still off the table. Not sure how else men intend to do any making up with sexy tones when there’s no sex. It’s still a source of eternal frustration that sends my head into gaga land.

“Tomorrow we spend the full day, you and me and do whatever you want. Saturday, so no school and I have no training before my flight to LA on Sunday. We can stay home and vegetate or go anywhere you want. You have me for a whole uninterrupted day.” He sounds smug down the phone, sure that he has offered me a more acceptable token of love. An entire day is a rare thing to be fair, neither of us has one at the same time that often.

“Uh, uh. I need to get up and go do that thing at 9 a.m. remember? It will take me an hour.” I sigh, deflated that I’m ruining our first entire day to just be. I have a school open day to attend. The fashion academy is hosting an event for new students, like a sign-up day and I must man a stall for an hour as a favor for a girl who’s going to see her doctor first thing.

“Okay, so I’ll take you, pick you up, and then we can have our day.” He tries again, muffled a little as he’s moving around, and it sounds like someone speaks to him in the background and draws his attention for a moment. I pull off my leggings from the day and pace around barefoot on the carpeted floor of my bedroom and haul out clean underwear. Sexy new buys: we may not be doing the deed yet, but he does like to get me into my underwear at bedtime and it doesn’t hurt to keep him interested with what can still happen.

“Uh, uh, again. Christian is collecting me and dropping me off because unlike you, he never stands me up and shows up late! He’s helping too. You can have me after that. He’s off to see his man toy afterwards anyway.” I smirk down the phone satisfied that I’m giving him enough of a hard time to keep him on his toes. Smiling to myself as I hold up a very lace infused navy set that leaves little to the imagination and put it beside the shoes I want to wear tonight.

“You never warned me way back when that despite him being gay, I would still have to share you. I might rethink beating him after all … Okay, baby, I will make you breakfast and then when you come home we will figure out what we’re doing for the day.” He sounds happier, cheerful like he is most of the time nowadays and a little tired if I’m being honest. Some nights he doesn’t let me fall asleep until he pesters the hell out of me with making out and pointless half the night conversations about everything and nothing. Last night we stayed up till dawn discussing the finer points of New York cuisine. I have no idea why we even do that crap. I can’t complain though, really, I love lying in his arms listening to that sexy voice and giggling my nights away with him. I can’t imagine it any other way.

“I suppose … if I must.” I sigh dramatically, smiling when I hear him chuckle softly. Picturing his face and those to die for dimples that make me want to squish his face.

“Are you ever going to let up on me? Even a tiny bit?” He jests, knowing fine he gets it way too easy and I really should be harder on him. He just has to smile at me sometimes and I’m all his.

“When you deserve it, I guess. Now go. Let me get ready. I have bowling to go to, might meet a hot guy who sweeps me off my feet.” I sulk down the phone in a mocking tone and catch sight of an alternate pair of shoes on the floor I might want to wear instead, that have been dumped there mercilessly.

“Just make sure his surname starts with a C, or there will be hell to pay. I love you, Sophs.” He seems to sound louder, moved to a quieter spot and a little echoing now, as though he is in a passageway.

“You’re such a loser.” I sigh with a smile, pulling another soft laugh from him.

“You will say it again one day, you know. I know you still do.” Arrick turns serious for a moment and I immediately deflect, conversation a little too close to the bone and not willing to face the fact I have been unable to say it to him since Leila’s dance. That part of my heart is still curled up in hiding, waiting to see if it can.

“If you say so. Get off the phone, my arm’s getting sore.” I sigh and pout even though he can’t see me. Rotating my shoulder and switching ears.

“Are you naked right now?” Arrick sounds completely smug, back to his cheeky self and the little sexual innuendos he throws my way more frequently nowadays. Even without sex, he likes to act like there is some.

“Ugh, that’s it, I’m hanging up.” I don’t even stop for an answer, hang up the phone and toss it on the bed, eye rolling at him yet unable to suppress the laugh and smile he has pouring out of me.

That boy!

I pull my dress off and walk to my wardrobe in my underwear, picking up a casual pink dress that I have worn a couple of times to the movies and the day he took me to the aquarium. It’s enough dressed up for a night socializing and yet dressed down enough for bowling. It’s cute and flirty and looks good on me. Currently one of my favorites.

My phone beeps on the bed, so I automatically pick it up, seeing Arry on the screen I can’t resist the heart-swelling reaction as I swipe to my inbox to see his text.

I love you, beautiful. Wear the pink one. xxxxx

I smile, despite myself, at my cute boyfriend; sometimes I feel like pinching myself to remind me this is real, and he really is mine for keeps. Well, on days I’m not super glum over the whole no sex and the still hanging on Natasha thing. Still, right now, I kind of love him a little bit more than I used to. My heart is doing a great job of letting him in a little more every day and I guess I am starting to trust him in small ways over time.

Not that he gets to tell me how to dress though.

I throw the pink dress on the bed defiantly and look for another in my endless sea of clothes.