by E. L. Todd
Zeke looked out the window, his jaw clenched.
“And I can’t believe you said that to her.” Making her choose right then and there didn’t sound like a smart idea. She ended up at Ryker’s for the night.
“I’m not babying her anymore,” he snapped. “I did what I did. I won’t make excuses for it. But I’m not gonna keep kissing her ass. If she wants me, I’m here. But if she doesn’t, then I’m moving on.”
I didn’t believe that—not for a second.
He must have known because he lowered his gaze, not making eye contact with me. “I know how she is. If I try to win her back or convince her to be with me, it just pushes her away. This cold-hearted distance is better. It’ll make her rethink her decisions.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“She came back to me the first time, right?” he said. “I didn’t chase her. I let her come to me.”
“But is that gonna work a second time?”
He sighed and dragged his hands down his face. “Fuck, I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I’m so pissed at her, but goddammit, I love her. I love her more than any other guy will love her. I just want to grab all her shit and make her move in with me. I wanna get married, have kids, all that stupid stuff. I’m still stuck in this warzone when it comes to her. I’m never gonna get over her. We both know it.”
Yeah, probably not. “Well...maybe this isn’t the best time, but I need to tell you something.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “What?”
“She slept at Ryker’s last night.”
He didn’t react at all.
“I couldn’t get a hold of her, so I called him this morning. He told me she stayed over.”
Zeke ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, but he didn’t flip the table over.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I’m fine.”
I wasn’t sure how he was fine right now. If Rae slept over there, she probably slept with him.
Zeke responded to my unsaid statement. “She didn’t have sex with him.”
“What makes you so sure?”
He looked out the window again. “She wouldn’t do that. I know her.”
After being told off like she had been, I would be surprised if she didn’t sleep with Ryker.
“She was mad, but not mad enough to do that.” He seemed certain about it, like there was no possibility Rae would get involved with him again.
Since he seemed so sure, I didn’t try to tell him otherwise. Besides, it might kill him. “Then what are you going to do now? I really don’t think ignoring her is going to work this time.”
“I didn’t ignore her last time.”
“You know what I mean.”
He shrugged when he couldn’t find the words. “I never thought I’d say this, but damn, I wish I’d listened to you.”
I couldn’t force a smile. “I know.”
“This whole thing is so stupid. We should be together right now.”
“I’m very wise, I know.”
Zeke rubbed his temple as if he had a migraine. “I really don’t know where to go from here. Not a clue.”
“I wouldn’t mind killing Ryker.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. But I don’t think that would help me get Rae back.”
“But you would feel better.”
“Yeah...for a while.” His playfulness died away when he came back to reality.
Zeke and Rae were so screwed up, and I didn’t have any hope for them. They finally hit rock bottom and there was no way for them to come back from that. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Rae ended up with Ryker, getting married and having kids. Then Zeke would end up with someone else... It was all pretty depressing. I didn’t like thinking about it. But then an idea came to me. “I think I know what you should do...but you aren’t going to like it.”
“Well, you were right about me not telling her in the first place, so I have an open mind.”
“Well...I think you should start seeing someone.”
Zeke gave me a blank look, like he didn’t understand what I said.
“Not for real. Just pretend. Someone super, super hot. Someone really chill, athletic, and just awesome.”
“What’s that going to do?”
“Dude, it’ll make Rae so jealous she’ll come crawling back.”
“Or it’ll just push her further into Ryker’s arms.”
“Yeah, that could happen...” Rae would probably be upset and do something stupid, like sleep with Ryker. But that was a risk he had to take. “But when she realizes how awesome this chick is, she’ll know she’s the real deal...that you’re probably going to marry her someday. And if she doesn’t do something now while she still has the chance, she’ll lose you forever.”
Zeke was reluctant, like I expected him to be. “If she really thought I had a girlfriend, she wouldn’t try to win me back. When I was with Rochelle, she never told me how she felt.”
“But that was different. Now she sees you as hers. You’ll always be hers, you know?”
“I guess,” he admitted.
“I’m telling you, it would work.”
“I don’t know...” He shook his head. “I don’t want to play games with her.”
“And what are you doing now?” I snapped. “You’re messing with her head as we speak.”
“This is different. This will hurt her.”
“Dude, you’ve gotta hurt her. Make her understand that you aren’t going to wait around forever. Make her realize she has to forget the past and move on if she wants you for the rest of her life. I think this plan is pretty solid.”
“I don’t even know a chick like that.”
“I do.”
He rolled his eyes. “Do not say Kayden.”
“I wasn’t. You think I’d pimp out my lady?”
“Honestly, yeah—at least for me.”
“Nope, not even you.” Just the idea of Kayden touching someone besides me made my blood boil. “What about Zoey’s friend Monica? That chick is so damn hot. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah...” Zeke nodded when realized who I was talking about. “Yeah, she is. But I’m not gonna be able to convince her to be my fake girlfriend. I’m sure she has more important things to do.”
“Or she could be your real girlfriend.”
He shook his head. “I’ll pass.”
“You just said she was hot.”
“Yeah, she is. But she’s not Rae.”
Because she was better than Rae. “I’m sure Zoey would help us out. She was pretty bummed when you guys broke up.”
“Man, my whole family was torn apart. My mom still calls me every day and asks if I got her back yet.”
“Seriously? Did you tell her what happened?”
He nodded.
“You told your mom about your one-night stand?” I couldn’t even tell Rae something like that, let alone my own mother.
“Rex, you know I’m close with my family. I don’t tell my mom everything about my personal life, but she wanted to know why we broke up...so I told her. I was pretty upset at the time, and I needed someone to talk to.”
“Such a mama’s boy...” I rolled my eyes.
Zeke didn’t seem offended. “So, I don’t think that will work.”
“I think it will. We can give her a few hundred bucks or something. It’ll only take, like, two weeks of her time.”
“You think I can get Rae back that quickly?” he asked incredulously.
“With Monica, hell yeah. But you’ve got to be serious about it. You’ve got to make it seem like you’re really over Rae and you’re doing your own thing now.”
Zeke sighed like that was impossible.
“I’m serious.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“And you’ve got to be prepared for Rae to hook up with Ryker. It’s a serious possibility.”
The blood drained from his face.
“Can you accept that?”
He stil
l looked sick. “I don’t know...”
“If you think about it, you’d be even.”
“This isn’t a game, Rex.”
“You’re right. It’s a war.” Zeke got her back once, but she’d slipped away. And now it would be even harder to get her back a second time. “If you don’t do this, she’s going to sleep with him again anyway. At least this will get you back together.”
Zeke was quiet.
“So, you want to go through with this?”
Zeke still didn’t have an answer, his jaw tense.
“Come on, man.”
He finally agreed. “I guess it’s worth a shot.”
“That’s the spirit,” I said. “But if she brings Ryker around, you’ve got to be so damn cool, alright?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“That will bother Rae more than anything else.”
“Or just confuse her.”
“No. It’ll put her on the right path to where she should be. She’ll kick Ryker to the curb and beg you to take her back. And then this nightmare will finally be over.”
Chapter Twenty
Rae
A week went by, and Zeke didn’t contact me.
Not that I expected he would.
Okay, I expected it a little...
Rex and Kayden were coming over for the game, and I debated inviting Zeke. I knew that if none of these relationship problems were occurring, I would invite him in a heartbeat—because he was my friend. So, I pulled out my phone and typed the message. Rex and Kayden are coming over to watch the game if you want to stop by. Before I thought too much about it, I hit send.
The three dots didn’t appear.
For an hour and a half.
Then he finally wrote back. I’ll be there. That was all he said. As impossible as it was, I felt his indifference through the phone.
I wanted to write something back to break the ice, but I couldn’t think of anything good to say. So I just let it be, knowing our first interaction would be awkward, bordering on painful. But we had to get through it.
An hour later, there was a knock on my door. There were still forty-five minutes until the game started, but perhaps Zeke decided to come early so we could talk in private. “It’s open.” I got off the couch and walked into the kitchen.
Ryker opened the door with a bag of groceries in his hand. “Hey. Thought I’d stop by and cook dinner.”
Safari took a defensive stand and growled viciously.
“Safari, chill.” I walked over to him and gave him a gentle pat on the nose. “Stop growling at him.”
“I think I know what might help...” Ryker pulled a dog bone out of the bag and handed it over. “Truce?”
Safari snatched it out of his hand and walked away to enjoy it in the living room.
“I think I’m softening him up.” He set the groceries on the counter.
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t mind him. He’d never actually bite you.”
“I don’t know...” Ryker pulled out the chicken and vegetables.
I watched him unpack the food and tried to think of something smart to say. People were coming over, and I didn’t necessarily want Zeke to see Ryker. We were really done so I could do whatever I wanted, but I didn’t want to parade it around him. “Actually, I invited people over to watch the game...”
“Oh, really?” He put everything in the fridge. “It’ll still be good tomorrow, so I’ll whip up something then.”
I should’ve invited him to stay because it was rude not to, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Ryker leaned against the counter, obviously having no intention of leaving. “How was work?”
“It was okay. Just bacteria and fungi, the usual.”
He smiled even though he didn’t seem that interested. “You’re such a cute nerd.”
“I may be cute, but I’m not a nerd.”
The door opened again, and Zeke walked inside with a case of beer.
Oh, god.
Zeke spotted Ryker but didn’t react whatsoever. “I got Blue Moon. Thought I’d change it up again.” He opened the fridge and placed the case inside before he grabbed a bottle. “You want one, man?” He held it out to Ryker.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Ryker couldn’t believe it either. He kept staring at him like he thought it was a joke. “Uh, sure.” Ryker took the bottle and twisted off the cap.
Did Zeke just call Ryker man?
“You want one, Rae?” He grabbed another beer from the top shelf.
“Yeah, sure,” I answered.
He tossed it to me, refraining from touching me.
The second I grabbed the bottle, I felt hurt. “Why are you here so early? The game doesn’t start for an hour.”
“No.” He eyed his watch. “It started five minutes ago.”
“Are you sure?” I raised an eyebrow.
Ryker pulled out his phone. “Yeah, the Wizards are winning.”
“Oh...” How did I get that mixed up? I hoped Rex and Kayden would be there soon. Otherwise, it would just be me stuck with the two of them...my exes. “Let me put it on.” I walked into the living room and hit the button on the remote.
“How’s your trash empire?” Zeke asked in the kitchen.
Were they actually talking?
Ryker was caught off guard by Zeke’s interest. “Pretty much the same. People don’t recycle enough.”
“We’re pretty green at my office. People don’t take it seriously though.”
I still couldn’t believe this.
“Catch the Mariner game yesterday?”
“Yeah,” Ryker said. “I’m glad we won. Couldn’t handle another loss.”
Were they friends again?
I walked back into the kitchen. “You were right, the game is on.”
“Told ya.” Zeke drank his beer and walked past both of us, acting like it was a year in the past. Back when Zeke and I were just friends, and Ryker was the one I was dating.
Once he was out of sight, Ryker turned to me with a questioning look.
I only shrugged in response. “I’m gonna go get Rex. Be right back.”
“Alright.” Ryker walked into the living room and sat on the other couch.
I practically ran across the hall and broke down the door with my fists.
“What?” Rex asked the second he opened the door. “What’s with the drumming?”
“The game is on now so come over.”
“I think Kayden and I are gonna stay here. We have leftover tacos—”
“You guys are coming over. I’ve got Ryker and Zeke both in there right now, and it’s the most awkward thing in the world.”
Rex couldn’t hide his surprise. “Why is Ryker there?”
“I don’t know. He just stopped by.”
“We’re coming.” Kayden met me at the door. “Rex, we have to go now. We can have sex later.”
Rex glared at her, his eyes narrowing. “It better include a blowjob now.”
“Like you don’t get enough of those from me already.” She walked across the hall and entered my apartment. “Get your ass over here.”
I was so grateful Kayden turned into a hardass with him. I joined her in the apartment, Rex right behind me. Once we were inside, I felt a little less terrified of the arrangement I was in. There hadn’t been any punches, and everything was oddly calm—but that’s what frightened me.
Rex sat on the couch beside Zeke, giving Ryker a look of pure hatred.
Ryker smiled then held up his beer. “How’s it going?”
“Pretty terrible since you’re still breathing,” Rex countered.
Zeke tried not to laugh.
“Rex.” I put my hands on my hips and gave him a look our mother used to give us.
He didn’t apologize, but at least he turned to the TV.
Kayden took the last seat on the couch, both of them silently supporting Zeke and sticking to his side of the room.
I sat on the couch with Ryker, leaving a
few feet between us.
Safari grabbed his bone off the floor and walked to Zeke. He laid down right at his feet, returning to chewing his bone.
His choice was pretty clear.
Ryker drank his beer and pretended this wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
Zeke didn’t seem to care in the least. “Ryker, do you have a dog?”
Ryker was as surprised by the engaging question as I was. “Not yet. But I’m thinking of getting one. I’ll need to move to the suburbs first.”
“My neighborhood is nice. It’s really quiet and close to the coast.” Zeke rested his beer on his thigh. “There’s this pretty rad place that just went up for sale around the corner from my place. You should check it out.”
Was Zeke really giving Ryker advice about real estate? And close to where he lived?
“Thanks for the tip.” Ryker subtly turned to me, giving me a questioning look.
Again, I just shrugged in response.
“Hey, Rex,” Zeke said. “You want to make the game interesting?”
“What are you thinking?” Rex asked.
“Hundred bucks on the Wizards,” Zeke said. “Are you in?”
Rex looked at Zeke like he was an idiot. “I just took that bet from Rae and cleaned her out.”
“I know,” Zeke said. “She’s not allowed to gamble anymore, so I’m gonna get her cash back.”
“Dude, the Wizards aren’t gonna win,” Rex said. “I don’t mind taking money from my sister, but it would be weird taking money from you.”
“Ouch,” I hissed.
“Because you’re family,” he reminded me. “So, it’s kind of a compliment.”
“Believe me,” I said sarcastically. “It’s not a compliment.”
Ryker turned to me, his handsome smile on his face.
I leaned farther away from him on the couch, not wanting anyone to think I was hooking up with Ryker. Zeke pissed me off and pushed me away, but I couldn’t do something like that so soon. It wouldn’t be right.
The Wizards scored three three-pointers in a row, and Zeke sighed in triumph. “I want a single crisp one hundred dollar bill.” He leaned down and rubbed Safari’s head. “And throw a dog bone in there for me.”
***
The Wizards won, and Rex reluctantly handed over the cash. “This sucks.”
“I know,” I said. “I remember when I had to open my own wallet.”