She grabbed the remaining bags, balanced them on both arms, and wobbled to her kitchen. She thrust the bags onto the counter. She began to unpack them and put everything away in the pantry. A tender smirk lit her face when she pulled a package of Cracker Jack from one of the bags. Her fingers brushed along the white lettering, as her mind drifted back to Ryan.
Wonder what he’s doing right now.
She let out a little sigh, shoving her hand in her pocket for her phone. With a slide of her finger, the phone came to life. It took her no time to open the pictures she’d taken of her apartment. She’d meant to post them to Facebook before leaving with Ryan but the thought had slipped her mind. A small bubble of laughter filled her chest at the sight of him in her living room. He looked as if he belonged. Moments later, she posted the pictures with a quick note to the world that she was at her new home. Once the pictures were uploaded, she finished filling her pantry and called for a pizza.
While she enjoyed her dinner, she received a text message from Jenna.
Who’s the hottie?
Alexis wasn’t surprised that Jenna noticed nothing more than the pilot lingering in her living room.
He came with the place.
Almost instantly, Alexis’ phone chirped with a new message.
I’m on the next plane to Texas if they’re giving those away!
Alexis barked in laughter.
She typed out,
All you have to do is pick the age, weight, and size.
The phone started to ring. Alexis accepted the call to find Jenna’s pretty face staring back at her. She had bright green eyes offset by a long, slender nose, and her skin was covered in freckles. Her blonde hair was pulled up and a huge, devious grin lighted her lips. “Penis size?” Jenna greeted.
Alexis grinned, making her way to the sofa, plopping down. She drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top, holding her phone out in front of her.
She’d known Jenna for over a decade. Their friendship budded over their mutual hate/crush on their professor. While he was hot, he was also a massive asshole with an arrogant chip on his shoulder. Most of their time was spent making fun of his quirks or analyzing his dashing good looks. From there, they became inseparable.
“Pretty sizable,” Alexis joked, recalling a teenage Ryan in swim trunks and how she’d often wondered what he looked like without them.
Jenna pursed her lips. “Tease. What time is it there?”
“I’m only an hour behind you, woman. You act like I moved overseas.”
A flicker of sadness crossed Jenna’s face. “It feels that way. I know I told you to go, but I need you here. It sucks not having a wingman or in your case, wing woman.”
Alexis snorted at the irony behind her best friend’s choice of words.
“What’s so funny about that?”
“Nothing. Nothing. So, who’s the lucky guy this week?”
Where Alexis was cautious of men, after all she’d seen first hand what they could do to a woman, Jenna jumped right in, not caring what happened to her heart. To Jenna, each guy was trustworthy until he proved himself otherwise, which they always did. It was one of the many endearing qualities Alexis loved about her friend, even if she had to be the one to pick up the pieces after a guy shattered Jenna’s heart.
“You remember Allen down in the lab?”
“No!” Alexis gasped.
“Yep.”
Alexis covered her face, shaking her head.
“You know I can see your reaction,” Jenna smacked.
Alexis dropped her hand, her face stone cold. “And you know he’s got a girlfriend, right?”
“He did. They broke up.”
Alexis bounded off the couch. She held the phone out in front of her, as she walked toward the stairs. On her way up, she grabbed the two pillows off the floor that Ryan had insisted on her buying and the bedding bag. “When? Because the last I heard he had full intentions of proposing.”
Jenna waved her hand in front of her face. “That was a rumor, but he told me he dumped her. Now, I have a date with him tomorrow night, and I need you here to keep me in line.”
Alexis tossed the bag and pillows on her new mattress, and her phone beside it. She unzipped the bag and poured its contents out on the bed. “Like I could help you. With or without me, you’ll be wrapped around his dick before the night’s over.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Jenna covered her mouth, hiding her snicker. “So, really, who’s the guy in your apartment? I noticed he was in uniform, so I assumed you went back to your old ways.”
A light blush crept across Alexis’ face. “My old ways?” she squeaked.
“Yeah. We both know how you had a thing for pilots in college. Remember that one in Vegas. Although my favorite will always be the Cancun guy. Damn he was sexy.”
Alexis glared down at her phone. “I wasn’t that bad!”
Jenna inspected her nails. “I’m not the one who’s been in Texas all of what, eight hours, and already had a hot, sexy pilot in her apartment. So, spill the beans, sister.”
Alexis released a soft, nervous laugh. “Fine. If you must know, I did hang out with a few pilots today.” Alexis figured she’d throw Declan in the mix to give Jenna a thrill. At the thought of Declan, she reached into her jeans and pulled out the napkin he’d written his number on. She held it up for Jenna to see. “One even gave me his number.”
“Fuck me. I’m jealous.”
She dropped the napkin on the bed beside the phone. “Oh, stop it. You’re about to get your groove on with Allen.”
“So. You have two pilots. Wait.” Jenna shook her head. “There was only one guy in the picture. Which one was he and why did you only get one of their numbers?” Jenna rambled.
Alexis smacked her hand over her eyes. “Shit. I meant to get the other one’s number. It totally slipped my mind. And he’s the important one.”
“The important one?” Jenna quirked a brow. “There’s one that’s already important? Who are you and what did you do with Alexis York?”
Here came the moment of truth for Alexis. She nervously cleared her throat. “You, um, remember that guy I told you about from Edenton?”
“Ryan Fisher,” Jenna intoned, her head bouncing from side to side. “How could I forget? You talked about him incessantly the first year of school. He was the only other guy you talked about aside from Doctor Fuckable.”
Both women sighed at the same time. “Ah, the Fuckable,” Alexis mused. They sighed again.
“Okay. Enough about the Fuckable. What about Ryan?”
“I sort of ran into him today,” Alexis beamed.
“No way!”
“He was the pilot of my plane, and is practically my neighbor again. He lives a few blocks from me. I can actually see his apartment building from my bedroom window. Oh, and the guy who gave me his number is his roommate.”
“No way!” Jenna repeated, almost a shrill squeal.
“Yes way!”
“I’m a little confused. Why did you get the one guy’s number but not Ryan’s? Not that I’m complaining. I’m pretty fucking proud of you right now, but that seems kind of awkward, even to me.”
Alexis grabbed her phone off the bed and landed on the unmade mattress. She propped one of the pillows she’d bought under her head and held the phone up in the air over her face. The words spilled from her, explaining every detail from the moment she found Ryan on the plane to his call from Reagan. When she was done Jenna smirked, twirling her long, silky lock of hair around her finger. “Damn, girl.”
“I know. Who would’ve thunked it?” Alexis bent her legs, crossing one knee over the other. Her leg dangled in the air, bouncing in its usual, uncontrollable fashion.
“Not me. Two pilots, one night. You’re my new hero.”
“Stop it. Ryan left for Reagan without giving me his number. That kind of says something, don’t you think?”
“Because you told him to. Had you not forced him out, he’d still be there
with you. As for the number, of course, he wasn’t too concerned. He knows where you live and he has you on Facebook now. You’re at his fingertips. Easily.”
“I didn’t think of that.”
“Yeah, and had you not forced the man to leave,” Jenna drummed her fingers together in front of her face, “he might’ve been in that comfy bed with you.”
Alexis jumped up, pushing herself up against the headboard, the pillow contoured to her back. “Not even. Ryan and I were never like that.”
“But you did say you shared a bed together until you moved. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to share a bed with you again.”
“You’re one twisted bitch, you know that?”
“Yep. That’s why you love me.”
“Damn right it is.”
“Lexi,” Jenna dropped her voice, her face moving in closer to the screen.
“Yeah?”
“I have a feeling about this, and you know how I am about my feelings.”
Alexis nodded, planting her feet on the mattress.
“Try to remember that you and Ryan aren’t sixteen years old anymore.”
Alexis curled her toes around the soft sheet at her feet. She could feel the heat rise in her face. “I know that. Believe me, I do.”
Jenna scratched her eyebrow. “I don’t think you understand. My point is, you’re grown up. Ryan is a man. A man who seemed a bit threatened by his roommate. Not that I blame him.”
“Okay, now you’re reading too much into things.”
“I don’t think so.” Jenna fiddled with her earring. “His warning you off from Declan is a clear ‘hands off’ in man-speak. He claimed you.”
“He wasn’t claiming anything. He’s protective of me. Old habits die hard, I guess.”
“Protective! Alexis, he all but whipped out his dick to club you with it.” Jenna began grunting like a caveman, pounding on her chest. “Me Ryan. You Alexis.”
Deep, rumbling laughter exploded from Alexis’ chest. Underneath the laughter she felt a surge of intrigue at the idea of Ryan exposing himself to her. Tingles trickled down her spine at the thought. She rubbed her hand over her face. That was the second time Jenna led her to thinking about Ryan and his nether regions. “Oh my god! Stop that! We’re just two old friends, all grown up, as you so eloquently put it, getting reacquainted.”
“Reacquainted? The man almost kissed you.”
“I didn’t say that!” Alexis screeched. “I said it got awkward for a moment.”
Jenna shrugged. “And I read between the lines. Had your dad not messaged you, that man would’ve kissed you.”
“Look, Jenna, it’s not what you think. We were never like that.”
“Whatever, girl. Think what you want. So, tell me more about the illustrious Declan. He sounds like a treat.”
Alexis tried to envision Declan’s face in her mind. The way his lips curled in a seductive smile, and his gem-like, smoldering eyes, shadowed by his thick brow, but no matter how hard she tried, her mind returned to Ryan. His soft bronze skin stretched over his taut, defined muscles. The way his smile brightened her mood. His illustrious green eyes, almost pale in comparison to Declan’s but more beautiful than the most precious of stones.
“He sounds dreamy,” Jenna mused. “So does Declan.”
Alexis chuckled. “They’re both very good looking men. Now, about this date with Allen,” she deflected.
Sometime later, the two women had everything plotted out for Jenna’s impending date. When the last detail was finalized, Jenna whispered, “I miss you already, Lexi.”
“I miss you, too. It isn’t going to be the same without you.”
The pain of losing her friend ripped another hole into Alexis’ heart. In her mind, she was losing one to regain a former. Give or take was the name of the game.
“Get some rest. We’ll chat again tomorrow,” Jenna said. “And, Lexi?”
“Yeah?”
“Keep your mind and heart open. I know what you think of men, not that I blame you, but something good’s coming your way. I feel it.”
“I’ll try. Later, girly.”
“Goodnight.”
Alexis pressed the button to end the call. She was once again surrounded by silence, save the sound of a cricket singing outside her window. She lay back down on the bed, and listened to the cricket’s siren song. Her mind started to drift off to Ryan, wondering what he was doing and if he was enjoying his time with Reagan. She imagined them cuddled up on the couch, munching on snacks while watching some sports thing. They’d laugh and touch, and the image chilled her. She had to know more. There was no harm in her finding out more about his life.
She glanced down at the crumpled napkin baring Declan’s number. She grabbed it and entered it into her phone, shooting him a quick message. If anyone could tell her about the person Ryan had become, it would be him. Besides, he was a nice guy and it didn’t hurt making new friends.
His reply came back almost instantaneously. He made her chuckle and a conversation ensued between them.
Chatting a bit with him, she found herself tired. She balled her fist in front of her mouth, stifling a yawn, surprised how only an hour time difference could affect her. She slipped off the bed, and proceeded to dress it with the bedding Ryan had picked for her.
Another chirp added to the sound of the cricket’s song outside. She glanced at her phone, now lying on the nightstand. The flash of a green light blinked back at her. She finished making the bed and fell back onto the mattress. Alexis switched on her phone to find a Facebook notification pending. She opened the app and tapped the little world icon where she found a picture of Ryan staring back at her.
Alexis raked her teeth over her bottom lip and clicked the message board.
Flew back in from NYC today. Lo and behold a blast from the past hitched a ride on my jet. She followed a certain compass, and did as it directed, leading her back into my life. Dr. Alexis York, would you care to share a box of Cracker Jack with me?
She quickly commented to his post.
Thanks to a certain pilot, I have some in my pantry. I’ll share, but only if I get to keep the prize. I found they come in handy.
Several minutes passed and Ryan didn’t comment back. She figured he got caught up in his game with Reagan.
Another message came through from Declan, but she couldn’t will herself to look at it. Entirely spent from all the emotions she had endured throughout the day, Alexis decided getting undressed before she passed out wasn’t an option. She pulled her phone cord from her messenger bag, plugged it into the wall, hooked up her cell, and slipped under the covers.
There she waited, until slumber finally took her into the dream world where she, once again, dreamt of Ryan, but this time she found the man instead of the boy waiting for her. The compass in his hand and a smile on his face.
“Dad, it’s not necessary.” Alexis attempted to argue with her father. The man was stubborn, and was never willing to take no for an answer when his mind was set.
“Nonsense. Kellie and Henry are dying to see you. Besides, it’s not good for you to be cooped up in your apartment all day. We’re coming to get you.”
Alexis sat on the kitchen counter, her toes dangling toward the floor, her legs swinging back and forth. A cold slice of pizza sat on a plate beside her. She hadn’t eaten cold pizza for breakfast since grad school, and the slice of pepperoni had her name on it.
“Yesterday was a long day and tomorrow will be even longer. All I want to do today is relax. How about we get together next weekend?” she countered, trying to mask the frustration in her voice. She knew moving to the area would lead to her seeing more of her father and his family, but she wanted to prolong the inevitable for as long as possible.
“You can relax here. I’m sure you have nothing there to eat and Kellie makes a mean pot roast,” he pushed.
A knock at the door diverted her attention. She hopped down from the counter, her bare feet planting against the cool, porcelain
tiles, and moseyed to the door. A quick glance out the peephole revealed Ryan standing on the other side with a drink carrier, holding four cups and a white paper sack squeezed between his fingers underneath. She gasped at the sight of him. His dark hair played peekaboo under a backward ball cap. From her vantage point, she could see his sculpted chest fitted under a green Dri-Fit pullover, which brought out the jade speckles in his eyes.
She stepped back, glancing down at herself. After her shower, she’d slipped into yoga pants and a t-shirt. Not expecting company, she was ready for a cozy day at home, lost in a book. Between her father and now Ryan, that wasn’t going to be an option. “Dad, hold on. Someone’s at the door,” she explained to her father. She pulled her hair out of its messy ponytail and shook it loose. With a deep breath, she held the phone at her side and opened the door.
A flicker of something, Alexis wasn’t sure what, passed over Ryan’s face the moment their eyes met. She narrowed her brow, scrutinizing his expression, but the look was gone as quick as it appeared. In its place, his brilliant smile appeared. “Hey you.”
Alexis waved him into the apartment. “Hey back,” she mouthed, lifting the phone back to her ear. “Dad, can I call you back?”
“I’m coming by to get you later, Lexi. There’s no backing out of it.”
Defeated, she sighed. “Okay. We’ll talk about it when I call you back.”
As she said goodbye to her father, Ryan migrated to the kitchen. He set his treasures on the counter, removing breakfast pastries from the bag. “What’s that?” She flitted into the kitchen, sniffing the sweet, bready goodness he had buffeted before her.
“I didn’t know what you’d want. So, I got a coffee, black,” he lifted one cup out of the carrier, “a vanilla latte,” he indicated to another cup, “a mocha, and a caramel macchiato. And before I forget, I need your number, because this would’ve been a whole lot easier if I could’ve called to ask.”
Compass Page 10