Page 65 of The Guy Next Door
“Trying to get some papers done, and I have a group project to manage before I start cramming for finals, but it’ll all be worth it when we get to winter break.”
“Are you gonna see your family?”
“Yeah. Sucks that I’m gonna be here through Thanksgiving, you know?”
Steven’s family lives in Michigan, and from things he’s mentioned, I can’t imagine he or his family have the money to have him fly out for both fall and winter break.
“Hey, my parents are flying back out to see my grandma for Thanksgiving…”
“I thought they hated her.”
“I’ll have to catch you up. She’s been sick, and my aunt is stressed out dealing with her enough as it is, so they offered to help her manage through the holiday. But I’m obviously not going. You’re only a thirty-minute drive from Wyachet, so what if you came over here and I threw something together?”
“Really?”
“Are you kidding me? Did you forget my MO?”
He laughs. “Well, if I come…I know it’s not a Thanksgiving dish, but I’m gonna want some of those chocolate-chip cookies.”
“Consider it done.”
He grins as he adjusts his cap. “In that case, I’m all for making an excuse to get some good food.”
“Let me check with Mom and Dad, but I can’t imagine they’ll say no. And once I get the go-ahead, if you run into anyone else who might want to come, I’ll be eager to make enough for an army.”
“I don’t know that I can get an army, but I have these friends Ilsa and Max who are from out of town, and I think they’re staying here. I’ll let you know.”
The thought of having a Thanksgiving dinner excites me in a way that reminds me of how I used to be. It’s not the same as it would have been, but it makes me feel more like my old self. A baby step in the right direction.
And I already know who else I want to invite—obviously, Zane.
After Steven and I finish catching up, I hang up, and I’m already texting my short king fuck buddy:If you want to see me before tonight, you free to hit up the gym later?
Since we started fucking around, we’ve jogged around the neighborhood and hit the gym together; he’s becoming my own personal escort. Even though I know it’s to make sure I’m safe, it’s nice getting to spend time with him outside of messing around at his place.
ZANE: I’ll be finished up around three, if that works for you. Or I can drop this and get back to it later.
ME: 3 works great.
ZANE: I’ll text you when I’m done.
ME: Or you could come over…
ZANE: You aren’t worried your parents will get the door?
ME: That’s kind of what I’m hoping for.
Maybe I’m pushing this too far. What if he’s not comfortable with that…or thinks I’ve become all clingy and needy? Is it weird that I want them to meet him?
ME: I just think they might as well meet you since we’re spending so much time together. They’re starting to get suspicious with me coming over every other night.
And if they meet him, that could probably change to every night.
Okay, that does sound pretty damn clingy.
That damn ellipsis pops up and then disappears. Fuck. Why do smartphones do this shit? To torture people?
I’m nervous, but then a message comes through.