After I get out of the shower I look to seewho called me, while Ryan re-folds all the crinkled clothes. Hesnaps my ass with one of his shirts as I walk by him and Ijump.
“That wasn’t very nice.” I pout as I hitEmily’s name on my phone.
“I’ll kiss it and make it all better if youwant,” he says with a salacious smile.
“You stay right where are,” I instructplayfully. There could be a fun evening ahead us, I think tomyself, but then I remember it’s Friday and Ryan has to work.
Movie and take out for me tonight.
“Alana!” Emily answers enthusiastically.
“Hey, you didn’t leave a message when youcalled.” I haven’t talked to Emily in weeks, and when I hear hervoice it makes me realize how much I miss her.
“I wanted to see what you were doing tonight.It’s Jill’s bachelorette party. I want you to come out.”
I could definitely use a night out after thissemester.
“Okay, where are you guys going?”
“Where else? Culture.”
I immediately reconsider.
“I don’t know Em,” I glance up at Ryan who’sfolding cluelessly.
“Come on, I have an extra ticket to the MaleRevue.”
“Emily, are you serious? I can’t sit throughthat.”
“Sit through what?” Ryan asks.
I freeze. “Let me call you back Em.” I hangup.
“Jill’s bachelorette party is tonight.”
“Oh yeah? Emily wants you to go?”
“Yes, but the thing is,” I bite my lip,“they’re going to Culture. And the Male Revue.”
Ryan holds my gaze like he’s playing a handof poker, “And?”
“And, would that be weird?”
“For me or you?”
“Both?”
Ryan looks at me with a contemplativeexpression, “I don’t have to dance tonight.”
“You’re going to blow off work?”
“No, not exactly, I just won’t do the MaleRevue. Actually,” he says like a light bulb just went off in hishead, “I can belong to you tonight.”
“Excuse me? I thought you belonged to meevery night?”
“Yes, I do. Every night, every day, everymoment,” he reassures me. “But can you just go with it fornow?”
“Owning you?”