“Very much a stretch. I’m just here.”
And not even relevant at this point because Ryland and Rylee were already settling into their own rhythm without me.
“Then we need a plan.”
“I don’t need a plan. I need to figure out why the hell this man has me stuck on stupid.”
Marlee grinned.“See, you just proved we need a plan, friend. He’s fine as hell, so it very much could be that potential has you stuck, which is why you need to get the dick to see if you still feel the same after he makes you cum. Get the dick, then we’ll reconvene to reevaluate.”
I laughed.“That’s a terrible plan.”
“Is it though?”She arched a brow and I groaned.
“Yes, it is.”
“You’re a horrible liar. Call me back when the mission is complete. I need to get to the grocery store. It’s supposed to snow and I literally have nothing at my house to eat. I really need you to decide whether or not you’re trying to be a W-A-G so I can decide if I need to find a man who knows how to cook. If you’re not feeding me, somebody has to.”
I was the cook in our duo. It wasn’t that I had any profound skills in the kitchen but I was decent. With Marlee, boiling water was an act of congress. So when she was at my house or I was visiting hers, most of the time I cooked for us or we ordered.
“So you’re just going to replace me like that?”
“Hell yeah and don’t act like you feel a way. I legit could have said I was taking applications for a new best friend since you’re trying to leave me. However, you can relax. You will be my one and only best friend…ever.”
“Aww, you love me.”
“No, I love me and value my time. Do you know how much I invested in making sure you were up to my standards in the friend department? This thing we have taken years to build and perfect. Ain’t nobody trying to start all over. No new friends, friend.”
I laughed hard.“You ain’t shit.”
“Well ain’t shit or not, we’re in this; so I’m all you got. Blood in, blood out. I love you. Bye, H-O-E.”
She ended the call and my mood was two million percent better. But when I noticed Ryland and his arrogantly sexy walk come into view, with his long, deft fingers moving, my mood heightened even more.
“Business is done. I’m all yours. Let me change, then we can head out?”
All mine…
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
“Do I need to change?”I was in boyfriend jeans and a hoodie with a striped button up underneath. I was casually cute at the moment.
“You’re good. We’re just chilling.”His smile was going to be my downfall but that smile paired with the heat of his eyes on me would have me risking it all.
“I’ll get my shoes.”I uncrossed my legs and turned, dropping my socked feet to the floor.
“Be ready in twenty.”
I nodded and we both headed upstairs, separating when we reached the landing. Ryland went right and I went left. Since I had been snacking on homemade cheese straws that Joy prepared as a snack for Rylee, I did a quick run into the bathroom to brush my teeth and run a brush through my hair before I grabbed my platform Dr. Martens, slipped my feet in, and laced them up. I grabbed a leather coat since my clotheswere already layered and headed back downstairs to wait for Ryland.
Not long after, Ryland joined me downstairs, dressed in dark jeans and a cream crewneck sweatshirt that looked really good against his caramel skin. He paired his fit with a matching skully pulled low on his head and a dark gray, hooded puffer vest. God, he looked so damn good.
When he neared me and I was blessed with the light scent of sandalwood and bergamot that now was forever branded in my mind as undeniably Ryland Parks, my stomach tightened.
“Ready?”His gaze moved over me dangerously slow and heat crawled up my chest from the approval glinting in his eyes.
“Ready,”I signed, giving him permission to lead the way. We navigated to the garage where he selected the black Range Rover we drove to take Rylee to school. The smell of new leather and his cologne lingered, branding everything that belonged to him.
“We winging it or do you have our day mapped out?”