Page 60 of Ripple Effect

I chuckle, a genuine smile playing on my lips. “Trying to find any excuse to stay, are we?”

Her cheeks flush. “I mean, I’ve grown accustomed to your extremely bitter morning coffee. I’m gonna need to stick around to watch you try out tea.”

“And here I was thinking you’d stay just for my charm.”

“Well, that, too.” She gives a soft giggle, and my stomach fucking somersaults. “Um, I’ve got some afternoon classes that I should get ready for. Will you be okay here without me, just for a little while?”

“I’ve been managing alone for years now, you know.”

“Just check in with me throughout the afternoon, will you?” She narrows her eyes. “For my peace of mind.”

“Always the protector, huh?” I step forward, tugging at a loose strand of her hair. “Fine, just for you. But I’ll be kicking back while you’re on campus. Nothing’s gonna go wrong.”

“Maybe you could text me every half hour just to be sure?”

“How about I send you two texts while you’re gone, and I also make you a promise that I won’t run a marathon?”

“There’s that ever-present sarcasm of yours.” She gives me a humorless snort. “It’s lethal, you know? One of these days, I’ll—”

“Collapse from laughing too hard?”

Her jaw drops, and she swats me on the bicep. “Too soon.”

I just chuckle in response, flopping onto the couch with Bentley as she bustles around the apartment. She collects her textbooks and then heads back to my bedroom—hertemporary room. I can hear the shuffling of materials, the occasional rustle of clothing, and her soft hum as she picks out an outfit.

A few minutes later, she emerges dressed in a soft yellow sundress. Her hair is neatly pulled back into a half-up style, a few bright wisps framing her face. It’s simple but striking, and I can’t manage to take my eyes off her.

Of course, she catches my blatant staring and waves me off, though the tiny, lingering smile betrays her amusement. “Like what you see?”

“Always.”

She muffles a grin and goes on her merry way. With a few last-minute checks in her bag, she’s ready to head out. But for some reason, she lingers in the doorway, an uncertainty shadowing her expression.

“I really will be back soon,” she says. “So, try not to miss me too much.”

“Promise to try.”

She draws her lips together, tugging them softly to one side, a hint of shyness in her gaze. “See you in a bit.”

“See you, Daze.”

With that, she turns and leaves, and the apartment already feels a whole lot emptier. I let out a sigh, the weight of this morning’s appointment pressing down on me. But work beckons, and so I make my way back to my bedroom, hoping to distract myself from the silence.

I take a seat in my office chair and pull up my analytics on AfterDark. After a cursory glance, it’s apparent how much my earnings have dipped. The inconsistency in content, combined with my unexpected hiatus, has made an obvious dent.

Rubbing my temples, I open a new document, drafting a post for my subscribers:

Hey everyone, taking a small break from the usual webchat spots for the next couple of weeks due to health reasons. But don’t worry, I’ll still be uploading a few solo scenes. Any special requests? You can contribute to the fund, and I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for understanding and staying supportive! - E

Saving the post and setting it to upload, I recline back in my chair. My eyelids grow heavy, and before I know it, I drift into a light nap, comforted by the familiar sound of Bentley’s snoring beneath my feet.

* * *

The distant soundof the apartment door closing stirs me from my sleep. Groggy and disheveled, I push myself up, leaving my room to find Daisy pulling a few books out of her bag.

She takes one look at me and flushes a soft pink, lips curving up in amusement.

“What?” I mumble, running a hand through my messy hair, trying to tame the unruly strands.

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