Page 27 of On Your Knees

“Oh shit, was that insensitive because you don’t have a job?”

I laugh. “No, of course not. I bet you’ve worked hard to get a job at a place like that. I don’t imagine they hire just anyone.”

“It’s Ridgeland, and while their game development isn’t the biggest, it’s always been my dream. Did you know that one half of Ridgeland owns the View4U app, and the other Ridez? Some of the technology they use is out of this world. I can’t wait to see what new games they plan to release.”

“I guess that means our late-night gaming sessions are going to end,” I say, feeling deflated at the thought. I enjoy our late-night chats—he’s so easy to talk to.

“Fuck no, chatting with you is the highlight of my day. If you didn’t catch on, I don’t exactly have friends lining up at my door. I’m a bit of an awkward loser.”

“Hey,” I snap, a little harsher than I intend. “You are not a loser. If you are, then so am I, as I have a grand total of two friends—you and the cockydouche I live with. Well, I guess he really isn’t a douche.”

Arlo chuckles. “Well then, friend, I guess you are stuck with me now. Can I ask you something personal?”

I freeze, even though he can’t see me—can I answer a personal question? I know I can’t if it’s to do with Ridge or Zeland, as they take their privacy seriously, hence the million pieces of paper I had to sign today.

“Of course,” I answer, even though I shouldn’t.

“What’s your favorite type of cheese?”

I snort. “I don’t really like cheese, unless the answer is ‘on pizza.’”

Arlo gasps. “I might have to revoke the friendship card. What weirdo doesn’t like cheese?”

“Well, it gives me gas, and there is nothing worse than that feeling. I’m a girl and get enough of that from getting my period every month.”

“Fair point. Man, I would be a little bitch if I had to bleed every month. You deserve an award.”

I chuckle. “I don’t know about the award, but chocolate seems to do the trick.”

It’s so easy to get lost in conversation with Arlo, and we spend forever talking without even playing the game. Our conversation goes full circle back to his new job.

“What do you think I should wear? I was told casual, but to me casual is a pair of jeans, a Rick and Morty T-shirt, and my overworn chucks.”

“Hmm, do you have any button-up shirts, even just a casual one?”

“Um, let me look. I think my mom got me one for Christmas two years ago.”

I hear him move around, ruffling something. “Ah ha,” he says proudly. “I do.”

“Okay, and do you have a plain white or black shirt to wear under it? That way, if the dress code is super casual, you can unbutton it, but if not, you can leave it done up.”

“You are a genius. What would I do without you?”

I chuckle and lie back in the massive bean bag I dragged out of the corner of the room, opting to be comfortable over sitting on the recliners. “Clearly you’d wear a Rick and Morty shirt on your first day of your dream job.”

That makes him laugh and his phone chimes once, then a second time. “Do you need to go?”

“No,” he says and coughs. “It’s an alert for the View4U app. Someone recommended a new creator.”

“Oh yeah?” I say, pulling out my own phone. “I downloaded the app after you mentioned it. I must admit some of the material is amazing for the spank bank. What’s the creator’s name?”

“HideNSeekHottie,” he says with a chuckle.

Fucking Zeland, I curse silently as I pull up the account and see that it’s mine. I thought we settled on MaskedMenace for me and ChaseMeMaybe for him.

“I think our phones have been listening to our conversations,” I say with a laugh. “Isn’t this one of your kinks?”

“Yes, and I’m eternally grateful I have a job now because I just subscribed. A sexy woman in a mask? Yes, please. Holy fuck, did you click the video clip?!”

---