Page 42 of Dirty Roulette
“Well if you change your mind, text me.” Ryder turns to me, biting his bottom lip. It does something to me because I wrap my entire mouth around the rim of the water bottle and dip my head backward. It’s the only way to avoid his eyes on me.
“Ew, you are back washing! That’s disgusting!” Charlie crunches the plastic water bottle, pushing a mouthful down my windpipe and I choke. With a laugh, she yanks it from my lips and I spit water like a fire hydrant and all of it is in his direction. Ryder uses a hand to cover his face as I try to hold in my own giggles.
“Seriously!?” He finds an unopened bottle in the icy cooler, twists the cap, and douses us. Shrieks break out of our mouths as it’s bitterly cold. “Yeah, that’s what you get!” He chucks the water bottle, a wide grin on his face, while he jogs backwards toward the team.
We laugh until our stomach muscles hurt. The girls all gather up, and I stroll with Charlie to the locker room to clean up. Charlie gathers her towel and bag of toiletries, heading towards the steaming showers. Once her head disappears, I jimmy my locker open and pull out my cell from the little pocket on the side of my duffle bag. I check over my shoulders like someone is going to take a sneak peek at my phone before I click on the little Crab icon.
Payton:Hey...
Crab:Hey Cutie, it’s only been thirty seconds. Already changed your mind?
Payton:Yeah, I’m a little hungry.
Crab:How long do you need?
Payton:Can you pick me up at six?
Crab:Yeah. I’ll see you then.
Payton:Trouvez-moi
Crab:Always
Chapter sixteen
Ryder
Isit on the edge of the mattress in my best jeans and a long-sleeve plaid Henley, with the price tag still on it. I rip it off, tossing the plastic piece into the trash can. The damn fact that I picked out a shirt from my mom to go out with Payton tells me that I’m a nervous wreck. They were in an unopened box with a pair of rugged brown captain boots I also forgot she purchased for me at Christmas. What guy in his right mind wears clothes from their mother at twenty-one to go hang out with a girl?
Somehow, I’m sweating my balls off. Payton’s seen me go out in a pair of shorts and a plain shirt. For fuck’s sake, I roamed in my boxer briefs all the time as a teen. It’s Payt, but too many mixed feelings batter all over. I want to make some type of impression.
Flipping through the bills in my wallet, I plot out how much I can afford tonight without breaking the bank. When I check my phone, it’s 5:30. I’m impatient. I’ve never stormed through the house and showered so quickly to get ready for anything. I gather my keys andhead out. When I park in front of the dorms, I climb up the three flights of stairs and knock on the door at 5:39.
It creeks open and Payton peeks out. “Oh, my god you’re early.”
I rub the crease of my neck. “Yeah, sorry, I couldn’t wait.” My heart pounds in my ears. She’s barely covered, obviously not dressed to go out, and I’m seriously nervous. “Are you alone?” I glimpse through the door, scanning to see if my sister is inside.
“Yeah.” She cracks the door wider but keeps herself barricaded. I slip through, and she closes and locks it behind me.
“Charlie dipped after showering.” She rummages through a hoarded closet with clothes spilling out and piling up into a mountain, while I try not to stare at her gorgeous body.
“I’m kinda surprised you didn’t want to hang out with her.”
She bites her bottom lip, “Well, I...”
“Yeah?” I glance down at Payton’s unmade bed with washed out Princess Jasmine sheets and sit.
“Umm...I wanted to see you. I didn’t know how to tell her.” She says, staring up into outer space. “Give me one second.” She holds out her finger. I swallow hard as she closes the closet door, leaving it cracked. I watch her quick movements as she pulls a shirt over her head with a plop, and weasels into a pair of jeans.
After she finishes with her clothes, I admire the freckles on her shoulder as she adjusts a spaghetti strap and smooths out the wrinkles. Her jeans fit tight along her hourglass curves. I poison my mind with the image of running my hands up her thighs and yanking them off, but I wipe the thought from my head.
“What?” she asks with a goofy smile.
“You’re... Uhh...” I’m choking on my own words. For some reason, I’m having a hard time breathing. She’s beautiful and dangerous. “Sorry...”
“Are you okay?” She asks with a nervous laugh.
I wipe my sweaty palms on my knees and pull myself together. I clear my throat. “You’re stunning. I can’t stop thinking about you and I’m sorry about last night. I wasn’t trying to upset you.”
