Page 42 of Best Year Ever
I want to make plans.I message him again.
RORI: What’re you up to?
NEW YEARS: Just got home from working with my trainer. Hitting the shower and may meet up with a friend.
Oh. A “friend.” Okay.
NEW YEARS: My friend Johnson. The one who was supposed to do the Triumph ad with you? He just got back from being with his family for a few months.
My anxiety tapers down to a more normal level. He isn’t going on a date. But that emotional swing reinforces that I need to move forward with asking for what I want.
They always call me fearless, right? Time to prove it in a new way.
RORI: Can I see you?
CHAPTER 15
Landon
RORI: Can I see you?
Excitement spikes in my chest. After a couple more months of texting, one thing is clear—I’m starting to feel things about Rori. While I keep my messages friend-appropriate, it’s a struggle. I feel like I’m hiding a piece of myself from her.
I never imagined that something like this could happen over text. But our lifestyles are not the norm, which is definitely playing a role. It’s hard to meet women, period, and to trust someone new—next to impossible. But with her, that’s a non-issue. She doesn’t want or need anything from me.
And we just click. It’s easy. I don’t even think before texting her, no filter. It’s not needed.
Not to mention that every time my hand grabs my dick to give myself relief lately, it’s our nights together that I think about.
Maybe texts are our version of the letters people used to send in the olden days? Like in our great grandparent’s days, when they had whole relationships evolve over snail mail. Our conversations have definitely advancedthings for me.
And now, she’s initiating us spending time together again.
Hopefully, alone this time, unlike her Miami tournament.
LANDON: Definitely. Tomorrow evening? I can drive down after my afternoon workout.
Maybe this is the time to be transparent with her about where I’m at. It’s terrifying to consider. Really terrifying. But I’m not sure how I can hide the truth from her. Especially not in person.
I don’t have a playbook for this. Never needed one.
RORI: Perfect. Come to my house.
As she sends me her address, a different text comes through.
JOHNSON: Hey, we still on for dinner tonight? Can we eat and watch the basketball playoffs at my place? I’m too tired to deal with any public outing.
When Johnson and I go out together, it always creates a frenzy at the local restaurants and bars. We have to be in the right frame of mind to choose that option.
LANDON: No problem. And I need to talk something out with you.
I hear the sound of the back door opening and in walks Grace with Grover. She must have taken him on a walk.
“Hi, you’ve had your head in your phone for a bit. I was waving at you through the window while Grover did his business. You okay?” Grace asks curiously.
“Yes, sorry. More than okay,” I say. The energy behind my statement has Grace’s attention in a different way.
“What’s going on?”
