Page 45 of Sliding into Love
I climb back into the bed and slide underneath the covers.
"Are you gonna eat any of this right now?" he asks, pointing to the box.
I shake my head. "I'm too scared to eat just yet."
He shrugs. "I figured as much. Do you want me to put it in the kitchen or just over to the side?"
"Just leave it here," I tell him. "I'm sure it won't be long. It smells really good."
Bellamy picks up the box and puts it on one of the tables across the room I normally use as a workstation. "I would hopeit smells good. It's from Aries's mother. She had Andry and Rodney drop it off."
My jaw drops. "She cooked for me on Christmas? Holy crap."
Bellamy laughs. "Don't feel special. That woman is notorious for cooking ten times as much food as she needs. I bet she threw it together out of what she had. But know this: If you don't end up eating it, I will be back up here in a couple of hours to polish it off for you. No need to let food go bad simply because you have a tummy ache."
I scowl at him. "You will do no such thing. That food was made for me, delivered for me, meant for me."
Bellamy raises his hands as he slowly backs away towards the door. "It can be for you all you want, but it will be in me when I eat it." He snorts, then lets out a loud, barking laugh as he ducks out of the door.
If I didn't have to get up to go get it, I would throw my pillow at him. The bastard! Threatening to eat my food. I'm sure our parents have already fed him more than enough throughout the day while I've been up here. He doesn't need to eat mine too.
Pulling the note back out from under the pillow, I run my fingers over it. I read it again and again. Somewhere around the fifteenth time, I get the nerve to pick up my phone and shoot off a text.
Royce: Thank you for the food. It was unexpected.
I get a reply instantly.
Kenneth: You're welcome. How are you feeling?
Royce: I'm much better. I got some rest, and I'm gonna eat in just a bit.
The bubbles appear and disappear for a little bit. Then his reply comes through. It makes me sit up straight in bed.
Kenneth: I've been worried ever since I saw that you were sick. I made a friend at my parents' party who needed her own version of a beard for the night, so she showed me the page Jake uses to talk about everyone, and I just snapped. She called in a favor for me, and now you've got food to eat.
Another text message comes in quickly behind it.
Kenneth: Oh shit, I didn't need to tell you all of that. Ignore me. I've had a couple of drinks, and the bartender poured heavy.
I smile, thinking about a tipsy Kenneth. I wonder what he's like right now. What is he wearing and how is the party going? He mentioned a woman acting for him in a way that probably gets his parents off his back, if I had to guess.
Laying back down in the bed, I open the camera app on my phone and snap a quick selfie. I send it without thought, telling him thanks, and I already feel better knowing I've got a good meal.
He heart reacts to the picture, then sends me a selfie as well: him with a woman who is drop-dead gorgeous.
Kenneth: Meet my friend Claudia. She and her girlfriend are eloping next month, but for now I am being her pretend possible fiancé so that our parents will leave us alone for the night.
I laugh, then clutch my stomach for the pain that shoots through me. Shaking my head, I type out:
Royce: That is good luck on your part. I'm glad you have someone there to keep you company. You look great.
I berate myself for the next five minutes when he doesn't say anything back. Mostly because I had no reason to tell him he looked great, and this whole banter thing we're doing is way too close to flirting for me. I told Bellamy that we were cordial, not that we were sexually compatible, though that is still an idea I question. The almost kiss and the simple touches between us have been hot, yeah, but there also hasn't been anything else. I won't know unless we?—
My phone vibrates in my hand, pulling me from the erotic thoughts.
Kenneth:Thanks. You look amazing. The bed looks comfy, and your eyes are really soft.
I scroll back up to look at the photo, and my heart increases in speed. I look freshly fucked. My hair is all over the place, and my face is softer than normal. I'm very obviously in a bed, and the shirt I'm wearing has fallen open to show off some of my chest. As much as I wasn't trying to be seductive, it is picture perfect for such.
