Page 60 of Breaking Ryan Baylor

“I guess. Listen, we can’t sit here all night. It’s already after one, and we gotta leave early so we get back for practice tomorrow. You need to go upstairs and get some sleep, but first, you better apologize to her for callin’ her a slut. That wasn’t cool and you’re lucky I don’t knock your fuckin’ ass out. She’s not a slut, not even close.”

“I know. And I will. Speaking of sluts, is Osi done?”

“At this point, I don’t give a fuck. I’m goin’ in. Maybe I’ll hit up a second threesome, eh?” He nudged Ryan as they got up to walk to the elevator.

“Hayes?”

“Yeah, Rook?”

“Would you really suck my dick?” Ryan smiled and winked at him.

“Not if you keep your shit up, I won’t.”

“Hey, seriously. Thanks for talkin’ to me, man. I feel better.”

“I got you.”

???

He’d planned to open the door as quietly as possible but was forced to knock at the realization that he’d forgotten his key card.

On the third knock, she opened the door only a crack, having latched the slide lock. “Password?”

“I’m the biggest fucking dick that ever lived and I don’t deserve you.”

She shut the door, removed the lock, and opened it all the way. “I’ll accept that.”

“Hey, sit down with me?” he asked, reaching for her hand. “I just have a few things I need to say.”

“Yeah, I have a few things to say too, and I’ll start with this: why do you even own those shorts? You’re way too sexy to own those shorts, Ry.”

He laughed, as they sat down on the edge of the bed together. “They were literally the only bum shorts I had clean, and I had to pack in a hurry to get here on time.” He looked away from her and clasped his hands in his lap. “First, I’m sorry I called you a slut. You’re not.”

“Thank you. That really hurt.”

“I know. And I’m sorry, Amara. So, I had a chat with Hayes, and…I think I may have pressured you into being my girlfriend. I’m not sure we really know each other like we think we do. He knows you so much better than I do, and I feel like maybe we need to make more of an effort to build a friendship.”

“So, what are you saying?”

“Amara, you know how I feel about you. And I’d love it if we stayed together and tried to build that friendship at the same time. But if you want your space, your freedom, then you should have it. You deserve that after what you’ve been through.”

“Again: what are you saying?”

“I’m leaving it up to you…”

“No, Ryan! You don’t get to do that. If you wanna break up, then nut up and say it.”

“Amara, I don’t wanna break up with you. But I have a question for you. Do you wanna break up with me?”

She didn’t answer.

“Amara, do you wanna break up with me?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “OK.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t do the open relationship thing with you. I thought I could, but I can’t. It’s not working. I care about you too much.”

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