Page 22 of Out to Find Freedom

“Will do. Lastly, when are you coming for dinner?” Hanging out with them separately I could deal with, but after the last dinner I went to the other night left me feeling like I was missing out on something in my life, I stayed away. I didn’t like it.

“After I have a house-warming.”

She sighed. “You’ve been saying you’re going to have one, but it hasn’t happened.”

Wasn’t sure if it would happen, which was why I used it as an excuse for not going to dinner, for now. Soon I’d have to think of something else, or Mally would sniff out the problem. Then she’d try and set me up with someone. I didn’t want that shit. I was good with fucking and leaving, or me getting them out of my house.

“Know that, darlin’, but one day I will.”

“Fine. We’ll talk soon.”

“You got it. Later.”

“Bye, Ryan.”

Stoke was one fucking lucky man.

Shaking my head, I pocketed my phone and climbed in my ute. I decided to head to the office, see if Butch had taken my lunch, beat the shit out of him if he had, while waiting on details of that Shanti bird.

It wasn’t until I pulled up out the front that my phone pinged. Taking it out, I saw I had a message waiting for me from an unknown number. I glanced down at my chest, wondering why my fucking heart acted weird. Ignoring it, I opened the message.

Emmie: Sorry for the late response, I was working.

Why did it feel like a lie?

Ryan: What do you do?

Emmie: Stuff. You?

Ryan: Stuff.

An uneasy feeling settled in my gut. She didn’t want to say much about herself, and it told me she was either a fake, some kid messing with me, or she had troubles.

From the messages before, I was definitely leaning towards troubles.

However, if I found out it was a kid, I’d teach them not to mess with anyone again.

Christ. I scrubbed a hand over my face as my phone beeped. Why was I not wanting it to be a kid? Jesus, was I that desperate for a woman’s attention that I was going to continue this shit?

Fuck no. I wasn’t desperate. I could find a woman to warm my dick if needed.

Like I’d felt before, I needed to know where this was going. Who Emmie was and if she needed help. Why else would she text some guy in the middle of the night needing more music in her life?

Emmie: I’m sorry. I’m boring. My job isn’t worth talking about. I shouldn’t have texted in the first place.

Ryan: You never did say how you got my number.

Emmie: I did. I said magic.

Ryan: Right. Forgot it. Just need to know, darlin’, do you need help?

There wasn’t a reply for a good few minutes. I watched the clock.

Emmie: Why would you ask?

Ryan: Not many would message a stranger in the middle of the night asking for another song because it was soothing to them.

Another couple of minutes passed.

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