Page 66 of The Riley Effect

I grab my phone from Indy’s hand. Before I can enter my passcode, Indy interjects, “What did he say?”

“Well, if you give me a minute to actually read it, I’ll be able to tell you.”

Jalen: Hey Angel, I miss you. Can I see you tonight?

Me: Idk we both have pretty big games tomorrow.

Jalen: Come on, all you have to do is ride the elevator up two floors. Pleaseeeee *praying hands emoji*

Damnit, how can you say no to a man begging to see you?

It’s hard to think that this year started with a simple promise to my sister and friends that I’d be more social. Somewhere along the way, it morphed into me wanting to trust new people and believing that not everyone has ulterior motives. Tonight, I’m making the conscious choice to remember that.

Me:

Fine. See you in twenty minutes.

Jalen:

Cool, I’ll tell Marcus to head to your room then.

Me:

Why does Marcus have to leave?

Jalen:

*three smirking emojis*

Twenty minutes later, Indy forces me out the door with a guarantee I’m about to have the time of my life. The sound of a low-pitched bell draws my eyes away from my phone to Marcus, who is holding the elevator door open. A goofy smile spreads across his face when he notices me waiting for him to exit so I can jump on.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Marcus rests a hand on my shoulder and stops me before I get on the elevator, giving me two pats. “I’ve never seen Jay commit to anything like this before.”

I’m stunned speechless, before the elevator doors close Marcus turns over his shoulder. “Don’t be too loud tonight, my teammates need to get some rest,” and winks.

I swear time slows as the elevator moves between floors. Picking at my manicure, I watch the loose flakes float to the floor and try not to overthink what is about to happen.

One knock, and Jalen is at the door. I’m so surprised that I almost don’t notice the bouquet of wildflowers he has in his hand.

“These are my favorite,” I tell him. “How did you know?”

“I asked your sister,” His voice is sheepish. “She texted me with hockey questions for Caleb. She got my number from my uncle.”

“Well, they are beautiful,” I wrap my hands around his neck and pull his lips to mine. Jalen grabs me by my waist and pulls me into his room. He bites my bottom lip, turning a sweet thank-you kiss into something more passionate. Without removing his lips from mine, Jalen locks the door and pushes me against it.

“I’ve been waiting for this all day,” He says between the open-mouth kisses he’s placing down my neck. He stops abruptly, and I freeze.

“I was supposed to wait until you saw the rest of the surprise.”

Whatever story I was telling myself about not being enough for Jalen ends the moment I see what he’s done with his hotel room. The room is lit by candles, making the generic hotel room into something from one of my favorite romance novels.

Then I notice the basket in the center of one of the beds.

I take a seat next to it. The wicker basket is filled with all my favorite things. Popcorn and Bunch-A-Crunch–a nod to that movie date at his house– there are two books I’ve been telling him I want to read and three cases of my favorite chapstick.

“Why did you do all this?”

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