Page 19 of Invisible String
I shake my head at her. It’s the least I can do for her. She cooked an amazing dinner. “Hand me your plate. You can put the food in containers, and I’ll wash the pans for you. You cooked, I’ll wash.” Suddenly, this feels like something couples do. Technically, I’m just being a good guest. That reminds me.
“Do you host a lot? Like, cook for them?”
“Sometimes. My mom loves to host.” She pours sauce into a container, then hands the pan to me. “Lana and I sometimes cook at our college apartment. You remember Lana, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
Once I’m done washing dishes, I thank her and let her know I’m going to head back next door. She asked if I wanted to stay and watch a movie, but that’s not my style. As much as I enjoyed her company, I’m used to being alone.
The sun is blazing today.I jog back to the house after my afternoon run. I’ve been keeping myself busy by going hiking and jogging. It’s been a couple of days since I’ve spoken to Rainey. Since the day she invited me for dinner. She handed me a container of leftovers, which I appreciate.
When she comes out of the house, I’m inside. When I leave, she’s inside. There have been a couple of times she sits outside reading or in the hot tub. From the living room window, I could see her glance toward the cabin from where I’m sitting. I’ll admit I’ve avoided her like the plague. Rainey is like the sun, bright, warm, and full of energy. She changes my mood, adding speckles of light to my dark heart. She’s been on my mind day and night. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?
Nothing.
Nearing the house, I hear laughs and shouts from men and women. My entire body idles. Rainey sits on top of the hot tub. Next to her, a girl and two guys are in the bubbling water. One of them is standing between her friend’s legs, his head tilted back,while she runs her hands down his chest. The other guy is talking to Rainey, laughing at something she’s saying. She’s in a bikini.
A wrenching punch to the gut consumes me with jealousy. Is that what it is, jealousy? What am I jealous of? That she had me over for dinner and eye fucked me while eating or how she seemed disappointed that I’m leaving in a couple of weeks. Or the fact that she’s been on my mind, a siren calling me to her when she has a boyfriend. Maybe I took it the wrong way, and she just wanted to be friends either way. It’s not like I planned on having a relationship with her.
“Hey, is that Max? Rainey, is it him?” the woman next to Rainey asks as she waves at me. Whoever it is, she must have spoken about me.
“Yes, Lana.” Rainey groans. “Hey, Max! You want to come over and have a drink?”
She’s got to be kidding me. Does she want me to dunk her boyfriend in the water until he turns blue? Or chop his fucking hand off for rubbing her leg. Again, why in the hell do I care? “Nah, I’m good,” I say dryly, walking up the stairs to the porch.
“Okay. Well, have a good night,” she says in a soft voice.
I nod. The sun is setting, so she can still see me. I slam the door with great force. It rattles behind me.
I grab a Modelo from the empty fridge and slam the door shut. I’m not big on drinking—only when it’s needed. Today’s one of those days I need a beer and maybe a joint. Instead, I take a cup of ramen from the cupboard, add water, and then stick it in the microwave. Once the microwave beeps, I retrieve it and head to the back porch, so I don’t see the front of the house. Luckily, the back porch has a hot tub and faces the forest. Leaning on a wooden rustic chair, I take a bite of noodles.
My breath comes out heavy as I try to control my jealousy. I didn’t come here for this shit. I didn’t come here to sniff a chick’s ass; I had other plans. Usually, when I feel a sense ofoverwhelming, I hit the bags, but right now, ripping off the jackass’s face fills me with need.
The doorbell rings, taking me out of my murderous thoughts. I swing the door open to find a soaked woman in a bikini. A hot, sexy one, that is.
CHAPTER SIX
MAX
Her nipples point toward me, giving me a wild imagination of how she would look if I pulled the string, keeping it intact. I shake those damn thoughts. “What do you need?” My voice comes out gruffer than I intended.
She huffs. “Don’t be such an ass, Max.” Rainey pushes me out of the way and steps inside.
“Haven’t you heard of a towel? You’re dripping all over the place.” Not that I give two shits. It’s not my place. I’m just being a dick. She spins around to face me as I close the door behind me.
“I wanted to see what was up. I haven’t heard from you since dinner. And you didn’t want to come over tonight.” She eyes me, her lashes flickering with water.
“Been busy.”
“Doing? Because I could hear the TV going, it didn’t seem like you were doing much.”
Her teeth chatter. I groan and walk to the restroom. “Hold on,” I shout, getting her a beach towel. Handing it to her, I reply. “I didn’t come here to be a host to my neighbor.”
She rolls her eyes, then dries herself. I walk to the back porch, and she follows behind me. “You’re being such a cranky ass. Are you hungry?”
“No,” I say, taking the instant ramen cup I left on the chair and taking a forkful. She goes on her tiptoes to peek into my cup.
“Halfway, huh? Definitely hangry. Eat up, you’ll feel better.”
