Page 36 of Deeper

Rylan

“Something isn’t right, Rylan.” Tatum tries to convince me.

“He’s probably hiding something. Everybody is.” I try not to put much stock in her worries.

“That doesn’t bother you? It doesn’t bother you that you don’t know more about him? I get a weird vibe from him. It’s sketchy.”

“I know enough. I know what I need to. Tatum, you’re being a little crazy.”

“I’m being crazy? You know nothing about this guy, and you’re just shrugging me off while I’m telling you he gave me a bad feeling.”

“Your concerns are noted.”

“You’re still going to meet him tonight?”

I turn in my stool to face my friend. “Yes, Tatum. I’m not going to cancel my plans with him because you saw him somewhere outside the club. I’m safe here.”

Tatum twirls the straw in her club soda but doesn’t respond. I give her my best soothing smile and hope to ease her fears. I’m not delusional or in denial. Tatum’s fears are most likely perfectly valid, but the simple truth is that I don’t care. I don’t care about his life outside of these four walls. I care about the high I experience when he touches me. I want to be a little reckless.

“What time is he supposed to be here?”

“Any minute.”

“I’m going to take off then. Be careful, Rylan, and come find me if you’re not comfortable with him. I’ll be around, exploring. I think I’m going to check out tonight’s show.”

“Have fun, Tatum. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

She pushes from her barstool and disappears into the masses inside Utopia tonight.

Callen sent me a text earlier, asking if I wanted to meet him here. So, of course, I’m here. I’ll admit—if only to myself—that my motives aren’t entirely dirty.

My editor loved the draft of my last article. If once with him sparked my creativity like that, I can’t wait to see where my next article will go. That man is the thrill I’ve been looking for all these years, so it would take more than Tatum’s vibes to keep me away. A lot more than that.

I lock my lips around the straw in my own club soda and take a long pull. Callen comes into view and saunters toward my table. I straighten, and my muscles constrict at his arrival.

“You solo tonight?” He bypasses a greeting.

“Hello to you, too, and Tatum is around here somewhere. She’s avoiding you.”

Callen takes the seat that Tatum left behind. “Avoiding me?”

I nod. “Something like that. What’s the plan for tonight?”

He stares at me for a few long seconds, probably wondering what the hell I’m talking about, before he answers, “Got us a room. Is that okay?” His eyes don’t move from my face while he speaks.

“It’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

He laughs, and the slight tension between us melts away. We are back on familiar ground.

“I guess so. Let’s do this then.” Callen stands and holds out his arm. “After you.”

I lead the way toward the back, and he follows.

“What room are we in tonight?”

“Twenty-three.”

“And what’s behind lucky door number twenty-three?”

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