Page 33 of Safe With You

Chapter Seventeen

Ryan

“When are you gonna introduce me to the girlfriend?”

I pull my phone from its place in my duffel bag and swipe the screen for the millionth time since I texted Lainey. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

Jim smirks. “Oh, that’s right, she’s still playing hard to get.” He tosses a bottle of water at me and sits on the bench, pulling up his tee to wipe the sweat from his brow.

That’s what I don’t get. Lainey doesn’t strike me as the type to play hard-to-get or to play games in general. She has been upfront since the beginning about what she wants and doesn’t want. Her resolve to stay far away from me only lasts until I have her in my arms, lips pressed against mine when it becomes a much different story.

“Or maybe she will go down as the first woman in history immune to your charm.”

I toss my sweat-soaked towel at Jim, hitting him in the face. “You’re pretty cocky for someone who can’t even form a coherent sentence when Meg is around. How many times haveyou stalked the hospital cafeteria? The gift shop. The coffee shop, hoping to catch a glimpse of her?”

“Sounds like you’re both a couple of pansy-asses,” Marc chimes in, and I immediately roll my eyes. I can’t fucking stand Marc. He’s a slimeball and a pretentious prick, and if he wasn’t Jim’s cousin, I’d be nowhere near the guy. Even though Jim hates his guts just as much, we still let him drop in on our three-on-three basketball games when we need another player.

“Fuck off,” Jim and I both murmur in unison. I check my phone once more to make sure my text is sent.

I know she lovesThe Office. She and Jenna quote it constantly at work and I’ve heard her say she watches it in the middle of the night when she can’t sleep. I watched a few reruns this afternoon about a fun run, and I texted her a quote that made me laugh.

Our schedules haven’t been lining up, and knowing she’s starting a long stretch of shifts while I’m on my off days leaves me feeling restless inside.Everythingabout her leaves me restless. Every conversation, every kiss I steal behind closed doors, it’s never enough. I’m starting to realize that as far as Lainey is concerned, it’ll never be enough.

I’m not sure exactly when I became so affected by her, but I find myself waking up and wondering what she’s doing. I make myself lunch and wonder what she’s eating, or if she’s made sure to even take a break to eat. Going to sleep at night and wondering if she’s lying in her bed alone, thinking about me. Wishing I was there next to her.

Several hours later, after I’ve exhausted myself with three games of basketball, and a piping hot shower, I crawl into bed to dream about seeing her when my phone finally dings.

Lainey: The “Fun Run” or Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race?

Lainey: For the cure.

I can’t help but smile as I type out my response.

Me: That’s the one. You weren’t kidding when you said you were obsessed.

Lainey: I love that episode! One of my favorites for sure. Michael and his plan to cure rabies get me every time.

Confusion knits my brow as I glance at the clock and realize it’s way too late for her to even be up. I roll over to my chest, shoving a pillow underneath to prop me up.

Me: Are you just getting out of work?

Lainey: Yeah, I picked up a last-minute request at that the SANE job. I thought it’d be two hours, then two turned into five.

Me: Shit, rough night?

Lainey: Yeah. I’ve been done for a while but didn’t have the heart to leave the girl there alone.

Lainey: I’m still sitting in my car in the parking lot right now trying to work up the energy to go home.

Damn. She worked all day today, then went to a second job. “Working on going home” doesn’t make sense. I decide to break the cardinal rule, and within seconds I’m dialing her number.

“Hello?” Her voice is stiff with forced happiness. “Everything alright?”

She’s going through hell and asks if I’m alright.

“Tell me about your night.”

She forces an awkward laugh. “You didn’t have to call, now you probably think I’m a big baby.”

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