Chapter 17
798 Words
Emily yanked the phone away from her ear. “JESUS, GINA”
“OH MY GOD. HE’S IN LOVE WITH YOU.”
Emily choked. “WHAT? NO, HE’S NOT”
“YES, HE IS. BABE, THIS IS TEXTBOOK ‘I PRETEND NOT TO CARE BUT I SECRETLY DO’ BEHAVIOR. CLASSIC MAN IN DENIAL. HE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.”
Emily rubbed her temples. “It’s not that deep.”
“Oh, it’s that deep.”
Emily sighed. “Even if he did care, he’s Ryan. He’s impossible to figure out.”
Gina scoffed. “Pfft. Men are easy to figure out. He’s got feelings. He doesn’t know what to do with them. So, he acts like a jerk 90% of the time and then randomly calls you at 9 PM asking if you’ve eaten.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t mean he likes me.”
Gina was quiet for a second. Then, with complete seriousness, she said, “Emily.”
Emily blinked. “Yeah?”
“Do you want him to?”
Her breath caught.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. The question sat heavy in the air, pressing against her chest.
Did she?
Her fingers curled into the sheets. “I don’t know.”
Gina hummed. “That’s a yes.”
“It’s not.”
“It so is.”
Emily groaned. “Can we talk about something else?”
Gina sighed dramatically. “Fine, whatever. But I’m right, and you know it.”
Emily huffed. “Goodnight, Gina.”
“Night, Mrs. Blackwood.”
Emily hung up immediately.
But as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Gina’s words wouldn’t leave her alone.
Do you want him to?
She didn’t know.
But the fact that she even had to think about it?
That was dangerous.
Emily turned on her side, staring at the faint glow of the city lights through her window. Sleep? Impossible. Her mind was too busy, too restless because of Ryan.
Do you want him to?
Gina’s words echoed in her head like an annoying song stuck on repeat. Emily had brushed it off during the call, but now, alone in the quiet of her apartment, she couldn't ignore the way her stomach had flipped at the thought.
The way Ryan had called her out of nowhere. The way his voice had sounded deeper, softer, more… personal.
No. No way.
Ryan Blackwood wasn’t the type to fall for someone. He wasn’t the type to care. He had always been untouchable closed off, emotionally unavailable, and impossible to read.
And yet…
She remembered the way he used to look at her when they worked together. The moments when his cold exterior cracked just for a second. The stolen glances. The times he’d been uncharacteristically gentle before snapping back to his usual distant self.
Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe it was just how Ryan was hot and cold, unpredictable, impossible to understand.
Or maybe…
Maybe I always have.
Emily swallowed hard.
She threw the covers over her head and groaned into her pillow.
She needed to stop thinking about this. Immediately.
Tomorrow was a new day. A normal day. No Ryan, no confusing emotions just work.
At least, that was what she told herself before she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning, Emily was jolted awake by the sound of her phone vibrating against the nightstand. Groggily, she reached for it and squinted at the screen. Gina’s name flashed across the display.
With a sigh, she answered. “What now?”
“You still in bed?” Gina’s voice came sharp and accusing.
Emily sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Kind of.”
“Well, get your lazy ass up! You have a home service appointment today, remember? Or should I call the client and tell them you overslept because you were up late thinking about a certain hot billionaire?”
Emily groaned, throwing her head back. “Gina, I swear, you talk too much.”
“That’s why I’m your best friend. Now get dressed, Miss Interior Designer. You have work to do.”
Emily rolled out of bed, shaking off the lingering sleepiness. The morning air was cool against her skin as she shuffled to the bathroom, freshened up, and threw on a chic but comfortable outfit simple jeans and a fitted blouse.
She grabbed her design portfolio and essentials before heading out the door.
As she slid into the backseat of the taxi, she caught herself staring at her phone, almost expecting Ryan’s name to appear again.
But it didn’t.
With a shake of her head, she forced herself to focus.
Work. That was what mattered right now.
But little did she know, fate had other plans for the day.
- Writer
