Cruz

“Another episode?”

Jack untangles himself from me, patting my ass.

“Yeah, babe. But I’m kinda getting hungry. Let’s bounce and go to Chipotle.”

I snuggle around my pillow, smiling up at him.

“You’re not getting up. Are you?”

I shake my head.

He stalks toward me, reaching out to torture me. But I’m already under the blanket laughing.

“Don’t you dare,” I scream

Light attacks me as he jerks the blanket off, grinning his sweet grin as he assaults me with gentle tickles, making me squirm.

I swat at him and try to shove him. But I’m pinned onto my back, breathless, hair strewn across my face as he stares down at me. The silence grows longer as we stare into each other’s eyes.

“Fuck food. Maybe we just stay here. I’m sure I can find something to eat,” Jack says quietly.

My heart’s racing. Butterflies exploding.

But not in a good way.

He’s leaning in as my palm pushes against his chest.

“I think we need food. Hangry isn’t a good look on you. And you’re going to need all your energy.”

Jack grins. “One weekend away from me, and she’s ready to put me to work. Okay. One burrito, two orgasms. In that order, boss.”

He stands, leaving me blank-faced, blinking up as he goes to grab his keys.

“You want anything?” he calls out over his shoulder.

I clear my throat, shaking my head, before answering, “No. Thanks.”

Jack’s goodbye hangs in the room like a fog as he closes my bedroom door behind him. I’m staring into nothing, counting seconds in my head before I reach for my phone and swipe it open, sending off the message I’ve avoided since I got back.

Me: We need to talk.

Him: About?

Me: Don’t be a dick.

Him: You liked my dick last weekend.

Me: Can we be serious? Please. This is serious. What we did…we have to fix it.

Him: No.

Me: Cruz!!!!

Bubbles pop up and then go away until suddenly a photo appears.

Cold washes over my body. Because it’s of Cruz sitting on his bed, taking a photo of himself in the mirror. But that’s not the part that’s fucking me up. It’s the silver band on he’s still wearing on his finger.

Me: We mean nothing. It meant nothing, Cruz.

Him: You have until tomorrow to tell him you’re mine. Or I do it for you. Til death do us part, baby.