Page 39 of Ctrl+Alt Submit

ERROL

W ith the time difference, I’m already curled up in bed when my phone lights up with a video-call from Ran on our second night apart.

“Hey!” I’m pathetically eager to hear his voice after exchanging just a few texts since we parted ways in the airport yesterday.

“How are your meetings or whatever going? What’s it like out there? ”

“Long days yesterday and today. I’m so sorry I didn’t get a chance to call you yesterday,” he says.

“I’m happy to be talking to you now,” I tell him.

“I rented a convertible, and of course it’s just my shit luck that it’s rained both days I’ve been out there,” Ran grumbles.

“Nobody can shut up about how unusual it is to have this much rain this time of year. So I started making a joke out of it. When they’d bring up the rain, I’d go, ‘Oh, sorry, that must be my fault. I rented a convertible.’”

I chuckle, but Ran just sighs. “Everybody was polite, like, ha-ha, but then I started feeling weird.”

“Weird like how?”

“Do they really think I’m funny, or are they just humoring me and my stupid joke because they have to, because I’m startup whiz kid and bigshot app developer Aaryn Knight?

” He runs a hand through his hair and frowns.

“I’m stuck in my own head and I can’t get out.

I wish you were here to help pull me out of it,” he admits. “I miss you.”

There’s a sharp tightness around my chest. “Why be stressed out? They’re coming to you. You’re the smart one. You shouldn’t be worrying about what they think of you .”

Ran makes a face. “I know. I just got into my head a little. Well, and I also didn’t know Eliza was going to be out here.”

There’s suddenly a rock in my guts. “What?”

“Yeah. I guess she talked her way into a position on their marketing team for the transition.”

“Or maybe Tyler got her the job?”

“Ha!” Ran looks weirdly gleeful. “Nope. He’s apparently ‘out of the picture,’ as she put it in so many words.” He grins, and a flash of something awful roils my guts. It’s that smile I love so much, but now he’s across the country and his ex-girlfriend is there and I’m… scared.

Ran doesn’t seem to notice. “Who fucking knows. Maybe she got what she wanted out of him or vice-versa.” He sounds nonchalant, but the same sensation that was in my chest a moment ago moves down to my guts. With the rock already there, it’s a tight fit. I feel a little queasy.

“Did you two, um, talk or anything?”

I see his wry smile on the screen. “A little bit. “She flat-out asked if I was seeing anybody new.”

What? “What? What did you tell her?” My voice sounds strained.

“I told her I was off the market.” His smile lights up the screen again and I try to focus on that. “I tried to keep our conversations work-related, but she asked if I wanted to grab a drink last night. I was dead on my feet with the time zone difference.”

I frown. “Is that the only reason you turned her down?”

Ran looks surprised for a moment. “Are you jealous ?”

I’m hoping it’s a rhetorical question, but when it just hangs in the silence between us, I sigh. “ No . Maybe. A little.”

“Don’t be, Babydoll,” he says. It feels dumb, but the nickname goes a long way towards making me feel better. His face softens. “I wish I was there. Or you were here. I’m sorry, I didn’t think to ask if you wanted to come with me.”

“I couldn’t have bailed on any more days of work, though,” I point out.

“Mm-hmm. Guess you’re right.” Ran squints at the screen. “Are you naked?”

That makes me laugh. “Yep, in bed already.”

“I can see that. I’d like to see more, though. If you don’t mind,” he adds. God, that sort of shy note he gets in his voice melts me every single time.

“Of course not. My body is yours to do whatever you want with, so you can definitely look at it.”

Ran groans, and from the way the screen jostles, I’m guessing he just shoved down whatever he was wearing to get to his cock.

“Can I see you, too?” I ask, and I’m rewarded with a grin.

“Let me get it hard for you first, baby.”

“Are you going to want me to —well, let me —come tonight?”

He gives me a contemplative squint. “I don’t know. Do I have to decide now?”

I groan. “It’s kind of easier if I know what to expect, but I guess taking that away is half the fun for you.”

His grin returns, wider this time. “You got it. When you’re so far away, I have to take what I can get.”

I bark out a sound that’s almost a laugh. “Well, I’ll definitely let you have whatever you want while you’re out there, because I don’t want you to feel neglected and go running after Eliza.”

Ran blinks in surprise before his brows lower. “ What? That’s not cool, man! I wasn’t expecting to be here! It’s not like I planned some convoluted bullshit to sneak around with my ex in California. I mean, seriously?”

Oh, no . “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean —”

He scowls. “Yes, you did. I saw your expression. You were legitimately worried about me being out here with Eliza.”

I’m suddenly fighting to make sure Ran can’t see how — stupidly, inexplicably — close I am to tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” I say hurriedly. “I know you wouldn’t go back to her. I’m just feeling needy.”

Ran blinks. The darkness fades from his expression, and he looks upset. “You can’t really think I’d want to be with her, can you? After what she did to me? After what I —” He breaks off and his swallow bobs in his throat. “After what we found with each other?”

The hurt in his eyes is killing me. “No.” My voice is small. “I just miss you.”

His sigh hums through the speaker, but he doesn’t look or sound angry anymore.

“I miss you, too. Trust me. I’m sorry I snapped at you.

” He huffs out a little laugh. “I guess I have to admit, it’s a little…

flattering that you’re jealous over me. Not like I want you to feel bad —” he adds quickly, “but it is a hell of an ego boost.”

He has no idea. I feel a little smile creeping onto my face. “Stud, just being with you is an ego boost.”

His expression softens. “Babydoll, trust me. If there’s anything you don’t need to worry about, it’s me and you. We’re good. No, we’re the best.”