Page 20 of Straight to You

LOGAN

I t’s finally Friday, and even though it hasn’t been a whole week since we last stepped outside the apartment, it feels like the walls are closing in.

Not because of Ryder—being with him feels easy—but because I’m not built to sit still and wait.

Especially not when we’re being stalked by someone who isn’t planning to stop.

We’ve already decided to go to Pine Bar tonight to see if Kyle shows and if our theory holds up, though I’d bet almost anything it will.

If he is the one behind the emails, I doubt he’ll be able to resist showing up, hoping for some interaction with Ryder. Guys like him don’t like to be ignored. They want a reaction.

Even the thought of him talking to Ryder makes my blood boil, but he still wants to do this, so we can only hope it’ll give us something to prove it’s him.

Matt’s still working on it, and we sent the latest message to the cops too, like we’ve done with all the others, and got the same halfhearted response: “Thanks for keeping us updated. We’ll have our cyber consultant look into it. ”

So helpful.

Either Kyle—or whoever this is—is a master at email encryptions, or the police aren’t taking this seriously enough to dig into it.

The most I feel I can do, besides calling Matt and the police, is to stay close to Ryder and try to keep him grounded. But none of it’s enough.

He hasn’t complained about being in the apartment yet or how long anything is taking, but I know the cabin fever’s getting to him, too.

We’ve been living in artificial light with the blinds sealed shut and food delivery all week.

We finally ordered groceries last night, though, and, as promised, lube.

I’m grateful for the door peephole and the ‘no contact’ option to have your delivery driver leave the food at your door.

While we haven’t jerked off together again—or jerked each other off—since the other night, I still want to be prepared, just in case.

Ryder did seem eager to do it again, but I’m not going to pressure him, and he hasn’t initiated.

I want him to be the one to make a move because I never want him to feel like I’m taking advantage of the situation we’re in or his emotional state.

I also want to make sure it’s what he wants after he’s had more time to process.

But first, we need to go to the bar, and I really do need to talk to Mia.

It’s strange being close with people at their workplace, but still not having their phone number.

I know I could’ve messaged her online, but I decided it’d be better to ask her in person about Kyle.

See if he’s ever asked about Ryder or said anything alarming.

She’s always been observant, so if anyone picks up on something, it’ll be her.

We get in the car to drive to the bar, and we’re there in no time. I pull up to the neon glow of Pine Bar’s sign right by the door before turning to look at Ryder .

“You good?” I ask, grabbing his hand to give it a quick squeeze.

“Not even a little,” he admits. “But I’m ready.”

“Alright, remember, don’t leave me,” I say, cutting the engine. “Not even to go to the bathroom.”

He laughs, low and suggestive. “Bathroom together from now on? I think I can get on board with that.”

I laugh at that and let go of his hand to get out of the car. When we walk in, I scan the room but don’t see Kyle yet. Although he’s had a habit of coming in after us the last few weeks.

Mia lights up when she sees us. “Hey guys,” she greets, starting to pour our beers.

I lean in a little closer, keeping my tone casual. “Hey, quick question. That new guy that’s been coming here, leather jacket, big dude, name’s Kyle. You know who I’m talking about?”

She raises a brow. “Kyle? Yeah. He gets a whiskey neat.”

“Has he ever asked about Ryder?”

Her face shifts into something more cautious. “Uh, yeah, he did. He asked who he was the first time he saw him, and if the two of you were dating. Why?”

I shrug, trying to play it off. “Just wondering. Guy gives me weird vibes.”

Mia leans in slightly closer. “You and me both.”

That confirms that my gut hasn’t been wrong. I nod my thanks and hand Ryder his beer that Mia set on the counter in front of me as we walk over to our usual table. We sit and wait to see if he shows up, and not even ten minutes later, he does.

“Logan,” Ryder mutters with an edge to his tone, eyes locking on something behind me. “He just walked in. ”

I glance toward the door and see Kyle walk in and head straight to the bar. He waits a few minutes for Mia to pour his drink, exchanges a few words with her, and then, like I knew he would, he turns and scans the room, stopping dead when he sees us. He pauses briefly, then makes his way toward us.

“I can do all the talking again,” I murmur to Ryder, and he gives a small nod.

Kyle walks over, wearing that same worn-in leather jacket, a pair of dark jeans, and black boots.

He’s got a smug grin on his face that’s been rubbing me wrong since day one, and his eyes land on Ryder, as predicted.

“Well, look who it is,” he says conversationally.

“Didn’t think I’d run into you guys tonight. ”

“Why not? You’ve seen us here the last couple of Fridays.” I state, once again, completely uncaring if I come off as rude.

Kyle chuckles, and the sound scrapes through my ears like nails on a chalkboard. But I don’t let him get another word in. “Or is it because Ryder told you he’s not interested in you, and yet, you keep showing up?”

That makes Kyle’s smirk drop, and it’s replaced with a death glare if I’ve ever seen one. Ryder lifts his beer to take a sip, and the movement catches Kyle’s eye, and he shifts his attention to him now.

“Rough week?”

Before Ryder can answer, I step in once again, knowing how much it’s pissing Kyle off to not get a chance to speak to Ryder himself.

“No, we’ve been fine all week. Though it has been weird.

Someone’s been sending Ryder these strange emails.

Supposedly a fan. But way too personal, you know?

” I pause, then ask the question I’ve been sitting on. “You an audiobook guy, Kyle? ”

As far as Kyle knows, Ryder isn’t a narrator because we’ve never discussed our jobs—only that Kyle’s here for construction. So, unless he is stalking him or interested enough to find his socials, he wouldn’t know what Ry does for work.

“Sure, I’ve listened to a few,” Kyle says, but I don’t buy it. Unless the few are Ryder’s and Ryder’s only.

I raise an eyebrow. “Any favorites?”

He pauses, then says, “Nothing specific. Whatever pops up.”

Don’t buy that either.

“Interesting,” I say slowly. “You ever recognize narrators by voice? Or gravitate to specific ones? Some people can’t stand it if the voice is off. But when it’s good, it sticks with you.”

That gets me a look. Kyle shifts slightly, his smile tightening. “Doesn’t mean I’m not a fan of a good voice.”

His eyes land on Ryder and linger there long enough to make my skin crawl.

He’s got to realize we’re on to him, but maybe he doesn’t care.

Maybe he wants us to know, especially since he made it known he was close enough to be watching in the first place.

I hold the silence, waiting to see if he slips.

“Well,” he says, gaze sliding back to Ryder like I’m invisible, “Good seeing you again. I hope we get a chance to talk more soon. Just the two of us. There’s so much I’d love to say.”

And like all the other conversations we’ve had with him, he walks away, and I can’t help myself. “I’ll be right back,” I say to Ryder.

“What?”

“Just stay here. ”

I follow Kyle and grab his arm as he’s walking away. He stops and spins to face me, yanking out of my grip.

“Listen, Kyle. Leave Ryder the fuck alone. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but he’s not interested. He’s made that perfectly clear,” I seethe, keeping my voice low even as it trembles with barely-contained restraint.

He smirks, unbothered, then says something that makes my blood run cold.

“We'll see.”