Chapter 62: Jay’s Crush
- RAYA -
The rest of Monday is primarily spent sleeping. I didn’t realize how tired I would end up being during this recovery, but now that I’m out of the hospital and having dreams that aren’t entirely about sex, sleeping seems to be all that I want to do.
In the apartment, this seclusion at home would be depressing. I try not to even allow myself to think about how I would also be under the unknown surveillance of the creepy guy next door. But here, being left alone to recover feels more like a vacation.
Night falls, and I wake up with a growling stomach since I haven’t eaten much of anything since Dex brought me here. I glance at my phone and see a message from him with two contacts shared.
’Jay and Cricket want you to have their info so you can reach out when you’re feeling up for it.’
Thinking of Jay and Cricket makes me smile. I hope they’re not too worried.
After sending him a thank you, I go to the infamous kitchen to make myself something to eat and take special notice of the wire basket full of avocados on the counter. I must have been too distracted by how familiar this room is to notice those when I first arrived.
"What is it with Dex and avocados?" I chuckle to myself and sift through them, looking to see if any are ready. One has that telltale lime green color when I pop its little nub off to check.
’What do you suggest I eat an avocado with?’ I send to Dex, assuming the guy with the avocado gifs would know.
’Oooo. You can add an avocado to just about anything. They’re great on sandwiches. Or there’s the classic avocado toast, but I would suggest trying bagel seasoning on top. Another variation I like is with sliced cherry tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar.’
’Hmm. Thanks.’
I look around the kitchen, and sure enough—all of those ingredients are available. It’s like he was specifically shopping with avocados in mind, which is funny since everything else is pretty much exactly what was in my apartment.
’Want me to come make you some? I just got home.’ His reply comes, and I bite my lip, touched by the gesture but just... not ready yet. I just woke up. My hair is a mess. And I’m too in love with the idea of Dex to let him see me like that right now... again.
He’s already seen me in so many compromising ways. Next time we see each other, I’d really like to be able to put a little effort behind my appearance first.
’I’m really tired. I’ll probably just eat and go back to bed. But definitely another time. :)’
’It’s a standing offer, so let me know. Rest well, Raya.’
I’m tempted to send back that he’s likely to know exactly how well I’m resting. But I don’t. I just smile stupidly at my phone instead.
’Thank you, Dex. Sweet dreams.’
My stomach does a little flip when I hit send. Because as innocent as the text sounds, wishing him sweet dreams has a whole other level of meaning for us.
He sends back a wink, which makes my stomach flip again. We’re totally flirting, aren’t we? I think we are! It’s ridiculous that I don’t know for sure and that something this simple—a wink emoji—would make me feel like a schoolgirl with her first crush. My hands fly up to my cheeks, feeling the heat that’s risen there and giggling like a complete idiot. And then I make avocado, basil, tomato toast and love every bite of it.
A few days pass like this: sleeping soundly with only sweet, blissful dreams, and then waking pretty much only to eat something. Obviously my body needs a lot of rest to get back to normal, and it feels like I’m actually getting rest—rest I haven’t had much of for several weeks when the dreams were constantly waking me.
It’s definitely a good thing I didn’t try working this week. Who knows the kind of stress I would be under with Laurel and Lawson hovering? I might be wrong, but I truly doubt that the accident will soften Laurel to me—at least not for long. Soon, I’ll be back to fetching coffees and digitizing files. At least I’ll be getting paid more for it.
Cricket, Jay, and I are all in a group text, and it’s entertaining watching their interactions. After I confirmed for them that I am indeed okay, they have pretty much been sending jokes and gifs and funny videos nonstop.
Wednesday morning, Jay sends a text about a hot model in the office who is going on a photo shoot with the creative team later that day. It’s pretty uncommon for models to show up at the company first. Usually everyone meets at the shoot location. It has happened before, but not often.
’Do you have a crush, Jay?’ I giggle, typing back.
I would love to see Jay with a model. He’s more funny than overtly sexy in a physical way, but I could totally see him with a girlfriend like that. Personality is really important. If a guy can make you laugh, sometimes that’s everything.
’Jay crushes on every cute girl in the office,’ Cricket replies, making me laugh.
’Nah, word is she’s Dex’s ex. I have no chance.’
My smile instantly falls, and I drop back into the pillows on the bed. Ugh. A super hot model ex girlfriend who is currently in the office and going on a photo shoot for the company?
"Ex," I say sternly to myself. "Ex, Raya. Don’t overthink it."
’Cricket and I are going to help set up today. Maybe I can snag a picture.’
I groan into a pillow. No, please don’t. I don’t want to know.
Unfortunately, pictures start popping up a few hours later anyway. And not only do I get to see how stunningly gorgeous this ex is in the selfie Jay took with her, but I see Dex standing next to her in another photo, apparently listening to Jeremy, one of the Creative Directors, speaking to them both. Dex is holding a camera, and I feel a burn of jealousy imagining that he will be the photographer shooting for the campaign. That’s not a COO’s job, but he’s doing it anyway. Maybe it’s because they are close.
They make a beautiful couple. I swallow hard, staring at the picture, unable to keep myself from studying it over and over again—zooming in and then back out. Dex is wearing another holey shirt. I almost chuckle, but my heart hurts too much.
If I weren’t recovering like this, I would be there right now. I’m not sure if I should feel grateful or not that I’ve been spared witnessing their interactions with my own eyes.
Instead of torturing myself with thoughts about whether Dex and his model ex are going to reignite that flame while she’s in town, I bury my head under pillows in the loft and make myself fall asleep to forget about it.
When I finally awake later with the waning of sunlight indicating the late hour, it’s with a heavy heart. I just want to go back to sleep and stay there—hide in my dreams. They’re so much simpler than reality, because when I’m dreaming I’m already in the middle of beautiful moments. There’s no waiting around for things to happen. No transitions between the main events. There’s no heartbreak in the midst of it all. There’s only... magic.
While I’m lost in these thoughts that are bordering on self-pity, I hear what sounds like a door click shut downstairs, and I immediately jolt up in bed, holding my breath as panic floods me. Dex wouldn’t just come in. Did I lock the doors? Have I even checked them at all since I’ve been staying here?
I stay like that for several unbearably long moments before it occurs to me to grab my phone. It’s past seven. Maybe Dex is home.
’You didn’t just come inside the guest house, did you?’
I stare at the message I typed out, not sure I want to send it. What if I’m just imagining things? But then I swear I see a shadow move down below in the kitchen, and I hit send so fast and pray to God that Dex gets it right away and actually is home.
’No. Are you okay?’ The bubble pops up, and even though I told him not to ask that question, I’m going to let it slide this time.
’Yes, but I think someone is here.’
’On my way.’
I’m clutching a pillow against myself, pretending that it can hide me should someone come up into the loft. It feels like a long time of listening to creaks and noises downstairs—each of them sending my heart racing—but when I hear the door open downstairs unapologetically loud this time, I glance at my phone. It has been less than two minutes since Dex replied last.
This time, I know it’s him. I can hear his steps as he searches the house from one room to the next before he finally calls for me at the bottom of the steps and races up.
"Raya?"
I can’t find my voice to answer him, and when he alights on the top step and sees me in the bed, I notice he’s out of breath. He grasps his hips, chin dropping to his chest, and mumbles something too quietly for me to hear. Maybe I interrupted something and he’s cursing me for it.
"I’m sorry," I say automatically, but my eyes are still wide with fright.
"Don’t be," he shakes his head, staring at his feet. And then those brown eyes lift back to mine. "Are you okay?"
I nod quickly, but I’m still clutching the pillow, and he slowly makes his way over to me and sits on the edge of the bed.
"Why didn’t you lock the door?" He asks gently.
"I don’t know. I thought I did."
And then he scoots closer and pulls me into a one-armed hug, kissing the top of my head as he does. If I weren’t still so frozen in fear, I might melt from the obvious show of affection. But everything feels oddly numb.
"You scared me," he says, rubbing my arm.
"I scared me, too. But I’m..." I wet my lips, staring at the steps. "I’m so sure. I’m so sure someone was here."
He looks back, following my line of sight.
"Come on," he says, standing up and offering his hand.
I just look at it and then up at him.
"I’m not leaving you here, and it doesn’t look like you’ve eaten yet. Let me make something for you."
