Only With You by Monica Alexander

didn’t say that, so I decided to just respond to her apology.
    I’m sorry too. You know I love you – even after all the shit from the last few months.
    I know. So, did you really come to the show tonight?
    She was finally acknowledging my initial text. I took a deep breath and responded.
    No, but I didn’t need to be there to know you were great. You’re always great.
    It seemed like ages before she responded. Are you going to tell me I looked like a hot piece of ass again?
    I sighed. That actually wasn’t me. I’m sorry. Someone swiped my phone, texted you, and then smashed it against the wall. I just got a new phone today.
    Wow, I didn’t think that could have sounded any less believable.
    Weird story, but okay. I guess that’s why I’m just now hearing from you?
    Yeah, it is. Sorry – again.
    That actually makes me feel a little better. I don’t enjoy being blown off.
    Neither do I!
    Yeah, me neither. I sent back to her. She needed to know how I felt.
    Point taken. What are you doing now?
    Having beers in a bar.
    With who?
    Jake.
    I left out the part about the two girls. She didn’t need to know about them. I never talked to Syd about girls. I never had.
    Lucky guy. I wish I could join you.
    Shit, me too. Now all I wanted was to see her. This was the first genuine conversation we’d had in months.
    Are you still in Tampa? I sent to her, holding my breath while I waited for her response.
    Yeah , we leave in the AM. I wish I had time to drive up and see you. I need a Ryder hug.
    Damn, did she have to say that? How this girl had the ability to keep me whipped when I wasn’t even her boyfriend was beyond me, but I was practically bent over a barrel for her.
    My heart was pounding in my chest as I responded.
    Oh yeah ?
    Now that she said what she had, all I could think about was what it was like to hold her, touch her face, just be close to her. I just knew I was opening myself wide up to be slaughtered if I let her back in, if we were friends again, because I’d have to remember that friends was all we could be. I’d never get what I wanted.
    Yeah. I pretty much want a Ryder hug every day.
    Damn. I closed my eyes and shook my head. She was literally killing me with those words, and staring at them on the screen was making me nuts, but there they were in bold letters when I opened my eyes, mocking me and teasing me and getting me a little hard if I was being honest.
    She texted again when I didn’t show any signs of responding.
    Can you come to the show in Jacksonville tomorrow night? I want to see you. Please.
    What are you doing right now? I send back. I was being bold. Consider it liquid courage since I’d just finished my fifth beer.
    Sitting in my hotel room.
    Are you alone?
    Please say yes. Please say yes.
    Yes.
    Yes! I was glad her tattooed boyfriend wasn’t around.
    Can I come see you?
    You’re going to drive all the way from Gainesville? Wow you must really love me.
    You have no idea.
    Confession time. So, I’m actually in Tampa.
    Seriously?! Come see me! Please? You can bring your guy with you.
    My guy? What? Was she talking about Jake? No way was I bringing him, and when I looked up to see him still making out with the brunette I knew he wasn’t coming even if I asked. I’d bet money his hand was up her skirt under the table.
    Give me ten minutes, I texted back, and Syd responded with the name of her hotel and her room number.
    “Dude,” I said to Jake, but he didn’t answer, so I raised my voice. “Jake!” That didn’t work. “JACOB!”
    “Huh?” he looked up in surprise, the brunette’s lip gloss smeared all over his mouth. She was trying to tug him back to her lips, and I realized I only had a few seconds before he dove back in. He had a gnat-like attention span when getting laid was on the horizon.
    “I’m going to see Syd. She asked me to come hang out. I’m taking your car.”
    Yeah, hiding the excitement in my voice wasn’t really an option.
    “Al-right,” he said