Page 93 of The Path to Loving Him
She winces. “Ooo, I don’t know. Best friends is a bit of a commitment. I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t think I have the time for such a commitment either. If we take the pressure out of becoming best friends, that’s going to be best for us both.”
“Agreed. Just friends, but never best.”
I shake my head. “Never best.”
“Works for me.” She yawns. “Unless you have any other questions, I’m going to bed.”
“I do have one more thing,” I say, feeling like a total nimrod. I find a marker and an old receipt and hand it to her. “Can I have your number so I can contact you when need be?”
She smirks but takes the paper from me and writes her number down. “You could have just asked your sister for it.”
“And suffer the ridicule of her knowing she scored your number before me and never letting me live it down? No thanks.”
That makes her laugh. “Technically, she did.”
“We don’t need to get into technicalities. Let’s just say we both have it now.”
“If that will make you feel better, then fine.”
“It will.”
“I can see I’m working with a fragile ego over here. Noted.”
“Good that you see it now,” I say.
She smiles softly, then raises her hand. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
She takes off toward her apartment, and I watch out the window until she’s closed her door. That’s when I grab my phone and type her number into a new contact. Then I send her a quick text.
Ryland:It’s me, your landlord. Now you have my number as well.
It takes her a few seconds, but she texts back.
Gabby:That was quick. Here, I thought you were going to gatekeep your number a little longer so I wouldn’t have the opportunity to annoy you.
Ryland:The opportunity is always there, whether you have my number or not.
Gabby:Wow, and I cleaned up toys for you.
Ryland:Best you know now that I’m not going to be a super grateful asshole when things are done for me out of the kindness of your heart.
Gabby:Good to know. By the way . . . I like this side of you better, the side where you’re not snarling, just . . . sort of frowning in a way.
Ryland:My childhood created the perma frown. Get used to it.
Gabby:It seems like there are some things there to unpack, but being a product of childhood trauma as well, I’m not even going to ask.
Ryland:That’s refreshing.
Gabby:That’s what you can get with me, Ryland . . . a sense of refreshment.
Ryland:We’ll see. There’s still a lot to navigate.
Gabby:All I need is for you to give me a chance. From there, I’ll work my magic.
