The car pulls up in the parking garage of the office building and Ryan rushes off quickly before I have time to even say one word. I grab Hunter’s cage and walk behind him inside the building on my own as he rushes off in the distance. Shaking my head at how our relationship seems to break through a barrier to arrive at somewhere good, then suddenly his walls are up again and then we’re back to him rushing off and not talking. I shrug my shoulders at how high school it all seems.

I’m not sure why Ryan shuts down, but I wish I knew more about him. If only he would let me in.

My sneakers squeak on the tiles as I enter the kitchen. Lunar’s making coffee and she turns to see me, looks down at the cage and raises her eyebrow suggestively.

“Umm… do I even want to know why you’re carrying a rat?” Lunar smirks.

Rolling my eyes, I sigh. “Ryan’s lame attempt to scare me.”

“Right… backfired again I see?” She giggles.

“Yeah, his endeavors at trying to outwit me seem to always fail… thank God. Except for the glitter bomb that sucked big time and definitely got to me.”

Lunar tilts her head to the side. “You seem less enthusiastic about defeating him than you should be. Something happen?”

Shrugging as I place Hunter’s cage on the counter, I exhale. “Ryan and I had… a moment. But I think things are a little one-sided, and I freaked him out.”

She purses her lips. “You like him?”

I screw up my face. “It doesn’t even matter. Tell me about your day. What’s happening with you?”

She looks at me furrowing her brows but decides not to pursue it. “Well, the foundation is going really well. We’re bringing in a load of donations and the kitty is gradually building up. It’s great to be able to place funds into the programs we have in place. It’s all pretty fricking awesome, I might add.”

“That’s fantastic, Lunar. I’m so happy that you’re able to get the message into schools about Autism… and even more so that they are being educated on the subject. You’re doing such an amazing job. I’m kinda in awe of you.”

She lets out a half-laugh. “No, it’s not just me. I have an unbelievable team working with me, and Danger is… so supportive, it’s crazy. I’m so lucky to have him, and Mum of course. She runs the Australian leg of the foundation now, while I’m branching out into the American market. It’s so crazy to think that it’s taking off so well. But I know I couldn’t have done it without the people around me, my support and my friends.”

“That’s fabulous. It’s difficult to have a solid friend base when you work so hard. I know, I don’t have many friends, well none really, because of the hours I work. It’s supposedly about keeping a good work/life balance, but how do you do that when you’re so damn busy? I wish I could say I had great support around me, but I really only have the band, Oliver, and my family. But my family is all about work, so pretty much my life is work. My friends are basically my dog Piper and now my friend Hunter the rat here.”

Lunar frowns. “Well, that’s terrible and about to change. Tonight! You’re coming over to our place for dinner because we are friends, and I’m getting you out of your house and socializing with more than just your fucking flannelette pajamas and your dog.”

“Your place?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes.

“Yes, no arguing. Seven p.m. I’m cooking. It will be healthy, though, ‘cause the house is on a health kick.”

I look at her eyes glistening with hope, knowing I can’t possibly say no to the only invitation I’ve had from someone asking me over in a long time. So I smile and nod. “Okay, seven it is.”

She presses up on her toes while clapping her hands together in excitement. “Great. This is going to be epic.” Her pink and yellow hair sways from side to side as she bops her head around.

I can’t help but laugh at her. “Thanks, Lunar.”

She stops bopping around and her face goes serious. “You’re welcome.” She grabs her coffee cup, gives me a wink and turns heading out the door.

Swinging around, I glance at Hunter and sigh. “Looks like I made another new friend today, hey buddy?” His tiny nose wiggles from side to side, and I smile as a sense of accomplishment washes over me at the same time as nerves fill my stomach. I love the idea of spending an evening with Lunar, but I’m not stupid, I know she lives with Ryan and I’m pretty sure he will be there too. Which is more than a little awkward. But I’m hoping it won’t get too weird.

Taking a deep centering breath, I try to calm my jittering stomach. I reach out and grab Hunter and head toward my office to finish off some paperwork.

I spend the rest of the day in a state of nervous distraction. Even though I’m working and busy, my stomach continues to let me know that I’m heading out to spend the night at Ryan’s house. But eventually I’m distracted enough to get lost in social media, and I’m carried away answering the messages from Ryan’s live feed when I look up at my clock to see it’s already quarter to seven. I hadn’t noticed the time ticking away.

“Shit,” I murmur to myself as I shut down my notebook and start straightening all my notes on my desk. I’m running late, and I need to get to dinner. Lunar is probably waiting for me, I should have kept a closer eye on the time. Gathering my things quickly, I grab Hunter and head for the door. I walk briskly to my car, load my new pet inside, and make my way toward Ryan’s house without changing.

The drive isn’t far, but long enough to have my stomach doing back flips the entire way. Does he even know I’m coming over tonight? Is he even going to be there? Is he going to talk to me after today? I don’t have any clue nor any answers to those questions. All I know is I’m now officially late and that’s bad for my first friend invitation with Lunar.

Good one, Tillie!

Pulling up in the drive, my fingers are clamped around the steering wheel so tightly I’m sure I’ll need to pry them off. I take a long, deep breath in and let it out slowly as I close my eyes trying to calm myself.

Why am I so worked up? This is stupid.

Just go inside!

I open the door, step out and grab Hunter. I hope Lunar doesn’t mind me bringing him. I didn’t have time to drop him home first. With a cage in one hand and a handbag in the other, I stroll up the path toward the door. Still in my sneakers and yoga gear that I didn’t bother to change out of earlier. Before I can even press the doorbell, the door flies open and Lunar stands there wearing a gorgeous smile, a Betty homemaker apron, and her hair up in a messy top knot.

“Hey stranger, I thought you were ditching me.”

I smirk and shake my head. “No, of course not. Just got lost in paperwork and the guys’ social media campaigns.”

She giggles and pulls me inside the house. “You work too hard.”

“Mmm.”

She looks down to Hunter’s cage in my hand and smirks. “Nice accessory.”

While I place his cage on the floor, I laugh. We walk into the dining room which is attached to the medium sized kitchen. The house isn’t huge, but it’s very nice and practical and not really how I imagined. I guess I thought it would be more bachelor style come rock star pad, but it looks more like a family home, which is surprising but in a good way.

Danger walks down the stairs to the left of the kitchen and waves at me while Lunar stands in the kitchen stirring a giant pot of something that smells amazing. I make my way to the kitchen bar and smile watching Danger admire Lunar’s ass.

Suddenly, thunderous footsteps thump down the stairs as we all look up to see Ryan rushing down wearing only a pair of tight white briefs and… nothing else.

My eyes open wide taking in his almost naked form and my hand shoots up to my mouth in shock as Ryan pauses looking right at me. I’m embarrassed because even though he isn’t as toned as Danger with a ripped six pack, seeing Ryan practically naked is making my heart race, my breathing stop and goosebumps riddle my skin.

Ryan gawks at me, looks down to his briefs and smirks, stands taller and strolls into the kitchen like he isn’t bothered by his lack of clothing. “Didn’t know we were having company?”

“I thought if I told you you’d crack the shits… and she’s my friend. I wanted her to come over for dinner,” Lunar says matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, but to my house,” Ryan replies and I tense up slightly.

Sighing, I shake my head. “I can go.”

“Ryan!” Lunar chides while glaring at him.

He swallows hard but his face is stern and his mouth has a slight turn down on each end.

“No, it’s fine.” I reach down grabbing Hunter and turn to walk out.

“You kept the rat?” Ryan’s voice filters through the room halting me in my stride.

Swallowing hard, I turn back and nod. “Of course, I wasn’t going to set it free when obviously he’s so tame. He would die. Plus, he’s cute as hell and I’d love another pet.”

“Jesus Christ, I try to scare you with a rat and you fucking adopt it. You really are something… stay for dinner, but don’t expect me to get dressed for you.”

I try to hide my smile. “That’s fine, I don’t need you in clothes,” I say then open my mouth wide at how that sounded. Ryan raises an eyebrow at me while Lunar and Danger both laugh.

“Wait, I didn’t mean that how it sounded—”

“Sure… sure, Tillie. You always want me naked and I can arrange that.”

I roll my eyes. “Please don’t. The live streaming would have a server crash with everyone wanting to see that.”

Danger and Lunar laugh loudly as Ryan softly smiles.

He might just be thawing slightly.

“Fine, I’ll keep my shows just for you then. Seeing as you showed me yours it’s only fair I show you mine, yeah?”

My stomach clenches at the thought and I gasp slightly, but not enough for anyone to notice. Ryan affects me. I know he does, I just wish I knew why. I also think we would get along just great if he could accept that I’m here to help Recoil, not to replace him.

“Tillie?” Ryan asks breaking me from my rambling thoughts.

“Sorry… what?” I ask, and he chuckles.

“No quick come back?”

“How ‘bout we just have dinner and have less talk about naked people?”

He tilts his head slightly. “Why Tillie? Are you uncomfortable?”

“Leave her alone, Ry!” Danger berates slapping him across the back of his head with a small thump. He chuckles and we walk to the dining table to sit down as Lunar brings over a bottle of wine. Danger brings a big bowl of something that smells delicious while Lunar pours me a glass of red. I take it from her with a smile, clinking my glass to hers.

“I hope you like chili con carne.”

Smiling, I nod. “I like things spicy.”

Ryan smirks as he sits down next to me. I take a big sip of my wine while Ryan begins to pile his plate high with chili. His muscles flex in my line of sight and I’m distracted for a moment. My wine glass tips further than it should against my mouth causing the liquid to ripple down the side of my chin and flurry down in rivulets onto my chest. I pull the wine glass away from my lips quickly as I gulp a mouthful and lurch backward.

“Shit,” I murmur while grabbing a napkin, pulling my top forward and wiping in between my breasts. Lunar and Danger chuckle while Ryan gawks grabbing another spoonful of chili from the pot and directing it toward his plate. But he’s too busy watching me wipe my breasts and the ladle of chili lands right in his lap. He screams out as he stands up abruptly. We all look at him as the chili covers his entire crotch and thighs and then it starts to dribble down his legs. It would seriously have to be burning him. Before I have time to grab a napkin to help him wipe it off, he grabs the hem of his underwear and pulls them down.

Right down.

All the way down.

Then flings them off as he jumps from side to side groaning while he wipes his thighs. His giant cock sways from side to side right in line with my face as I gasp and look directly at it. Besides being a little red from the heat it looks… perfect. My thighs grip together to dull the ache from seeing Ryan completely naked. Lunar and Danger crack into hysterics as I continue to gawk at Ryan’s giant swaying cock.

“Fucking hell that chili burns!”

“I think it’s made your cock swell,” Danger says, and Ryan scoffs.

“Fuck off! You know my cock’s this big normally.”

“Okay, can you put your cock away? We have guests,” Lunar asks.

Ryan looks down at me noticing I’m unashamedly staring at his dick. He chuckles and sways his hips making it swing from side to side which immediately snaps me from my trance. I look up to see his heated gaze, my cheeks flush red hot so I bring my hand up to my eyes to hide from seeing him.

He cackles and pats my shoulder. “It’s okay to stare, Tillie. I know I’m amazing.”

“Oh my God, Ryan… go shower, and put some clothes on for crying out loud,” Lunar berates as Danger and Ryan both continue laughing.

“Yes, ma’am.” His hand leaves my shoulder.

I part my fingers slightly to watch him walking away from us and up the stairs. His ass is quite toned and my muscles clench again as my stomach twists in on itself.

“You can uncover your eyes now, Tillie,” Danger chuckles.

Twisting back to the table, I pull my hands away from my face completely and exhale. “Well, that was…” I pause not being able to find the right words.

“That was normal for this house.” Lunar giggles and starts placing some chili in her bowl.

“Wow! He’s not ashamed to be naked is he?”

Danger smirks. “Nope, not at all.”

“Well, I guess he has nothing to be ashamed about does he?” I admit, and Lunar raises her eyebrow.

“You do like him!”

“What?”

“You do!”

“No, I don’t.”

“Okay, well, just so you know… I think you two would be cute together. Don’t you think, babe?” Lunar asks and Danger half-smiles.

“I don’t think you should give out false hope, Lunar. Ryan is… well, he doesn’t do relationships so I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Plus, you work together. It could be awkward.”

Sighing as Lunar glares at him, I nod. I knew Ryan was guarded, I just didn’t know how much. But if he doesn’t do relationships there’s a reason. He’s been hurt before. I just don’t know how deeply.

“I get it, it’s complicated. Plus, Ryan kinda hates me anyway so it wouldn’t matter even if I did like him,” I say, and Lunar smiles.

“You know you just admitted you do like him, right?”

“Did no such thing.”

Danger smiles. “You kinda did.”

“Shut up, or I’ll tell the world you like to dress in Lunar’s clothes.”

Lunar laughs as Danger smirks. “Okay, message received.”

I scoop out some chili and proceed to eat with Danger and Lunar, noticeably quieter without Ryan.