Chapter 8
He hated the silence. It would always welcome him back home, and today of all days, it seemed even more deafening than usual.
With a sigh, he hung his keys on one of the small hooks inside the closet and toed off his shoes before heading to the kitchen. His fridge was well stocked, as usual. His housekeeper was a gem and always made sure he had plenty of food for the weekend. He wasn’t a big fan of cooking, except for basic breakfasts and simple meals, and she would often prepare his dinners for the week, leaving him simple ingredients to fend for himself on Saturday and Sunday.
It was almost six, and he had spent the better part of the day at the office, trying to finish an important file for one of their biggest clients. He should have headed there in the morning but hadn’t wanted to let Madison down.
She was enjoying the classes, that much he could see, and a part of him had been concerned that without him, she might just not go.
There was also another reason why he had not wanted to spend the entire day alone, but he didn’t want to dwell too much on that.
Grabbing a bottled water, he took a few sips before taking off his watch and heading to the bathroom. A long, warm shower would probably get rid of the tension in his shoulders.
His apartment still seemed silent, even though he had turned on the stereo as soon as he had walked inside the kitchen.
Ever since he had been a kid, he had loved music. The first thing he did whenever he got into his car was to turn the music on. One of the reasons why he had loved college so much, apart from living away from his father, was that he was never really alone. At first, he had had to share his dorm room, then the frat house had been full of guys. He even had preferred to live with roommates once he had graduated, even though he could have afforded the rent by himself.
Moving to New York, he had known that he couldn’t share the apartment his grandparents had left him. Somehow, it felt wrong. Chris had gotten a house so he could raise his little sister in a comfortable home, so living with him was not a possibility either.
Slowly, he had gotten used to living alone. In a way, it wasn’t that different from when he was living with his father. The same cold, quiet atmosphere. Except now he could put music on.
Stepping inside the marble shower, he took advantage of the side water jets, groaning when he used the strongest pressure to get rid of the knots in his upper back.
He had always worked out and, in general, taken care of his body. But these self-defense classes were no joke. Being a punching bag really meant being a punching bag, no matter the layers of padding he had to put on.
Only two more classes, and then it would be done.
With a towel wrapped around his waist, he padded to the dressing room, intending to grab some sweatpants for a comfortable Saturday night at home. Usually, he would go out, but he was fucking tired, and Chris was probably extremely busy with his baby mama. Ian worked this weekend, and even though he had a few other friends, it wasn’t exactly the same. Maybe he could call one of his usual hook-ups? He hadn’t had sex in a while. Like… at least a month, which was nothing short of a record for him.
So much for teasing Chris about his own lack of action these past few months, he snorted to himself. His schedule had gotten way too crazy and next thing he knew, he was living like a monk. He had a reputation, for God’s sake. That could not be.
Grabbing his phone, he went through his contact list, trying to make up his mind.
Mindy was the kinkiest, and he wasn’t sure he had the right kind of energy for her tonight.
Samantha was the cuddler but for some reason, he didn’t feel like dealing with that either.
There was also Zara, a simple, wham-bam-thank you ma’am chick. One round or two and then he’d get back home.
“Fuck,” he breathed out when he realized none of them really appealed to him tonight.
Instead, he scrolled back up and, before he could stop himself, opened the text message board.
Are you home?
Madison - 6:47 PM - Just arrived. Why?
Ben - 6:47 PM - Coming for you.
Madison - 6:47 PM - … Please tell me you’re not sexting? It’s Madison?
He grinned, already picturing her bewildered face. She probably pushed her glasses up her nose, too.
Ben - 6:48 PM - Kinky. I like it. Nah. But I’m your knight in shining armor tonight.
Madison - 6:48 PM - My what now?
Ben - 6:48 PM - Will explain, on my way.
Madison - 6:48 PM - WTH, I didn’t say you could come!
Ben - 6:49 PM - Shhh. You know you want it.
Madison - 6:49 PM - Now, you really sound like you’re sexting.
He quickly got dressed, then headed back out, typing his answer as he waited for the elevator.
Ben - 6:52 PM - Believe me, sugarcane, once I sext you, you’ll know it.
Madison - 6:52 PM - Again with the pet names, really?
Ben - 6:52 PM - Am in my car and going through a tunnel, can’t hear you, sweetie pie.
Madison - 6:53 PM - We’re texting, not calling each other, you dimwit.
Ben - 6:53 PM - I preferred when you called me sweetbutt.
Madison - 6:53 PM - I never called you sweetbutt. You called yourself sweetbutt.
Ben - 6:53 PM - Semantics. Grabbing pizza first, ok?
He saw her texting, and swiftly added:
Ben - 6:54 PM - No, no pineapple, you savage!
Madison - 6:54 PM - You suck.
Ben - 6:54 PM - Look who’s sexting now.
Madison - 6:55 PM - OMG for real, Ben! Get your ass over here and please just mushroom and cheese for me then.
Ben - 6:55 PM - No pepperoni?
Madison - 6:55 PM - You just want to make a dirty joke, don’t you?
He laughed as he fastened his seatbelt and started the engine.
Ben - 6:56 PM - You’re starting to know me a little too well. Be there in half an hour xoxo
Prince was singing about the most beautiful girl in the world when he realized he had ended his text with a xoxo.
“Jesus Christ, I’m turning into my best friend.”