Chapter Twenty-Six

Zoey

I vaguely remembered Ryder kissing me goodbye when he left to get his workout, so when I opened my eyes, it was no major surprise that he wasn’t back yet. My body was used to waking up rather early for work. Had he still been beside me, I would have stayed in bed, but since he wasn’t back yet, I got up, grabbed one of his t-shirts, made some coffee, and pulled my computer out of my work bag. While the coffee brewed, I spread several fabric swatches and some sketches across the coffee table. One particular fabric was a newly invented by a company out of Italy, and it was my new favorite. It felt like silk on your skin but was absorbent like a sponge. The best thing about it was that it didn't stick to you when it was wet.

I wasn't sure how it would work without doubling it up, but I wanted to try it. I was having a hard time with the colors, though. The trunks Ryder had worn at both fights were red and black, so I was trying to stick with those. Amy had told me to use whatever colors I wanted. She had their marketing department working on branding for Ryder so I told her to have them stick with the red and black scheme, but at the moment, I was questioning myself. I knew Ryder didn’t care, but for some reason, I felt the color scheme should stay on the dark side until we started the women's line.

These days, men wore whatever color they liked, and Tristan had jokingly told me that he liked pink and purple too, but Ryder didn’t come across as a pink and purple kinda guy. Just over an hour later, I had a black swatch laid across three different shades of red trying to decide on one.

My phone rang, yanking me from my choices. I didn’t recognize the number, but it was based in New York, so I answered it without hesitation.

“Hello?” I said to silence.

“Hello?” I repeated. After another long pause, there was a bit of commotion that kept me from hanging up.

“Zoey?” The voice made me suck in my breath.

Peter—my douche of an ex-boyfriend.

“How did you get this number? Why are you calling me?”

“I just wanted to talk to you. Please don’t hang up. I know I was a jerk, but I miss you, and I know that what we had could be great again.”

“I don't want to talk to you.” He’d been an unapologetic cheater, and the very sound of his voice made me feel ill and unhappy.

“I know, and I don't deserve your time, but I really need to talk to you and I was hoping we could have dinner, maybe tonight?”

I wanted to scream and reach through the phone and punch him all at the same time. “How convenient that you would think I don't have any plans. I'm actually out of town with my boyfriend. I need to go. Please do not call me again.” I pressed the end call button as hard as I could on a digital screen and slammed the phone down on the coffee table just as the front door clicked shut. I looked up, startled.

“You okay?” Ryder approached.

I quickly pulled myself together. “Yeah, unsolicited phone call.” I couldn't believe how easily the lie slipped off my tongue. Why I lied, I didn't know. I didn't want to talk about him. I didn't even want to think about him, and now his face was racing through my head, his voice in my ears.

“You must really hate telemarketers,” Ryder said with a laugh. “Is this the fabric?” He picked up the black swatch from the table.

“Yeah. What do you think?” I asked as he rubbed it between his fingers.

“Feels cool. Doesn't seem to stretch much, though.” He pulled at the fabric.

“Yeah, I noticed that, too. They’re sending over another sample that has the same qualities but has more give. Hopefully, it’s stretchy enough to move with you and not be constricting.” I looked over his tree trunk legs and worried that this material might not be the best choice.

“It feels so good though. It's soft. Feels like women's panties almost,” he said seriously.

“Panties? It feels like panties?” I forced back my amusement.

“Well, it does. I can't help they made this material, and it feels like panties. I like it, but if it feels as thin as it is, there isn't going to be a lot of sweat absorbed in this.”

“Actually, it will absorb more than half its weight in sweat and still not stick to you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Let me show you.” I poured a little bit of water from the bottle I’d left on the table the night before and then dropped the fabric on top of it. I watched as the water wicked into the material and then was gone. He picked it up again.

“It doesn't feel wet. Damp, yes, but not wet like I expected.”

I took the fabric from his hand a repeated the process and dropped it in the water again, then lifted it and handed it to him again. He rubbed it between his fingers and felt the wetness, but also the coolness of the fabric.

“This is amazing.” He smiled and dropped down onto the couch next to me, looking over my sketches.

“You've been working on this all morning?” he asked as his gaze moved to the screen of my tablet.

“For the last hour or so. I did some laundry for you and cleaned a little.”

“Why would you do that?” he asked, sounding shocked.

“I thought it would help you out a bit.” I typed on the keyboard. I was sending an email about when I should expect the next round of fabric for testing. They were currently in the process of making a pair of workout shorts and a shirt. I needed Ryder’s measurements and reached for my tape and asked him to stand. The next few minutes were spent laughing as I measured very aspect of his body. I ooed and awed at each measurement. He laughed and adjusted his erection as I measured his inseam. He never moved, but I was eye level with cock. With one movement, it would be in my face, but I had too much work to do and to be honest, he was a little stinky. When I looked up at him, he smirked.

“Since I don’t think I can talk you into measuring other parts of my body at the moment, I’m gonna go shower. By the look on your face, I'm not smelling so hot.”

“I won’t deny a shower might be a good idea.” I smiled and reached for his hand. He pulled me to my feet and kissed me softly before walking down the hall and into his room. I sat back down and sent all the measurements, and within fifteen minutes I had a promise of a suit sent within the next few days. I was excited, and I called Amy to let her know. She was excited too, and I could hear her typing away on her computer.

“Are you super busy? I can call you later tonight if you don’t have time now.”

“No, not super busy, just trying to get as much done as I can. I'm going to see my sister tomorrow, and then to LA with Tristan for a meeting with a potential client.”

“Are you okay?” I asked. “I worry about you.”

“I'm fine. I have a lot on my plate as usual, but I don't know any other way to live. If I'm still, I feel like I should be doing something. But I would give my left breast for a two-hour nap.”

I heard Tristan say something in the background.

Amy laughed. “Apparently, I am not allowed to give away my boobs since it seems they no longer belong to me.”

“I get that. I’m sure Ryder would say the same. Oh, by the way, I gave them Ryder’s address so he will get the prototypes and can wear them and let us know what he thinks. Pervert told me the material feels like panties.”

“Hmm. He’s right. It kinda does.” I could hear her smile through the phone. “Okay, wish I had longer to talk, but I’ve gotta run. I’ll be in touch first of the week.”

She said a quick goodbye and with that, she was gone. A trick she’d learned from Tristan, I was sure. She had a habit of talking until she was done, then simply saying bye and hanging up. I didn't mind it. It was actually refreshing. She said what she needed and then was done. When we had a conversation, it was fun and light, but that was only when she got sidetracked.

The rest of the day was spent lounging with Ryder, cuddled up on the couch, except for the hour we were watching film of his competitor. After that, we met his father for a quick dinner and then headed back to his place.

We curled up in bed for our last night together until he was in New York. I didn't want to leave. There was nothing really keeping me in New York. I could easily find a job around here until I got the clothing line off the ground. And after these last two days, I felt even stronger about wanting to be near Ryder. I just didn’t know if it was the right move to make yet. Plus, I didn't want to bring it up until after the fight. He needed to be focused. Part of me wasn’t even sure I should have come to visit, but I’d needed to see him. I needed to feel him, even if I was being super selfish. And tonight, I was going to be as selfish as I could.