Sinfully (18 page)

Payton

Chloe had been my partner in crime over the last two weeks, trying to set me up on dates with friends of friends of coworkers and some such.  I had come to the conclusion that she hadn’t met half of these guys from judging how awful they were on our ‘dates’.  One was thirty-two and still living at home.  Another worked at a morgue—which creeped me out—and the last guy I met had four different children under the age of three with four different women.  I didn’t mind a man with a child, but that situation was not for me. 

My neighbor had somehow overheard Chloe and I talking about my dates while we were taking a walk around the neighborhood and offered himself up.  He wasn’t unattractive and seemed decently normal but it was very unexpected.  He was maybe a few years older than me and had lived on my street for a few years.  I caught numerous women doing the walk of shame from his house so he obviously had something going for him. 

We went out for coffee, but the amount of information he knew about me made me uneasy.  I shook it off as just looking out for your neighbors but something wasn’t quite right.  He noticed when I went out of town and knew I lived alone, which wasn’t all that hard to realize.  He also knew I wrote children’s books and didn’t do many relationships.  I wasn’t one who had men over at my place, so I figured that’s how he came up with that conclusion.  He was sweet enough to walk me up to my door and gave me a sweet, lingering kiss on the cheek before heading over to his house. 

With all my dates, I let them know I’d call them, but of course
that
never happened.  Being single suited me just fine and I had come to terms with the fact that Ryder and I were not right for each other.

I made Chloe promise that the weekend would be date free and we planned on going to the zoo for some best friend time before dressing up and going dancing at night.  I missed just hanging out with her, just the two of us.

Pulling up to Chloe and Grayson’s place, I was excited to go to the San Diego Zoo.  I hadn’t been since I was ten, with my adoptive parents, and loved seeing all the animals,
especially
the monkeys.  Making my way up to her door, I felt like I was finally in a good place and was ready for the weekend to begin.  A random, yet insanely attractive man opened Chloe’s door and I stood there in awe.

His hair was tousled perfectly and he was built like a hockey player, broad shoulders, tall as hell, and a defined jaw line.  I probably looked mute since I’m pretty sure he was introducing himself and I made no effort to move or talk. 

“-you okay?”  Shaking myself out of my trance, I heard Chloe’s voice coming from behind all the muscle. 
Who was this guy?

“Uhh, yeah.  Who are you?  Who is he?”  I asked both the sex god in front of me and Chloe.

“This would be Tucker.  He’s a friend of Grayson’s.  Grayson wanted to go to the zoo with us but didn’t want to make it weird so he invited Tuck here.  Hope that’s okay, Payton.”  She was giving me the
‘you don’t have a choice so you better enjoy this fine piece of ass since I can’t’
look.   I couldn’t help but let out a slight laugh at Chloe’s expression behind Tucker’s arm.  This was so not what I planned on happening on our
girls’ day
but couldn’t deny myself a day of hanging out with such a hot gift to women.

“Sounds like fun, Chloe.  Hey, would you mind helping me get something from my car since it sounds like one of the guys will be driving now instead of me?”  I didn’t really give her an option as I pulled her arm and effectively dislodged her from the safe location behind Tucker.  “Be right back, Tucker!”

After making our way to my car, I finally let her go, still pissed off at the situation.  “You said no more meddling!  How is inviting sex-on-a-stick to the zoo with us not meddling, Chloe?!”

“See?!  You
do
find him attractive!  Hell,
I’d
sleep with him if I wasn’t worried about him telling Grayson.  You need a little Tuck in your life, Payton, nothing serious, but just a good old fashioned fucking from a fine man.  After the zoo, you can head back to his place and finish your date.”

I saw so many things wrong with what Chloe just said that it took me a minute to process it.  I could see her having her way with Tucker if she had an opportunity, but I knew it could backfire on her if Tucker had a big mouth. 
Did she just say I could fuck Tucker today?
 Is that what Tucker signed up for?  Hanging out for a few hours at the zoo and expecting to claim his prize afterward?  I was irritated and turned on at the same time.  He was exceptionally sexy.

“Let’s just get going, okay?  I’m tired of overanalyzing the situation and I want to see some damn monkeys.  Your scheme to find me a man will not hinder my plans today, friend.”

Chloe jumped in delight and squealed as she grabbed my arm and started tugging me back to her home.  The boys were ready to go, Grayson seemingly in charge and Tucker hanging back with me.  He was quiet so far, but the more I thought about it, the more exhilarating the day seemed.

“I was told you love the zoo but haven’t been since you were a kid.  I think it’s pretty cute if you ask me.  Did you have any exhibits that you are dying to see?  We can break away and spend a little more time at those if you want.”  Tucker sat next to me in the back seat of Grayson’s black Yukon and had his right arm hung over the back of my seat.  He hadn’t tried anything with me yet but seemed conservative or just a really sweet gentleman.  From how Chloe described the plans for the day, I expected the opposite.  Just thinking of the hidden places Tuck and I could fuck at the zoo made my panties wet.  He was one of those guys who oozed sex appeal and you knew for a fact that he was a powerhouse in bed. 

“I want to see the wombats and the monkeys!  Chloe thinks wombats are ugly so I doubt they’d linger with us.  They’re just so damn adorable and exotic.  I used to name my favorite monkeys when I was little.  I’m pretty sure there was a Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Dopey last time.  Disney movies were my babysitters back then.  My parents could pop in any Disney movie and they could leave me alone for ninety minutes without me moving once.”  He had a goofy grin on his face as I realized how much I had just shared with him, a complete stranger.  “Umm, sorry.  Yeah, we can do whatever you want.  I didn’t mean to spill my life story.  I’m not usually like that.”

“You don’t have to worry and I’d rather you be genuine and silly than stuck up and fake any day.  Just let me know when you want to hang back and we can, deal?”  He was being very nice.  I briefly wondered what Chloe had said to him and if he was acting that way for a certain reason.

The four of us walked through the zoo at a leisurely pace, taking random pictures in front of the exhibits.  In front of the baboons, Chloe and I bared our ‘pink butts’ to the camera.  We also climbed on the back of the boys’ backs in front of the monkeys holding their babies on their backs.  Tucker shared a sweet photo with a tiger whose paw was held up against the glass and he high fived the tiger.  When we finally made it to the wombats, Tucker and I hunched down to their level and Chloe took a pretty cute pic of us.  Grayson and Chloe left us and let us know to meet them at the front an hour later.

“It feels good to act like a kid again.  I haven’t laughed that hard in forever!”  Tucker slid his hand close to mine and waited as if he was asking permission.  I knocked my hand into his and found my fingers interlocked seconds later.  We sat on a bench and watched the wombats a few minutes longer in comfortable silence.  I silently thought how perfect of a time it would be while we were alone to get better acquainted but Tucker didn’t seem to be on the same level of horniness as I was. 
Couldn’t a guy throw me a bone here?
  Literally.  I was tempted to pull him into the reptile exhibit and bring him up to speed with my ideas but thought better of it.

“Why did you decide to come out with us today?”  I blurted the question out without really thinking about it.  I was curious, though.

“Grayson has mentioned you a few times.  Said you were beautiful and hard to tame.  I didn’t have plans today, so when he asked and said you’d be joining us, I had to jump at the chance.  I love a good challenge and he spoke of you in high regards.  He also wasn’t wrong when he said you were beautiful, although I’d probably use stunning or breathtaking when referring to your beauty, Payton.”

Yep.  Wasn’t expecting
that
answer.  I was thinking more along the lines of Chloe saying I was great in bed and it’d be worth his time to come out and join us.

“That’s sweet of you.”  I wasn’t used to moments like that.  While he was ridiculously good looking, I didn’t feel a spark when I was around him.  Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind having sex with him, but I didn’t think it’d be anything long term.

He stood quickly, pulling me up with him by the hand.  We began walking aimlessly around the zoo, killing time and enjoying each other’s company.  As we were walking by the elephants, I suddenly felt like I had eyes on me.  It was the weirdest feeling and I couldn’t help but look around.  It was when I turned toward the giraffes that I saw them. 
Him
.

He was crouched down low, laughing, as a little girl hopped up on his back for a piggyback ride.  There were two women with him who were gorgeous.  Both girls were blonde—one with more beach-kissed hair and neither looked like they had ever had a child.  They were perfectly fit and slim with short cut off shorts and casual shirts that still showed off their curves.  The little girl must have been four or five and was laughing at something Ryder had said.

“Payton?  You okay, girl?”  Tucker’s voice had a hint of concern but I didn’t have time to deal with that.  I pulled him off to an area uneasily seen by those passing by so I could see the only guy who I constantly had on my brain and who I was still upset and unsettled with.  He looked like was enjoying himself.  I couldn’t tell if he was with either girl because he wasn’t touching them in any way, but the thought that Ryder was with someone made my stomach uneasy.  No sooner had they appeared did they disappear.

“I don’t mind playing a secret agent but I kind of need to know the specifics.  Are we hiding from someone or are we scoping them out?”  Tucker was trying to lighten the mood but I could tell from the confusion in his eyes that he was curious about what made me duck and cover at a zoo.

“I just saw someone I wasn’t planning on seeing.  Caught me off guard.  Ready to go?”  I needed to get away and needed to find Chloe and Grayson, pronto.

Heading toward the exit, I thanked the heavens that Chloe and Grayson were already there, sitting on a bench, sharing a cup of Dippin’ Dots.  We walked toward them and I swung an arm out to grab Chloe and kept walking toward the exit.  I wasn’t about to wait for them to finish their ice cream or ask questions.  I was sick to my stomach and my damn heart was hurting.  My bed, a tub of Dutch chocolate ice cream, and some
Sons of Anarchy
marathons were what I needed.  That show always reminded me that I had to take care of myself and not count on others.  If you did, you got screwed.  Or killed.  Or sent to jail.  Or pregnant.  Regardless, our girls’ day was officially over.

“What the hell, Payton?  We were ready to leave and just waiting on you!  Can’t you give us two minutes to finish our banana split Dippin’ Dots?”  I could hear footsteps behind me and kept walking toward the car.  I kept telling myself I would not break down but I was hanging on by a thread.

The drive home was filled with silence and as soon as the car was shifted to Park, I was out the door and heading to my car.  I would deal with the repercussions later.  I wasn’t going to start crying in front of them. 
He fucking moved on!
  I knew it had been months but didn’t realize how much seeing it would hurt and how much I missed him.  I felt like I had been robbed of a real chance with Ryder and suddenly hated those two women.  It didn’t even matter if they were with him romantically or not.  They got to spend quality time with him and hear his laugh.

I sat in my car for a few minutes, not crying, but just staring out the window, trying to figure out why Ryder was brought into my life for such a short period of time before tearing what little we had to pieces.  I didn’t think we had any type of chance, and knew I should give up, but my heart was more stubborn and wanted to hold on to hope. 
Stupid heart.

Ryder

I wasn’t quite sure what Kylie thought of our relationship but I wasn’t about to deal with it in San Diego.  We were there to have a good time, set my best friend up with a decent date, and get away from life’s problems for a few days.  I also didn’t want to have to stay in a hotel or drive back to Los Angeles with a girl who’d just had her heart broken by myself.  There would be hatred, name calling, and bawling like a baby.  I didn’t want to deal with that shit.  I was smart enough to know I should handle it back at her place so that she couldn’t throw my belongings if she for some reason thought we were more than casual fuck buddies.

Waking up Saturday morning, I had a plan to check out McKenna to see how well of a match her and Tristen would be and not think about misinterpretations that Kylie might have.  The night before, we fucked like nothing was wrong but I didn’t cuddle with her afterward.  Our day at the zoo would go as planned, and if she wanted a little public affection, who was I to deny her?  At that point, I didn’t care if it all blew up in my face.  Kylie was a great girl but she wasn’t
the
girl.

We pulled up to McKenna’s home and out came a girl who belonged on a surfboard.  She had natural sun-kissed blonde hair and was wearing shorts and a sweatshirt.  Behind her was an adult version of her and I instantly knew she would be Tristen’s type.  She opened the door of her Chevy Avalanche so Bailey could get in and proceeded to head over to my car.  Kylie unbuckled her seatbelt and started getting out of the car and I followed suit to meet Tristen’s new date.