Addicted After All(21)

“It’s more than tempting. Trust me, Lil.” He opens the glass door and disappears inside the tiled shower. Once the water gushes, I can’t hear him any longer.

Am I that bad that he can’t take a bath with me?

I drop my hands in the water and clench my thighs together, the soreness still present. I crave touch, I do. A part of me wonders if I can clean with a washcloth down there without rubbing my clit.

I can. I find a purple washcloth and do a quick little rub and then toss it aside, not allowing myself to go further. See, I’m not that bad.

I lower into the water as it rises, and after I dunk my head and scrub some shampoo, I relax a little, and drowsiness takes over.

Very gently, I begin to fall asleep.





{ 8 }

LILY CALLOWAY



Today is a big day. Not delivery day. I’m many months away from that. But it’s the one where we find out what Jonathan Hale wants.

I send the Superheroes & Scones store manager, Maya, a quick text about purchasing the new editions of Deadpool while I wait for everyone to meet me at the kitchen bar. I suppose I’m early, the oven clock reading 6:30 p.m. Lo should be back from Halway Comics in a few minutes, breezing through the door.

“You don’t have to come, Dais,” Ryke says adamantly, his rough voice echoing from the living room. I crane my neck to try to spot them, but they’re blocked by the wall.

“Your dad said it’s mandatory,” she tells him, “and I want to be there.”

“I don’t want you to be there because you’re in f*cking pain right now.”

What? I spring off the barstool and rush into the living room.

“I feel amazing,” she says the word like she could run five miles.

I step into the room as Ryke tells her, “I would believe you more if you weren’t doubled over, Calloway.”

Daisy is hunching, her hand on the back of the couch like a support. Her cast hangs by her side and her head dips down low. “I’m standing upright,” she says. “I’m taller than tall.” And then I notice her casted wrist curving to her stomach like her abdomen hurts.

“Fuck this.” Ryke picks her up and cradles her easily in his arms.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Ryke spins towards me, and Daisy turns her head into his chest, clearly wincing in pain now. “Cramps,” Ryke answers.

I frown, and I feel myself crinkling my nose like Lo mentioned. I try to wipe away that look.

“Are you about to f*cking sneeze or something?” he asks in that mean, blunt way.

“No.” I flush. “I’m just confused…” I scan Daisy who fists Ryke’s plain white tee, her discomfort clear.

“I don’t see how this is f*cking confusing,” Ryke deadpans.

Afraid to embarrass Daisy, I hesitate delving into the subject, but he started it so…maybe he already knows everything. She seems to be open with him since they’re dating anyway. “Daisy?” I say softly.

“Huh?” She won’t remove her face from his shoulder, refusing to let me see her in pain.

“This is kind of long for a period, isn’t it?” I try to count the days since she said she started. It has to be about nine.

Ryke stiffens but he stares down at Daisy, not speaking for her.

“It’s been awhile,” she says slowly. “But I’ve had ten day periods before…you know, I have this theory…” She grimaces. “…that it’s my body’s way of saying it loves me.” She almost climbs higher onto Ryke’s body as the cramps most likely return with a vengeance. Ryke wears this hard concern that’s nothing short of masculine and kind of scary and cute at the same time.

For her, not me. Just to be clear.

And then it clicks. “You still have irregular periods?” She used to have them during her extreme dieting phases. I blame modeling.

“They’re not as bad as they were,” Daisy says.

Ryke doesn’t seem as optimistic. “Four months of nothing and then this?” he tells her. “I can’t imagine what they were like before you met me.”

“Heaven,” she says sarcastically.

“And now you’re in hell, f*cking around with me.”

She laughs, but it dies quickly.

“Do you need Midol?” I ask.

“I took some already. It’ll pass if I don’t think about it. That’s what Rose always says about cramps.”