Love Online(17)
It felt like his soul was speaking to mine in that moment, because I was happier than I’d been in a very long time, too. My life had been dark for a couple of years, and connecting with Ryder had given me something to look forward to each day, something just for me and no one else. He was truly my guilty pleasure.
I knew this was going to end badly. It was only a matter of time before he would become tired of the limitations I’d set. His real life would interfere, and corresponding with me online would take a backseat to everything else. What we had would fade away. But even knowing that, I wasn’t going to be the first to let go.
CHAPTER SIX
* * *
RYDER
They call it the New York of India. Mumbai was not only the home of Indian filmmaking, it was a mecca of shopping and commerce. Now that I was here, I couldn’t believe I’d ever been dreading this trip.
“I’m so happy you had some time to call me,” Eden said.
For the past few days, my schedule hadn’t allowed for any chatting with my favorite cam girl. But I’d finally found a moment to video-call her.
“I missed you. I had to make time.” It was so good to see her face. It was even more beautiful because I hadn’t seen her for a while, so it was almost like seeing her for the first time all over again.
“It’s been weird not talking to you. Tell me about India.”
“India’s a whirlwind, but I’m having a blast. This trip has definitely exceeded my expectations so far. I’m in Mumbai, which is the entertainment capital. It’s hot as balls here. I have a tour guide, Rupert. On the first day, he came to pick me up on a motorcycle. So that’s how I’ve been getting around—on the back of this little scrawny dude’s bike.”
“Wow. Be careful.”
“Yeah, we got caught in a monsoon the other day. That wasn’t really all that fun. The traffic flow is crazy here. I have never seen anything like it. It’s gonna be a freaking miracle if I make it home alive.”
She cringed. “Oh my God. Don’t say that!”
“I’m joking—sort of.”
“But you’re having a good time?”
“More than I thought I would, yeah. It’s been busy during the day, though, which is why I couldn’t break away for the past few days to chat. It’s been meeting after meeting. And at night, Rupert’s been showing me around, taking me to all the hot spots. Yesterday he took me on a walk along the Arabian Sea. It was pretty damn amazing. I thought of you a lot on that walk.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, I thought about how you remind me of the ocean, a vast mystery.”
Eden was smiling, but it didn’t seem genuine. Something was definitely bothering her.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. Everything is fine.” She hesitated, then began to remove her hoodie. “Hang on. I’m just gonna take this off. I’m hot.” She never complained of being hot. It was usually the opposite; she was always cold.
I watched as she lifted it over her head. Underneath was a T-shirt that I saw for a blink of an eye before she removed it, displaying the tank top underneath. But I’d seen the T-shirt just long enough to catch what was on the front: Ellerby’s Grille Since 1985.
She’d yanked it off fast, almost as if she didn’t want me to see it, but it was too late. I had. And that name would remain etched in my memory.
“When do you get home again?” she asked.
“On the 29th.”
“Okay.” Her expression still gave off a sullen vibe.
“You seem a little down. Are you sure you’re alright?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m just… It’s been stressful the past couple of days. Nothing specific. And not getting to talk to you every night has been a bummer.”
I’d missed talking to her, too.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” She adjusted her position on the bed and said, “Tell me more about India.”
Even though I suspected she was pretending to be interested in order to change the subject, I entertained her question. “Well, you’ve heard of the Taj Mahal?”
“Yeah, that big palace?”
“Yup. That’s here, too. But it’s kind of far from where I am. I was thinking about maybe going to see it before I leave, though. If I do, I’ll take some pictures and email them to you.”
“I would love that.” She grinned.
“Tomorrow Rupert is taking me to his cousin’s wedding. Not sure I want to go, but he’s being insistent. He says it’s gonna be a good time.”
“The Indian girls are going to be all over the hot American guy. Watch.”
It probably wasn’t the right time to admit I’d already been propositioned several times by Bollywood actresses I’d met.
“Does that make you jealous?”
She hesitated before she answered. “Yes.”
“Is it wrong that that makes me happy?”
“Just don’t fall for anyone while you’re there.” She didn’t look like she was joking. This was the first time Eden had been this vulnerable with me. I was sort of digging it. It was a nice change from me being the jealous asshole because of her camming.