The Reckless Collision

Chapter Seven

"This is fantastic," Ray said, his voice warm as he pointed to his empty plate. "Now I feel bad."

I glanced at him, puzzled. "Why?"

"Because I have to leave," he admitted, his face suddenly looking disappointed. "I promised my brother I'd help him load some stuff for the recording."

I tried to smile, but I couldn't help the slight tug of sadness I felt. "That's fine," I said, waving my hand dismissively. "I should probably take a nap, anyway."

He checked his phone. "I really have to go now," he said, looking reluctant.

We moved from the kitchen to the front door. I walked with him, not wanting him to leave, even though I knew he had to. He bent down to put on his shoes and unlocked the door.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, turning back to me. "Can I get your number? It's weird... I know where you live, but I don't have your phone number." He smirked, and I couldn't help but giggle at the awkwardness of it.

"You're right, that is weird," I said, still laughing. "I'll go grab my phone. I don't remember my number." My heart raced a little as I rushed to the living room, my mind dashing with thoughts I couldn't shake.

I quickly grabbed my phone, my hands feeling a little shaky, and returned to the door. I gave him my number, all the while noticing a message from Tom flashing on the screen. I didn't check it, though. Not now.

I stood in the doorway, watching as Ray turned to leave. Just as he reached the elevator, he came back to me and kissed my lips gently. It was quick but soft, a brief moment that left my heart fluttering. Then, just as quickly, he ran to the elevator again.

I closed the door behind me, feeling the rush of emotions still coursing through me. Part of me wanted to scream in frustration at how easily I was falling into this, but another part of me just wanted to feel it all.

This guy makes me feel stormy. The thought rolled around in my mind like thunderclouds, and I still couldn't shake the feeling of him. His cologne lingered on my skin, making me dizzy every time I caught a whiff of it.

I let out a silent moan as my thoughts drifted to his long fingers brushing against me, a touch that seemed to burn into my memory. It felt eerie, almost unsettling, like a storm I didn't know how to weather.

I looked at my phone, trying to ground myself. Tom's message flashed on the screen, pulling me back to reality.

Tom: I can stay at a hotel. I just want to see you, and we should talk.

My fingers hovered over the screen as I considered how to respond. There was so much between us, so much history. Talk? I thought. But I didn't hesitate. I typed back quickly.

Me: Sorry I've been busy, you can stay with me, don't worry. Talk? Sounds serious.

I hit send and then stood up to clean the kitchen. It was already four p.m. Ray had been here for almost five hours, and the time had flown by in a blur. Being with him felt effortless like everything just clicked into place in ways I hadn't expected. I tried to focus on the dishes in front of me, but my mind kept wandering back to Ray, to the way his presence seemed to stir something inside me.

When I finished cleaning, I knew I needed a nap. The exhaustion from the night before was finally catching up with me, my body demanding rest. Just as I was about to step into my bedroom, another message from Tom popped up on my phone.

Tom: It is serious. Do you remember our deal four years ago? It's about that.

My heart skipped a beat as I read his words. Do I remember? Of course, I did. How could I forget?

When we broke up, we made a promise. If we were both still single after I graduated, I'd come back to New York, and we'd try to make things work. That was four years ago, but it felt like another lifetime. So much has changed since then. For a while, New York hadn't felt like home to me anymore. I didn't feel comfortable in my parents' house, and I'd spent more time at my grandparents' place than anywhere else.

Now, I knew I'd have to move back eventually. I had responsibilities there, a life I couldn't just walk away from. But I wanted more time for myself. I wasn't ready to go back to the life I had before.

And then there was Raymond. The strange, confusing pull I felt when I was around him. I wasn't sure what it was, but I couldn't ignore it. Did I want to be with Tom? Did I still love him? I used to think I was in love with him, but what if I wasn't? What if I'd only convinced myself I was because he was always there because I never gave anyone else a real chance?

I didn't want to overthink it anymore. I had time, and I wasn't going to waste it by getting lost in my thoughts. I still had days until Tom arrived, and I didn't want to spend them drowning in confusion. I took a deep breath and decided to shut off my racing mind for a while. I grabbed my phone again, typing a quick reply to Tom.

Me: I remember. We will talk.

With that, I put my phone down, trying to let go of everything for the moment. I needed rest, and I needed to stop thinking about Tom until I had to face him.