I let out a loud groan and sank to the floor, the scoreboard on the screen showed I lost again to Ryan who was cheering so loud. I placed my hands on my legs and glared up at my supposed best friend. He sucks. Really.

It wouldn't hurt to let me win once.

Thankfully we were indoors. We didn't feel like going out to the arcade any more. The entire office was buzzing with the news. Moy had been dropped off in front of the police station, with just his pants on and a note tapped to his chest. He had confessed to all his crimes.

Apparently, there were some rape charges and issues of harassments. According, to the newspapers and gossips as well as the news app on my phone. Old cases where woman had reported Moy had come up and one witness also.

It had made me feel a bit better, to be honest. To know that I wasn't the only one who had gone through this. And to know, my man was behind this. I was pretty sure, Xander must have had Moy investigated and shit. He had set this ball in motion.

Ryan grabbed two bottles of moutain dew, passing one to me while dropping to the ground.

"Tired?" I asked and he nodded.

"I think I ate too much orange chicken."

"There is no such thing." I said, rubbing at my belly.

I raised my hand, taking off the hair band off my hand and pulling my hair into a bun, loose curls dropping around my frame.

"So how is it going with Xanny?"

"Oh my god, don't call me that." I said, nudging him with my elbow.

"What? What do you want me to call him? Xanderful?" Ryan asked before taking a sip of his drink. I glared at him, considering giving him my middle finger.

"Since we are talking about the men in our lives, what is up with you and J?" I asked and Ryan sighed. Oh. Something must be going on there. "What? What is it? Do I have to maim somebody? Do I have to tell Xander to maim somebody?"

"Not yet."

"Then what is it?"

"He just hasn't called me and he hasn't answered my messages." Ryan said, the tip of his ears burning red. I turned to him, my eyes wide. They had gotten on so well that that day. What was J thinking and who the fuck does he think he is, not replying to my friend's chat.

He wasn't even that handsome.

Scratch that, he was a ugly as hell man and should be fucking happy Ryan liked him.

"Can I see the messages you sent?" I asked Ryan and he nodded. He hands me the phone and I look through.

Ryan had sent:

hi, it's Ryan. It was nice meeting you today

And this was sent a week ago and he got no reply. The second message he sent was a day ago and I mentally applauded my friend from not sending daily text messages.

A day ago, Ryan had sent:

hey, it's Ryan. I was at brunch with Xander and Bram. It would be nice to have coffee with you.

My friend had put himself out there and the son of a bitch hadn't bothered to reply. My amazing friend who was the best. Who the fuck? I angrily handed over the phone to Ryan and fished out my own phone, scrolling through my recent to call Xander who picked after three rings.

"What the fuck is happening with J?" I asked.

"You know that I don't like it when you cuss." was all Xander said. Ryan was shaking his head at me, mouthing at me not to say anything but I couldn't. Ryan had gotten out of a hard relationship and I thought he was never going to date again and here he is putting himself out there and the ugly man was not responding.

"Let me talk to J." I demanded.

"Can you calm down and explain what is happening?" Xander asked.

"J is ghosting Ryan and I want to give him a piece of my mind." I said.

"Alright. Here's J."

There's a shuffling sound and then I heard J say hello and I lose it. I hop onto my feet, hand on my waist as I started pacing.

"Okay. I thought you were a decent guy. I thought hey, he's nice. I thought hey, he treated Ryan so well during that lunch and I was so happy for you two a-"

"It's m-"

"You better shut up and let me talk." I said and the other line fell quiet. Ryan looked like he was either constipated or was currently farting and it made me even more angry. My adorable friend.

"I found out, he texted you and you haven't replied. Seeing as you picked this call, I know for a fact that your hands are functioning perfectly. So I am going to make this easy for you or I'm going to make Xander kick your ass."

"Okay."

"Do you like Ryan?" I asked. "Yes or No?"

"Yes." There was no pause or hesitation. He just gave a straight up answer and I felt happy. I looked over at Ryan who was now on his knees, leaning forward a bit and looking at me with wide eyes, silently asking.

"Then you have twelve hours to do something or I'm sending Xander over to you." I said.

"I will."

"Okay then. Can I speak to Xander now?"

There was another shuffling sound and I give Ryan a thumbs up so he knows everything is fine. He let out another loud sigh and got off the floor, heading towards the kitchen.

"Kitten."

"Xan."

"You somehow managed to frighten J." Xander said and I immediately feel so proud of myself.

"He was being a meanie."

"Was he, baby?" Xander asked and I felt my throat tighten.

"Hey. I wan to check up on Ry, I'll call you tomorrow." I said and hummed a reply when Xander wished me goodnight. I place the phone on the couch and just tried to shake off the cold that was creeping onto and into my skin.

I felt like the ropes were still around my wrists and oh no. No no no no no no no no no no no no no. I counted one to ten as slowly as I could and counted it backwards. I didn't want to risk it and I quickly made my way over to the kitchen and Ryan started asking me question after question and I gave him vague replies.

The questions were distracting enough and I didn't have to think about the past. We talked a bit more and then we got ready for bed. I fell asleep, cuddled up to Ryan, clutching the duvet.

–

It's been two days since I had physically seen Xander and I was answering his texts and loving the selfies he sent me. Today was also Ryan's first date with J and he was so excited about it, he was basically shaking.

J had texted Ryan after the phone all, they texted for an entire date and now they had a date. I deserved a bouquet of flowers. Or a paci. I was not picky.

My phone buzzed and I picked it up.

🔫: want to hang out tonight? We could eat out

I looked at the text, biting my bottom lip and wondering what to say. I could say yes and see him, have fun and maybe have that kiss? But at the same time, I was scared to. I was one look away from telling him everything and needing a cuddle.

🔫: I'd love to. Can we go somewhere first? I need to get somethings.

🔫of course. I'll pick you up after work.

🔫okie but we have to also briefly stop by my apartment

The day went by so fast and soon it was five and I was standing in front of the building with Ryan by my side. Xander pulls up in front of the building and got out of the car. I smiled so wide and made my way over to Xan, happily wrapping my arms around him in a hug.

Xander smelt so good. I want to cuddle up to him and just... hm.

"I missed you."

Xander wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tight.

"I missed you too, kitten." Xander said and I felt so warm, the butterflies in my tummy, fluttering around.

"Hey, Xander." Ryan said from behind us.

I pulled away from him but Xander doesn't let go. He slips his hand down my arm until he linked his finger with mine.

"Hey, Ryan."

Xander pulls open the door for me and I got in, like always he buckles me in before heading over to the driver's side. The drive home was filled with us talking. Xander had simply asked about our day and the stories kept coming. I felt nervous as we climbed the stairs up to our floor. This was the first time Xander was entering my flat.

What if he didn't like it? What if he found it tacky?

What if he realizes how not so rich I am and decide not to want me any more?

Okay, so maybe the last one was not... it but the rest were plausible reasons. I looked over at Xander and found him looking at me, he gives my hand a squeezed and smiles softly at me. Yeah, there was nothing to be worried about. He likes me.

Ryan pushed the door open and rushed over to his room.

"So this is where I live. Where we live." I said to Xander, giving him the short tour of the house. I showed him the kitchen, the bathrooms, pointed at the door to Ryan's room and finally, my room.

"Would you like to wait in the sitting room or my room?" I asked Xander.

"The sitting room."

Xander takes a seat and I handed him a bottle of water.

"Can you give me a couple minutes? I need to help Ryan with a couple of things." I asked, hoping Xander wouldn't find it rude. I wanted him to feel as comfortable as possible in my home. It took fifteen minutes to decide on what Ryan would wear and after chasing him off to shower, I rushed back to the sitting room and fell beside Xander who wraps his arms around my shoulder and pulled me close until my head was resting on his.

"Do you think the date will go well?" I asked.

"Yeah. J actually does like Ryan. He was all nervous and sweating. I haven't seen J nervous about anything really."

"That's adorable."

"But they aren't as adorable as you."

I let out a laugh, playfully smacking Xander. "You are such a cheeseball."

"It's one of the things you like about me." Xander said and I laughed again. I love the fact that he made me laugh.

By six-thirty Ryan was ready and out of the house. I was really tempted to rush over and peep through the window but I was so comfortable wrapped up in Xander's arms. It felt so good, cuddled up to a man who actually liked me, a man I liked, a man who I had kissed, a man who I want to kiss again and again.

He made me so happy and he did it effortlessly. He took up majority of my thoughts and I wanted to spend so much time with him. I wanted so much. And based on his actions, words and the way he looks at me, I know, I could feel, he wanted so much too.

I felt so warm, comfortable and content. Taken care of.

"Hey, I'm going to get more water." Xander said, pulling away a little. He got up and made a way to towards the door.

I quickly turned, my hands resting on the top of the couch, my lips moving before I could stop it.

"Could you get me some water too, daddy?"

—

**