8. Lunch

Raelyn’s pov

Dylan's office is off limits to me, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I went in to look for his laptop, right?

It’s difficult to know what the right choice is.

He’s been really nice since he left. He has been sending me sweet texts and calling me every night. He’s ordered groceries, so I don’t need to go out.

But it doesn’t fix anything.

Dylan had hurt me before, but never like that. Never that bad.

Of course I could go to the police, but then what?

Dylan has my passport and my money. He’s in Hawaii? So what happens when the police come? Will they arrest him then, or will they wait for his return? He’ll go to jail?

I looked into domestic abuse online and saw for first offenders they usually only put people in jail for thirty days. And then? When he gets out, what happens then?

Do we divorce? Will he let me go?

How do I survive in the meantime? With no job, no money? No passport?

And what if the police don’t believe me? My bruises faded pretty quickly, and it’s my word against his. He has a lot of money to hire a good attorney, and I have nothing.

It’s… I took a deep breath as I looked around the office. It’s an impossible situation.

I need a new plan. I need some time to think.

Dylan’s office looked tidy enough, with some dust on certain surfaces. It’s because I’m not allowed to come in here and clean.

It’s suspicious. I know.

He said he just wants one room to himself. His man cave. His private oases. I don’t know, and I honestly don’t care. He’s barely in his office, so I just left the room alone.

But now when I look around, I see no reason why he should keep any of this from me. There was a desk with a computer. Some gaming stuff, a few files. Nothing that screamed secret office.

Is it just a control thing?

I opened a few drawers, looking in the places where one would put a laptop, but I couldn’t find it anywhere, and I would rather not make a mess. Dylan would be pissed off if he found out I came in here.

I stayed a bit longer than I needed to, mostly because I wasn’t sure why Torin was here.

Why did he offer to come here?

Was it really to see me?

And why did I let him in? I mean, I know why… Because for some weird reason, he feels so familiar. The moment I saw him, I felt this sense of relief. Like everything would be okay.

It’s been lonely staying here by myself, and I’ve been sleeping mostly and crying. Feeling miserable.

I took a deep breath to give myself some more courage. I could do this. I could pretend everything is normal. Like this whole situation isn’t very strange.

“Maybe it’s at the office?” I suggested as I walked out empty-handed.

“Could be…” Torin.

I smiled at him awkwardly as I shifted my weight from one leg to the other.

“Well… since I’m here... maybe we get some lunch? I mean, if you’re hungry?” Torin asked. He sounded just as shy as I felt. How can such a handsome man be this shy around me?

“I don’t know,” I replied, unsure. Dylan told me to stay inside. He said it was for me. So people wouldn’t ask questions or assume things that weren’t true.

Even though what they would assume is actually true.

“You’ve been stuck inside; wouldn’t it be nice to go outside? It’s my treat, of course?” Torin said. “Just as friends.” He added quickly.

“Okay?” I finally answered after some thought. I really wanted to leave this apartment. I needed fresh air and human interaction. I needed to feel like myself again. I needed an escape, even if it was only for an hour.

I needed a friend.

“Okay!” He replied excitedly, like a kid going to a candy store. It was so cute, and it made me smile. It’s so funny seeing such a charming, tall, cool guy act so happy. And only because I said yes to lunch.

“I’ll just change quickly, and I’ll be ready to go,” I said. He looked down at me, and it was like he just realized I was wearing my pajama pants and a sweater.

Dylan hates it when I wear his sweaters or when I’m dressed too casually, but I love big, comfy clothes.

I quickly put on some jeans and a flattering top, checking to make sure none of my bruises were really visible. After applying a small amount of concealer to my face and applying mascara, I was ready to go.

I know men don’t like to wait for women to get ready.

“You're quick!” Torin said, as I walked out of my bedroom.

“It’s okay? I can change…” I replied, looking down at what I was wearing.

"You're beautiful, Raelyn."

I blushed and looked away, “thank you. I hope it’s appropriate for where we’re going.”

“I was going to let you pick. You’re more familiar around these parts of the city,” he said to my surprise. “What are you hungry for?”

He was going to let me pick? Dylan never lets me pick where we eat or where we order take-out. “Um.. I don’t know. Um, what do you like?”

He shrugged, “I’ll eat anything. I’m not picky.”

There was a new place near the grocery store. But Dylan said it looked too hipster, whatever that meant. “Um… There is this lunchroom I wanted to try, but, I mean, we don’t have to, -“

“Let’s go there,” Torin said, and he took my hand in his, walking us to the door.

I followed him, my eyes wide in shock and scared to say anything.

It felt nice to hold his hand, but this wasn’t friendly…

It wasn’t until we reached the door. Torin seemed to notice what he had done and quickly let go. “I'm excited to see the place you picked. I'm famished.”

I grabbed my keys and phone from the side table and closed the door behind us. The Ring doorbell in the apartment was like a bucket of ice water. was thrown over my head.

What if Dylan had seen Torin on the ring footage? Did they ring the bell or knock? I know they rang the bell downstairs, but did they ring the doorbell here as well?

Wait… wait…. It’s fine. I mean, Torin came here for a reason. It’s not like I’m doing something wrong by letting him in.

And Torin is Dylan’s boss. So it’s fine, right? I can’t be rude to his boss. That would be even worse than being nice.

Right?

“Raelyn? You okay?”

I hadn’t realized I had stopped moving.

“Yes… I’m coming.”

When we came down and Torin showed me his car, I was very impressed. It’s not like I know a lot about cars, but I do know this one is not cheap.

He even opened the door for me and buckled me in. I know the way I say it makes it sound like he was treating me like a little girl, but when he bent over me to buckle my seatbelt and I smelled his perfume and felt his body heat, I felt like a very grown-up woman.

“Safety first,” he smirked as he walked to his side of the car.

God… that man knew exactly the kind of effect he had on women.

He probably goes home with a new woman every night.

Not that it’s any of my business. He can do whatever he wants.

I’m married….

I’m married! And even if our marriage is rocky, I am not a cheater. I take my vows seriously. When I make a promise, I keep it. I might want out of the marriage, but I’m not out yet.

But if I weren't…. Even one night with Torin…

“…Dimples?”

“I’m sorry, Torin!” I replied. “Could you repeat that?”

"Could you put in the address of the place?" He said, pointing to his navigation screen.

I quickly put the address in, feeling mortified.

He chuckled, “Were you thinking about everything you're going to eat there?”

I blushed, “um, no. I was just thinking about stuff…”

“Okay, good to know.” He smirked at me and licked his lips.

It was intense, and I quickly looked away. He looked like he wanted to eat me instead of lunch!