Chapter 31: Level Two: Start!
After dropping Rylee off, Evan was on cloud nine. The last time he kissed a girl, it was exciting, but he also remembered how awkward it felt. With Rylee it woke up every primal instinct in him. It would have been easy to never stop, and beg her to just come back home with him. He sat in the driveway, trying to fight the desire she created. Hell if she knew what he was thinking, she probably would have run for the hills.
Evan was chivalrous, but he was still a man. Kissing a girl could still make him want so much more. It was torture returning to his apartment, remembering how it felt to have her near. He swore he could still smell her scent lingering in his car.
"Someone took his time," Zane taunted when he walked through the door.
Evan glared daggers at him, "Don't you have your own place?"
Zane's grin grew larger. "Don't be like that! You wouldn't have a shot with her if I hadn't stepped in!"
"That doesn't mean I need you hounding me the second I get home."
Zane rolled his eyes. He fished in his backpack, pulling out an energy drink and cracking it open. "It's not my fault you've been a hermit since college. How long has it been since you've had a girlfriend?"
Evan snatched the drink from him and took a swing.
"How long has it been since you've been laid...?"
Evan walked away, flipping him off. Zane snorted with laughter.
"Maybe I set you up with the wrong girl. I didn't realize she would torture you this much."
Evan sighed and leaned his head against a wall, "No, she's great Zane. I was never looking for a fling. I just never expected..." he trailed off, staring at the can in his hand. He drank more, frustrated with his own emotions. "This tastes like crap, by the way," he concluded.
Zane picked up his game controller, the amused expression still on his face. "You've got it bad. But you need to be careful. If you move too fast you'll scare her off."
"Don't you think I know that?" Evan groaned. He wandered back and sank into an armchair. Rylee's hat was still on the table, and he reached for it automatically. "Who was the HE you two were talking about, anyway?"
The smile finally left Zane's face. He glanced at Evan, a furrow in his brow. "Someone who broke her heart. When she's ready, she will tell you more. But he's the reason you need to be careful. She doesn't trust guys now. Why do you think I have a permanent spot in the friend zone with her?"
There was a flash of jealousy through his veins hearing Zane talk like that. "You weren't trying with her, were you?"
Seeing the danger Zane quickly backpedaled, "No, dude, don't get the wrong idea! Yeah, she's cute and all, and we have similar interest, but I was never even in the running. She was engaged, man. She had a house and everything all set to go. That is a whole level of commitment not every guy can handle."
Evan looked at Rylee's buttons thoughtfully, processing the information. "Maybe it is a lot to handle. But I can't see myself turning back now."
In such a short span of time, he was captivated by this woman. She was quiet, shy, but when she opened up she had an energetic laugh and a sharp sense of humor. She was intelligent, hardworking, and fought for the things she wanted. When they worked together, she was professional and focused. When they played video games, she was carefree and competitive. Each time he got used to a side of her another layer peeled open. Evan wanted to keep learning who she was, finding little ways to draw her closer the way she had captured him.
He need a plan, ideas. This was uncharted territory.
Evan caught Zane's attention. "You started this mess, you better now back out on me now."
Zane glanced back his way, "I won't, calm down. Listen, you survived phase one: catching her interest. I think you're ready for round 2 now: engaging the romance. You've hooked her, now reel her in."
"She's not a fish," Evan scoffed.
"If you make the wrong move she can get away like one! You need to get another date, something that impresses her. Don't do something generic like dinner, use the information you gathered and plan your next move."
"I think you played too many video games."
"Well Rylee plays them too so maybe you need to study the opponent more!"
In his four years of college Evan never felt this anxious. It was like a pop quiz and he hadn't picked up the textbook. What could he impress her with? What would she enjoy?
Or better yet, what would show he cared more than some other idiot trying to win her?
"Wait, I think I have an idea," he finally decided. In the end it was Tara who gave him the clue.
There was already one guy who held Rylee's heart, and if Evan wanted to share, he needed to finally meet her dog.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone