SHARING EMMA [18+]

9. Jolt of Electricity

|EMMA|

"Oh, come on!" I threw my hands in the air and glared at the screen of my laptop, frustration etched on my face. My laptop had gone black for the third time, and I had no clue what was wrong with it.

Yesterday, Carlos had left for his three-day trip, and I had taken the opportunity to work from home. But this was turning out to be a disaster. Every time I tried to enter my ID on the company website, the screen went black, and it took an eternity to get back to working. It was beyond ridiculous.

I needed to buy a new laptop. This was going into the trash.

I groaned and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my eyes. I had a deadline to meet, and this laptop was making it nearly impossible. I considered calling IT, but I knew they would just tell me to restart it and wait it out. I needed a solution, and I needed it fast.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Ryker, and before I knew it, a grin had spread across my face. I couldn't help but feel a little giddy at the thought of hearing from him again. Yesterday had been more than just interesting—it had been exciting, and for once, I had felt like I had really clicked with someone.

He had sent me a tech joke.

As I read the message, my mind wandered back to our conversation the day before. I had been surprised by how much we had in common, and I found myself laughing at his jokes and hanging on to his every word. It wasn't just that he was easy to talk to—there was something about him that drew me in.

And, if I was being completely honest with myself, there was something else there too—a spark, a chemistry that was hard to ignore. Ryker wasn't just attractive—he was hot, in a rugged, scruffy kind of way that made my heart skip a beat. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time, and it left me feeling a little breathless.

I pondered on what Carlos would make of my newfound interest in someone else. The idea of me being attracted to another man while we were still in a casual arrangement made me feel guilty. However, Carlos had made it clear that I had the freedom to see other people, even encouraging me to explore my options in the past. He didn't want any kind of commitment, and I understood that. But deep down, I hoped that he would be happy for me and not feel jealous or possessive.

Then, another thought bloomed in my head.

I had a sudden idea that I knew was silly, but I couldn't resist. I wanted to see if Ryker felt the same way about me as I did about him. So, I nervously typed out a message to him on my phone.

"My laptop is being a nightmare. Someone needs to teach it a lesson," I wrote.

Almost immediately, Ryker replied. "What did it do this time?"

I giggled at his response. "I don't know, but it keeps freezing every time I try to work on it."

Without hesitation, he responded. "Send me your address. I'll come over and give it a good beating for you."

My heart skipped a beat as I read his text. Was this just friendly banter or was he actually interested in me? I couldn't wait to find out.

I hesitated for a moment before replying, but the excitement of seeing Ryker again got the best of me.

Me: Are you sure? It might be too much trouble.

Ryker: No trouble at all. Besides, I could use a break from work.

I texted him the address.

Me: Thank you so much!

Ryker: No problem, I'll be there in about 20 minutes.