Anything For You

Chapter 14

Your POV
Tonight was Payton's 24th birthday, and this house was prepping for absolute chaos. She had decided she wanted a massive house party for her birthday, inviting around 100 people.

Julia, Brett, Jake, and I have been planning this party for weeks. We brought in catering and a few bartenders, completely decking out the back yard. Also, a DJ had showed up at my house before noon, waking me up to start building his stage. Like this man brought full on wood, drills, and hammers into my home.

Brett and I decided to start our morning with a run, knowing that tomorrow morning we were not going to be up for it. Since Renee has come home, I've been focusing on moving my body in various different ways instead of just lifting and running. In turn, I've definitely lost a few pounds of muscle that I had built up while she was gone.

Renee and I have been sporadically talking on the phone in the past week, our time at her house definitely offering as a reconnection. I decided to leave just before dinner that day, not wanting her to feel like I was waiting for an invite to stay. Especially since she had shared that she wanted to take things slow, I didn't want to add any pressure.

We had been catching up, but a few times the conversations went deeper into how we felt about the last couple months and how we want to move forward. We have both agreed that we can move forward but we need to be conscious about it.

Tonight was the first time I'm going to see her since her house, and I was really excited to hang out with her. While talking on the phone is great, I just missed being around her. Even just holding her hand, standing next to her, her hand on my back. Anything.

Payton had decided to have everyone wear all black, as her dress was a bright red outfit that she wanted "to look sexier than it actually is".

After my run with Brett, we all had a late lunch together for Payton, where Julia and Brett made us a nice Italian meal. Now that Jake is so busy, it's not common for us to all sit down for a meal anymore, so especially for birthdays we try to make it a priority.

I had decided to take a short nap that turned into 3 hours, and when I awoke I only had 45 minutes to get dressed and ready. The shower and get ready routine that I typically use to decompress was extremely rushed and stressful, adding to my anxiety of seeing the blonde.

Standing here in my boxers, I'm realizing that I owned a little bit of black, but mostly neutral colors. As I'm looking through all of my pants options, I finally find a pair of black cargoes that I haven't worn in over a year. I toss them on the bed, hoping I could find a shirt to be its counterpart.

As I am heading back to my dresser, there's a light knock on my door before Renee opens it. "Come in," I mumble, heading from my closet over to my bureau. When we make eye contact she smiles, placing her black Louis Vuitton duffle bag on the hardwood with a small thud. "Hey," I smile, walking over to meet the blonde.

I quickly take the time to scan her all black outfit and love what I'm seeing. She has her hair down, bangs perfectly framing her beautiful face, a pair of black cargoes with a sheer black long sleeved crop top with words I could not decipher. Underneath she had a skimpy black bra, one I recognized and knew I liked. The simple black boots gave her an inch or two, but not enough for her to be my height.

She outstretches her arms, a big smile on her face and she squeezes her hands open and shut for me to hug her. I can't help but laugh as I bend down slightly, wrap my arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground lightly. The older girl giggles in my ear, kissing the side of my head as she tightens her arms around my neck.

"I missed you," I mumble in the crook of her neck, placing her on the ground but not pulling away from the vanilla coconut shampoo scent. The blonde has her nails scratching the back of my head lightly as the other finds its way down to rest on my abs.