Too Much Clickbait - Sequel to Clickbait

59

We walked towards the hotel room I was staying in, awkwardly bumping arms as we did so. Upon arriving at the front door, I slowly stopped, grabbing my hotel key from my back pocket. I looked up to see Heath smiling lightly, his hands in his front pockets as he fidgeted on his feet. "I'm happy we could do this again."
I wagged a finger at him jokingly. "Again? We never did this, though..."
Heath laughed lightly. "Yeah, you're right. My mistake."
There was a silence between us, unsure of what the next move should be. Heath took a small step forward, his left hand instinctively going towards the side of my neck. He slowly bent down until I could feel his lips brush against mine with hesitation. I let out air I didn't realize I was holding in, speaking in a soft tone. "I'll see you when you get back to California, right?" Heath nodded his head, his lips brushing against mine once more. Just before he moved in, I kissed the side of his cheek, avoiding his lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, whispering into his ear as he slowly wrapped his arms around my waist. "Believe me, I want to. But I want you to trust me more first."
Heath pulled away, a grateful look upon his face as he smiled at me. He kissed my forehead, pulling me in by the back of my head. He held me there for a moment before pulling away again. "Thank you. Text me."
I shook my head, yes, opening the door and pushing my way inside. I saw Zane and Gabbie on my bed, eating a plethora of Dominos as they watched Dexter on the plasma television. Gabbie wiped her mouth with her plain, black hoodie sleeve excitedly as I began to take my shoes off. "Bitch! Tell us everything! What happened?"
"You're kidding me? Zane, go back to your room." Zane looked hurt, half a stick of cheesey bread sticking out of his mouth. "Don't you have a girlfriend to be tending to?"
Zane looked hurt, way more than I initially intended for him to be. "Well, if you must know, she and I had a little bit of a tussle. So if you would like to continue walking around like you're the Virgin Mary since you and Heath are rekindling your bon fire, need I remind you that I'm positive you most certainly are not without sin." Gabbie and I's jaws dropped, not expecting the level of attitude to come from Zane so suddenly. He sighed, speaking through chewed up cheesey bread. "I'm sorry! That was fucked up, I'm sorry. I'm just so pissed off right now."
I grabbed an oversized hoodie from my bag, motioning for Zane to shut his eyes and turn around. He did just that and I quickly undressed to throw the hoodie on as I spoke. "I can wait to tell y'all everything. I want to know what the fuck happened between you two. You're good now, Zane, thanks."
I took my socks off, rolling them into a ball, and throwing them near my shoes at the doorway. I sat at the edge of the bed, leaning down on my side as I looked up at both Gabbie and Zane while Zane began to explain what had happened. "So you know that Kian guy? Kian Lawley?" I nodded my head, yes. "So I saw him texting her and he was just... It was obvious he was flirting, but it also could have been taken as then just being friends, you know?"
"Like he would call her 'baby' but as long as it's spelt b-b-y, than it's him just being friendly?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Legit! It's bullshit!" Zane said, his eyes widening as he bit into his black olive and pineapple slice, smiling proudly down at it. He rolled his eyes, remembering what part of the story he was on. "This is mad petty, I get it, but like... She was going to do a collab with him. I told her I wasn't comfortable with that unless I was in the room. I could have been faking like I was editing, I don't care, but I wanted to be physically present."
"She said no?" I raised an eyebrow. Zane gave me a tight lipped smile, shaking his head aimlessly. "That's honestly sketchy bullshit. I don't like that."
"You know it's sketchy when this bitch gets skeeved out." Gabbie joked and I narrowed my eyes at her, attempting not to laugh. "I say you drop the bitch."
"She was supposed to be coming to meet my entire family on our camping trip this week. Like she just... My family doesn't fuck around. If she wants to pull some shit and ends up not going, I can't date her. Like, period. My family will totally disown her." Zane took a sip of his vanilla-cherry Coke before setting it back down on the night stand. "Middle Easterners don't fuck around. I don't know why she thinks it's safe, her ass is Lebanese."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Well if she wants to be a twat, let her. I'll take her place. I miss your sister, anyway."
"She's obsessed with Gabbie and you." Zane rolled his eyes, looking over at Gabbie. He spoke to her in his girlish voice, batting his eyelashes at her. "Wanna be my little Lebanese princess for the week, baby?"
Gabbie looked at me for approval and I shrugged, allowing her to make her own decision. She looked back at Zane, laughing. "If she doesn't go, I got you, baby."

*****

The next morning I awoke to the noise of my blaring alarm, shaking me to my core when I awoke in my own bedroom. I had nearly forgotten I took an early red eye to Los Angeles and was safely back in the comfort, and slobber, of Charlie and my bed. I saw Charlie poke his head up at me, laying back down when he realized it was just the sound of my alarm. I smiled, kissing the side of his face and burying my head underneath his neck. I was appreciative he was big enough I was allowed to cuddle now and also happy I was small enough that it didn't bother him.
I awaited a few minutes before rising out of my position, stretching my hands to the ceiling as I yawned. I grabbed my phone and got off the bed, stumbling slightly, to the stairs to get to the kitchen quickly. I immediately put the keurig on, making a fresh cup of coffee. I looked to see if Gabbie's room was open and I noticed it still had not been touched, meaning she had never come home. I texted her, letting her know I hoped she had a good time with Zane and his family.
She answered just as I had nearly burned myself on the side of the mug, not realizing how how the liquid would be. I stirred my cup to perfection as I read how she would be gone until this Saturday, excited to get back to tell me everything. Just as I finished replying to her, remarking on how I couldn't wait either, I got a FaceTime call from... No way... No chance in hell. What could she want? "Did you butt dial me?"
"Don't hang up! Just listen to me, please!" Amber said, attempting to shout over the background noise around her. It looked as though she was in an airport. Her hair was slightly messy, though it had grown out since I had last seen her to nearly her chest. It was also a nice shade of burgundy. Her skin appeared slightly paler, but that was probably due to the lack of sun twenty-four-seven like she had here. "So I landed a new job... I told Heath briefly months ago, but... I'm coming home early. Much earlier than I planned. And I... Things are different. I don't know if you know, but-"
"But you're dating a Cuban Jesus? Yes, I'm well aware, thank you." I snorted, sitting down at the kitchen island as I indulged in my coffee. "What do you want, Amber?"
"I was invited by David to his housewarming party this Saturday. I wanted to come, William was invited also, but... Do you think Heath would mind?" I narrowed my eyes at her. "I'm only asking you because you're the only person that knows him almost as well as I do."
I rolled my eyes at her, instantly becoming heated. "Almost as well? Well if you know him better, what do you think he would want?"
I watched Amber's eyes get sad before she spoke. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you... But I think Heath would like to meet him! They would be good friends. William is an avid fisher and hunter, it's right up Heath's alley!"
Wrong.
"I can't wait to see you!" I lied, trying to hold back my laughter. "And meet William."