CHAPTER FIVE
Back off !!!
The clicking of the laptop keys hurt my brain and my eyes. Let's not mention my ears, the sound is so irritating I wanna break the laptop but I still try to keep calm.
God, why does it hurt so much?
Because you drunk half of the bar, Kenzy, you idiot.
I'm never drinking again.
I try to focus on what I'm doing, rather than my pounding headache. The memories of Jake keep intruding. What the fuck was I even thinking? I was so close to having sex with a stranger. All in the name he looked like Dylan!
And why was I even thinking about Dylan that way?
He took it alright when I freaked just as he was about to get my pants down. I went back to the bar shortly afterward.
It's not Jake, exactly, that's bothering me.
It's the fact that I was only attracted to him because he looks like Dylan. I've gotten Dylan friendships back, and the least I could do is to ruin it with my inappropriate longings.
I force myself to look back at my laptop screen. I'm looking into Daravit Enterprises. Everything that I've found so far tells me the original suspicion was correct the company isn't real.
I considered calling Dylan but decided against it.
His stuff is coming in with a moving van tomorrow, and I've promised I'll help him move into his new apartment. I can talk to him then.
Not that talking to him got me anywhere last time, but I wouldn't be a journalist if I didn't know the meaning of perseverance.
Dylan can't be my primary source, though, not if I'm going on, so I'll figure out for myself.
The first step is to track whoever runs this fake website. They will be my first source in this.
I spend my morning talking to the website hosts, pretending to be an auditor. It takes a while but actually I got the name: Hunter Mills.
I expected F******k to provide all the information I need, but I'm brought up short when my search results return no Hunter Mills in the area I'm looking for.
Who doesn't have a F******k page nowadays?
I did a standard G****e search, which turn up nothing. A good mystery always draws me in, and this one is no exception. I got lost in my search, determined to find him.
Eventually, I did. He's cited in a newspaper article about an apartment complex he had brought out. Whoever he is, he must be wealthy. He also didn't like the press- the reporter writing the article tried to question him but was turned away on multiple occasions.
Who are you, Hunter? What do you have to do with Dylan?
There was precious little information available, but I managed to find out that after buying the apartment complex several years ago, Hunter allowed many people to move in for free.
They seem a quiet group, from what can glean from social media, keeping to themselves.
This must be the community Dylan was talking about. What brings them together, though?
They all seem to be completely different people from various walks of life.
I can't figure out why Hunter would spend a fortune buying an apartment and then just let these random people live there living with him because he lives in one of the apartments too.
The ringing of my phone breaks my concentration. Annoyed, I answer. “Hello?”
“Back off”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Look, I think you have the wrong number .”
“I don't have the wrong number, Kenzy. Keep investigating me, and you'll regret it .”
Fear pools in my stomach, but curiosity overwhelmed me. “Hunter?”
“Stay away from us if you know what's good for you. Don't test me.”
“You know Dylan, don't you?”
“It's too late. He already hung up.
This isn't the first time I've gotten a threatening call, trying to get me to abandon a story, but something about the resolve in Hunter's voice gives me shivers.
I closed my laptop, wondering how Hunter knew.
He would have no reason to bug my laptop - he doesn't even know me. No, the most likely option is that he has software that lets him know whenever someone is searching his name.
Software like that didn't come cheap nor easily available. Whatever Hunter is hiding, It is very important to him.
His words echoed again in my ears and I shivered. What has Dylan gotten into? I try not to think negatively as it's causing my head to burning and right now, I really need to rest.
For now. I willl shelve it, but only until I take it to Dylan tomorrow. I close my laptop wondering who Hunter is and what his secret is.
**********************
The next morning….
The moving van was waiting when I arrived. It's a block of apartment buildings that looks suspiciously like the one Hunter owns. Dylan said he's joining the local branch of whatever group he's involved with.
I wonder if I'm about to meet Gavin's counterpart here.
Dylan was waiting for me in the van, and his smile weakened me to my knees.
What's wrong with me? He's my friend! Get your mind out of the gutter, Kenzy.
“Hey, are you ready to haul some boxes ?”
“Absolutely!”
It's Dylan who does most of the box hauling, leaving me with the less strenuous tasks of unpacking them.
"Need a break?" Dylan asked. I'm guessing he has been observing my mood and even though he is in the next room, he can still sense that everything is not okay with me. How he knows that is still a mystery but I let it slide away.
"No… not exactly. You?" I asked, turning my eyes to the direction of his sound but I didn't hear him speaking.
"Uhmm, I guess we need a break after a few more boxes." He said and I'm glad a golden opportunity has arrived for my question.
"Sure!" I smirked and continued unpacking the smaller boxes.
He comes out of the room shortly and during the moment of inactivity between boxes, I bring up things that have been gnawing inside me the last day.
“Who's Hunter Mills?”
I asked, my eyes fixed on him as he glared back, seeming somewhat afraid.
CHAPTER SIX Tell me the truth My gaze are still fixed on Dylan, he looks away, I know he is trying to pretend as though what I said hadn't had any effect on him. There is a bit of silence between us and for some reasons, I'm afraid of what his answer was going to be like. Now, he knows am following him and I wouldn't give up anything soon. Dylan stiffens.“ Where did you hear that name ?” I almost laughed at his questions, “I'm an investigative journalist, Dylan. You know me, I can never leave a mystery unsolved.” I chuckled but he didn't seem to take it lightly. “So.... I guess you went digging. From our messages I guess.” He spoke precisely and I'm glad he has a current memory. “That's right!” I smirked. Dylan closed his eyes. He huffed and opens his mouth but shuts it almost immediately. His eyes are still shut and I wonder if he's praying for patience. Was he angry I was different into his personal life? The thought of that makes me want to whimper but I stood my ground an
CHAPTER SEVENDinner of one“Come on, Kenzy, we're going to be late!”“I will be out in a moment.”I give up on choosing between dresses, grabbing the nearest one, and pulling it on. I was going to do something with my hair, but I procrastinated too long and it's too late.Hannah is waiting impatiently. "I don't want to be late, we'll make a bad impression.”“You do realize that we're not engaged, right? You are just filling in for Raymond because I can't have them alone. A good impression isn't necessarily. Besides, my family knows you.” I explained over the room.“I know, but I still don't want to give them any more reason to berate you than they have already.”That's true enough. My family is going to be a nightmare.Hannah drives, and all too soon, we're pulling at my mom's driveway. Marcus's car is already here. There are cars parked all along the sides of the streets. My mom always favored big gatherings.She opened the door, her eyes going from me to Hannah. Her mouth pop open
CHAPTER EIGHTA Horrible MistakeShit! She must have heard me screaming Dylan name. I try to come up with a lie but it's not coming forward.“I'm fine. Nothing to worry about!”Apparently, Hannah thinks from my tone that there is something to worry about because she opens the door. I'm all too aware of how flushed and disheveled I must look.“Ever heard of privacy?”“Ever heard a roommate shouting their friend's name like he's saving her from a burning building? Because I just did .”Crap!No way am I willing to confess to Hannah what I just did.“I think you are hearing things. It's probably just that wind.”Hannah's eyes narrow in suspicion.I knew it. She doesn't believe me. Well, she tells Dylan?If she does, I can kiss the dream of remaining friends with him goodbye.“You don't have to lie to him, you know. So you have the hots for Dylan. Fine. It's not like I'm going to tell him”I'm torn between shame and relief. Of course, I don't need to lie to Hannah. I know that. “Promise m
CHAPTER NINEIt's Over!"What did you say?""Nothing." I don't turn around to face Raymond hoping that he'll be overpowered by need and ignore my slip. "Keep going."Come on."Dylan, as in your friend, Dylan? You've left me for that loser?"No! Dylan and I aren't together. It's you I need." I turn around and try to kiss Raymond, but he gets up off the couch.You're going to have to try harder than that if you want me, Kenzy.""Fuck you, then.Without another word, I get up, pull my clothes on and storm off. He's not making me beg again. Never again.I drive back to Hannah's at a reckless speed. I know I should slow down, but I'm so horny I feel like I'm going to explode.It takes all my willpower to keep my hands on the steering wheel and not let one of them slide down to my clit.That doesn't stop me from pressing my legs together.Fuck, I need to come.I rush inside, running to my room and slamming the door behind me.I throw myself onto my bed, yanking my pants down. I reach blindl
CHAPTER TENStalked on All SidesI bit my lips as she asked the heavy questions again."Would he be willing to help you with this?""I don't really feel comfortable asking himthat."Why not? You've known him as long as you've known me. You two are super close. I'm sure he'd do it for you.""Maybe, but you don't know my mom. She wouldn't be satisfied with dating. She won't really leave me alone until I'm married. I'm not going to ask Dylan to marry me."At least, not when it's not real. I couldn't ask that of him, especially given my very real feelings for him.Shut up, Kenzy. You're ignoring those feelings, remember? Dylan is your friend."I suppose that is a bit much to ask. What's going on with you and Luke anyway? You haven't said a word about him in days. Usually, you never shut up about him."I can feel my face going red. "We kind of had a fight."Let me guess. He's not happy that you're still investigating him?""Not at all. Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Should I back
CHAPTER ELEVENAm doing this again.I stare at Dylan with my mouth wide open, I had never seen him this angry before. Although I knew he always stood up for me, I wasn't expecting it to be as intense as he had just done.I set the phone aside and turn over to him with a bright smile."Are you okay?" He asked with curious eyes. I am at the venge of bursting into laughter, but I somehow managed to control myself.Of course I was perfectly fine, it's not like I was physically abused or insulted by Raymond. I still try keep my face in a frown. Pretending to be sad but deep down, I was screaming with excitement.I knew I was taking this too personal but seriously, I didn't care at the moment."I am fine." I said, sober."That rascal, I will grind his bone and feed them to the birds of the earth!" His eyes turn strangely dark and I am left amazed that he is able to do that.I shoved off the shock, placing my hand on his as I speak gently."Dylan, I admire the chivalry, but you can't just t
CHAPTER TWELVEI'd Do AnythingI check my watch. Ten minutes until I meet Dylan.Weeks have passed since I barely escaped getting caught masturbating in the restaurant bathroom. I had to do a bit of quick talking, but I've gotten out of tighter spots before when following a story.Hannah is lying on the couch, reading. It's a Saturday, which means Dylan and I will get to spend the whole afternoon together.As I head for the door, my phone rings. It's an unknown number. I grimace."Chuck it over." Hannah catches the phone. We've developed a system for this."Hello? Hi, Raymond. No, Kenzy isn't here right now. Goodbye."Hannah hangs upon him in the middle of a sentence.Thanks." I take my phone back. "Who's holding the current record?""Raymond, but only by two. Your mom is coming in a close second." I roll my eyes.Those two refuse to leave me alone."I need to go. I'm meeting Dylan.""Enjoy." Hannah winks at me. She knows all about my fantasies about Dylan, but she never brings them u
CHAPTER THIRTEENAnnouncementI can't make out the words, but I can hear angry voices. As I listen, my fear starts to subside, to be replaced with indignation. I'm just about to throw the blanket aside when Dylan returns.He looks pissed, but his expression softens when he sees me. "Sorry about that. Just a concerned neighbor.At any other time, I wouldn't let an encounter go without question, but I have more urgent matters on my mind right now.I grab Dylan's arm, pulling him back where he was, on top of me."I need you," I breathe in his ear, taking the opportunity to nibble on my earlobe.Dylan throws aside the gown he'd hastily put on to talk to his neighbor. His cock is still going strong. I reach for it, running my hand down its length.It feels so soft compared to the rest of him. I give it a squeeze, pleased by how he strains up into my grip."Now, Dylan."I lay back on the blanket, spreading my legs. Dylan kisses me as he moves between my legs once more. I grab his waist, imp