You've Got a DM - Book cover

You've Got a DM

Lily Rose

Chapter 3

BLAKE

Mark and I had fallen into a routine. We message during the day and FaceTime every night, we catch up on our days, and more often than not the conversation ends with me falling asleep.

Mark had fast become a comfort in my life. He gave me something to look forward to each day. We had so much in common; he was my person I wanted to tell everything to.

Like the time I got my promotion at work and I couldn’t wait to tell him; he had helped me practice my interview questions.

I saw Charlie every so often, but she and the bartender from the bar became a couple and I didn’t fancy being the third wheel.

Plus I kept getting grief for putting off my own dating life for a guy who was over 3,000 miles away.

“So what are your plans this weekend?” I asked, getting nothing but silence. “Mark?” He was acting a little weird tonight and I started to feel I was missing something.

“Actually, I have a date Friday night.” I felt like someone had punched me in the gut.

“Oh,” were the only words I could find. “That’s nice.”

“Yeah, Justin set it up a few weeks back.” I can hear the uncertainty in his voice.

I don’t want to know deep down, but I can’t help but ask, “And you’re only getting around to the date now?”

Mark looks at me uncomfortably. “We have been out a few times already.”

I am shocked. At no point has he mentioned this. “So it’s getting serious?”

He rubs his hand through his hair. “Yeah, it is, that’s why I didn’t want to say anything.”

It stung like hell. I stupidly fell for Mark. This was a stark reminder that we lived nearly three and a half thousand miles away and we were only ever going to be just friends.

I was putting my life on hold for something that was a pipe dream.

“Well, I am happy for you, I hope she is everything you are looking for.” Mark looks surprised at me. For the first time since we started talking, I bailed out.

“I am sorry, I am so exhausted I think I just need an early night.”

I can see it all over his face, he knows I’m lying, but rather than pry he lets me go.

“Night, Blake, I will talk to you tomorrow, yeah?”

I had no right to be short with him, but it upset me that he would spend those hours with me and then right after, go on a date.

“Yeah, sure.” I know I am overreacting, but I guess I just assumed that I meant something to him.

Well, one thing is for certain: since I am friend zoned, there is no stopping me from putting myself out there.

I know it was a dick move, but over the next few nights, I told Mark that I was working late and tired.

Couldn’t argue it was audit time, and I was getting home later. I was drained emotionally. Fucking Facebook destroyed me.

While I was ignoring Mark’s calls, he made his relationship official. I went onto Facebook and the picture and words destroyed me on the spot—Mark Hart is in a relationship with Nicole Kennedy.

There it was, a picture of them both. She was a stunning blonde with blue eyes and plump lips. Without a doubt I was jealous.

Okay, this was getting out of hand. We were friends and I missed talking to him; I needed to get my feelings in check and just be friends. So what do I do?

“Blake, everything okay?” Charlie asked.

I get straight to the point, willing myself to go through with this. “Charlie, I need you to be my wing woman.”

Charlie sounds delighted with this. “Holy shit, are you asking for my help on dating?”

I blurt out so quickly I can’t form a full sentence, “Yes!”

Charlie giggles into the phone. “Well, fuck me sideways, abso-fucking-lutely.”

I let out a sigh. “Please be gentle with me, it has been a while and I am a little rusty.”

Charlie softens her tone, trying not to scare me to death. “Say no more, double date this Saturday, Jake has a single friend. I will text you the details.”

I absorb her words and panic sets in. “You’re setting me up with one of Jake’s friends? Is that not a bit awkward?”

Charlie reassures me right away. “Trust me, girl, you want to see Curtis, he is hot, tall, built like a tank, and best of all he is a vet, so he loves animals. That’s a sexy quality.

“Don’t overthink it, Blake. So what do you say?” She was right, I needed to not overthink this, so I just went with it.

“I would love to.”

Over the next few days Mark and I messaged but didn’t FaceTime; he has been busy with Nicole and, well, I don’t want to face him, so it’s a win-win.

Then it’s finally Saturday and I am nervous as hell. Charlie has organized the double date. We are going to dinner, but Curtis is picking me up from my place at 6:30. Talk about awkward.

I am putting the finishing touches to my makeup when my phone goes off. I look down at it. “Shit!” Mark is trying to FaceTime me.

Oh, the hell with it, I hit Accept and set my phone on my dresser to continue getting ready.

“Hi, Blake… Blake, you there?”

I am struggling to get myself sorted. “Hi, Mark, sorry, just getting ready?”

I hear the concern in his voice. “Have I called at a bad time?”

I take a moment before I let him know. “Actually, yeah, sorry, I am about to head out.” I look at his face and can see the disappointment.

“Oh, sorry, anywhere nice?”

I give him a soft smile. “I am—” I don’t get the chance to finish; the doorbell rings. “Sorry Mark, can you give me two seconds?”

Walking off, I check myself in the mirror and walk out of the room. I pause at the door and take a deep breath. I answer my door and holy mother of God, I have a Greek god standing before me.

I give him a megawatt smile. “Hi, you must be Curtis, nice to meet you. Sorry, I will be just two minutes.”

Curtis comes in and stands in the hall, holding flowers. “It’s so nice to meet you, Blake, I have heard all nice things. These are for you.”

I take the flowers and give him another smile. I make my way back into my room, place the flowers on my bed, and grab my heels. “I am sorry, Mark, I can’t talk right now… I’m…”

“Are you going out on a date?” There is something in his voice I can’t place.

I finish putting on my shoes and walk toward the dresser to collect my phone. “Yeah, Charlie set me up on this blind date for tonight.”

I see Mark clear his throat. “You look stunning.”

Feeling nothing but awkward, I needed to cut this short. “Thank you, I will talk to you tomorrow. Bye, Mark.”

My heart breaks as I hear his voice. “Bye, Blake.”

I feel bad for springing it on him, but I didn’t expect him to call. We hadn’t mentioned it when we were texting, even though he asked me about my plans.

I didn’t even want to tell him. I walked back out to meet Curtis, he was still standing in the hallway.

“Nice place.”

I can’t help but smile. “Thank you, it’s a little small, but it’s home.” I walk over to the door toward Curtis.

“Shall we head?” Walking me out toward his car, he places his hand at the small of my back.

The touch of his hand sends heat through my body. Holy shit, that was not the reaction I was expecting.

I can’t help but have Mark at the back of my mind. Every so often I have to push my thoughts to the back and enjoy Curtis.

It wasn’t fair to compare him to someone I had never met in person. That wasn’t giving someone a fair chance.

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