I wasn't sure if it was selfish or noble, instead said to call Krystal. I reached into my hip pocket and pulled out my phone.
" Y eah , Krystal? I'm downstairs."
" O h , really? Okay. See you in a second."
I hung up my phone and went inside the lobby. About thirty seconds later, Krystal came out of the elevator, along with a cute little blonde that I didn't know. "Hi Julian," she greeted me, with only a hint of uncomfortable formality. "I'd like you to meet my best friend Kimberly. Kim, this is my stepbrother, Julian Castelbon."
" I t's nice to meet you," Kim said, holding out her hand. I shook, and was surprised at how strong her grip was. Taking a closer look, I could see the short nails and hints of callus on the edges of her fingers that told me she wasn't the dainty type. Interesting. "I was just stopping by to drop off some books I'd borrowed from Krystal, and she said you were coming to visit. I figured I just had to wait a few minutes to meet you."
" T hanks ," I said, feeling more at ease. I'm used to people going out of their way to meet me, it's been rather routine since I graduated high school. "So you and Krys know each other well?"
K im rolled her eyes and glanced over at Krystal, which shook my confidence. "You could say that. We've known each other since her first day of college."
" S o you're in the culinary field too?" I asked, somewhat surprised with myself. Normally I wouldn't have given a damn. I'm the epitome of the Internet meme and not a single fuck was given that day.
" N o , we actually met at a martial arts class. We were two of the very few women there so we kind of became friends. I'm.... into computers," Kimberly replied, giving me a knowing smile. I didn't know what the smile meant, but it rattled me again. What was going on? "I'd love to hang out with you two sometime, but I've got to get going. Client meeting at four I need to get to. Krystal, we'll talk later?"
" F or sure ," Krystal replied, giving Kimberly a hug. "Thanks."
" N o problem . Julian, another time I hope." With that, Kimberly was gone, out the front door of the building and into the Chicago afternoon sun like a little blonde ball of energy.
I watched her go , then turned to Krystal, slightly confused. "She is....."
" D ifferent ," Krystal replied with a grin. "And as real as you can find. Come on, I'll show you my place. I'm warning you though, it's a lot different than what you're probably used to."
I nodded , and followed her into the elevator. As the doors closed, she pushed the button for one of the top floors, and we started up. "Krys...." I started, before she cut me off.
" J ulian , do you like it if someone calls you Jules? Or J?"
I thought about the fact that the guys at the gym called me JC, but other than that.... "No, not really."
" O kay . Well, if you don't want me to call you Jules or maybe Julie, don't call me Krys. Now, I don't mind if you stay, but I do have some rules."
O h boy , here we go. "Yeah?" I asked, already wondering if I'd made the right decision.
" R ule one is , no arrests. You get picked up by the Chicago PD, and you're on your own. You're not getting back into my place. And yes, this is my place. Rule two, no parties or women up here. You want to get your freak on, go do it somewhere else. Finally, rule three. You use something in my kitchen, you clean it and you put it in the drying rack. That's kind of a general one for all culinary types. Don't screw with our equipment."
" W hat happens if I do ?" I joked, smirking. Krystal turned to me with those dark eyes of hers and looked up directly into mine.
" Y ou do , and you'll find I know how to debone more than just a chicken."
I held my free hand up in a fending off gesture, and smiled. "Okay, just joking. I can barely make spaghetti anyway. You ever come to my place in Los Angeles, and you'll find a lot of instant meals, peanut butter, and supplements. By the way, you don't mind if I use your blender for
" Y eah , Krystal? I'm downstairs."
" O h , really? Okay. See you in a second."
I hung up my phone and went inside the lobby. About thirty seconds later, Krystal came out of the elevator, along with a cute little blonde that I didn't know. "Hi Julian," she greeted me, with only a hint of uncomfortable formality. "I'd like you to meet my best friend Kimberly. Kim, this is my stepbrother, Julian Castelbon."
" I t's nice to meet you," Kim said, holding out her hand. I shook, and was surprised at how strong her grip was. Taking a closer look, I could see the short nails and hints of callus on the edges of her fingers that told me she wasn't the dainty type. Interesting. "I was just stopping by to drop off some books I'd borrowed from Krystal, and she said you were coming to visit. I figured I just had to wait a few minutes to meet you."
" T hanks ," I said, feeling more at ease. I'm used to people going out of their way to meet me, it's been rather routine since I graduated high school. "So you and Krys know each other well?"
K im rolled her eyes and glanced over at Krystal, which shook my confidence. "You could say that. We've known each other since her first day of college."
" S o you're in the culinary field too?" I asked, somewhat surprised with myself. Normally I wouldn't have given a damn. I'm the epitome of the Internet meme and not a single fuck was given that day.
" N o , we actually met at a martial arts class. We were two of the very few women there so we kind of became friends. I'm.... into computers," Kimberly replied, giving me a knowing smile. I didn't know what the smile meant, but it rattled me again. What was going on? "I'd love to hang out with you two sometime, but I've got to get going. Client meeting at four I need to get to. Krystal, we'll talk later?"
" F or sure ," Krystal replied, giving Kimberly a hug. "Thanks."
" N o problem . Julian, another time I hope." With that, Kimberly was gone, out the front door of the building and into the Chicago afternoon sun like a little blonde ball of energy.
I watched her go , then turned to Krystal, slightly confused. "She is....."
" D ifferent ," Krystal replied with a grin. "And as real as you can find. Come on, I'll show you my place. I'm warning you though, it's a lot different than what you're probably used to."
I nodded , and followed her into the elevator. As the doors closed, she pushed the button for one of the top floors, and we started up. "Krys...." I started, before she cut me off.
" J ulian , do you like it if someone calls you Jules? Or J?"
I thought about the fact that the guys at the gym called me JC, but other than that.... "No, not really."
" O kay . Well, if you don't want me to call you Jules or maybe Julie, don't call me Krys. Now, I don't mind if you stay, but I do have some rules."
O h boy , here we go. "Yeah?" I asked, already wondering if I'd made the right decision.
" R ule one is , no arrests. You get picked up by the Chicago PD, and you're on your own. You're not getting back into my place. And yes, this is my place. Rule two, no parties or women up here. You want to get your freak on, go do it somewhere else. Finally, rule three. You use something in my kitchen, you clean it and you put it in the drying rack. That's kind of a general one for all culinary types. Don't screw with our equipment."
" W hat happens if I do ?" I joked, smirking. Krystal turned to me with those dark eyes of hers and looked up directly into mine.
" Y ou do , and you'll find I know how to debone more than just a chicken."
I held my free hand up in a fending off gesture, and smiled. "Okay, just joking. I can barely make spaghetti anyway. You ever come to my place in Los Angeles, and you'll find a lot of instant meals, peanut butter, and supplements. By the way, you don't mind if I use your blender for
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