Chapter 6
Chapter Six
RYDER
R ight before Jay plows into a parking meter, I jerk him out of harm’s way.
He looks up, says “thanks,” and goes back to staring at pictures of Liz on his phone.
The boutique clothing store is located only four short blocks from my dad’s garage, and he’ll be lucky to make it there alive.
“You know distracted walking is against the law.”
“You’re shitting me. Really?”
Jay is too easy to mess with and will believe almost anything I tell him. I don’t take that for granted. The level of trust between us wasn’t just built—it was forged over years of loyalty and friendship. It’s the kind of bond where you instinctively know the other person has your back, no questions asked. That same trust is why it makes it even more imperative for me to talk to him and Julien tonight about my feelings for Elizabeth.
She’s on my mind constantly. The thought of asking her out isn’t new; it’s something that’s been lingering for longer than I care to admit. The idea of us, of more than just friendship, has been like an itch I can’t quite reach. Every time I work up the courage to tell her how I feel, something stops me. Or rather, someone.
I see the longing glances Jay throws her way. The intense way he watches her when he thinks no one else is paying attention. It’s impossible to miss because it’s the same way I look at her.
And it’s not just that. They’ve known her longer. Before I came barging into the picture, they were an inseparable trio—Julien, Jayson, and Elizabeth. I remember that day so clearly, stepping into their world for the first time, feeling like I was intruding on something sacred. But I couldn’t stop myself from gravitating toward the girl who had instantly won me over with her kindness and sweet smile.
That first day in class, Elizabeth stood up for me, loaned me that book she’d been waiting weeks to read—like I mattered more than the story she’d been dying to dive into. She brought me into her circle without hesitation. I’ve always been grateful for that. Jayson and Julien became my brothers in every sense of the word, and Elizabeth…became my everything.
I give Jayson’s shoulder a nudge, trying to shake the weight from my thoughts. “Yes, I’m shitting you. Were you asleep during driver’s ed?”
He barely glances up from his phone. “Pretty much.”
“Heard Elijah is racing tonight.”
We first crossed paths with Elijah three years ago when he was going to Highland Middle and swam against Jayson. He started racing at the Fields last year. Dad has been giving him some pointers, and Elijah and I have met up a few times to mess around on our bikes. The guys think that he’s still hung up on Elizabeth. I’m not so sure.
Jayson shrugs, but his voice is flat when he replies, “As long as he stays away from Liz, I don’t have a problem with the guy.”
When we reach our destination, I catch movement behind the glass storefront of the boutique. Maria freezes when she spots me through the display, then quickly ducks out of sight.
“Jay, there’s something…I want to talk…to you about.”
His eyebrows raise at my faltering tone.
“Okay.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. When it comes to Elizabeth, I can’t seem to find my voice. I’ve tried—God, I’ve tried so many times to tell them how I feel about her, to bring it up in some casual, offhanded way. And every time, the words get stuck, like now.
My eyes catch Elizabeth through the window, and my heart beats a fast staccato triple beat.
“After the race, can you and Jules drop by my house?”
He glances through the window, then back at me, his brow furrowing as if he’s already figured out my big secret.
I just pray that he doesn’t hate me for it.