Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
JAYSON
I missed seeing Liz this morning, but I understand she wanted to get to school early. Maria is being a bitch to my girl by ignoring her, and Liz wants to find out why.
“Can I get you guys anything else?” our waitress, Pauline, asks us.
“A black coffee and a cinnamon scone to go, please?”
If Liz has already eaten, she can save the scone for lunch. I know she’ll drink the coffee immediately.
“Sure can, hon. Be right back.”
Settling back in the booth, I ask Ryder, “I know you broke up with Maria, but what gives?”
He’s been cagey about the whole thing, and getting any information from him is like pulling teeth. I never liked her, but I don’t like that he broke up with her. I felt safer when they were together. Kept him busy and away from Liz.
“Wasn’t going anywhere. Broke up with her. End of story.”
“I always thought she was a bit odd. Too loud and obnoxious for me,” Julien says. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Ryder replies.
Julien pours syrup over his french toast. “But why is she ghosting Liz?”
Ryder rubs his hand over his face and scratches his head. “Beats the hell out of me.”
I sip my coffee. “Did you cheat on her? She cheat on you? People don’t break up for no reason.”
He seers me with a hot look. “No, I didn’t fucking cheat on her, Jay. You know me better than that.”
The waitress drops off my to-go order, and Julien pays the check. Ryder crumples up his napkin and flings it on the table.
“She was getting clingy and wanting more than I was willing to give her.” He flicks his gaze at me, then away. “She started talking shit about Elizabeth, and it pissed me off. I got fed up with all of it, so I dumped her.”
“What the fuck did she say about Liz?”
“Nothing I’m going to repeat to you.”
The urge to punch him is strong.
“You’re a dumbass.”
Our phones chime simultaneously.
“I didn’t want things to be weird between Elizabeth and Maria, so I tried to end things as amicably as I could.”
“Clearly, it didn’t work.”
He gives me the finger.
“Check your phones. We need to go,” Julien says.
Ryder and I take out our phones. A video was posted five minutes ago and in the comments are the hashtags #nolongerfriends #theotherwoman #sayitisntso #bitchslap. Ryder and I must hit play at the same time because we hear Maria’s voice in stereo. As we watch her tear into Liz, I literally see red. And then Maria slaps her. The video ends.
I glare murder at Ryder and call Liz.
“Hey.”
“Liz, what the fuck? Are you at school right now?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m with the guys at Ruby’s. You’re on speaker. Please tell me what we just saw did not happen.”
Hailey’s voice comes on. “Where’s Ryder?”
He leans over the table. “I’m here.”
“You broke up with that crazy bitch, so she’s your problem. She comes near Lizzie again, all bets are off.”
“I’ll deal with it,” Ryder tells her. He looks pissed.
“We’re on our way. Hales, take her back out to the car and wait for us. I love you, baby. Everything is going to be okay. Be there soon.”
“Okay.”
I hang up.
“Jules, you’re with me. Ryder, fix this mess. If you don’t rein in your ex, I will. Maria is not going to mess with Liz because you broke up with her. That’s bullshit.”
Ryder throws down a twenty and heads out without a word.
Julien picks up the coffee and the paper bag with Liz’s scone. “Liz must be devastated.”
I double-tap the unlock button on the key fob. “Hurry up and get in.”
I peel out of the parking lot, not caring that I’m speeding.
“Who are you texting?” I ask Jules when his fingers fly over the screen of his phone.
“Elijah. I’m rallying the troops. Liz is going to need us.”
“Good idea. See if he can come over tonight. I’ll pick up Liz from work and bring her to the house. We can order pizza or something and watch a movie. All of us.”
“E says yes. No work tonight.”
We arrive at school and park next to Liz and Hailey’s car. The passenger door is open, and Liz is sitting in the seat, head back against the headrest, eyes closed. Ryder’s car is already here, but he’s nowhere in sight.
“Hey, baby doll.”
I caress her cheek.
“I’m glad you’re here.” She turns her face into my hand.
Her eyes are puffy and red from crying, but she’s still the most beautiful girl in the world.
“Come here, Princess.”
Lifting her out of the car, I sit down with her on the parking lot gravel. I cuff her neck and wrap my other arm around her back and just hold her.
“Love you,” I whisper into her ear and kiss her temple.
Once I feel her relax and her breathing even out, I pull back to assess her.
“Better?”
“Much better. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” This time I bring her in for a real kiss, a slow kiss, gentle and reassuring. “Ryder is going to talk to her.”
“I just feel like it’s my fault. Perhaps I wasn’t as a good a friend as I should’ve been to her.”
Maria hits her, and she’s the one who feels guilty. My girl’s heart is so fucking big.
“No baby. You were a great friend. She should be ashamed of herself. I hope for your sake she apologizes. I know how much you care about her. But my concern right now is taking care of you. If she wasn’t a girl, I would’ve already found her and punched the crap out of her.”
Liz shakes her head. “What is it with boys thinking everything can be solved with their fists?”
“They can’t? News to me.” I grin and tighten my grip on her. “Hold on, baby. This ride’s about to get bumpy.”
I stand up with Liz still wrapped around me and start walking toward the school.
“What are you doing? Jayson, put me down before someone sees us.”
Hailey grabs Liz’s bag from the ground, and she and Julien silently follow behind us.
“Would you prefer caveman style?”
“Absolutely not. I think one video with me in it is enough for one day.”
“Oh, these motherfuckers ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I kiss the shit out of her, and a chorus of catcalls and whistles erupt all around us. Liz giggles and smiles against my mouth.
“Fine, you can carry me.”
I’m glad I could put a smile on her face.
Julien hands her the coffee we brought from Ruby’s.
“You can put me down now. Caffeine comes before kisses.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Princess.”
Hailey hands off Liz’s bookbag, and we head to our first period class. Still no Ryder in sight. Right before the tardy bell rings, he rushes to his desk. Class starts, and I hide my phone in my lap, making sure the teacher doesn’t notice. Opening my group chat with Julien and Ryder, I type out a quick message.
Me: We’re rallying the troops for Liz. Our house tonight at 7.
Ryder: Will be there.
Julien: E’s coming too. Let’s get Hailey and Brea in on it.
Ryder: Will text Brea later.
Me: Don’t want Liz upset anymore so no talking about Maria in front of her. R, did you talk to her?
Ryder: Yeah. Didn’t go well. Will tell u about it later when Elizabeth isn’t around.