Chapter Sixteen
Ryder
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons take turns giving me hugs after the football game, telling me how great I was tonight at the dance performance.
I can’t hide the smile on my face. I’m proud of myself and the team.
We totally killed it out there. I’m thankful I’ve got people supporting me.
But at the back of my mind, all I can think about is my parents.
And it’s silly because I’ve been in this world for sixteen years and it’s always been one disappointment after another.
Why does the little kid in me think they’ll one day appear on the bleachers, cheering and clapping along with the others as the dance team does its thing?
Really, really stupid.
I laugh lightly when Carly’s Dad makes a comment about her and me getting along.
Even though it’s kind of a joke at their house, it still bothers me.
It never did before, but now that Carly and I are interacting, things feel different.
I’m not the seven-year-old who didn’t want her around.
I’m older and realize I treated her badly.
I hope we can mend what’s broken between us.
I’m willing to, but I understand that she’s hesitant. Still, I won’t give up.
Carly’s parents talk to me about school and I tell them I’m trying to stay on top of my classes.
And we discuss other things as well. Then they hug Carly again, tell her they miss her and will talk to her soon.
And they can’t wait for the dance competition and the next Parents’ Day.
After bidding goodbye to her, me, and Carly’s friends, they walk off.
She laughs at something her friends say before her gaze makes its way to me. I give her a smile. She returns a tiny one, then rejoins her friends’ conversation.
I shove my hands into my pockets, my eyes flitting around the area. Most people are starting to leave, all chatting about the great game and the amazing performance. I can’t stop my lips from kicking up into a smile. Hopefully, we’ll be ready for the competition in two weeks.
“Dude.” Felix slaps me on the back. “Been looking all over for you. We’re headed to the diner. You in?”
“Of course.”
He, I, along with the rest of the football team, cheerleaders, and others make our way to the parking lot where we get into cars.
Felix and I ride with a few other guys in Felix’s car.
They talk about the game, of course. It stings a little that no one mentions the performance, but whatever. They’re just excited about the game.
We reach the diner and settle down at our usual spot in the back.
We’re loud as we continue cheering about the game.
I add in here and there, but I mostly focus on my food.
As much as I’m enjoying myself, there’s still this nag at the back of my mind.
Like something is missing. Not the fact that I don’t play football anymore, but something else.
Maybe because despite how close Felix and I are becoming, it’s not the same as having someone by my side who I can talk to about anything.
Blake used to be that person for me, but he’s miles away.
And he’s off celebrating his (hopeful) win, so it’s not like I can just call him.
I’ll text him later and ask how his game went.
I’m busy dunking a fry in ketchup when the door to the diner opens and a group of girls walks in. It takes me a second to realize it’s the dance team. Have they come to celebrate a job well done? Nice. We totally deserve it.
I wave to a few girls who notice me among the popular kids, but Carly doesn’t look my way. Not right away, at least. It’s not until they get their food and sit down that she finally glances at me.
I give her a small wave. She averts her gaze, focusing on something Naya is telling her.
I didn’t tell her this, but I love how supportive she is of the younger students, especially Naya.
I noticed Naya’s eyes light up every time Carly compliments her and encourages her.
That’s a side to her that I never saw before.
She was just Blake’s little sister. Someone who always wanted to be around us.
And when we were older, she was someone who never wanted me around and kept calling me a cretin.
I never knew she was sweet and kind. But maybe she reserves those insults only to me.
And Blake, too, even though I know she’d take a bullet for her brother.
As if she can feel me watching her, her eyes shoot in my direction.
They narrow, as though she’s asking, “What?” I don’t remove my gaze from her.
I want her to know I’m watching her. Not in a stalker kind of way, but in awe.
Because she’s a hero to some of those younger dancers.
Does she know the impact she has on them?
“Dude, why are you looking there when the Parker twins just walked in?” Felix asks, poking me in the ribs with his elbow.
The twins are headed this way. I catch many guys looking at them like they wish they were lucky enough to warrant their attention. I find my eyes shifting over to the fiery redhead who I can’t seem, for whatever reason, to get out of my head.
“Scoot over and make room for them, man!” Felix hisses as the twins approach.
“You know something? I’m going to sit over there.” I tilt my head toward the table that hosts my dance mates.
Felix’s jaw practically drops to the ground. “What the heck are you talking about?”
I don’t have a chance to respond before a twin grabs hold of each of my arms. Avery presses her body to me while April reaches up to plant a kiss on my cheek.
“You were so good,” she gushes. “Like, the sexiest dancer on the team.”
“No one could stop watching you,” Avery adds with a chuckle.
I give them each a smile. “Thanks. My team’s there and I’m going to sit with them.”
Their faces drop. I feel bad, but I don’t want to be here. I want to be with my teammates. And specifically, our captain.
“Oh, okay,” April says in a despondent tone.
Avery tightens her hold on me. “Don’t leave us. All the fun is here.”
Normally, I would never leave two hot twins who are all over me. But I don’t want to be here right now.
“Sorry, girls,” I say as I pull away from them. “I’ll see you later. Have fun.”
April seems to accept my leaving, but Avery grabs my arm. “Don’t leave, Ryder. It’ll be boring there and you’ll just come back here. So why waste your time?”
“I don’t think hanging out with my teammates would be a waste of time.”
She traces the muscles on my chest. “Why be there when you can be here with us?” Both of them shoot me sexy grins that do nothing for me.
“I’ll see you guys later.”
They start to protest, but I ignore them and make my way to the other side of the diner. Carly turns her head as I approach and her eyebrows furrow. Everyone else is busy chatting and don’t see me coming.
I stop next to Carly and smile at her. “Hey. Is there room for me?”
It looks like she’s mentally trying different responses.
Maybe she’s trying to figure out if she should be rude, or nice, or indifferent.
Her gaze trails to the table and the twins I walked away from and she looks like she has no idea what’s going on.
Like, she’s wondering why I would ditch the hottest girls at school to come to their lowly dance team.
Well, the dance team is anything but lowly. It’s my new family.
I bend close. “Carly?”
She just stares at me blankly.
“Of course!” Addie says. I think she kicks Carly under the table because Carly snaps out of it and gives her a “what the heck?” face.
Addie gets up and gestures for me to slide into the booth. I squeeze myself between her and Carly.
“Sorry,” I tell her.
“You know there’s room on the other side of the table,” she says.
“Aw, but that’s so far from you. Besides, your best friend invited me to sit here and it’d be so rude of me to reject the invitation.”
She gives Addie that same look, while Addie returns an innocent smile.
“So…” I say as I snatch an onion ring from Carly’s plate and dip it in her ketchup. “What are we talking about?” I shove the entire thing in my mouth.
“Nothing,” Carly says while Addie says, “The school dance that’s coming up in a few weeks.”
I steal another onion ring and slice it in half with my teeth. “What dance?”
“The winter dance,” Miriam from the team explains. “We have it every year.”
“Oh.” I take Carly’s half-eaten burger that’s sitting on her plate. “You done with this?”
“Don’t you have your own food?” she asks.
“Already ate, but I need more. I’m a growing boy. And I’m recovering from an injury.”
She rolls her eyes. “You can have it.”
“Thanks, Captain.” I take a bite. “Mmm. Much better than my burger because it’s been touched by the amazing Carly.”
Her eyes widen. I swear I can hear Addie laughing and the rest of the team watching us like they have no idea what’s going on.
I chuckle as I bend close. “Come on, Cap. Everything’s better once you’ve gotten your hands on it. You choreographed a killer routine that will definitely make waves at the competition. You inspire all of us. And you make everyone feel accepted and important. That’s the Carly touch.”
She just stares at me. Then she hisses, “What are you doing?”
I lift a brow. “Speaking the truth. And I bet everyone at this table agrees with me.”
They nod and clap, sending her wide, appreciative smiles.
“We should celebrate Carly with cake,” I say. “Who’s in?”
Everyone claps again and chants, “Carly! Carly! Carly!”
Carly face turns as red as her hair. “Guys, it’s really not necessary. I mean, we didn’t even win a competition.”
“But we will,” I say, waggling my brows. “And why can’t we celebrate our awesome routine and our amazing captain? Who’s with me?”
All hands shoot in the air.
I bend close to whisper in her ear, “Outnumbered.” I get a whiff of her smell that makes me lose focus for a second.
“Be right back,” I tell them before heading to the counter and asking them for the most delicious cake they’ve got.
Carly still looks a little uncomfortable when I return. And she’s flushing as the team compliments her.
“It’s not just me,” she’s saying. “It’s all of us. I’m just a captain, but we’re a team because of you guys.”
“But we’d be nothing without you,” Naya says.
“Agreed,” I tell her.
She looks like she wants to argue, but I place my hand on hers. “Carly, this is your moment,” I whisper. “We all appreciate you and want to show you how much you mean to us.”
“But I’m just a scholarship kid,” she blurts.
My hand reaches to push some hair away from her cheek. It’s so smooth and warm and I don’t want to drop my hand. But I have to. “No. You’re so much more.”
She searches my eyes like she doesn’t believe me and looks like she wants to respond. But the table cheers as the cake is brought in.
“Carly! Carly! Carly!” they chant.
She looks at me and I shoot her a wide smile, gently knocking my shoulder into hers while I join the others. “Carly! Carly! Carly!”
“Thanks, everyone,” she says. “We were awesome today, but we’ll be a million times better at the competition. Want to know why? Because we have each other. Harrington Bay Academy dance team!”
“Harrington Bay Academy Dance Team!” we repeat.
Then we all dig into the cake. I catch Carly glancing at me every so often, and I smile at her.
Because we’re sitting so close, I feel her body heat.
It’s comforting. Our faces are close as well, since we’re squished tightly.
Lips are only a few inches apart. I never thought about what it’d be like to kiss her.
She’s always hated me. She’s looking for commitment.
She’s Blake’s sister. But now that we’re practically on top of each other, all I can think about is how it’d feel to press my lips to hers.
I’ve kissed many girls over the years, but something tells me that kissing this girl would be different.
She’s got some frosting smeared near her lips, and I can’t stop myself from staring at it. When she licks it away, this need to kiss her and be close to her overwhelms me.
But I force myself to push those thoughts and feelings away.
What’s gotten into me lately?
It’s the adrenaline from tonight’s performance. That’s got to be the only explanation.
My goal is to mend our relationship. That’s all. Nothing more. And certainly not to kiss her.