Chapter 84 Questions Encouraged
Questions Encouraged
Tessa
My jaw hung loose as I stared at the handwritten sign. It was taped to the rear door of the coffee shop, scribbled in thick red ink on plain white paper – just like that sign from Skip.
But this sign wasn't a Skip production. It couldn't be. I felt a slow smile spread across my face as I read it for the umpteenth time.
JACKASS INSIDE.
Apology Waiting.
Questions Encouraged.
If the sign was true, it would be a huge balm to my battered soul. After last night's arguments – first with Maisie and then with Ryder – I'd spent far too many hours wallowing in despair.
I hadn't talked to either one of them since things had gone sideways. Even though Maisie and I had slept under the same roof, we hadn't spent a single moment together in the same room – while Ryder had made himself just as scarce.
I'd felt more alone than I had in ages.
But now, looking at that sign? I felt some of the loneliness lift, wondering if maybe all of us just needed some time to cool off.
It was a comforting thought, and I leaned into it while I studied the scribbled message. It was hilarious, but impossible.
There was no way Ryder could be anywhere inside the coffee shop. It wasn't even open yet, and Skip always arrived late.
But then, in a flash, I recalled Ryder's offhand comment about picking locks, and my pulse gave a little kick. Slowly, I reached for the door handle, expecting resistance, but hoping for the opposite.
My breath caught. No resistance.
I flung the door open wide and rushed into the back room, not knowing what I'd see.
I saw…nothing.
Or at least nothing out of the ordinary.
But I did hear something. Snoring?
Just then, another snore echoed through the quiet shop – loud, aggressive, and obviously fake.
I moved past the shelves and looked toward that stupid recliner.
And there he was.
Ryder.
He was sprawled out with a dark jacket propped behind his head. His hair was tousled, his jaw was rough with stubble, and his posture was deceptively relaxed. He looked unfairly good when he should've looked silly.
I was still staring when he opened his eyes and let out another snore while staring straight in my direction.
I burst out laughing. "Wow. Skip, you've really changed."
He sat up. "So Skip's a jackass, too?"
Actually, he was. But I wasn't thinking of Skip. I was thinking only of Ryder as I devoured the sight of him, making a total fool of himself in that stupid chair.
Except he didn't look like a fool. He looked amazing – loose-limbed and unguarded, like a man who knew exactly what he was.
A jackass?
Maybe sometimes.
But not now.
I was still searching for a clever reply when he said, "I've got something to say, and I didn't want to wait."
I smiled. "Oh, yeah?"
"Yup." He pushed himself up and stood, slowly approaching me in the quiet space. When we were close enough to touch, he looked me straight in the eyes and softly said, "I'm sorry I was a jackass."
And of course, my heart went all gooey right there on the spot. "Yeah, well…I'm sorry, too."
"Don't be," he said. "Last night, I was mad for all the wrong reasons."
"Really? What reasons are those?"
"Mostly, I was mad at myself."
"But why?"
"Because I figured out what you meant." And then, at my confused expression, he said, "At the boathouse, Maisie overheard me hassling Griff. Am I right?"
Maisie had called it teasing, not hassling, but the sentiment fit. Still, I hesitated, not wanting to share her secrets.
With a chuckle, Ryder said, "Don't answer."
I was relieved, but curious. "Why not?"
"Because the answer's on your face. But listen, I want to tell you something."
"What?"
"Griff's a good guy. He'd never cheat."
I should've been reassured. And I was, mostly. But I would be more assured if I knew what Griff had been doing on the night in question. "So…I'm guessing you know where he was?"
"Nope. But I do know he wasn't cheating. He's not the type."
I was tempted to argue, but then thought better of it. Ryder knew his friend, just like I knew Maisie. In a million years, she would never cheat.
I wouldn't either. But did Ryder know that? I couldn't stop myself from asking, "What about me? Do you think I'm the type?"
He didn't hesitate. "Nope."
"But last night, you were acting—"
"Irritated."
With a nervous laugh, I said, "That's not the word I would've picked. I thought you were mad."
"I was. But mostly at myself."
I didn't get it. "Why?"
He gave me a wry smile. "Because I got my friend in trouble."
"Oh." I paused. "But you were irritated with me, too. I could tell."
He didn't deny it. "Yeah, and you wanna know why?"
"Why?"
He pointed to the recliner. "Because that's no place for you to be sleeping alone."
"I didn't plan on it," I protested. "I just laid down for a minute to test it out, and…well, I guess I nodded off." I rolled my eyes. "But at least I wasn't snoring."
He smirked. "Not that you know of."
"I don't snore," I insisted.
"Tell me something. Did you sleep here the whole night?"
"You mean in the recliner?" I gave it some thought. "It wasn't all night. You called me, remember?"
Concern flickered across his face. "So you went home right after that?"
"Not right after," I admitted, thinking of how I'd drifted off a second time, blissfully replaying our conversation.
When Ryder fixed me with another look, I said with an embarrassed laugh. "Okay fine. I dozed off for a little while afterward."
"How long of a little while?"
"A couple of hours." I smiled despite myself. "There, are you happy?"
"Not really," he said, taking a slow look around the back room. "I don't like the thought of you sleeping here on your own." His voice softened. "Next time, call me, okay?"
"Why?" I teased. "So you can join me in the recliner?"
"That or walk you home."
"Oh, stop," I laughed. "When I woke up again, it was the middle of the night. It would be kind of rude to call you then, don't you think?"
"Nope." His gaze locked on mine. "I'm serious. Day or night, give me a call. I'll be there no matter what."
It was sweet and chivalrous, and just a little crazy. But the weirdest thing was, I actually believed him. When I nodded, he said with a grin, "Hey, I brought you something."
I tilted my head. "You did? What?"
He glanced toward the connecting door. "It's in the front room. You wanna take a look?"
Did I ever. Fueled by curiosity, I headed toward the front with Ryder trailing beside me. When I pushed through the swinging door, I spotted it immediately, a lovely bike in a glorious shade of sapphire blue with a woven basket perched on the front.
At the sight of it, I couldn't help but squeal. "Oh, my God!" My eyes went just a little misty. "That's seriously for me?"
Ryder laughed. "Well, I'm not gonna ride it."
"I love it!" I whirled to look at him. "So you got it this morning?"
"Nah. It arrived last night. Special order."
It was so wonderful, I almost felt like crying. Breathlessly, I said, "It really is special…amazing actually."
His gaze warmed in the quiet shop. "Not as amazing as you."
I snuck another glance at the bike. "But I almost feel guilty. I didn't get you anything."
"Hey, you got me yourself. That's more than enough." A glint of mischief appeared in his eyes. "You wanna know why I got it?"
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want you to worry. You can scratch it, nick it, toss it in a flower bed, and you won't have to apologize to anyone."
It was one of the sweetest things I'd ever heard. "There's no way I'm sending that into a flower bed. But wait…there's something I should've said already."
"What?"
"Thanks, seriously." And then, I threw my arms around him and kissed him right there behind the coffee counter, thanking my lucky stars that the blinds were firmly closed.
When the kiss ended, Ryder pulled back to say, "Sorry, gotta get ready for work."
"You mean…me?" Of course, he was right. I did need to start brewing.
"Nah. Me," he said. "I got a job."
"Oh, stop it," I laughed. "You did not."
"I did," he insisted. "You wanna guess where?"
I still didn't believe him, but if this was a joke, I was happy to play along. "Where?"
He gave me a rueful smile. "I'm the new Griff."
"Oh." Suddenly, it wasn't so far-fetched – or funny if it meant Griff was gone. "So, you're working at the bike shop? Really?"
"Yeah, but not for long."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because, one way or another, Griff will be back." His tone grew teasing. "Which will leave me to focus on you."
Just then, I heard a small clunk, followed by Skip calling out from somewhere in the back. "Hey! Who left a jacket in my recliner?"
There was no way I'd let Ryder take the blame, and I was just about to call back when Ryder beat me to the punch, calling out, "Hey! Who left a recliner under my jacket?"
Whatever Skip called in reply was drowned out by my own laughter as I tried to keep it together.
I'd barely stopped when Ryder glanced at his watch and said, "Damn. I've gotta go change."
"Oh. Right. For work."
"Not just work," he said. "I've got an ogling at noon."
I did a double-take. "You mean…you're gonna ogle someone?"
"Nah. Franny's coming into the bike shop just before lunch. She made a fuss over Griff, so she's gonna do the same with me."
Okay, that was completely insane. "How do you know?"
"Because she told me," Ryder said with a chuckle. "An hour ago, she caught me outside the bike shop, right after Griff gave me the rundown."
"Oh. You mean like training?"
"Right. I said I could handle it just fine. But Griff insisted on getting me up to speed before Maisie showed up." He gave me a serious look. "That last part's a secret, by the way."
"But what about the ogling?" I asked. "I mean…don't get me wrong. I like to ogle you, too. But why would Franny schedule it like a dentist appointment?"
"Because she wants to cheer up Maisie. Apparently, she's been a little glum."
No doubt. She and Griff were on the outs, and she had a roommate she didn't even trust. And even though that last part still stung, I truly meant it when I replied, "Well…I'm glad somebody's gonna cheer her up." But then I paused. "And what about Griff?"
"What about him?"
"How's he doing?"
"Terrible," Ryder said. "This morning, I brought the guy breakfast – no raisins, by the way – and he didn't eat a single bite."
Hearing this, I wasn't quite sure how I felt. If Maisie was miserable, was it really so terrible that Griff was miserable, too?
I was still trying to decide when Ryder said, "Sorry, gotta run."
In spite of everything, I couldn’t resist teasing him. "Wait a minute…you're not gonna work shirtless or anything, are you?"
"Hell no. I just have to be extra-charming."
I smiled. "So, basically no effort at all."
He looked entirely too amused. "So you think I'm charming, huh?"
"Yeah," I laughed. "Too charming for my own good."