Chapter Eighteen
Presley
June
A secret life with Ry has been nothing short of amazing. Sneaking around with him has been the biggest rush of my life. Who would’ve thought I’d get such a thrill from almost getting caught?I used to blame Ry for being insatiable, but honestly, it’s both of us.
Dragging myself home from a brutal dance class, I head straight for the kitchen for water. Voices from the living room stop me in my tracks.
Rafe and Rygaard.
No surprise. They were always joined at the hip, but ever since Ry and I became a thing, he’s spent less time with Rafe. And it’s starting to show.
They’re deep into a video game.
“Dude, who is she?” Rafe asks. My heart stutters. No way. No way Ry is about to just... say it.
I inch closer, practically holding my breath, eavesdropping like the creeper I am. “Who’s who?” Ry asks, eyes locked on the screen.
“The girl you’re fucking,” Rafe says, blunt as hell, and my heart jumps into my throat.This is it. We’re busted.
I should storm in there and drag Ry out before he spills, but my feet are frozen.He’s graduating soon and planning on going out of state for college.
Still, the idea of losing him... no, I’m not ready.
“What makes you think it’s a girl?” Ry chuckles.
“Because you’re always sneaking off, coming late to practice, leaving early with some lame excuse,” Rafe fires back.
I have to stifle a giggle, because, well, he’s not wrong.
Since that night at the party, Ry and I have been inseparable. But then Rafe says something that makes all the blood drain from my face.
“As much as you and Presley have mastered the disappearing act, it almost seems like you two are sneaking around... together.” He draws the word out, suspicion thick in the air.
Stars explode behind my eyes. I’m dizzy.
We’re caught.
This is it.
I’m hyperventilating, practically begging for a brown paper bag.
“Don’t drag your sister into my shit,” Ry says smoothly. “What I do is my business. And as if I’d sneak around with Presley. She’s cute, but she’s like my sister.”
His words are like a slap.I know he’s lying to protect us, but still, ouch.
Leaning against the wall, I crane my neck for a glimpse of them.Both of them stare each other down, fists clenched, tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
For a second, I think they’re about to come to blows.The sun sinks lower. Crickets chirp in the growing silence.
Finally, Rafe sucks his teeth and turns back to his game. “Well, if you’re not the one she’s sneaking off with, you need to figure out who is. She’s not about to blow her shot at getting out of here.”
My blood boils.I snap around the corner, ready for war.
“What’s up, assholes?” I say, plopping down next to Ry, daring them to say more. “Oh, don’t get quiet on my account.”
“You don’t run shit but your mouth, Presley. One day it’s gonna get you in trouble,” Rafe growls, tossing his controller down.He storms up to me, chest heaving.
I stand up, meeting him head-on.“I don’t know who the hell made you my guardian, Rafe, but back the hell off before I say something we’ll both regret.
”I shoulder-check him as I brush past, but he grabs my arm, hard.
“I’m sick of your shit, Presley. Skipping dance, sneaking around, acting like the school slut. ”
Before I can react, Ry’s in his face. “Say that again, Rafe. See what happens.”
Rafe stares between us, something clicking in his brain. His hand drops from my arm. He shoves past me. “Get your shit together, Presley.”
I don’t even let him get another word out before I storm off.I feel Ry’s hand brush my back, but I keep going, upstairs, into my room, slamming and locking the door behind me.
Sliding to the floor, I let the tears come.
“I’m so sick of him!” I shout.
Downstairs, I hear them fighting, and then the front door slams.Good.
Dragging myself into the bathroom, I strip down and take a long, hot shower, trying to scrub off the day.Afterwards, I climb into bed, exhausted and empty.
The cool night air fills my room, smelling of fresh rain and cut grass.
Weird. I don’t remember opening a window.
Eyes still heavy, I reach out, and nearly scream when my hand connects with warm skin. Jerking up, I see Ry sleeping peacefully, arms wrapped tightly around me.
My heart immediately calms. This is his favorite way to sleep, with me curled under him.
“You’re what I want to see when I dream... and the first thing I need when I wake,” he once said. I melt every time.
“Ry?” I whisper.
He stirs, pulling me closer. “Yeah, Princess?”
I don’t want to ruin the moment by bringing up Rafe. Instead, I whisper, “Can you make me forget what happened today?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he shifts, covering my body with his, and kisses me like he’s starving.
For the next few hours, he does exactly what I asked… Making me forget everything but him.