Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
ELIZABETH
The CU campus, even in the heart of summer’s unrelenting heat, is vibrantly green and lush. Various fragrant blooming flowers and plants burst with a kaleidoscope of colors. Old beech, cedar, oak, and poplar trees expand their top canopies to give plentiful shade throughout the grounds. I like it because it’s a great place to write music, and today, I’m inspired to do just that.
Strumming my guitar, my thoughts keep going back to Ryder. What is it about him that I am so drawn to? It’s ridiculous how often I look at my phone, hoping he’s texted me again. When we were at the track last Saturday, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. There is just something about him that speaks to my soul. It’s an intense, visceral reaction.
And the man put new tires on my car. Who does that? He refused to let me pay him for them, no matter how many times I insisted.
A hot breeze eddies around the tree, ruffling my hair. Pulling my long, wavy mass over one shoulder, I readjust the guitar in my lap and play a few measures. Closing my eyes, I hum a melody to go with the notes my fingers are playing.
“I thought that was you.”
My heart rate skyrockets at his voice.
Shielding my eyes, I squint past the glare to find Ryder standing a few feet away. A lock of his dark hair falls over his forehead as he looks down at me, and a million butterflies emerge from their chrysalises, fluttering their gossamer wings inside my chest.
“Hey,” I manage to answer.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all. Please,” I reply, motioning for him to sit down.
I can smell the soap he used this morning wafting off his tanned skin, and my damned stomach does yet another little cartwheel. My verbal acuity goes all tongue-tied, and I don’t know what to say to him. It’s like his close proximity is a cue for my hormones to go haywire.
“What were you playing?” Ryder asks, thankfully interrupting my sudden social awkwardness.
“To be honest, I don’t really know. I was just messing around.”
“Whatever it was, it sounded beautiful. Then again, I always loved to hear you play.”
The smile he graces me with captivates me, and I just stare at him.
Stop it.
“Elizabeth?”
“Huh?”
He smiles again, and I blush all over.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
My tongue decides to finally untangle. “What are you doing here?”
The guys text me all the time, every day, but Ryder never said he was coming to campus today. I have a feeling that they’re trying not to crowd me too much, something I appreciate.
“Some financial aid stuff I had to get done before the semester starts,” he says.
Oh, that makes sense.
I look around at all the students walking around. “I’m amazed by how many people are here. I didn’t think summer classes would be so popular.”
“CU is a big deal, even though it’s not an Ivy League college like Duke. About half the students live here year-round.”
“I can see why. The town is beautiful.”
“You come out here every day?” he asks.
“Pretty much. It helps with the boredom. I’ll be happy when classes start.”
Ryder’s lips purse in the cutest side-pucker before his shoulder lightly bumps mine.
“Want to get out of here?”
Do I? With him?
“Yes.”
He stands and offers me his hand, and I realize that I would let him take me anywhere.
When he pulls me to my feet, I add, “On one condition.”
“Which is?”
I grab my guitar by its neck, and he picks up my bag from the grass.
“You let me pay you for the tires.”
He laughs, and it’s the most gorgeous sound.
“Nice try.”
He starts walking, leaving me no choice but to follow.
“Where to?”
“To have some fun. It is summer after all,” he replies.
Remembering I drove here, I ask, “Mind if we take my car?”
“Sure.”
Not in any hurry, we stroll along the sidewalk that circumvents the quad.
“I’m parked over there. Since you know where we’re going, you drive.”
He arches a sexy eyebrow when I hand him my car fob.
Once my guitar is safely placed in its case and stored in the trunk, we head out. I get a tiny thrill that he’s taking me to destinations unknown. I love discovering new things, finding new places, trying new foods. My desire to pack eighteen years’ worth of experiences propels me to throw caution to the wind, be a little reckless, and do what I want.
“Do you mind if I turn on some music?” I’m already taking out my phone and selecting a playlist.
Ryder keeps one hand casually draped over the steering wheel and the other resting on the gearshift.
“Surprise me.”
When my phone connects to the car’s Bluetooth, I hit play. The “Cruise” remix by Florida Georgia Line and Nelly starts playing.
I roll down my window, my blond hair whipping all around as we speed along a back county road, nothing but flat earth and fields as far as the eye can see. Ryder looks over at me, some unknown, deep emotion in his eyes.
Quietly singing along, I drape my arm out the open window and play with the wind, letting it push through my fingers. After another three songs and ten minutes have passed, Ryder turns at a sign that has the words “go-kart racing” on it.
“Really? Go-karts?”
He grins that heart-melting smile at me. “Is that okay with you?”
“Are you kidding me? Hell, yeah!”
I’m already bouncing in my seat when he parks the car.
“This is a little mom-and-pop place that is far enough from the beach that it doesn’t get too busy,” Ryder explains as we walk inside. “My dad knows the owner, so don’t be surprised when?—”
“Ryder!” a voice booms from across the room. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming by today?” An older man with curly red hair and matching beard walks around the counter and pulls Ryder into a hug. “Good to see you. And who is this pretty young lady?”
“Frank, this is Elizabeth. Elizabeth, meet Frank.”
I hold out my hand and notice Frank’s eyes go wide when he looks at me. His hand hesitates mid-air before taking mine.
“This is…it’s nice to meet you, Elizabeth,” he finally says.
“I promised Elizabeth some fun.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place. We have go-karts, putt-putt, arcade games, batting cages. Take your pick.”
“Can we do all of them?”
“Ryder knows his way around. I’ll leave you two to it.” Ryder tries to hand Frank some money, but Frank pushes it back. “You know better. Have fun with your girl.”
Neither of us corrects him.
“What do you want to do first?”
I haul Ryder to the doors that will take us outside. “Definitely go-karts.”
We spend about an hour racing our little cars around the track. A few families come and go while we’re there, but like Ryder said, it doesn’t get too crowded. After karting, we play a round of mini golf. Ryder lets me cheat, which I blatantly and shamelessly do.
I’m having so much fun that I don’t realize we’ve been here for over four hours until my stomach sounds the alarm.
Ryder and I are doing that silly dance game where you have to stomp your feet on certain colored squares. We’re both a mess of legs, bumping into each other, but I’m having the time of my life.
I snort out a giggle when I crash into Ryder’s side, then trip. He easily catches me, but as soon as I look up, time freezes. I’m overcome with a heavy dose of déjà vu. Not realizing I’m doing it, my gaze zeros in on his beautiful mouth. Masculine hands grip my waist and dig into my hips, causing my skin to turn to gooseflesh.
And then a sudden… need …overtakes my good sense. I want to kiss him—badly.
I’m both extremely thankful and incredibly disappointed when Ryder pulls away.
He clears his throat. “Want to grab something to eat? I know a place nearby that makes the best burgers and fries.”
Playing off his effect on me, I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. “That sounds fantastic. I’m starving.”
Ryder calls out, “Hey, Frank! We’re heading out. Thanks for today.”
Frank appears from a back room connected to the arcade. “Glad you came by. Don’t be a stranger. That includes you too, Elizabeth.”
“You have a great place. I had a lot of fun.”
I wave bye, and Ryder pushes the door open for me so we can leave.
We spend the rest of our afternoon at a hole-in-the-wall diner, talking about nothing and everything over greasy burgers and sweet potato fries.
Once the sun sets and dusk arrives, Ryder drives us back to campus, detouring to the student lot where he had parked his car.
Under the pole lights of the parking lot, I prop a hip on the hood of my Hellcat.
“Thank you for today. I had fun.”
Those copper eyes take me in. “Confession?”
Secret for a secret.
The thought comes out of nowhere.
“Go for it.”
“I’ve missed hanging out with you. It was almost like old times.”
My smile falters. I don’t remember those old times.
“Confession?” I reply in return.
I lose the ability to breathe when he lightly brushes a finger down a pink strand of my hair.
“You can tell me anything.”
Taking him at his word, I say, “I want you to want to spend time with me , the person I am now, not the girl you remember. Does that make sense?”
Gnawing on the inside of his cheek, he slowly nods. “It does.”
My heart rate goes into overdrive when he steps closer.
“But make no mistake, Elizabeth, it doesn’t matter to me what version of you I get because you’re perfect, no matter what.”
Holy shit , this man and his words.
“Do you want me to follow you home?”
While I try to stop the beating organ inside my chest from bursting free and crashing to the pavement at his feet, I push a hand through my mop of wind-mussed hair and shake my head no.
“I appreciate the offer.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
Neither one of us makes a move to leave.
“Ryder?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we do that again?”
“Of course,” he says easily. “Text me when you get to your apartment.”
No longer able to withstand the charged tension between us, I open my car door, but something stops me from getting in.
“Good night, Ryder.”
“Good night, Elizabeth.”
Fuck it. I quickly press a kiss on his cheek. As soon as I’m inside the safety of my car, I crank the air conditioning to high, hoping it will help cool my overheated skin, and berate myself for being an idiot.
Oh, Elizabeth, you are in trouble . You are so falling for that man .
I text Ryder as soon as I walk in the door.
Me: Home now. Thanks again for today.
Hellcat: My pleasure.
Me: Are you busy tomorrow?
Hellcat: Nothing I can’t get out of. Why?
Me: Have any more fun times to share?
Why did I send that? It sounds like I’m propositioning him.
Hellcat: I can think of a few things.
My mind immediately dives down into the gutter.
Hellcat: Want me to teach you how to surf?
Hell, yes, I do.
Me: Do I need a special suit or something?
Hellcat: Waves aren’t that big here. More goofing around on the board than anything else.
Hellcat: Pick you up around eight?
Me: I’ll be ready.
Me: Good night, Ryder.
Hellcat: Good night, sweet Elizabeth.