Chapter 23
Want to Have a Sleepover?
I’m slowly woken up by the tiny chirrups of two phones dinging, one after another. I stretch my arms above my head as Ryder’s muffled, deep voice groans next to my ear.
My eyes pop open.
Holy crap! We must have fallen asleep on the sofa last night. After our date, we weren't ready to say goodnight when Ryder brought me home, so I invited him in. We watched a movie, but I don't recall how the movie ended; I must have dozed off before then.
We're lying on the sofa in what I think people call the spooning position.
My back is cuddled to his front, and I have to admit, it feels really, really nice.
Ryder's left arm is draped over my waist and my head is using his right arm as a pillow. My body, from my toes to my head, is nice and toasty warm from the heat he’s giving off.
Instead of getting up, I snuggle back into him, using him as my own personal electric blanket.
Ryder stirs and nuzzles his nose in the crook of my shoulder. “Good morning, baby,” he mumbles. Every time he calls me baby, I melt into goo.
The sound of a throat clearing has us looking up. Oh. My. God. Daniel is standing in front of the couch, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Good morning, you two. Once you are both up, I think we need to have a talk.”
“Okay,” I squeak out, completely mortified.
“I'll get breakfast started,” Daniel says, and he walks into the kitchen.
Ryder laughs quietly into my shoulder, his body shaking with mirth. “Did that just happen?”
“It's not funny!” I chastise him, but I can't stop the giggles that come out. My laughter stops abruptly. “Ryder, are you going to get into trouble with your parents?”
“No. I called them last night after you fell asleep and told them I would be crashing here for the night.”
Wow. His parents are totally cool for allowing him to do that. Not so sure right now whether Daniel will feel the same way.
Ryder encircles my waist with both arms and pulls me closer.
“I have morning breath,” I say, recoiling back when he leans in like he's about to kiss me.
“I don't care,” he replies and kisses me anyway to the sounds of our phones dinging again. “Who keeps texting?”
“I don't know. It's what woke me up. You can’t complain. This is what you guys do to me every freaking day with your non-stop texting. It drives me crazy.”
“You love it when I text you.”
“Yeah, but it’s you, plus two others,” I remind him.
Our conversation stops when he kisses me again.
Best wake-up ever.
“Breakfast is almost ready,” Daniel calls from the kitchen.
“I guess we need to get up,” I tell Ryder. We both stand and stretch out the kinks in our muscles. The sofa is not the most comfortable place to sleep. Short naps? Absolutely.
I pick my phone up off the floor.
ScaryGuy: Good morning, princess.
I roll my eyes.
Doppelganger: I miss my morning running buddy!
Meredith: Dying to hear about your first date with HotRyd. Get it, like hot rod?
I snicker.
“What’re you giggling at?” Ryder asks, looking over my shoulder.
“Meredith thinks you are very hunky. That’s the G-rated version by the way.”
ScaryGuy: Call me when u get up.
Deciding to put Meredith out her misery, I send her a reply.
Me: First date success! So good. That’s all u r getting. My lips are sealed.
I respond to Jayson's next
Me: Good morning.
I check my phone. Yep. Nine o’clock on the dot. For a bunch of high schoolers, we all wake up early during the weekend instead of sleeping in late
ScaryGuy: Wanted to see if you were up for a day at the beach today. BTW have u heard from Ry? He's not answering his phone.
Ryder takes my phone and starts typing out a message to Jayson.
Me: He texted last night. Said he's crashing at Fallon’s.
“That’s pretty good,” I tell him when he hands my phone back to me. I hit send.
“Beach?” I ask Ryder. It is Sunday after all, and from the sunshine streaming in through the windows, it looks to be a gorgeous day.
“Sounds good to me. You wearing a bikini?
“It’s September, not summer, but I think I can be persuaded.” I grin and he kisses the tip of my nose.
Me: Yes to beach. Daniel just fixed breakfast. Give me an hour.
ScaryGuy: Sounds good. I’ll text the guys.
Me: Pick me up here?
ScaryGuy:
“Alright, Mr. Cutton. Let's divide and conquer. Breakfast first, then you can use my shower if you want.”
Ryder lifts my chin with his finger. “I had a great time last night.”
Sigh. “Me too.”
He sifts his fingers through my tangled hair. “I’m still can’t believe that I’m really here, with you, like this. I’ve wanted this for so long. Part of me thinks I’ll wake up tomorrow and it will all have been a dream.”
“It’s already tomorrow,” I remind him, running my fingers back and forth across his morning stubble, loving how it feels against my fingertips. My stomach takes that moment to make a very loud gurgling sound.
“Come on. Let’s get some food in that belly and have that talk with Daniel before the guys get here. I'll need to make a stop home to grab some clean clothes and my swimming trunks.”
Ryder lifts my arm and gives me a giant raspberry in the bend of my elbow. The vibrations make me yelp and dissolve into a fit of giggles. In one smooth move, he hefts me up and over his shoulder, smacking my butt while carrying me into the kitchen.
Out of the blue, I’m besieged with images as a memory pushes its way forward.
“Wait. Isn’t that the new bikini top you bought the other day?”
“How do you know?”
“Oh, princess, I think I need to show you what happens to girlfriends who send pics of themselves on their phone.”
Giggling, I ask, “What happens?”
I’m suddenly hoisted up and over Jayson's shoulder. “What are you doing? Let me down right this second!” I exclaim, laughing and wriggling.
He marches us inside my house to kiss me breathless.
Daniel has plates filled with scrambled eggs, sausage links, and toast waiting for us when Ryder and I walk into the kitchen.
We both take a seat at the table in the breakfast nook.
Daniel sits across from us while sipping from his mug of coffee.
The silence is uncomfortable. I think he may be doing it on purpose
“What did you want to talk to us about?” Like I don't already know, but I'm willing to play dumb for now.
He places his mug down and rests his elbows on the table. “Are you two dating?”
I look at Ryder. “Yes?” I say as a question.
The corner of Daniel's mouth quirks up. “Lizzie, honey, I'm not upset at you and you are not in trouble.
I know I'm not your father, but you are my responsibility and I care about you.
With that being said, I'm just trying to figure out how I need to handle this,” he explains, his eyes bouncing back and forth between me and Ryder.
“Yes, sir. Elizabeth and I are dating,” Ryder says.
“Okay then.” Daniel grabs his coffee and chugs it down. “Okay then,” he repeats. “Are you… uh, I mean to say, are the two of you being careful?”
Ryder and I look at him, not understanding what he's asking us.
He taps his knuckles on the table a few times. “Are you using protection?”
I start choking on my eggs and Ryder comes to my aid by pounding on my back until my eyes water. This whole situation just went from awkward to mortifying. Ryder starts laughing, and I smack his arm.
Daniel falls back into his chair. “I'm sorry. This is so very much outside my parenting skills. I don't know whether co-ed sleepovers are considered appropriate nowadays. You're almost eighteen anyway and I know you are capable of making your own decisions.” He buries his head in his hands.
“Sir, I have known Elizabeth since the third grade. I care very deeply about her and would never do anything that would hurt her. I can give you my promise that I will always treat her with respect.”
Wow, is all I can think at Ryder's proclamation.
“I appreciate that, Ryder. Thank you. Just, please be careful. I'll end this by saying, I know how I was at your age. Don't make rash decisions in the heat of the moment.”
My cheeks are beet red, but I nod my understanding. Feeling braver, and because I want to know how flexible Daniel is going to be about all of this, I ask, “Does this mean it's okay for Ryder to sleep over every once in a while?”
Daniel exhales roughly and rubs the bridge of his nose. “I hope I'm not going to regret this, but yes, it's okay with me. However, an open bedroom door policy will be in effect, and no over-the-top PDA while I'm in the same room. Or anywhere else in the house.”
I grin at Ryder who has covered my hand with his under the table.
Taking a bite of toast, I tell my uncle, “Daniel, I think you are doing a great job at being a parent!”
He thunks his head on the table in reply.