13. Ryder
13
Ryder
I had my media manager get her number. I was too ashamed to ask my sister. Rachel would either think nothing of it or too much of it, and I couldn’t take the chance she’d ask questions.
I check my phone for the billionth time this evening and finally chuck it across the room in frustration. She still hasn’t called back. I can’t blame her, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’ve been such a dick towards her since we started working together, but leaving her in another city? That was some next level shit. I shake my head, still wondering what the hell has me so turned around about this girl. I wasn’t even drinking.
An hour later I hear the sound of my phone ring, but I can’t find it. I’m ready to trash my whole room looking for it until I spot it lodged just behind the leg of a credenza and quickly pick up.
“Hey Everly…” I’m so happy to talk to her that I belatedly realize I’m at a loss for words.
“What do you want, Ryder?” Her voice is strained, and I hate the tiny waver I hear in it. She sounds vulnerable, and something inside of me automatically responds. My spine tenses, and suddenly all I want is to make that waver go away.
“Listen…I fucked up…” I hate admitting what I did, but I hate that I may have lost my chance with her even more. “I had this amazing connection with you, and a night of…unexpectedly mind-blowing sex, and then I freaked out and ruined it…” I collapse on the side of my bed with my confession and lean over, one hand at my brow, the other holding the phone to my ear. The line is silent, but she hasn’t hung up on me so I figure I should keep going.
“Believe it or not, I’ve never left a girl like I left you in Phoenix.”
At this she snorts and responds sarcastically. “Great, so it’s just me then.”
I can practically hear her rolling her eyes at me over the phone.
“Not like that.” I heave a deep breath and decide to just go for it while I stare down at the bedroom carpet and nervously wiggle my toes in random lines. “You’re important to me, Everly. I care about you. I care about us , and I know I blew it when I ran. I…we…There’s something special about you. I’ve never…sex has always been something fun and no strings attached for me, but I woke up the next morning and I felt like maybe this was different, like maybe I wanted strings attached, and it got into my head, and…“ Damn, this is hard. I can’t get the words out, but I’m desperate. “Let me make it up to you.”
She’s silent for a minute before she answers, “Look, you wanted to apologize, so I’ve returned your call, and you’ve done it. There’s really no need to see each other again.”
“No, Everly, I need to see you again. I want to make this right. I should never have left. I should have turned right back around and marched into that room and showed you that morning after sex is even better, and then when I saw you at the Staples Center I should have apologized right away. I really…I was an immature prick. You deserve better. You do , but I’m asking you. Please. Please let me make this up to you. Give me a chance to make this right.“ I hear a heavy sigh from her end, and when she answers it’s still not quite what I was hoping for.
“Ryder…I think that… I don’t know... It’s probably best if we just let this one go....”
And that little ‘I don’t know’ is all it takes. It’s like a tiny green flag and I’m ready to go, so I set all morals aside and push like it’s the last ten seconds of a tied game.
“Everly, you’re my sister’s best friend. Even if we let this go - “ I cringe at the thought. “ – we’re going to see each other again. I’m going to be there at holidays. You’re still working on the documentary, and we’re always going to be a part of each other’s lives. I owe this to you, and you owe it to yourself to hear me out.
“Don’t push it, buddy.”
“No. No, it’s you who needs to not push your luck. How awkward is it going to be when Rachel finds out that we had a one-night stand, and you broke my heart?”
“Wha -!? What the hell, Ryder, so you’re lying and threatening me now?”
“No, no, I’m just trying to help you out. Okay, let’s think about this. So, a man fell for you and was a jackass to you, and it could get really awkward if you had to keep seeing him over and over. I mean, if he were to be at your job, and at your birthday and every holiday and be related to your BFF. I just…well, I just can’t think of anything more complicated, and for old times’ sake I’d really like to make this easier… on you.”
She doesn’t say anything, and I wait with baited breath before tacking on, “Meet me for lunch… I’ll take you to the Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens. It’s just ten minutes from the American Airlines Center.” She’s still silent but hasn’t hung up.
“You meet me for lunch, and then I don’t have to blow up all of your social media. Think of all the time and energy you’ll save being on good terms with me. You won’t have to block me, no reports to the police. Life will be so good.” Finally, I hear a small chuckle, and it’s amazing.
“You’re a jackass,” she says without heat. “…Well, I can’t say I like all of your reasoning, but when a man is ready to grovel, a girl kind of wants to be there to see it in person, so…I guess it’s a date.” I swear I can hear a smile in her voice, and I feel relief and excitement surging through me in equal measures.
“It’s a date. Tomorrow. I’ll text you.”
“Okay…tomorrow, then.”
We hang up and I message her the time and place. Less than twenty-four hours later I’m waiting with my heart in my throat, surprised at how nervous I still am. This girl’s got me in knots, and as much as I’ve enjoyed and cared about all of my partners in the past, I just can’t seem to be cool where Everly is concerned.
Morning practice is done, and I’ve got meetings a bit later, so lunch was an easier arrangement today than it might have been at other times during the season. I’ve arrived early to the restaurant and when I glance at my phone for the twentieth time a small part of me wonders if she’ll stand me up. It’s not like I don’t deserve it, but I remind myself Everly isn’t like that…I hope.
I’m seated at an outdoor table in the garden when she arrives. The moment I catch sight of her, I immediately stand. Her eyes are covered with a pair of shades, and she’s got on red ankle-length slacks below a white sleeveless blouse with ruffles and tassels covered by a blazer and silky scarf. Today’s a warm November day for Texas, and her outfit is airy, chic, and sophisticated. Everything about her makes me feel more alive, and I’m glad I managed to clean up after practice to don a silver-grey suit for the occasion.
I pull out her chair for her, and she slides her shades off before settling back, folding her hands in her lap and leveling me with a look. The moment I lay eyes on her all of my fears fly out the window, and suddenly I know everything’s going to be fine. I hold her gaze and then feel myself relaxing into a smile.
“Hey there, Merlot.”
Her eyebrows quirk, but her eyes crinkle when she responds, “Hey there, Coke and Rum.”
“I wasn’t sure you would show.”
“Hmm, I thought about skipping out,” she answers honestly as she taps her nails on the table. We’re sitting in dappled sunlight and there’s a mild breeze blowing, so I watch as the wind lifts small tufts of her hair in a rippling effect. She seems to shake off the negative thought and leans forward to peak at the menu on the table. “I’ve never been here before. What’s good?” And with that we jump right back into normal. We give our orders, and a few minutes later she glances around at the greenery before asking, “The indoors was crowded, and it’s such a beautiful day. How come no one else is eating outside?”
“I just wanted a little privacy with you.”
She turns wide eyes on me, “So…you rented the whole garden?”
“Something like that.” I’m gratified at the impressed look on her face, but that’s not why I brought her here. Reaching forward, I rub a finger lightly over the back of her hand. It’s a tiny gesture, but the connection is immediate and intense. Glancing up, I feel something akin to satisfaction when I see her pupils dilate and her nostrils flare. It’s not just me. She feels it too. Thank God!
“Everly, I’m sorry.” I hold her gaze as I say it, letting her see my regret, letting her know how much I mean it. My voice goes husky with emotion when I continue a few seconds later, “You turned my world upside down in one night, and I swear I touched heaven…” She’s staring at me arrested, perfectly still with a small, guarded look in her eyes.
“I don’t ever want you to think you’re not important. You’re like a boulder in the middle of a rushing river. You’re steady, strong, and unmoveable. You made me want things I’ve never wanted before. I’ve spent all my adult years as a rolling stone…but you make a man want to stop rolling.”
She drops her eyes and taps her fingers on the table again before setting her jaw and lifting her gaze back to me.
“You have my number now.”
I nod my head slowly.
“Don’t ghost me again.”
“Yes, ma’am”
“And don’t think I’m jumping back into bed with you just because you apologized.”
“I would never dream it.” I move my hands to gesture as if I’m crossing my heart even as I feel a victorious smile spreading from ear to ear. She squints her eyes at me with some kind of schoolteacher look, but a second later I see the corners of her mouth twisting into a small grin and her body relaxes more fully into her chair.
The server brings our drinks, and we chat about game schedules, photo shoots and upcoming holidays over lunch until our time is up. On the way back to the American Airlines Center she hitches a ride with me and my driver, and I find myself staring at her, basking in her presence, suddenly feeling that same sense of awe that hit me in the hotel room. I can’t believe this is the kid I grew up with.
When we reach the project room where a lot of the documentary editing is taking place, she waves to Dustin, and I stop at the door. She’s got a soft glow on her face when we say goodbye. She turns away and in a spur-of-the-moment decision, I snag her wrist and pull her back. She turns to me just as I swoop in to plant a firm kiss on her lush lips.
It’s more than a kiss. It’s a branding, and I feel her meet me in the middle as we let our bodies say everything our hearts aren’t yet ready to voice. I breathe her in as we mesh in a dance of give and take and her scent takes me back to our night at the hotel. When I pull away her hand falls loosely to her side. I drink in the intoxicated look on her face only inches away from mine, then gently I ease back as I whisper for her ears alone.
“Just wanted you to know how I feel.”
And with that, I turn to make my way toward the locker room while butterflies dance inside of me and I will my erection back into place.
I’m scheduled to meet up with Daryl, and it doesn’t take long for him to spread the word I’ve made up with Everly. By the time we’re wrapping up for the day, I’ve heard it all, from lewd jokes about getting whipped to congratulations on sealing the deal and finding “the one.” I laugh it off as a matter of course until I’m saying my goodbye to Coach.
“So, you got yourself a lucky girl, huh Ryder?” Coach asks. I’m checking my bag and glance up at the man, surprised. Normally Coach sticks to game matters.
“Ryder, come over here, would you?” Coach waves me over. “It wouldn’t happen to be that photographer working on the documentary, would it?”
I don’t like the direction this is going. Not once have I ever seen Coach ask anyone about the woman (or man) they are seeing, so I answer hesitantly.
“Yes, sir. Her name’s Everly.”
He nods his head thoughtfully as he flips through papers on his notepad.
“I like you, Jones. So, I’m going to tell you straight. You need to dump her, or you’ll be the reason she loses her job. For HR reasons, they can’t have anyone with a personal interest working on the project.” I stare in disbelief at him, horrified at the thought. What the hell? I just got her back! But Coach is still talking, and his next words ring in my ears for hours afterwards.
“If you care about her, you’ll do the right thing and cut her loose.”