Chapter 7
Elara
R yder saying that to me made my brain completely short circuit. "You truly are an enigma and I can't figure you out for the life of me." Excuse me while I reboot. I’m not an open book by any means, but him saying that made me realize he’s trying to open that book. I honestly thought that he just had a cocky and flirty personality. But maybe I read him all wrong. Wait, what? This man really did short circuit my brain. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough to read him before, but now that I am, I realize I can’t and I made an incorrect assumption.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, letting him in; at least a little. But is this too soon? I wasn’t expecting to get along with him, honestly. Although, I wouldn’t mind branching out, having friends. But do I want to do that with Ryder? Do I want more than that? I’ve known him for less than a week. Then again, my words about him not dying on me came out of my mouth before I really thought about whether I should say them to begin with.
Not to mention the fact that letting people in has never been a simple task for me. I was never good at friends, let alone relationships. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been in relationships before. Well, one relationship. It just didn’t pan out in the long run, no hard feelings, no bad blood. But that was in college, 6 years ago. I’ve had some one-night stands here and there but nothing more since and I’ve been fine with that. I have my career and that’s been enough for me.
Until now, I guess. I didn’t realize how dull that part of my life has been until he looked at me with those eyes. Those big, chestnut eyes that could quite literally turn me to mush while he stares into my soul. I meant what I said about not hating having him around. That’s just the most I can admit out loud at the moment. Or to myself, rather.
I have no clue what to do in this situation, so my dumbass goes with the first thing that comes to mind. Make an excuse and book it. I did tell him I was going to run to the store after patching him up to get some pain meds, so I’m hoping I don’t seem like I want to leave. I just don’t know how to approach this.
“I, um, I’m going to go to the drugstore down the street. Do you want anything besides the meds?” I ask, grabbing my phone, wallet, and keys. “No… I think I’m okay. Thank you.” I can hear the shift in his voice. It’s quieter; less confident. I don’t want him to think I’m ignoring what he said. “When I come back, we can order pizza.” I offer with a slight smile as a bigger one grows across his face. “Sounds good. I’ll check online and see what’s around.” I smile and nod as I walk out and just before the door closes, I tease him. “I’m getting nose strips too!”
When I get to the store, I grab the pain medication first, along with some more bandages and gauze, for when I clean his wound again. Hopefully, it didn’t cause too much damage, since he waited so damn long to say anything about it. I walk to the other side of the store and grab a few snacks. Investigating a case doesn’t leave much room for going out to eat or anything else, so I like to have the room stocked when I can’t figure something out and need something else to concentrate on. I picked an array of different things, not knowing what Ryder likes. Out of the ten different snacks I picked, hopefully he likes something.
Once I checked out and drove back to the hotel, I walked into the room to find Ryder on the couch. “You should’ve stayed on the bed. I was going to take the couch tonight. You can’t move around so much.” I say, putting the bags down. “I told you, this is an insult to couches and I’m not making you sleep on it.” He throws a pillow behind his head and leans against the wall, putting his foot on the table. “You’re not making me do anything. And I told you, I’ve slept in more uncomfortable positions.” I pause. “Please, just humor me and take the bed, at least for tonight.” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “You’re not going to let up, are you?” I extend my arm to help him stand. “Not until you get on the bed.”
He groans as he takes my hand and I help him to the bedside. “Thank you. Were you able to find painkillers?” He asks, shifting on the bed. I sift through the bags, trying to find the right one and take out the medicine and a water bottle before handing it over to him. “Hopefully, these will help.” He pops two pills into his mouth and chugs the water. “Find any good pizza places while I was out?” I ask, emptying the other bags.
“Yeah, I found one that delivers. What do you like?” He asks, taking out his phone. “I’m good with whatever.” I reply as he dials. “Hi, could I get two large pizzas, one meat and one half cheese, half pepperoni, please?” I turn to him, wide-eyed, because who the hell is going to eat all that? He gives the person on the phone the address and payment info before he hangs up. “You do know there’s only two of us, right?” I ask sarcastically. “Eh, we can have leftovers. We have that oven. Might as well put it to use while we’re here.” He responds, motioning towards the kitchenette.
?? ?
Two hours later and we’re halfway through both pizzas and have drank four beers between the two of us. I think we both needed a break after today. No one is expecting answers from us right away because of the way this has escalated and we aren’t the only ones investigating now, anyway. The newly added player made sure of that. I plan on calling Holloway in the morning. I just don’t want to have to be the one to tell him his friend and partner is dead. That part is definitely my least favorite of this job.
A chill night in is just what I need. What we both need honestly. Ryder is staying put like I told him to, thankfully. I’ll have to re-clean around his stitches again in a few hours, maybe less.
Since the pizza came, we’ve just been enjoying each other’s company and I have to admit, it’s kind of nice. I can’t remember the last time I just hung out with someone. I know I told him that we wouldn’t be working together long, not five minutes after we met, but I wouldn’t mind working with him more. Unless, of course, I once again read the situation wrong and he asks for reassignment the moment we get back. Fuck, I hate my anxious thoughts.
“Okay, I’ve got one. Weirdest case you've done?” Ryder asks. I hesitate for a moment, trying to think of a good one. “I won’t spill names, but there was a certain member of congress who forced the FBI to look into…” I pause for dramatic effect. “The Loch Ness monster.” He stares at me, trying to figure out if I’m screwing with him. “Was this man on drugs?” He replies, laughing. “I wouldn’t be surprised. He said he was on vacation at a lake house when he saw it and insisted it was a matter of national security because it meant that aliens existed.” We are both laughing so hard our stomachs hurt at this point. “The Loch Ness monster isn’t an alien!” Ryder shouts. “That’s what I told Hartwell! He made me promise not to say that outside his office.” Tears stream down my face as I struggle to take a full breath from laughing so much.
We finally stop laughing and it’s my turn to ask a question. “Why did you join the FBI?” He thinks for a moment. “I wanted to be in the action again.” He takes a sip of water. No more beers for us tonight. “What did you do before?” I ask. “I was in the military. Special OPs. I was honorably discharged.” He pauses. “I saved so many people. They said I needed to leave so the other people could have a turn at glory.” He grins for a moment before snorting, and I roll my eyes. “Your cocky side is back. You’re definitely feeling better.” I say, leaning over to check his bandage. “Thanks to you, Doctor Cassidy .” He exaggerates.
“Yeah, yeah. Well, it was either that or get some cardio in, dragging your ass to the alley behind the hotel. I wasn’t really in the mood for a workout, though.” I smile sweetly. He puts his hand over his heart and gasps, acting offended. “I debated it. I don’t know if I can handle your snoring another night if those nose strips don’t work.” I say, trying to be serious. “I do not snore! You’re hearing things.” He argues.
I take out my phone and play him the recording I made, just to prove him wrong if he got defensive. At least I read him right in that context . “Not me. You got that off YouTube or something.” I shake my head and laugh. “You keep telling yourself that.” He blows a raspberry in my direction and I return with the same.
“Okay, your turn.” I remind him and he thinks for a moment. “Why did you join the FBI?” He inquires. “Do you want the answer I give everyone, or the full answer?” I ask, resting my chin on my palm. “Well, if you’re offering; the full answer.” He replies. “My dad was in the FBI and my mom was in congress. I never saw myself being someone in the government, but I still wanted to do something that could help people.” Ryder’s eyes don’t leave mine as he listens earnestly. “So, I followed in my dad’s footsteps and joined the bureau. He retired the same year I joined.”
“So you grew up in this environment? Well, not the murder part… I hope .” He laughs. “But the governmental environment.” I take a bite of my pizza, nodding.
“I was not surrounded by the murder parts, that’s for sure. I’m not sure I would consider being in that environment, though. My parents always tried their best to shield me from that, to an extent. Basically, need-to-know, basic stuff. They made sure I could still be a kid. Knocking my instructor on her ass during self-defense training was fun, though.” I chuckle. “I would have paid to see that.” Ryder states, smirking.