Chapter 13
13
Ryder and I worked side by side without a word or a look in each other’s direction. The room buzzed with hostility. I was sure if someone were to light a match, the house would explode. Neither of us said anything for at least twenty minutes, and I’d never enjoyed silence as much as I did right now.
I was chopping celery for the rice when I started chuckling despite myself.
"What the fuck are you laughing at?” Ryder’s voice broke my train of thought. “What amuses you so much?”
With the knife, I diced a rib slowly.
“You hear that?” I chopped another one. “In slow motion, it sounds like tiny bones cracking. I’m just imagining they are yours, and it brings me great joy.”
He froze, then relaxed his muscles. Questions swirled in his eyes. “Are you sick or something?”
I waved the knife in my hand. “Nah, I’m just enjoying your imaginary suffering. See, I don’t need to insult you. All I gotta do is chop celery, and I get the same rush.”
“You sound like a fucking psycho.”
“Takes one to know one.”
That did the trick because he shut up and focused on his task without arguing. After I ordered him to slice mushrooms and chop shallots and garlic, I busied myself with preparing the chicken breasts, keeping my back to him the entire time, pretending he didn’t exist. At one point, the silence felt too heavy, so I scrolled through my phone, and music started playing on the wireless speaker mounted on the kitchen wall.
Better. I could now block Ryder’s brain from communicating with mine without my consent in case he had some special power I’d ignored for so long. Deep down, I feared he could read my mind even if I stayed mute. That seemed to be the case the first time we met by the lake.
Letting my hips sway to the rhythm of the music, I forgot all about my unwelcome guest. Aunt Melinda arrived at five forty-five, followed by Uncle Mason minutes later.
“Smells divine in here,” he said as he entered the kitchen and fished a beer from the refrigerator after kissing his wife. “I can see you make a great team when you put your differences aside.”
“What differences?” Aunt Melinda asked. “I thought you two got by just fine.”
“Let’s say I noticed some tension,” he continued. “The four of us are family, so keep your disagreements for when you’re out of here, okay?”
Ryder and I both nodded. “Fine,” we said at the same time.
“See? Super easy. Problem solved. Our house is Switzerland. Wanna argue? Don’t see eye to eye on something? I don’t care. Go outside. Hatch it out.”
The doorbell startled us all. “Go, Ava. I’ll take over,” Aunt Melinda said. She fixed my hair with her fingers before taking my place by the stove, removing the wooden spoon from my hand.
With each step toward the front door, my pulse spiked, and a thin layer of sweat lined my back. My throat felt parched, and I swept my tongue over my lips to remove the dryness and breathed out. I could do this.
I just hadn’t thought the next time Joseph and I met, we’d have an audience watching us. I ran a hand over my face, straightened my shirt, and opened the door.
Joseph’s familiar warm smile loosened the knots in my upper back. His presence comforted me. It chased the clouds Ryder’s presence brought my way. We barely knew each other, but I felt at ease around him.
“Hey Avalon,” he greeted me, pulling me into a one-arm hug and dropping a kiss on the side of my head, an arrangement of mixed pink flowers in his other hand. He looked really handsome wearing a pale yellow T-shirt with a distressed surfboard on the front and gray cargo shorts. His curly blond hair was disheveled, and I was dying to run a hand through the messy strands. “I missed you. It’s been too long.”
My lips curled into a smile at his words. This boy. How could he miss someone he only had met once? But still, it was so typical of his personality and refreshing that it didn’t surprise me.
We broke apart when someone cleared their throat behind me.
The sound dampened the excitement running through my bloodstream. Why did Ryder always have to ruin everything good whenever he was around? Like he couldn’t wait to screw with me and my life.
“Hi, I’m Joseph,” my friend said, extending his hand for a shake.
The latter stayed impassive for a beat, studying his profile before meeting his palm. “Ryder.”
Joseph’s eyebrows furrowed. “Oh, you’re the charming ice cream date.”
I cupped my mouth with a hand, muffling my giggles, the sarcasm in Joseph’s tone impossible to miss.
“Love the text messages you sent me, by the way,” Joseph continued. “Too bad I’m not into douchebags, or you and I would’ve been instant best friends.”
“You two know each other?” Uncle Mason asked as he joined us in the entryway. He looked at all of us.
“Long story,” I muttered.
He shook Joseph’s hand next.
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Nice to see you again, son. Please call me Mason. One fair warning and I’ll say it before witnesses. Don’t hurt Ava. Don’t think about doing it. Don’t try doing it. If you do, you deal with me. Understood?”
“Absolutely. And just so you know, it’s not my intention and never will be.”
“Glad we’re on the same page here. Come on in. I’ll introduce you to my wife.” My uncle’s hand landed on Joseph’s shoulder while he led him to the kitchen. “Want something to drink?”
As soon as they turned the corner, I faced Ryder, my fists going to my hips. “Don’t be your usual despicable self.”
He raised his hands. “Relax already. Don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m no monster. I just don’t like the guy.”
My hands flew to my sides. “You don’t even know him,” I said through clenched teeth.
“No need. I can sense these things. Be careful, Avalonnnn.”
My eyes turned into weapons. How many times could I cut him to shreds in my mind in a day?
I shook my head, not in the mood to even reply to his mockery, and spun around to return to the kitchen, the sound of laughter reeling me in.
“These flowers are beautiful, Joseph,” Aunt Melinda said, bringing the bouquet to her nose and taking a big whiff before arranging them in a vase. “You didn’t have to but thank you.”
Joseph winked at me and mouthed, Told you so.
I returned his grin.
“You guys take a walk or do something while I finish here,” my aunt said. “Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. Just be back by then.”
Outside, Joseph and I decided to tour the acre-sized property. There was a pond in the northwest corner I wanted to show him. It was peaceful there. And far enough from the one person I wanted to dismiss.
“I like your family,” Joseph said after we walked in silence for a minute, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “They’re welcoming. And they care about you a lot. It shows. You’re lucky to have them.”
“Thanks. They’re important to me,” I replied, toying with the bracelet around my wrist.
When I was little, we used to see each other all the time. I was obsessed with Aunt Melinda. She and Uncle Mason would take me everywhere with them. When they moved, we only saw them once or twice a year. After things got difficult, we lost touch, and I was glad we reconnected now. I didn’t feel like sharing snippets of my life even with Joseph. I had learned in the last few years that trust was something you cherished, not gave away easily. And after everything that went down in my life, I had a tough time confiding in people outside my close circle.
Joseph didn’t push me for more information. We remained silent until he asked, “Why is that jerk here again? Is he their son, or does he just enjoy messing with you on purpose?”
I exhaled. “Truth? I have no clue. They have some sort of long-lasting relationship I can’t explain. My aunt and uncle consider Ryder a son, but I have no idea why, though. He’s been nothing but a pain since I showed up here. He treats me like I’m a child and he’s what...two years older than I at the most. I have no clue what his deal is, but I’m doing much better when we’re not sharing the same air.” Speaking about Ryder somehow had loosened my tongue. I had to vent to someone since Iris wasn’t returning my calls these days.
“Well, I’m here now, so he better not monkey around you, or he’ll get a piece of my mind.”
“I can fend for myself. So far, he only barks but never bites. I think he’s trying to look tough when he’s not. Forget about him. He’s not worth our time. Anyway, he comes to dinner here twice a week. I didn’t remember about it when I invited you. I learned he’d be here about an hour ago myself.”
“How do you like Feather Lake so far?” Joseph asked after a beat.
“It’s growing on me.” I hadn’t been in Feather Lake long enough to make friends or go out and stuff, but I liked how folks were nice and chilled here. Especially the customers and the people I worked with.
“Think your aunt and uncle will let you come to Dusty’s tomorrow night? It’s a local hangout spot. Where we go to avoid tourists. When I was a kid, we vacationed at Medora Beach every summer. Two years ago, my dad traveled here. He met Amanda, they fell in love, and he moved here full-time. He bought a surfing school because he thought it was cool, and after Amanda and he married, they took over the beach restaurant that used to belong to her family. Surfing is something my father and I have always bonded over. Most of the friends I’ve made during my summer vacations still live here. Brody, Leslie, Carmen, Roni, Diego. They should be there tomorrow. Could be fun for you to have more than one friend in town. The girls are great. You’ll love them.”
“I’m sure they’ll agree to it. After all, wasn’t that why they invited you over tonight?”
Joseph shrugged. “I guess.” He fished out his phone from the pocket of his shorts. “We should go. Your aunt said fifteen minutes.” He looked around.
The pond was on our left, surrounded by thick woods, with a wooden bench on its bank with the word Celeste etched into the backrest. A clamp tightened around my heart at the sight of it.
“It’s beautiful here. And peaceful.” Joseph brought his attention back to me. “You okay, Avalon? You look pale.”
I shook the wave of discomfort away. “All fine.” Grabbing his hand, I motioned him forward. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”