Chapter 19
19
“So, what’s the deal with Ryder? Do you know why he acts as if he has the right to your place?” Joseph asked as we sat in front of the bonfire we lit up on the vacant land behind Ocean Mist, far away from any onlookers, after dinner. “The guy seems a bit territorial.”
“I have no clue. Thus far, I haven’t asked because I’m not interested in knowing. I dislike him enough as it is. I don’t want additional motives to despise him.”
Shivers ran through me.
“Avalon, are you cold?”
I rubbed my arms with my hands. “I’m tired, more than anything. I’m not used to doing this much exercise in a day. I predict soreness in my future. I’m usually more of a reading a book or hanging out with my friends kinda girl.”
“You were amazing. And I’d never lie to you. Some people can’t stand up in the water even after multiple lessons.”
I smiled. “I had the best teacher. All the credit isn’t mine.”
“Come here,” Joseph said, beckoning me with a finger. “Let me warm you up.”
I sat on his lap, and he wound his arms around me, making me feel cozy and protected.
I pushed my new wavy—thanks to the salty water—hair over my shoulder and angled myself to face him, my palm resting over his chest. “Thank you. For today. I had a great time.”
“Our day isn’t over.” Joseph’s fingertips drew circles over my thigh, waking up flutters deep down my core. His blue irises glimmered in the low light, filled with mischief.
I nibbled my bottom lip. “What do you have in mind?”
“Lots of things,” he teased.
“Then show me.”
His lips claimed mine in a languid kiss. I fastened my arms around his neck and lost myself in the feel of us.
“Can we just stay like this for the rest of the time?” I asked against his lips.
“Not going anywhere, Ava.”
He tugged my bottom lip between his teeth. A deep moan escaped me. I stretched my neck, loving how his lips caressed its flesh.
For endless minutes we kissed as if we had all the time in the world, our tongues dancing and our hands curious.
Breathless, we broke apart, and a satiated curl tilted my lips.
Joseph brushed my hair back. “Avalon, you’re beautiful.”
I felt my cheeks warming up and nestled deeper into his embrace.
For the next hour, with my head buried in his chest and his arms tight around me to keep me warm, we watched the dancing flames until there was nothing left but ashes. Our connection was impossible to deny. In Joseph’s arms, I felt secure.
“What are your plans after the summer?” I asked Joseph when he drove me home around ten.
“I’m enrolled at Stuart University. They have one of the best marine biology programs in the country. Since their campus is on the coast, I was able to join their surfing team. They said they were impressed with my skills, even though I’ve never entered the circuit before. It’s kinda exciting.”
“Wow, I’m proud of you.”
“What about you? Do you have any college in mind for next year?”
“I wanna apply to Philadelphia or Boston. They have great business programs. I haven’t decided, though. All the universities I’m interested in are located on the east side of the country. We’ll see.”
Joseph’s fingers intertwined with mine, and I relished the comfort the simple touch shot through me.
“You still have time. The internship at your uncle’s garage is a great opportunity to see if you like it.”
“Yep.” I paused and spoke the words I’d kept inside. “Being here this summer isn’t that bad so far.”
We exchanged lopsided smiles.
“I agree.”
Joseph parked in front of my house, just behind a tree, offering us a shadow of privacy. For the next ten minutes, we kissed some more.
Before things escalated, we both leaned back, breathless. “Listen,” he said, “I have a busy week, but let’s make plans for next weekend. After all, we have our first official date on Saturday night.”
“And my next surfing lesson.”
“Hell yes. You still wanna do it?”
I nodded. “I never thought it’d be the case, but I did like it. Blame it on the instructor. He’s kinda cute.”
“Don’t tell the other kids next week, but I have a favorite student.”
“Joseph Curry, am I the teacher’s pet?”
“Only you.”
He walked me to my door, my hand nestled in his.
“Goodnight, Avalon.”
He was almost six feet tall, and I had to move to the tips of my toes to kiss him one last time. “Night.”
The house was dark, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I walked to my room through the private entrance, my heart singing a happy symphony in my chest. I could hear the faint sound of the TV in the living room. A yawn passed my lips. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d been so tired. My muscles were strained, and I could tell tomorrow the soreness would spread everywhere. My mind went blank, and sleep overtook me the moment my head hit the pillow before I had time to shower.
On Sunday morning, my day started all wrong. And by that, I meant Ryder-Wrong. The noises of construction work pulled me out of my sleep too early. I finally had a day I could sleep in but ended up sitting at the kitchen table at seven, my hair disheveled and my night clothes wrinkled, begging my uncle to put the water back on.
Ryder had cut it off, just when I was about to shower, and I bet he did it on purpose. He must have heard me mumbling to myself that hot water would do my sore muscles good while he dismantled the kitchen sink when I went to get coffee. A fitting broke, and the main valve had to be shut until it got fixed.
I cursed under my breath while I sipped on my morning caffeine, wishing it would uplift my current mood. Aunt Melinda had left to pick up bagels from the store near the garage because her kitchen had been turned into a war zone by the man I considered a second father and his jackass of a helper.
“Where’s your smile, baby girl?” Ryder teased me in the mocking tone he always used with me, flashing his pearly whites at me. And I had the confirmation right there he was annoying me deliberately. Still half-asleep, I refused to fight with him, choosing to save my low levels of energy for something that mattered.
Instead of giving him the satisfaction by joining his stupid battles of wills, I rolled my eyes and folded one leg in front of me on the chair, resting my mug on my knee, avoiding any kind of interaction with him. Acting as if I hadn’t heard him or seen the winning expression taking over his features.
“Whatever,” I muttered.
Once we all ate breakfast, and unable to stand Ryder’s aggravating smirk, I returned to my room, plugged the buds into my ears, and decided taking a nap could help to reset my humor.
Around noon, I offered to go up to the store to exchange the plumbing part Uncle Mason had bought in a size too big, desperate to escape the house. And to finally be able to shower.
“Ryder, could you accompany Ava?” Aunt Melinda suggested.
I froze in my tracks, turned slowly, and blinked. My eyes pleaded with him to refuse. Yeah, begging Ryder was becoming second nature to me these days.
“You could grab bags of soil while you’re there. I wanna rearrange my flower beds.”
“I can do it. I’m strong enough to carry a bag or two by myself.” I lifted my arms as if to prove my words but stopped midway and grimaced. The pain straining my muscles due to the surfing lesson made it impossible to stretch fully.
“I’d prefer his going with you,” my aunt said. “You’re hurting. And I want at least half a dozen bags.”
“I’m not hurting.”
She arched her I-know-better brow.
“Okay. Maybe a little. But I assure you I can manage. I’ll do some stretching first. It’s not that bad.” Yes, it was, but I wouldn’t admit it. I had some pride left. Even the smallest movement brought moisture to my eyes, and I yawned to avoid her noticing it.
“Anyway, while you’re there, Ava, bring back the paint swatches for the cabinets,” Uncle Mason chimed in. “Melinda was thinking a shade of blue, and I was thinking more of a green sage hue. Choose the ones you prefer, and we’ll vote on it later.”
“Fine. We’re taking my truck, though. And I’m driving.”
Ryder snickered and lifted his hands in surrender. “Suit yourself.”
“I’ll send you a list,” my aunt added.
“Great.” Cursing under my breath, I grabbed my keys and phone and went to wait in my vehicle, not in the mood to watch Ryder’s smug expression any longer.
We drove in silence for a while. “Turn left at the next stop.” He pointed at the next intersection with a finger.
“I know my way to town.”
“I’ve been living here my whole life. Turn left.”
I stayed in the right lane. “My route is as good as yours.”
My favorite country song played on the radio, and I turned the volume high, debating whether to sing at the top of my lungs or not in front of Ryder.
Oh, yeah, he wasn’t here. If I ignored him, he didn’t exist, right?
I belted out the lyrics of the chorus when my uninvited passenger changed the station. Rock music now filled the cab of my truck.
I gritted my teeth. “Nooooo. Why did you do this? You can’t cut a chorus midway. I love that song.”
“Well, I don’t. I’m not a country music fan. Not even sorry.”
“How can you say that?” I asked, my eyes rounded, trying to keep my attention on the road. “Know what? I don’t care. My car, my music.” I fumbled with the station knobs, but Ryder stopped me with his hand.
Right now, I wished this old radio had an outlet to plug my phone in.
“Don’t even bother. No country whatsoever when I’m around.”
“Well, I didn’t invite you,” I argued. “You came along, nonetheless. Live with it.”
Every time I switched the station, he switched it back.
“Mind your own business,” I said, an unmistakable edge coloring my tone. “Or you can sit in the cargo box.” I indicated the truck bed with a thumb.
“Not a chance. I’m perfectly fine here.” He shifted in his seat and turned sideways until his back rested against the passenger door, his laser focus on me. “And the view is amazing.”
I squinted at him and growled, uncaring that I was being blatant about it. “You exasperate me.”
“You fascinate me. Your salty side is much more alluring than the sweet persona you show everyone else. Just wondering why you’re desperate to tame the fire burning in you that’s begging to be freed?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” I sighed, hoping he’d just shut up once and for all.
Instead, I felt his eyes fracturing the shell around me.
“What are you hiding?” he asked after a beat.
“Nothing.” My tone was clipped, not open to discussion.
“I call bullshit.”
Couldn’t he let go? “Think whatever you want. I refuse to talk to you.”
“You act like Miss Goody-Two-Shoes, but we both know it’s just a front. You’re full of spikes. When I get a raise out of you, deep down, it excites you. I can tell. Your eyes light up. Stop pretending otherwise.”
I kept driving, doing my best to keep my face neutral.
“Your secrets aren’t as hidden as you think they are. Just sayin’,” he said.
I yearned to park my truck, kill the engine, and bury his dead body by the side of the road.
My grip around the steering wheel tightened.
“My words affect you.” Ryder sounded happy about it. “You pretend you are some innocent girl when you are not. Your thoughts are not just about butterflies and puppies. Right now, you’re dreaming of murdering me because you want me to stop talking. You’re afraid I know too much. That I can tell how bad you are deep down.”
I swallowed, keeping my focus in front of me. Ryder wouldn’t get the satisfaction of knowing his words hit me. That yes, I was scared he could tell things about me I hadn’t said out loud.
“Stop projecting. And keep that mouth of yours shut,” I said through clenched teeth.
“See, you’re not as much a saint as you think you are, baby girl. That much is evident from where I’m standing. You enjoy the pain. And the mind games. No matter what you try to convince yourself of. You crave darkness. As much as I do. It makes you feel alive. It gives you fuel. And ambition. It’s a rush. When I fuck with you?—”
I gasped.
“I didn’t say when I fuck you… Is that what you wish for at night? My head between your thighs?”
I remained silent as a heat wave, that I’d never experienced before, pooled between my legs.
“What was I saying…? Oh yes, When I fuck with you, adrenaline shoots through you. You never try to leave. You always indulge, fight me with words. When you turn feisty, I can always tell when your pulse accelerates. And your breaths too. Unmistakable signs you’re aroused by it. On how many occasions have you dreamed of kissing me so I would shut up because our banter excited you? Come on, tell me I’m wrong.”
I fisted the steering wheel in a death grip. “You are. Everything you said is one big lie. I’m a good girl, and darkness is your middle name, not mine.”
His head tilted back, and a loud chuckle devoid of humor filled the silence. “Geez, girl. You are full of shit. Stop pretending the world is one giant rainbow.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. We’re not friends. And you know nothing about me. For once, just shut up. And stop interrupting my peace. Silence is a virtue where you’re concerned. By the way, you’re not irresistible. And the last thing I dream of is your mouth on mine. Ugh. From where I stand, it’s pretty obvious you are delirious.”
“Whoa. Keep lying to yourself. You’re doing a great job so far.” He snorted and switched the radio station. Again.
I cursed his name.
“See, this adrenaline rush when we butt heads, it’s liberating. Letting the wrath out is therapeutic, I swear.”
Surges of anger exploded inside me. I pressed my lips firmly, my molars about to fuse together under the pressure of my jaw. A tiny slice of me wondered if Ryder’s words could be true. Was I keeping my rage inside instead of expressing it? No, he couldn’t be right since he didn’t know me. I talked about my emotions nowadays. I was better at it too. My past struggles had nothing to do with anger, but grief. Nah, once again, Ryder was speaking nonsense.
Praying it would bury the voices in my head, I switched the station back to the country one, humming the song. I breathed easier. Music as my coping mechanism for stress usually worked great.
I relaxed my shoulders.
Until Ryder decided to play DJ once more.
“You think you know me, but you’re wrong. And if you believe riling me is the solution to all my problems, then you are even more delusional than I first thought.” Tired of our tug of war, I turned the radio off, my white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel proportional to the wrath simmering inside me.
We continued for about a mile when a loud thud under my truck startled me.
My pickup truck swerved to the right, and I failed to bring it back to the center of the road. “What’s happening?” I asked, panic filling my voice. “Oh God.”
A strong hand gripped the steering wheel and helped me drive my vehicle to the right shoulder of the road. Relief washed through me when the hand squeezed my trembling one in a comforting gesture.
“Relax, baby girl. It’s just a flat.” Ryder’s voice had never sounded reassuring—or even encouraging—before. It killed some of the tension that had been strangling us since we left the house. “Breathe, you’re safe.”
Once I shifted to park, Ryder let go of me, and for a blip of a second, I missed his touch and the security it provided me. Trying to ease my nerves, I ran a hand over my face, my overzealous heartbeat thundering in my chest.
I blew out a long breath, slipping my shaky hands under my thighs to calm the tremors.
Once a semblance of peace returned to my body, I fetched my phone to call my uncle.
“What are you doing?” Ryder asked, stealing the device from my hand before I could dial the number. Gone was the nice guy and back was the despicable jerk. “Calling your boyfriend, hoping he’s resourceful enough to rescue you? Good luck with that.”
“You gotta stop taking my phone. And for your information, I’m calling Uncle Mason. And don’t insult Joseph. You don’t even know him. Not that it’s any of your business. You should study his communication skills and interactions with other people, you could learn a lot.”
Ryder slid my phone into his back pocket as he opened the door and jumped out.
“For your information,” he repeated my words with a hint of arrogance, “I fixed this truck for you myself. I know it inside out. So yes, I’ll change the flat myself. Like a big boy. Happy, Your Majesty?”
I joined him on the side of the road and folded my arms over my chest and tipped my hip forward. “I’m not fucking royalty. Stop using this tone with me. It’s insulting. And looking at you, I’m not certain you know what to do.”
“Are you forgetting where I work?”
“Nah. But how can I be sure you’re competent for things other than oil changes? That’s all you’ve been assigned to since I got here. Oh, and wipers installations. Sorry, I forgot for a moment.”
His mouth popped open, but I kept going before he could add something. “Tell me, Riiidde. Are you too afraid it will bruise your big boy’s ego to ask for help? Those fingers of yours don’t look that skillful.”
He spun on his heels, neared me, and caged my body with his against the steel frame of my truck. I felt his harsh breath against my cheek. And the beating of my heart hastened. “Careful what you wish for, baby girl. If only you knew how these fingers can rip you apart and send you to heaven, you would shut those pouty lips of yours. Unless that’s your endgame.” His eyebrow shot to his hairline. “Finding out how much destruction and pleasure my digits can leave in their wake. Am I right?”
I sucked in a gulp of air that burned as it made its way to my lungs.
Ryder traced my lower lip with the pad of his thumb, and goosebumps blossomed all over my skin. My eyes were locked on his. The blaze burning in them aroused the part of me I wasn’t aware existed before now.
My entire being quivered under the intensity of his heated gaze.
I parted my lips, but no sound came out.
“That’s what I thought,” Ryder continued. “All bark and no spine. When you’re ready to play with the adults, let me know. Until then, let the grown-ups do their thing.”
Ryder moved away from me and peeled his T-shirt over his head in a motion so slow I couldn’t stop staring at him. Standing there like an idiot, I followed each ripple of his flesh, entranced by the sight of him. Golden skin, taut muscles, and a thin layer of sweat. It took me three attempts to be able to swallow, moisture disappearing from my mouth. While he gathered the jack from the bed and rolled the spare tire to the front of my truck, I still hadn’t stepped away from my spot against the passenger door.
“You gotta move. And pass me the lug wrench.”
I pulled myself together, straightened my posture, and adjusted my shirt, deciding to not let Ryder witness how bothered I was by his little act. Putting an exasperated frown over my features, I asked, “The lug what?”
He mumbled something and used the crook of his elbow to wipe the sweat forming along his hairline. I was hot too but couldn’t tell if it was due to the scorching hot sunrays above us or our interactions. My feet stayed glued to the ground as I took in every inch of him, now that he stood closer to me. His biceps, the planes of his abs, that dark hairline down his stomach.
“Lug wrench. Tire iron.” He sighed. “Never mind, I’ll grab it. If you can’t help, just let me do my thing.”
I started at the rudeness bleeding from his tone.
With a blink, I escaped the trance I was held under. “I’ll do it. I’m not some idiot. What does it look like?”
“Toolbox behind the seat. It’s shaped like a…fork. Or a chandelier. One arm on one side and three on the other. You can’t miss it. I put it there myself,” he said.
Rummaging through the steel box, I fetched the tool and handed it to him.
“What now?” I asked.
“Nothing. I’ll lift the car and change that flat. Stay back.”
“But—”
“No but. Babies are not allowed to come too close.”
I sighed. “Why are you still treating me like a child? I can help change a flat tire. I’m not some stupid girl.”
Ryder’s eyes met mine, and we eye-fucked each other. Some unspoken words, impossible to define, passed between us. If I weren’t careful, my clothes would melt just from the force of his stare when it traveled all over me, leaving more shivers behind.
No trace of friendliness was etched on his dark features. And still, it drew me in.
“I never said you were,” he said after a long minute.
“Your actions speak for themselves. You’re not fooling me.”
“Whatever,” he said and returned to his task, breaking the eye contact.
While Ryder was fixing the spare, I studied him, entranced by the ability and speed with which he did the job. And stupid me was now obsessed with his fingers. Images that shot through my mind the other night and his earlier words tried to invade my thoughts, but I blinked them away.
Wanting to play a part in repairing our case of misfortune and keeping my brain occupied to avoid a relapse, I rolled, or tried to roll, the flat tire toward the truck bed.
“Careful. Don’t hurt yourself,” Ryder warned as I bent my knees and used all my inner strength to pull it into my arms. “It’s too heavy. Leave it there.”
Clenching my teeth, I kept trying to lift it up. My limbs were still sore from the exertion of the previous day, but my pride wouldn’t let me appear weak in front of him.
“Gosh, you’re so stubborn. Leave. It. There.”
I ignored him the best I could. The sound of his voice couldn’t reach me. I shut him out completely and plodded on. There was a thud behind me, and soon two muscular arms removed the wheel from my grip and dropped it down.
“Hey, I was doing it.”
“No,” Ryder argued, aggravation clear in his voice, every muscle of his face taut. “You were not. All you were doing was hurting your back and getting dirty.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, I do.”
I must have lost my senses because the next thing I heard was “What if I like it dirty?” passing through my lips. In any other circumstances I would have turned neon red and run away, but facing Ryder, I relished how my words affected him.
His eyes widened. His jaw slackened. And he blinked. It lasted a millisecond, but long enough for me to witness it. And even after he schooled his expression, the sparks in his eyes were a telltale sign he heard me just right.
“Why do you feel like you gotta prove yourself to me?” he asked, choosing to not engage in my previous admission.
I rested my fists on my hips. “I don’t. In case you are clueless, I’m here and can help you. Tell me what to do.”
He shook his head, the devilish glints in his eyes causing me to curse my body for betraying me. “Not a good idea. You wouldn’t be able to take it.” A sly grin stretched his lips.
My pulse ricocheted. Our little game had turned far away from a flat tire.
“Says who?” I taunted. “Don’t be cocky. It’s usually an unmistakable sign you have nothing to be cocksure about.”
Ryder averted his eyes and shook his head, refusing to indulge me anymore. Every inch of him tensed. “Stop it. You’re out of your league with your little assumptions.”
I snorted. “Says who?”
He spoke through gritted teeth. “Enough. Stay out of my way, and don’t hurt yourself. I’m not doing it.”
“Why are you always like this?” I asked, balls of anger bouncing inside me, as I decided to try a new approach.
“Like what?” he barked.
“Mean to me. Annoyed by my presence.” I high-fived myself mentally for growing enough courage to demand an explanation for his behavior. Iris would be impressed by my new self-assurance.
Once again, we ended up in a staring contest, neither of us backing down, his eyes trapping mine.
“You speak nonsense,” he said.
“No, I don’t. You are rude. If today”—I motioned the air around us with a hand—“is your being nice to me, then what does not being nice look like? I agree you’re kind but only with Uncle Mason and Aunt Melinda and others at the garage. In fact, everyone else except for me. And Joseph.”
“Don’t get me started on that boyfriend of yours.”
I stepped forward. We now stood less than a foot apart. I spotted Ryder’s rapid pulse at the base of his throat. And the way his chest rose and fell quickly. “What does that even mean? He did nothing to you. And he’s not my boyfriend. You have no valid reason to hate him. He’s funny and charming. He enjoys my company and doesn’t make me feel like an incompetent fool all the time. Unlike you. He treats me well and respects me, makes sure I’m smiling when we’re together. Like I said, you could learn a lot from him.”
Mimicking my stance, Ryder stepped forward too, the back of his hands brushing mine and awakening shivers through me. “Glad to know he’s not just a total loser after all.”
“Oh, gosh, arrogant much? You make it hard for a girl to not want to strangle you,” I said.
“What is that supposed to mean? Enlighten me, baby girl.”
“Stop with the baby nickname. I hate it.”
Ryder let out a sarcastic laugh. “Well, it suits you, so deal with it. Up until now, you haven’t proved me wrong.”
“You’re impossible. I can’t believe I’m stuck on the side of the road with you. If karma did this to me for my past sins, well, consider my penance paid.” I turned away from him and spoke over my shoulder. “I’m walking back home. Good luck with your tire.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Ryder asked in a taunting tone. More murderous thoughts flashed through my mind. Strangulation. Shovel. Grave.
I flipped him the finger and kept walking further away, feeling great for not giving him too much power over me. Finally.
“It’s your truck, baby girl. Are you really trusting me with it?”
There. I knew at that instant Ryder and I would never be friends. And I was done trying to figure him out and giving him chances. It was a lost cause. No matter what force pulled us together, it was a waste of my time.
Halting my escape, I stopped, breathed through my nose, fisted my hands, and tilted my head back until I could stare at the flawless blue sky. “Why?” I screamed at no one in particular. “Why do I have to go through with this?” I stamped my foot on the ground twice. Kicked dust and pebbles. Stamped my foot again. After I inhaled another cleansing breath, that I prayed would help settle my nerves, I padded back toward my vehicle just as Ryder hauled the flat tire onto the truck bed like it weighed nothing and cleaned everything up.
He wiped his dirty hands on the rag cloth he’d picked up from the toolbox. Droplets of sweat descended between his shoulder blades, following the line of his spine. Even though I hated myself for it, I savored the way his body moved. How his muscles shifted when he worked. The intensity in his eyes when he was focused.
Stop it, I begged my brain. Just stop already. Ryder is the enemy.
Snapping out of it, I threw him his T-shirt. “Better get dressed. We’ve lost enough time as it is. Stop parading in front of me half-naked all the time. It’s just indecent.”
“A Thank you would have sufficed,” he said.
“And that too.” I paused for a second to put my anger on the back burner. “Thank you. I appreciate your changing the tire.”
“Anytime. You’re such a fun assistant. I couldn’t have done it without you. Your help was precious today.”
His teasing worked its magic through me. And even though I wanted to, staying mad at someone was something I hadn’t mastered well yet.
“Stop making it difficult for me to not hate you.”
“Then stop making it hard for me to not battle with you,” he replied.
“Whatever. Let’s run those errands. The sooner we’re done, the sooner we’re out of each other’s way.”
My eyes drifted once more in his direction, and I scanned the length of him.
Stop it, Ava. Enemy. Don’t give him power over you. Could my body get the message once and for all?
“You what?” Iris asked, bewilderment clear in her voice. “You watched him change a tire, all sweaty and hot, bantered with him, walked away, and flipped him the bird. Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?”
I sighed and lay on my bed and braced my phone with a rolled-up T-shirt. “He always brings out the worst in me. You should see him. And hear him. He thinks he rules the world and is better than everyone else. I can’t stand him. And to make matters worse, he’s decided to give my uncle a hand at renovating the kitchen, so now I not only see him every day at work, but also two nights a week at dinner, plus on the weekends too.”
“Go to your boyfriend. Pick up shifts at his family restaurant. It will keep you busy and away from Feather Lake,” Iris said.
I banged my head thrice on a pillow. “If I do, all I’ll accomplish this summer is work. And I like being home. Spending time with Uncle Mason and Aunt Melinda was the goal of coming here. I’ve missed them. It’s our chance to reconnect.”
“Sure, but there are things much less fun than making money. And also, you’d see that sexy boyfriend of yours all the time. Your life could be much duller.”
“Iris, Joseph isn’t my boyfriend.”
“Not yet. It’s a matter of time. Take my word for it. You two kissed more in two days than you and Lucas did in almost a year. You’re all smitten when you talk about him. I can tell he’s the real deal. Call him any name you want, but the next thing you know you’ll both have pet names for each other, and you’ll be spending the night at his place.”
I sprang into a sitting position. “Nobody said anything about sex. Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m so not there yet. Stripping to my bikini yesterday took all my courage.”
Iris shook her head at the screen. “By now, you should be aware I have witch’s powers. Or maybe I’m an expert at reading you, but I’ve sensed a change in you in the last week. I may be wrong, but I don’t think I am. You’ve grown a spine. And you’re more assertive. A, take my word for it. You and your not-yet-boyfriend will have a summer to remember together. He’ll rock your world. I’m so happy it’s happening to you. You deserve a great time.”
“Don’t make predictions about my life. It scares me when they turn out to be true. It’s disturbing,” I said with no real conviction in my voice.
“Well, when was the last time I was way out of line?” she asked.
“Never. And that’s what gives me the chills.” A zing traversed my body from my head to my toes confirming what I just said.
“I love you,” my best friend added. “Stop overthinking it. Unless it’s Angry Boy who makes your heart beat faster?”
I returned to the lying-on-my-front position and buried my head in the pillow. “No, we hate each other. Why would I want to be with him?” Liar, you touched yourself on Friday night, thinking it was Ryder. My brain didn’t need to remind me every day about that instant of weakness.
“Remove the sour expression off your face, A. I was joking. Be with Joseph. See where it takes you.”
I sighed. “Iris, what am I getting myself into?”
My journal entry tonight consisted of only four sentences.
Dear Diary
I think Ryder can see through me and know secrets nobody knows about, and it gives me more ammunition to hate him with a capital H.
And why does he always awaken the murderous side of me every time he opens his stupid mouth? I don’t care if he’s hot and mysterious, since the entire time we were together, all I wanted to do was to kill him with my bare hands.
Would it be considered self-defense if the motive was extreme aggravation?
Night,
Ava