Chapter 23
23
On Friday night, Aunt Melinda and Uncle Mason left around six. They had filled the refrigerator as if they were leaving for a month, hugged me countless times, and made me promise to reach out if I needed anything.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I will barely be here anyway.”
My aunt pulled me into her arms once more. “Be safe and responsible. We love you.”
I hugged her back. “I love you too. Have fun. You deserve the weekend off. Forget about me.”
“Have a great time with your friends.”
I waved at them from the front porch and returned inside to call Iris.
“Hey you,” she greeted me. “Alone?”
“Yep. Until Sunday late afternoon. I wish you could come over. I miss you so much right now.”
She sighed. “I wish I could come too. How are things with enemy number one?”
“Same. Enough talking about him. He’s not worth our time. What’s going on with that girlfriend of yours?”
“Tuscana invited me to spend time with her friends tomorrow. I can’t wait. I think it could be serious.”
“Did you tell your parents yet?”
“Nah. I have no idea how they’ll take any of this. They keep trying to match me with the son of one of my mom’s tennis friends. They have no idea who I am and who I like, and I’m not ready to have that talk.”
“Iris, you gotta tell them. You can’t just go behind their backs all summer. You’ll be miserable. Your parents are cool. They won’t react to your liking a girl. Perhaps they won’t approve of the age difference at first, but I’m sure if they meet her and see what you see, they might surprise you.”
I grabbed a slice of cake from the kitchen and walked to my room. Sitting on the bed, my back against the headboard, I locked my phone between my shoulder and ear while I indulged in the sugary treat.
“What if they don’t approve? What if they forbid me to see her? You’re my best friend, and you’re far away from here. I’ll be all alone. I’m not sure I’m willing to risk it.”
“Iris. Your parents want you to be happy. They love you. They didn’t even ground you the time you tagged the school wall because you didn’t agree with how the principal dealt with that kid being bullied. You do you. But think about it. It could be the begin?—”
The sound of the front door opening and closing startled me.
I raised one eyebrow, hoping I’d conjured the noise in my head.
“Iris,” I whispered. “Someone’s here.” My pulse sped up. A crippling feeling traversed my body and lodged in my stomach.
“What do you mean?” she whispered back.
“The door. Someone is in the house. I hear footsteps.”
“A, are you sure your family left already? Maybe they forgot something?”
“I’m sure.” I tried to even my breathing. “I even locked the door myself.”
“Do you have anything around you that you can use as a weapon?”
A flashback of the time I entered Ryder’s apartment with a wrench played in my mind, and I scanned the room, searching for something.
“No.” I paused and rummaged through a drawer. “Huh, found a pair of scissors. Think it could work? Never mind. I’ll check it out and call you back.”
“Nooo, stay on the line.”
“All right. I’m putting you in my back pocket. Stay quiet.”
Slowly, I tiptoed out of my bedroom, armed with the scissors, my heart leaping into my throat, its beats deafening me.
The chime of the TV being turned on stopped me in my tracks. Grabbing my phone, I murmured, “The person is watching TV. Can a home invader be that stupid?”
Iris whispered as if she were standing next to me. “Perhaps they’re using the noise to cancel theirs. It’s actually smart.”
“No, it’s not. I’m putting you back into my pocket. Be silent.”
Deciding to not let some stranger ruin my weekend, I inhaled a calming breath and padded forward, my back straight and my eyes alert.
In the living room, I dropped the weapon on the floor when I took in the silhouette slouched on the couch.
“You?” I accused, not hiding the quakes of anger slicing my voice. “Are you for real?”
“Hey baby girl. I thought you were asleep,” Ryder said with a shrug.
“It’s not even six-thirty. Are you being stupid on purpose? Or were you born lacking brain cells?” I fought the urge to scream. “What are you doing here?” I asked, about to roast him with the fire emanating from my eyes.
“House-sitting,” he replied, not even daring a look at me, surfing the channels.
“No. I’m house-sitting. Living here, remember?”
He shrugged again and opened a paper bag, retrieving a wrapped burger. “Want one?” He grabbed another sandwich from the bag and waved it in my direction.
“Leave. Now. I don’t want your food or your company. With me, bribing doesn’t work. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Too bad. I thought kids were easy to bribe. Anyway, not going anywhere. I always stay here when Mason and Melinda are away. It’s like a mini vacation for me too. I don’t care whether you’re here or not. I’m not going anywhere for the next two days.”
I balled and relaxed my fists, about to explode. My heart hammered in my chest. Fumes came out of my nostrils. Not really, but almost.
“No. I have plans, and you’re ruining them. Please. Just leave.” Why was I begging him again? I flinched, unimpressed with myself.
“Seems like you gained a roommate for the weekend, baby girl. Smile. It’s a better look on you.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “How would you know? You only obtain the pissed-at-you version of me every time.”
He shook his head, amusement dancing in his irises, but added nothing.
I was about to storm into my room when I remembered Iris in my pocket.
“Sorry. It’s that Ryder guy. Again,” I said through gritted teeth, my eyes fixed on him, so he could sense the intensity of my dislike toward him.
“Oh, believe me, I heard the conversation,” she said. “Want my opinion? It’s interesting. The explosive banter you two have.”
“Shut up. Nothing worth mentioning here,” I said.
“Your friend is curious about me?” Ryder asked without turning, a smile in his voice. Then a growl. “Is that useless boyfriend of yours coming to save you?”
I ignored him. “Iris, help me kick his ass out. Or I might be tempted to murder him. Please. I don’t want blood on my hands.”
“Not sure I want to. Your life is so fascinating this summer. Unless you tell me he’s a threat to you or you don’t feel safe around him.”
“I’m perfectly able to fend for myself. He’s just annoying. And in here uninvited.”
“I can hear you,” Ryder said around a mouthful. I wished I could shove the burger down his throat right now.
Now I was certain. Only Ryder Dickhead could trigger my anger. And that side of me I never knew existed before I met him.
I shut my eyes and returned to my friend still on the line. “Can I call you later? I need to deal with this. And by this, I mean the flea taking over the living room.”
“A, be nice to him. He might not have any other friends.”
“Whatever. I’ll text you later.”
“Wait. Do you have a picture of him? I wanna see whom you’re dealing with?”
Before Ryder could comprehend what I was doing, I snapped a photo of him and sent it to my best friend.
“I knew you were thinking about me at night. If you wanted a picture, you should have asked for one.”
I poked my tongue out and turned away from him.
“Oh, A. That is Ryder? Ohmyfreakinggod. No wonder you can’t stay away. Even his scowl is hot.”
“Shut up.”
“I’m zipping my mouth now. But girl, I’ll say this first. I wish I could be there to see how this whole thing, and I mean, your summer, unfolds. Joseph, the hot surfer, and Ryder, the mysterious?—"
“Bye. Love you. I’ll talk to you later.”
Her clear laughter filled the line. “Love you too.”
When I pivoted and faced him again, Ryder’s eyes traveled the length of me and fixed on my chest for a long—too long—second.
I gasped when I remembered I wasn’t wearing a bra. “Stop ogling me.” I crossed my arms to cover my breasts. “For the last time, what are you doing here? And no bullshit.”
“Settling myself in. Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, his eyes so dark it felt they would swallow me if I wasn’t being careful.
My nipples pebbled under his slow perusal of my body. I swallowed hard, trying to kill the sensations waking up inside me. Nobody had ever looked at me this way before. Almost like they wanted to eat me up alive.
When Joseph looked at me, my heart galloped in my chest. It made me feel beautiful. And giddy.
When Ryder stared at me, it felt as if he could see right into my soul, things I kept hidden from the rest of the world. As if he could learn every secret about me. Inside and out.
Heat swirled in my lower belly, and I hated every second of it because it made me long for something I shouldn’t want. My body felt alien to me as if it had betrayed me. I didn’t want it to react to Ryder. But it always did. Despite myself.
“You’re leaving,” I said. “Now.”
“No.” He licked his fingers clean, put the burger wrapper back in the bag, and crossed his arms over his torso, mimicking my stance. “When you came to town, I promised Mason I’d watch over you. That I’d keep you safe from any harm. That’s what I’m doing. Making sure you’re not afraid of the dark, here all by yourself.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. I can handle myself quite well. On my own. Go back to wherever you came from.”
He spread himself on the couch, kicked off his shoes, and folded one arm behind his head. “What are we watching? I’m happy to find a compromise between My Little Pony reruns and bloody zombies.”
Cursing under my breath, I turned off the TV. “Nothing. Going to my room. Suit yourself. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.”
“I’ll be here in the morning when you wake up, baby girl. If you’re afraid of the dark, feel free to not wake me up. I’m only camping here so you don’t set the house on fire. Or call the cops because you’re having nightmares. They can do nothing about the bad guys starring in your dreams, though.”
I blinked and ground my teeth. “Amazing. Once a jerk, always a jerk. Don’t come to my room.”
“Only in your dreams,” he said with a sarcastic, smooth-as-honey voice that I was dying to never hear again.
“I eat my eggs scrambled and my bacon crispy.”
“Noted,” Ryder said. He wiggled the second burger in my face. My stomach grumbled as if to prove a point. “Take it. It’s yours anyway. No pickles, extra mustard.”
My gaze snapped back to his. How did he know how I liked my burgers?
“Come on, stop being stubborn. You gotta eat.”
“I had cake earlier.”
He looked at me with an arched brow.
“Okay, fine. Gimme the damn thing. Happy now?”
“Looking out for you. Told ya.”
I spun on my heels to retreat to the safety of my room.
“You can stay here. I don’t bite.”
Shaking my head and replaying Iris’s words that he might not have many friends, which I doubted, I turned back and sat on a chair next to the couch. I had to be a sucker for idiots. Seriously, what was wrong with me?
I took a big bite, relishing the flavors hitting my tongue.
“Thanks,” I waved the half-eaten burger at him, “for the food.”
“You’re welcome.”
The chime of my phone broke the awkward silence we basked in.
Relief flooded my bloodstream when I noticed Tasha’s name flashing on the screen.
Tasha
Hey you. Any plans tonight?
I typed fast, excited at the idea I could go out and escape this weird predicament I found myself in with Ryder.
Me
No. What do you have in mind?
Ryder’s phone went off, and his answer was clipped. “No.” A pause. “I don’t think so.” A longer pause. “Not in the mood… Well, I’m busy tonight.”
I eyed him for an instant, wondering who was on the other end of the line. His eyes were dark and his jaw, tensed. Even his posture was guarded and closed all at once.
“Yeah, another time. Maybe. Bye.”
He hung up, and I returned my attention to my own device, hoping he didn’t notice my eavesdropping, and read Tasha’s next message.
Tasha
It’s last minute, but the Mackenzie brothers are throwing a party tonight. Are you in?
Me
What time?
Tasha
I’ll come to pick you up in twenty minutes.
Me
Perfect. Thanks for saving me from spending my night with You-Know-Who.
Tasha
Anytime, girl. See ya.
“You’re not going,” Ryder said, closing in on me. The temperature of the room soared around us.
“Too bad I didn’t ask for your permission.”
“Well, you should.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “I’m here to watch over you, and I say you’re not leaving this house tonight.” His fingers skimmed over mine, sending mixed signals to every cell of my body.
Something flashed in his eyes, and for an instant, I forgot what we were arguing about, stepping forward, unable to escape the pull.
My palm landed on his chest. Every pulse of his heart shook underneath my touch. Every breath he took caressed my nose. Right now, I didn’t wish to be anywhere else when he stared at me with such unconcealed heat.
Time idled.
“Are you going to lock me in here?” I asked.
“Should I? Or can you stay put for a night?”
I didn’t reply. Instead, I studied the flecks of gold around his pupils and the way his lips moved.
One of his hands cupped my face, his thumb brushing the apple of my cheek.
“Can you? Stay still?”
“Not sure,” I said.
“Let me convince you.” He dipped his head forward, and without thinking—my brain being a jelly mess—I rose to my tiptoes, our lips so close we breathed the same air.
My wits made a comeback just in time, and I blinked, jumping back. “What the hell. Don’t try to kiss me. We’re not friends, you and me. And I’m not kissing my enemies.”
Ryder rubbed his nape with one hand before expelling his anger on me. “Well, don’t try to seduce me. I already told you. You and I, not happening. Stay the fuck away. I was just testing you anyway. To see how far you were willing to go.”
Chills crept along my spine. And I recoiled. “I’m not a toy you can use when you’re bored. Leave me alone,” I barked. Moisture filled my eyes. Anger took over my humiliation. “You’re cruel. And mean. Maybe I was the one testing you. Why would I befriend someone as selfish as you?”
He remained silent.
“See, even you can’t come up with some logical explanation.”
“I didn’t mean… You should…” Ryder seemed to think otherwise because he retreated into his jackass persona, and a mask of fury covered his face. “It was about time you came to that conclusion yourself. I’m bad news for you. Doesn’t mean I’ll let you party all night without making sure you’re safe and sound.”
“Suit yourself. I’m done caring.”
He raised his arm, and my truck keys dangled in front of my face.
“Gimme those.”
“I’m afraid this isn’t going to happen. Under my watch, you’re not going out. Already told you that.”
“You’re impossible. You’re not the boss of me.”
“Technically, I’m the adult here.”
“Well, technically, I’m allowed to tell you to go fuck yourself. What’s happening here? You can’t tolerate me for more than two seconds, and now you want me to listen to your orders?” I shook my head. “Stop pretending we’re friends, and move out of my way. I have a spare in my room.”
He clutched my elbow before I could walk away. “I’m serious. Stay. Don’t go out. It’s late.”
“I’m going. I’m not your hostage.”
Ryder groaned. “If you go, then I’m going too.” He paused. “And I’m driving.”
“No. Tasha invited me. Not you.”
“Well, they invited me too.”
I could sense the blood draining from my face. “This is a fucking joke.”
I closed my bedroom door, and tears of frustration blinded me. I wiped them off while I sent a text message to my friend.
Me
I’ll meet you there. Ryder has decided to get involved.
Tasha
Should I worry?
Me
Nah. He’s a dickhead, but he’s harmless.
Tasha
Okay. If you change your mind, gimme a call.
It took me fifteen minutes to regain my composure and get ready before meeting Ryder in the living room.
“One word of advice,” I said. “Keep your crazy girlfriend away from me. I mean it.”
“I thought you like a good catfight.”
“Well, think again.”