Chapter 27
27
Ryder folded his arms like he always did when we disagreed about something and offered me a sour look. “Explain.”
“No.”
“Why are you smiling? What’s so funny?” he asked with quirked eyebrows.
“As I said earlier, none of your business. Can’t you get a life of your own?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is. If you were nice, or at least decent, with me, I would be happy to tell you where I’ve been. But since neither applies to you, I won’t. We’re not friends. You reminded me multiple times already. I owe you nothing. Goodnight.”
I pivoted, but he clamped his fingers around my elbow.
“What now?” I huffed as Ryder studied me.
“What happened? You look…huh…you look different.”
I shook my head. “Stop thinking you know me. I’m happy, and happy people smile. You should try it sometimes. You may love it.”
“The fuck. You’re lying. When you do, your nose twitches.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Wanna bet?” he asked.
“Since you’re about to become a daddy in less than nine months, you should focus on that. Learn how to change a diaper.” I was aware bringing up Misty’s possible pregnancy was a cheap shot, but I couldn’t just shut up. If Ryder was allowed to rile me up, I was allowed to mess with him too. There were no rules in this fight of ours. And for once I possessed bits of information about him no one else did.
He snorted. “You wish. If Misty is pregnant, I can assure you it isn’t mine.”
“Keep telling yourself that lie. This explains why so many babies are being born without a daddy in the picture.”
From the look in Ryder’s eyes, I had touched, once again, a sensitive cord because he flinched.
I blinked, and my need to win our argument ebbed. “Sorry,” I murmured.
His composure came back, and he spoke through clenched teeth, his posture rigid. “Nobody is pregnant with my baby. End of discussion. And if someone was, for the record, I wouldn’t walk away from my responsibilities.”
We stood there, inches apart, and something in Ryder’s face soothed the agitated half of me. His proximity calmed the remnants of the battle that had raged in my core seconds ago. His fingers skimmed mine, and a warm feeling crept up my arms and spine.
Desperate to not show him the transformation happening inside me, I offered him a pointed look while folding my arms. “Can I go now? I’m exhausted, and I’m done fighting for the day.”
And also, I wanna relive my night over and over again until I can’t keep my eyelids open anymore. The segments that don’t involve you.
He murmured something I didn’t catch, turned on his heels, and stomped away.
Speechless, I watched his retreat. Hurrying into my room, I showered in a rush before slipping under the covers, ready to bring back the fantasy of the shivers that had invaded me earlier.
Alone with my memories, I closed my eyes, wishing images of my boyfriend would appear and play with my body, in the same manner he did tonight, till the morning.
When stormy emerald-green irises popped into my mind instead—threatening to mess up with my fantasies again—I squeezed my eyes shut and decided to forfeit the idea of sweet dreams tonight. In the middle of flipping to my side, counting sheep, and replaying my night in my head, I fell asleep.
When I got up around nine the next day, Ryder was nowhere to be seen. And all his shit was gone. For a fraction of a second, I even wondered if last night’s encounter had really occurred or if my mind had fabricated the entire thing. Because I was sick or suffering from an unknown ailment, my brain thought having sexual dreams about my nemesis was the way to go.
Sitting on the front porch swing, I video called Joseph the first chance I got.
“Hey you. I was wondering if you were already awake,” he said, his lips stretched and his eyes sparkling. He lay in the same hammock where we both had been resting the day before. “Slept well?”
I shook my head, feeling more self-conscious in the bright light of the day. “Not sure if I did. I was hot and bothered. I tossed and turned for a long time before I found a soothing position.”
“At least I’m not the only one who had a restless mind. And body. Glad to know my girlfriend and I were on the same page.”
“Say it again,” I asked, warmth heating my cheeks.
“What? Girlfriend?”
I nodded. “I love when you say it.”
“I’ll miss my girlfriend today. I wish it was tonight or tomorrow already so I could go to visit her.”
My body and my mind hummed, relishing the underlying happy notes in his voice when he said it.
“Wanna come over for dinner? I promise to kick you out before eight since you gotta wake up super early for surfing camp.”
“Your aunt and uncle will be back. You sure they won’t mind?”
I shook my head. “The other day, they said they wished to see more of you. What do you say?”
His face illuminated with glee. “Let me check if I’m required here, and I’ll text you later.”
“Awesome.”
We talked for over an hour. Until Joseph had to leave to give a hand at the restaurant.
“Have fun with your friend,” he said.
“I’ll do my best. Message me later when you know if you’re coming over.”
“I will.”
Our eyes fixated on each other through the small screen, neither of us brave enough to terminate the call.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” I said. “Only because you’ll be late if I don’t.”
“Not my fault. I kinda love watching you. That blush on your cheeks is adorable.”
“See you later,” I said, tugging my lip between my teeth as I ended the call. My heart cartwheeled in my chest. My body heated up with flashbacks of the previous night.
I was happy. Joseph made me happy.
Next, I called Iris. Because I had so much to tell her and couldn’t stay still for more than a minute without confiding in someone.
“Hey A, can I call you later? I’m working all day,” she said.
“Sure. A lot happened. So much to tell you. I’m busy all afternoon. Text me when you’re available tonight.”
“Cool. Have a great one.”
“You too.”
We hung up, and after I scrolled through my phone and smiled at the pictures Joseph and I had snapped last night, I returned to my room, ready to start my day. Through the ajar drawer of my bedside table, I spotted the teal and dark pink cover of my journal. I took it out and spread it open on my bed. I usually wrote at night, but right now, I really felt like confiding in my paper friend. So much stuff had happened in the last few days. I still had a hard time wrapping my head around all of it.
Dear Diary
This summer will probably be one to remember after all. When my parents cast me away, I thought they were screwing with my entire vacation, but now I’m thankful they did.
Sure, Ryder is still the biggest pain in my existence. But if I learned something over the last few days, it is that I somehow (don’t tell him or I’ll deny it, even under torture) need him in my life right now. I can’t explain it, but I have come to enjoy our banter. Because it starts a fire inside me, and I love how alive I feel. It forces me to assert myself, and I think that could be a good thing. Iris thinks he doesn’t have any friends. I wish he was nicer, and we’d get along. He doesn’t want to, so his loss, right? Anyway, enough talking about him. He’s still not worth my time.
Now the biggest news of all. Joseph asked me to be his girlfriend. Officially. I’ve never felt like that with a boy before. When we’re together, his contagious happiness spills on me, and I can’t stop smiling. Even when I don’t feel like it. It’s still brand new, but he makes my summer here so worth it. I can already predict I’ll be heartbroken when I move back home once my stay is over. We decided to not talk about it for now and see how it goes instead and enjoy our time together.
Yesterday, he took me out on a date, and the way he kissed and touched me, I couldn’t get enough. I just wanna keep experimenting with him. All the time. He makes me feel special, and when he looks at me, his blue eyes sparkle. I really think he could be the guy for me. I’ll keep you updated.
I gotta go because I’m spending the rest of the day with Tasha. She’s my best girlfriend in town, and we have so much in common. She’s funny and kind. And today we’re going to the mall.
In a few days, I’ll tell you all about it.
Have a great day