13. Ellie #2
“Ellie, it’s like every other typical stupid kid thing.
Boys are mean to girls they like. They push them in the mud and call them names because…
because they’re too stupid to figure out how to talk to a girl.
And by the time I finally figured it out, you well and truly hated me.
So, yeah, I never did get around to telling you that I liked you. ”
Again, nothing but a squeak left my lips.
“So, tell me why the fuck you ran out of there, and why the hell you’re crying.”
He walked inside and shut the door, staring at me, waiting for the words to leave my lips. But I was still stuck on the whole he liked me so he was mean to me thing.
“You liked me?”
He rolled his eyes and dragged me over to the couch, pushing me down in the fluffy cushions. “Yes, can we get past what a dick I was as a kid?”
“Sorry, but—but you were really mean to me.”
“I’m aware,” he sighed.
“No, I mean, really mean to me.”
“I know! I was a stupid kid, but yes, I liked you. I always thought you were really sweet and funny. And because I was a stupid boy, and I didn’t know how to tell you that I liked you, I started teasing you.
I thought you would catch on to the fact that I was talking to you more because I wanted to talk to you, and forget the part where I was being a complete dick. ”
I shook my head, still baffled by the whole thing. “That’s just insane.”
Sighing, he flopped back on my cushions, rubbing his hand over his face. “Like I said, I was a stupid kid.”
For some stupid reason, it did make me feel better. Even though those years were horrible for me, knowing it wasn’t because he thought I was completely disgusting somehow lightened my heart just a little.
He sat up, taking my hand in his, which surprised the hell out of me. “So, tell me what happened. Why are you crying?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
He nodded, grabbing the remote off the table. “Alright. I’ll just sit here until you tell me what’s going on.”
“What—but I have to go to sleep!”
He shrugged, leaning back as he turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. “I can wait.”
“All night?” I shrieked.
“Why not? It’s not like I have a job right now. I have nowhere special to go. Although I was considering heading back to New York, but now I’m curious.”
“About?”
“About what’s really going on.”
“Ryder…you haven’t been around for years. You can’t just walk in here and demand to know what’s going on.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s none of your business!”
“Everyone else knows,” he said, flipping through the channels. “Ooh, Lethal Weapon. I love this movie.”
I glanced at the TV, then back to him. “You’re just going to sit on my couch and watch Lethal Weapon.”
“Basically.”
“But…”
“Shh, the beginning is one of my favorite parts.”
Stunned, I wasn’t entirely sure what to do.
Getting to my feet, I headed to my bedroom, still trying to figure out what was happening.
I went to my bathroom and washed my face, removing the drips of dried mascara from my cheeks.
After applying moisturizer, I poked my head around the corner, surprised that he was still sitting on my couch.
“What the hell?” I muttered to myself.
I definitely did not want to discuss my less-than-stellar reputation with this man.
But I wasn’t sure how to get him out of here.
Earlier, when I’d almost let it slip what had really happened, had been a moment of weakness.
But just because he admitted that he liked me as a kid wasn’t a good enough reason to spill my guts to this man.
There weren’t many people I could trust in this town, and if I told him what happened, if I was vulnerable with him, and then he turned on me…
I just wasn’t sure I could take that kind of cruelty right now.
I poked my head out again, frowning at how he was so engrossed in the movie. “I’m going to bed.”
“Night,” he said, barely paying attention.
I frowned, walking into the living room in my pajamas. They were not girlie at all. Just some flannel pants and a t-shirt, but the way his eyes flicked to me, and then trailed over my body felt…
I had to be making it up in my head.
“You’re not staying here.”
He kicked his feet up on the table and grinned at me. “Pretty sure I am.”
“Well…I’m going to bed,” I said, frustrated by his refusal to leave.
“Sleep well.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, about to yell at him, but then I thought better of it. Fine, he could sit out here all night, and he’d get nothing for it. I’d go to bed and get a good night’s sleep, while he sat out here and didn’t.
“Lock up when you leave,” I grumbled, turning on my heel.
I slammed my bedroom door, then climbed under my covers and reached over, turning out the light. But as I laid in the dark, I realized how freaking hard it was to sleep with Ryder Lawson in my living room.
I rolled over and punched my pillow, blowing out a harsh breath. But as I laid there, a smile crept over my face.
I always thought you were really sweet and funny.
Sleep found me much easier than I expected as I repeated his words in my head.