4. Ryder #2
Slowly, she gets out of the chair and drops the robe covering her. Underneath is this season’s home game uniform, the teal one. Again, it’s so small, but she’s so small, and there’s so much skin showing. My fingers curl in and clench into tight fists.
“Where exactly are these photos going?” she asks as she walks over.
I desperately want to look away, but I can’t.
I was right. The shorts are tiny, they barely cover her ass up to her hip bones, and this top, it ties under her boobs and then looks like a sports bra.
If my tongue were permitted to wag out of my mouth, it would.
Instead, I can’t help but scowl at how much I hate this.
Fuck my life.
“The plan is to launch the two of you across our social platforms, then follow it up with expressway billboards, wrapping the sides of two dozen Hart transit buses, and placing a few outside the stadium.”
I swallow hard.
Basically, what they’re saying is I should plan on her invading all areas of my life. Wherever I turn, I’m going to see a picture of us together, a picture of her.
“We would also like you to share the campaign to your personal social media pages. We’re certain you will gain traction, and the behind-the-scenes images and interviews that the two of you will be given to post will elevate the excitement.”
I glance at Alice, and she’s frowning. Trust me, sweetheart, I second the sentiment. I’ve purged her from my life once. I never planned on bringing her back in again.
“All right. Let’s start with Alice standing in front of Ryder. The size difference between the two of you is fun, and we can do a lot of things with it. Ryder, put your hands on her shoulders.”
As she moves to stand in front of me, lavender and heat wafts my way.
It’s an instant shot to my limbic system and my libido, and I force myself to think about Sully’s sweaty clothes.
I should have known she’d be wearing this smell.
Does she not remember me once telling her it was my favorite smell in the whole world? Why would she want to keep wearing it?
My hands respond to the request, and I have to pull back a little to keep my fingertips off the top of her boobs.
Her skin is warm, and she’s just so small my hands wrap around a large area.
Once upon a time, this touch would have been easy and familiar.
My thumbs would have automatically pressed into her upper trapezius to relieve any tension she was carrying, but now I’m grateful for the gloves so we’re not skin to skin.
Gretchen looks between the two of us as a couple of people around us move into place. Her brows pull down, and she lets out a deep breath.
“I had been hoping that the tension between the two of you in the meeting was related to the campaign and not each other, but I can see I was wrong. It didn’t occur to us that the two of you weren’t friends anymore.
There were many years of pictures. None where you looked like you were dating, just friends.
The assumption was that the difference in schools is what led to the social media silence. ”
She stops talking and continues to stare at us. I feel like I’m being chastised even though I haven’t even done anything wrong, so I pull Alice a little closer to me. She follows my lead and takes a step back.
“Is this going to be a problem?” Gretchen waves her hand back and forth in front of us.
“No, ma’am,” I tell her, relaxing my stance so I don’t look stiff.
She looks at Alice. “No problem at all,” Alice reassures her, giving her the most dazzling smile.
“Great.” Gretchen claps her hands. “Then let’s have some fun, you two!” she declares as she walks back to the photographer.
How did she pick up on that? How did I let her pick up on it?
I thought I was doing an okay job doing what she’s asked me to do.
I haven’t said anything. I haven’t looked at Alice in any certain way, yet here I am feeling scolded in front of all these big corporate-positioned people for the organization.
Today is day four of the official season. Day four.
I glance down at Alice, and she’s shaking her hands out. Looks like her thought process is similar to mine, and she’s trying to show she’s more relaxed, too.
In the background, the music grows louder. Under me, Alice sighs like she’s been told there’s a three-hour wait at the DMV, and as for me, I don’t know what I am, but suddenly I’m not letting this moment pass by without getting a dig in or two.
“I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re here,” I tell her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she fires back, looking over her shoulder at me. “I have to be here.”
“Do you, though? Besides, I thought you quit cheerleading.”
“Why would I do that? I love cheerleading, always have. Ah, wait.” Her eyes light up. “I get it now. After all these years, you’re still thinking about me. Tsk. Tsk.” She shakes her head.
“Then again, you did say you’d like to cheer wherever I was.” I lean down a little closer and speak so only she can hear me. “You do know that stalking isn’t attractive, right?”
“Stalking. Attractive,” she sputters, shock and horror tripping across her face before it morphs into anger.
“You are such an arrogant asshole. Of course, you would still think after all these years that the world revolves around you. Well, news flash, you may think about me, but I don’t think about you.
I haven’t thought about you in years. You are no one to me, Ryder Monroe. Stalking.” She scoffs.
And with that, she turns around to face the camera and takes my soul with her.
But then again, she took it a long time ago.
Heat licks through my veins. I knew taunting her would be like stepping into a den of vipers, but what I didn’t realize is how much I would enjoy getting under her skin.
And I did. The pulse in her neck, which is up against my finger, is thumping erratically.
She can say whatever she wants, but she’s lying.
She did think about me, just like I thought about her.
Maybe these little marketing requirements won’t be terrible after all as a new plan begins to formulate.
Originally, I wanted to avoid her, but given the circumstances, now I can’t think of anything more satisfying than taunting her, poking the bear.
Behind her, I smirk and take a step closer so her back presses to my front. She tries to pull away, but I tighten my grip on her shoulders.
“Now, now. You wouldn’t want them to think you have a problem with me touching you, would you? I’m curious, did the Tarpons give you a dollar amount yet for your little nonprofit?”
She goes still. Deadly still. I glance down. Her lips are pressed into a flat line, whereas mine hitch up on one side. Yeah, I might not be able to talk to anyone about all this, but I can certainly make her more miserable than I am.
Let the games begin.