Page 76 of Myself

her. Maybe it’s not what you think.”

“Oh, I know exactly what it was.”

I hate to see him like this. I hated seeing Ashlyn the same way. How can two people in love get so lost? “Ryder, I—”

“I need a new drink,” he states, interrupting me again, and stands from the booth. I sit back and look down at my phone, wondering what to do. I can’t tell him what I know. I refuse to jeopardize my relationship with Becca because he wants to be stubborn.

I throw back a drink and realize I’m empty as well. I get up from the table and make my way to the bar. Ryder stands there, taking a drink from a now full glass, and I slam it down beside it.

“Another?” he asks.

I nod. “Why not? Not like I’m in a hurry to get home.”

He takes another sip and turns around, placing his back against the bar. I watch as his eyes look over all the half-naked woman laughing and dancing. “You should call her,” I say.

He snorts then lifts his drink for another gulp. “It’s not that easy.”

“You’re making it difficult,” I grind out. I wanna yell at him that Bradley isn’t going to give up. That he needs to up his game and fight for her. That he has already won because he left too, but I don’t. I can’t.

He snorts. “Since when did you become an expert on relationships? I’m pretty sure you threw away the only one you ever had,” he says, referring to Jasmine, and then walks off into the crowd.

I follow him, knowing that tonight might be one of those nights when you get into a fight with your best friend.

Drink in hand, I come to a stop when I find him on the dance floor, grinding with a woman. He has both hands up in the air, one still holding his new drink. She has her back to him; her ass shoved into his front. She looks like your typical bar slut. Her ass cheeks hang out of her short black leather skirt that is paired with a yellow tube top and black heels. Her jet black hair is down and wet from sweat.

I shake my head, trying to think of how to get him away from her and back to our corner booth. I’m not gonna force him to leave, but I will make sure he doesn’t do anything he’ll regret come tomorrow.

She spins around and grabs his free hand. She walks off, dragging him toward the hallway, and I know exactly where they are going. I take off after them and come up to them before they reach the bathroom. I grab his arm that holds his drink and yank him backward, the liquor spilling out over the sides and onto the floor.

“Jayyycennnt ...?” He slurs my name as he gives me a crooked smile.

“We’re going home,” I tell him.

“Not yet,” the woman says, trying to pull him away from me.

“We are,” I say sternly.

“In a minute,” he says, turning to face her.

I yank on his hand hard enough to break their connection, and he stumbles into me. “Yes, we are,” I growl.

He drops his drink, the glass shattering, and then he shoves me. “Fuck off, Jaycent.”

I grind my teeth. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid, but now, it’s staring me in the face. “I’m not leaving this bar without you.”

He rolls his shoulders as if they’re tense. “Then you’re going to be here a little longer,” he snaps.

I look at the woman and then back at him. “You don’t want to do this,” I say, trying a different approach.

“You don’t know what I want,” he growls.

“She’s not her.” I look over her half-naked body and smeared makeup.

“Excuse me?” she snaps. I ignore her, giving him my attention once again.

“She’s not Ashlyn, Ryder. Don’t ruin what you have with her over this woman.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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