Page 21 of The Heir

“Pretty well, if I do say so myself. I think I am feeling much better these days. You were right; time has helped.”

“I am so proud of you; I know how hard it must be for you. I miss them, too.” He moved his hand from my shoulders and took my hand. I expected to find the gesture sweet, but I wanted to pull away as soon as he took it, and that thought irritated me, and Shad’s face came into my mind. I pushed the thought away because it shocked me.

Where is Ryker’s warmth? Am I broken?

“So you and Shad? What is all that about?” I questioned, hoping he would be open with me like he always used to be. No matter what he said,he just hasn’t been the same since my parent’s death; he is different, just like I am different.Something had changed in him while I was dealing with my sorrow that summer. He wasn’t the same Ryker I remembered, and I wanted to know why. His face showed worry lines, and I wanted to smooth them out and make him smile. Was it something to do with Shad, something to do with me? Was it about my parents? I knew he loved them, too.

“I do not trust him,” he grunted.

“But, you are friends?”

“Yes, I mean, it was a long time ago, I guess.”

“It must have been when you went out of town or something; I don’t remember ever meeting him.”

“Uh, yeah—you remember that summer camp I went to once?” He let go of my hand and stood up, pacing back and forth on the porch.

“Oh, when you were like twelve?”

“Yeah, I met him there.”

“Oh, you don’t seem too thrilled with him.”

“He’s fine. I don’t like that he seems interested in you, though, and I don’t think he is right for you, Em.”

“Isn’t right for me?” My body shook with an unfamiliar anger. Ryker had no right to tell me who to like. I was furious. “What does that mean? And I am sorry, Ry, but you cannot tell me that when I actually, really like someone.”

His body tensed. He stopped pacing to look at me. “You like him? How? You just met him.”

“I mean, I met him when he first moved in this summer, and he came into the flower shop once. We talked a bit, and then, just now on the phone—”

He groaned, “Emma, you have got to be kidding me. Have I literally taught you nothing?”

“Ry, what are you talking about?”

“Emma, he is—he is—” he shook his head and stood still as if coming to some conclusion. “Guys like him, Em, they just want one thing.” He lifted his brows, and my face flushed.

“Ry, not that again, please, seriously. I am not in danger of that happening, and if I was, my mom gave me the birds-and-the-bees talk long ago,” I said, waving at him to drop it.

“I really did not need to know that,” he mumbled.

“You brought it up, and why do you always think that is all guys want?” I remember wanting to date a few times in my life, and that had always been his reaction.

“I am a guy!” he yelled, spinning around to look at me, anger on his face. “I know because I am a guy, and I know what guys think, Emma!” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“Sheesh, Ryker, it’s not like I am going to do that—with—him. I mean, ugh, I cannot believe we are having this conversation. I am not interested in doingthat.”

“Yeah, right, Em, maybe not you—but he—”

I covered his mouth with my hand. “Don’t you even go there right now.” My face must have been bright red because his eyes softened, and I knew he would take pity on me. I moved my hand.

“Okay, I won’t mention it again, but you need tonotforget it.” He pointed a finger at me.

“I think he is different.” I stood up and walked away a few feet.

“How do you know, huh?”

I turned around to look at him. “Seriously, Ry, he isn't like that. There is just something about him.”

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