Page 57 of Forgotten Pieces

I’m about to tell her she’s right when my phone vibrates with a text. I pull my phone from my ear and check my messages. And the last thing I should hope for is screaming at me in writing.

Ryder: Seven for a secret.

I put the phone back up to my ear. “I need to go Cam.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Just got called in to work the morning shift so I need to get ready.”

“Okay, T. I miss you. Please call me. And please stay away from Ryder. He isn’t good for your wellbeing.”

“Noted.”

“Tacoma, I mean it,” she says sympathetically into the phone.

“I know, Cameron. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too,” I answer and hang up the phone.

I don’t want to lie to my best friend. She knows me better than anyone, even better than Laney. But my need to spend time with Ryder overrules her. I know I’m an idiot as I send a text back.

Tacoma: Want to meet in thirty?

It only takes a few seconds for him to respond.

Ryder: I’m already on my way.

* * *

What am I doing?

I’ve asked myself that question thirty times on the ten-minute drive over to the lake. That’s after I spent twenty minutes running around the house trying to look cute. I changed my outfit six times before settling on an oversized NYU shirt and a pair of ripped shorts. I managed to put on a little bit of makeup after my hair decided the humidity was not its friend today and I threw it on top of my head.

I look in the rearview mirror one last time before I jump out of my car and walk the short path to the lake. We usually never come here at this time because there are too many people around. Our rendezvous were always a secret and mid-morning is not secretive at all.

As I approach the lake, I see there are only a few families here. The threat of rain later in the day scaring them off. Ryder is standing near the edge of the lake, his feet in the water. I’m quiet as I approach. I see a despondency in his eyes as he watches the small waves flow over his feet and back into the water. I’ve never seen him look so lost before. And I have seen him hit many lows.

I clear my throat to catch his attention. His eyes meet mine and I throw away all thoughts of control. I forget everything Cameron warned me about earlier. I take the few steps to him and wrap my arms around his torso. His arms wrap around my upper back, his head falling to my shoulder. He shudders against my body and I know he’s crying. This grown man, a decorated special ops Marine is crying on my shoulder.

I look around to make sure no one is paying attention. He must sense my hesitation because he pulls away.

“I’m sorry. I should have known better than to touch you in public.”

I grab his hand. “It’s not like it was eight years ago.” I look around the lake making sure no one is paying attention to us. “But I don’t want rumors about us being spread. I don’t want your fiancée to get the wrong idea.”

A darkness clouds his nearly black eyes and I feel bad for bringing her up.

“No one knows us yet.”

“Yeah, but they know me. And I don’t have the best reputation. Let’s walk down the trail. We can find somewhere in the woods to talk.” I don’t let him agree as I pull him behind me into the woods. We walk down a wooded path before I find a small outcropping of trees fifty feet off the trail. I lead us toward it and find a tree stump to sit on.

“Spill,” I tell him.

He paces in front of me, struggling to get the words out. He grips his neck then runs his hands through his thick beard. “I told you Shelley got a promotion.”

I nod.

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