Page 12 of Forgotten Pieces

“I see you have met Easton’s sister, Tacoma,” Harper says.

“Well not officially.” She sticks her hand out and I try to be the charming southern girl I am and return her handshake.

“Harper is designing the house that Ryder and I bought out here.”

I nearly choke on my whiskey, not sure if I heard her correctly. “Excuse me?”

“I knew that Ryder grew up outside of Towson and lived in White Creek for a bit. When I came to this same farm a year ago, I knew that we needed to move here. We were hoping to live closer to Towson so we would be closer to Chattanooga, but we found some great property in White Creek. We just can’t wait to start a family here!” Shelley exclaims.

This time I do choke on my whiskey. I know Ryder, at least I did eight years ago. And I know he would never want to move back here, even less so to Towson. I glance in his direction and I see the detachment I saw in his face earlier. His mouth is in a tight line as he stares off past my shoulder.

“That’s so exciting,” I manage to say. I need to find an out as panic starts to set in. I look around and see Easton approaching and the tightness in my chest gets worse.

“Yo Tacoma, what are you doing talkin’ to my stupid cousin? He is such a bore.”

I sigh in relief as I hear Mac approach. He wraps an arm around me and starts to make small talk with Harper and Shelley. I make the mistake of looking at Ryder again except this time the detachment in his face is gone. I can see him gritting his teeth, his knuckles turning white as he clenches his hand into a fist. Then I look at his eyes and see him staring at the spot where Mac has his arm around me. Mac must notice too because he lets go of me.

“Well, y’all it’s been fun but Laney asked me to grab Tacoma and drag her onto the dance floor.”

I can’t even say goodbye as I let Mac pull me away. One final glance at Ryder and I know that whatever flame burned deep between us eight years ago didn’t go out. There are still crackling embers.

I make it to the dance floor and shake Mac off me. “Thanks for that.”

He looks at me quizzically. “I can’t tell if you are mad or glad I got you out of there.”

I shrug and grab an abandoned glass of wine off the nearest table. “I’m not sure either.”

“You shouldn’t talk to him,” Laney cuts in.

I turn and glare at her. She knows better than to try to control my life. “Easton saw y’all yellin’ at each other and was curious what was goin’ on. The last time you two were together it didn’t end well. Not to mention you were barely legal when you were datin’. And he is clearly engaged. Tacoma, this has trouble written all over it.”

I throw back the glass of wine. “Good thing I like trouble.”

I walk away from Laney in search of another abandoned drink because I clearly need to steer clear of the bar. I steal glances in that direction to see if Ryder is still there. He is. And he is looking right at me. I turn my back to him and find a tumbler of half-drunk whiskey on a table. At least I hope it’s whiskey.

I stumble between the tables trying to get as far away as possible. I see the moon reflecting on the pond and make my way over. There is a small pier off to the north side of the lake with a small fishing boat anchored next to it. I clumsily head to the pier and not so gracefully collapse on the edge. I sip my tumbler, which thankfully is whiskey, although I never drink it so don’t know why I am, then slide my shoes off and let my feet hang over the edge of the pier, skimming the top of the black water.

I never thought I would see Ryder again. I secretly hoped for the last eight years I would. But I never imagined our reunion to be like this. I always dreamed of the running hug after our eyes met across the room. A long and slow passionate kiss that makes everyone around us see fireworks too. For so long I thought we were soulmates, we were what others dreamed of having. Now I know soulmates don’t exist.

But there was something there between us tonight. I could feel it and I knew he would be lying if he said he didn’t feel it too. Like a string between us was pulled tight again. The trail you leave behind to find your way home. Some may think I am naïve that I could fall in love with someone seven years older than me at the age of eighteen. But we don’t choose who we fall in love with. And at eighteen I never planned to fall for Ryder Thompson.

Tonight, when I saw him, I didn’t know what to think. I was angry and sad and hopeful and lustful. I felt a million emotions go through me. I had no idea what I would say to him when I finally found the courage to talk to him. And unfortunately for both of us, it was after too many cocktails. I didn’t mean to implode on him, but the memories of us came flooding back the second I heard his deep voice. Memories better left forgotten.

I stare into my stolen drink, slowly tilting the glass allowing its contents to stir. I don’t know how long I sit there or why I’ve barely even sipped the drink when I feel a body sit down next to mine.

I glance over and see my brother, his hand holding out a martini to me. “Thought you might want this.”

“Thanks,” I mumble as I grab the dirty martini from him and set my tumbler down.

We both sit in silence. I sip my martini as he sips his beer.

“So,” he starts, “want to tell me what all that was about?”

I stare into the water and nonchalantly respond, “Hmm?”

I hear Easton sigh before he takes another sip from his beer.

“It was just a misunderstanding.”

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