Page 6 of I Did Before I Do

I wanted to take her for a spin. See if we could have a good time.

“So, who’s that?” I asked Kenzie. “I know her name’s Sydney, but—”

“No.” Kenzie shook her head. “Not this one, Ryker.”

“What? C’mon. I’m just asking you to put in a good word for me. Nothing serious.”

Kenzie’s hand shot out and she grabbed my arm. I forgot how strong she was sometimes. She didn’t work out, but Bakeology had given her muscles.

Bradley had to be proud of his kid sister.

But right now, it felt like she was trying to break my arm off. She pulled, and I had no choice but to follow.

“I need that arm, y’know. Gotta have my hands to work.”

“Oh, don’t be a baby.” Kenzie dragged me around the corner of the bar, off to the side. She turned, forcing me up against the wall.

“Didn’t think you were into me.” I grinned at her.

“Can it. I’m not here for jokes.” Kenzie looked serious.

It reminded me of all the times I’d seen her chew her brother out over women. Shit. I didn’t need her on my case for thinking her friend was hot.

“You listen to me, Ryker Hart,” she said sharply. “Sydney—”

“Is gorgeous and has an incredible ass.”

“Ryker!” Kenzie cut me off, her tone sharper.

I went silent.

She really wasn’t in the mood for jokes. Fine.

“Listen. It sounds like Sydney just got dumped. By her fiancé. She was supposed to be getting married this summer. The last thing she needs is somebody like you messing with her.”

“What? What do you mean, somebody like me?!”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Her blond ponytail bounced. “You know exactly what I mean. The way you treat women—”

I had to cut her off. “Kenzie, please. I’m a romantic at heart. You know that. Me and Bay, right? It was perfect.”

She frowned up at me. “Yeah. And since Bay left, you’ve been hooking up with every girl who’ll hop into bed with you.”

She didn’t have to put it like that.

I mean, nobody would ever measure up to Bay. That was just something I had to live with. I was sure I’d never love another girl the way I’d loved her. But there had to be a girl out there who would come kinda close.

And in the meantime, I’d just keep playing around. Having some fun. It kept me from dwelling on how much I missed Bay. And I was always honest with the girls I hooked up with; I was just theirs for a night, or maybe a weekend, and that was the end of it.

So, I scoffed. I wasn’t going to let Kenzie win this one. “C’mon. A girl gets out of a bad relationship, she needs something to make her feel good. I can make her feelsogood.” I grinned again. I’d pull out all my best tricks for a girl like that.

“Dammit, Ryker.” Kenzie stared up at me for a moment. “Look. Sydney is—she’s out of your league. Okay? She’s working on her career, and she’s trying to get over getting dumped by her fiancé. All right? So, don’t mess with her.”

Ouch.

Out of my league.

That was a low blow, even for Kenzie.

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