Page 67 of On the Beat

Don’t say goodbye

Not with that look

Not with those

Eyes

Chapter 31: Ryder Black

Paulo’s car backs out of the hospital parking spot with alarming speed and a reckless lack of care for anyone who might be walking around.

“Didn’t you swear a Hippocratic oath to do no harm? I think you backed over fifteen pedestrians in one move.”

“Calm down, no one is stupid enough to walk around here when there are cars backing out.”

“I think I heard screaming and bones cracking.”

“That must have been the sound of your fear.” He pulls onto the main road and speeds toward a yellow light.

“Wait, can we stop by your mom’s house first? Isla is there and I think she wants to go out for dinner too,” I say, drumming my fingers against the dashboard as Paulo guns the car, squeezing past the yellow light.

“You showed up at my workplace just to drag me to a dinner where I’ll be a third wheel?”

“…Yes.”

“Fine.” Paulo runs a hand through his hair, driving with one hand as we round a corner with a screech.

“You’re the best. Happy birthday, by the way.”

He sighs. “I hope you didn’t plan some crazy party like you did in college.”

“In college, we never planned a single party.”

“No, but one time you dragged me to every club in the city.”

“Poppy was dating a concert promoter or something and we had free entry to every club. Why not take advantage of it?”

“I did have a final exam the next morning.”

“You passed it. With flying colours.”

“Yes, and I showed up thirty seconds before the exam started because, thanks to you, I went to bed at three am and woke up at six.”

“You got into medical school, at least…”

“No thanks to you.”

“Well, I hope you wouldn’t thank me, I didn’t write the exam for you.”

“You know what I mean.” Paulo rolls his eyes as he slows down, finally, at a stoplight, and sighs. “What are your intentions with my cousin?”

“Eddie? I mean, I thought I was just babysitting him sometimes, but he told me he wants to learn the guitar, so I taught him a few songs—“

“No, not Eddie. You know I’m talking about Isla.” Paulo looks at me, his brown eyes sincere. “What are you doing with her? I don’t want to see anyone, not even you, one of my oldest friends, treat her badly. If you’re just in it for a fling or something, then you can leave right now.”

“Leave right now as in getting out of the car?” I try to joke, deflecting from the question. “We’re in the middle of traffic.”

“Is that the only thing you picked up from what I said?” He sighs again, honking his horn as the car in front of us doesn’t move long after the light has turned green.

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