Page 15 of Ryder

Out front, with Jett

The gray bubble appears, then disappears, and I can’t help but feel a little triumphant. That’ll teach him to ditch me for the second time. Or maybe it won’t. It could be a character flaw in Ryder that I never realized before.

I don’t even get up the steps and the clubhouse doors are thrust open. Ridiculously loud music sounds, then softens again once the doors close behind him.

His eyes bug out of his head. “Crys?”

“Hey, honey.” I wave at him. “Just hanging with my friend Jett over here.”

“She’s a pistol,” Jett laughs as Ryder shoves him in the arm.

My my, have the years been kind to him. He’s more solid than I remember. Muscly with broad shoulders, short, cropped hair and that fucking baby face that haunts my dreams. He’s the most attractive man I’ve ever seen, that hasn’t changed, but he’s rougher somehow. Sexier in ways I only dream about. I can just imagine all the fun he’s had in the five years he’s been gone, and who could blame a girl? He’s gorgeous.

“What the fuck are you doin’ here?”

“Uh, looking for you.” I check my watch with a little dramatic flair. “It’s still my birthday, Ryd. You didn’t say goodbye or save me a dance.”

Was that an eye roll? Still, it’s better than being kicked out. Then again, the look on his face isn’t one of being happy to see me. “I don’t dance.”

“Figured that when you left me in the club,” I mutter.

He glares at Jett. “I got it from here.”

Jett snorts. “You sure?”

“Fuck off.”

Jett waves his hands in the air, taking off back inside, his shoulders shaking as he disappears.

Ryder turns his glare back to me. “How’d you find me?” I pretend to seal my lips. He just sighs and mutters, “Bronco.”

“Can we call him Torin already?”

“No.”

“Fine. I’m here now, so why don’t you show me around?”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why? It looks inviting.” Of course I’m being sarcastic, and on cue, he narrows his eyes.

“I’m callin’ you a cab.”

“No!” I need to stall. I want to see Ryder in his environment. I don’t want to go back to my hotel room right now. Plus, it’s my night. I’m supposed to get all the things I want, at least until midnight. “Don’t. I just thought we could have a drink together, for old time’s sake.”

“We already had a drink.”

“So that’s it?” I can’t even stop the hurt sound in my voice. It’s natural when it comes to him. “You just kick me to the curb once again?”

“It’s not the kind of place a girl… woman like you should be, Sugar.”

As soon as he says it, my old nickname, it all comes flooding back. I may have been young, but I’ve always held a flame for him. I always will. Maybe I did come here with an agenda, I’m not gonna lie about it. Seeing him again was just too hard to passup. I ignore the thought that if he really wanted to see me again, he would’ve stayed, and plow on.

“Why not? Do you have mud wrestling pits and stripper poles in there or something?”

“You’re not gonna find out.”

“But—”

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