Page 5 of Ryder

“Please don’t go,” I whisper, clinging to him.

He bends, and I almost think he’s going to kiss me. His head dips, and then he plants his lips on my forehead. “Take care of yourself.”

“No! Please Ryder, don’t go!”

“What the hell is going on here?” my dad’s voice booms from the door.

I look over and my eyes go wide. “Dad?”

“Uh, I was just leaving.” Ryder looks like a deer caught in headlights.

“You’re not going anywhere, young man!” he yells. “I think I can see exactly what’s goin’ on here.”

“Sir, it’s not like that,” Ryder starts but my dad holds a hand up to him to shut him up.

Mom appears in the doorway and gasps, her hands flying to her face. “Oh, my God!”

“Mom! Dad? It’s not like that. Ryder was just saying goodbye?—”

“Dressed like that? With your sister sleeping next door?” Dad’s hands are balled into fists. Is he going to hit Ryder?

I dive off the bed, and in a bid of desperation, I fling myself in front of Ryder. “He didn't do anything. I swear to God, he didn’t!”

“You don’t have to protect him.” Dad pokes a finger in his direction. “He’s always been trouble. Now you’re in my daughter's bedroom, half naked? While we were gone for one night?”

“I swear this isn’t what it looks like.” Ryder still isn’t going to tell them anything about what I did. This is how he is. He’s never going to throw me under the bus. “Nothing happened.”

“It’s my fault,” I cry. “I’m the one who made a pass at him, and Ryder rejected me. He respects me. He would never do anything!”

But my dad isn’t listening. His face is red and contorted as he directs his anger to Ryder. “You’ve always been a bad egg,” he spits. “But to creep into my innocent daughter’s room while we’re away? This is a new low, even for you.”

My mom starts crying.

“I didn't do anything!” Ryder spits, gritting his teeth. “I’m not a liar.”

“He’s telling the truth!” I cry. “Dad, stop it! I’m not a child!”

Dad turns his angry gaze to me. “Be quiet! Ryder, get the hell out of my house and never come back.”

“Gladly,” he mutters.

“No.” Tears stream down my face. “Please don’t go.”

Ryder doesn’t even look at me, but when my dad won’t move from the doorway, I know this is going to end badly. He swings and hits Ryder in the face. Ryder sees it coming. I know he had time to block, but he didn’t.

“Dad! Stop!” I cry, getting between them before he can swing again. Ryder doubles back, flinching as one hand reaches to his face. There’s a bruise already forming. My dad’s not Rocky Balboa, but a hit’s a hit.

“Robert!” my mom screams.

Ryder doesn’t fight back. He could. I’ve seen him wrestling. I know what he’s capable of. He’s strong. But he doesn’t do anything. He just hangs his head.

“Ryder!” I cling to his arm. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

Mom grabs me, pulling me to her chest. “Let him go, Crystal. Don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

Then my sister's bedroom door opens and she appears sleepy eyed at the doorway. “Mom, what’s going on?” She’s only eleven. Now I feel even worse than I did before and I want to scream.

“Go back to your room,” Mom tells her. “Now.”

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