Page 26 of More Than a Spark

“Hey, Milo. How are you?” Clanking sounded in the background.

“I’m good. What are you doing?” Maybe he hadn’t been lying about having things to do with his dad today? I stood up, then strode to the couch and fell into the corner of it, tucking my legs to my side.

“I’m helping my dad do a brake job on his truck before it gets hot as fuck outside.” He chuckled. “Say hi to my dad.”

“Hi, Dad.” My heart warmed. His dad was so cool.

“Hi, Milo,” his father said. “You should drop by sometime.”

With a smile spreading over my lips, I said, “Yeah, I will.” Maybe next weekend would work since I didn’t have a gig or probably a date with Archer.

“Anyways, let me go into the house really quick.” Footsteps clomped through the phone.

“You need to wash your hands?” I rolled a wrinkle in my sweats through my fingers. Ryder liked working with his hands. He’d always liked physical work, unlike me.

“Naw, I hadn’t gotten into it yet,” Ryder said. “Okay, I’m in my room with the door closed.”

“It’s that serious, huh?” My pulse picked up. Whatever he had to say, he didn’t want his dad hearing it.

He blew an exhale into the phone. “Listen, Milo, I’m sorry about last night.”

“No, it’s okay. You had things to do today.” I hung my head. I was an idiot, thinking he’d lied to me. “I’m sorry I got mad at you.”

“I…didn’t leave because I had things to do. I left because…” Rapping filtered through the phone. “Because I need to get some things straight in my head and I wasn’t feeling right.”

“You weren’t feeling right about what? Did something happen with Archer?” I straightened my spine, then glanced behind me at Cash, fixing his toast, then licking the butter knife. “If there’s something I should know about Archer, you should tell me right now.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s complicated and I want to be sure about things before we talk about it. My head is all messed up.” He choked out a huff, then in a soft, ragged voice, he asked, “Did you spend the night with Archer?”

I widened my eyes. “What? No, I didn’t.” I fisted the fold in my sweats.

“He’s really into you,” he said. “Why didn’t you go home with him? I thought that was the plan.”

“I-I didn’t feel like it. I was tired.” I knitted my brows. There was no way I could tell him the real reason. “I don’t know if things are going to work out with him.”

“Why? He’s a good guy, Milo.”

“I don’t know. I’m just not feeling it.” With Archer, but with Ryder? Yeah, I was feeling it. I tipped my head back for a second, thinking. “What’s going on with you? What did you tell Gabe?” Damn it, were we arguing again? How was this happening? Whatever this was, it better not ruin our friendship.

“Oh, uh, I needed some clarification, and he gave it to me.” He huffed. “Listen, turns out I’ll be spending most of the day with my dad and tomorrow I start the academy. Can we get together again on Friday? I think my head will be clearer and, and I’ll know what to say.”

Dropping my mouth open, I said, “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Ryder, you know you can talk to me.” Why was he talking to Gabe and not me? I was his best friend.

“Please, Milo. I have to be clear about what I have to say, and it needs to be said in person.” His voice cracked. “It’s important.”

Holy shit, was he getting emotional? My heart hurt for him. In a soft voice, I said, “Yeah, okay.” This week was going to be even slower than last week. All I’d think about was Ryder, even more than usual. “Let me know what time you’ll be done at the academy, and I’ll be here waiting for you.” I worried my lower lip.

“That sounds really good, actually,” he said. “Thank you for understanding. I know I’m being weird right now, but it’s for the best. Really.”

“I’m here for you, Ryder.” An ache crept through my chest. “See you Friday.”

“Yeah, see you and uh, love you, man.”

“Love you, too.” More than you’ll ever know. I ended the call and sighed.

“That didn’t sound good.” Cash plopped down next to me on the couch, his forehead wrinkling. “You okay?”

“I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s acting so weird and now he says he needs time to clear his head before we can talk about whatever this is.” I sank back into the couch, resting my head against the pillows and glaring at the ceiling. “Gabe knows. I’m going to beat it out of him when he comes home.”

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