Page 52 of Resist

“I love you too.” I sigh as he kisses me softly until there’s a crash.

We both turn to see a smashed plant pot, Dash holding the tree that was in it, his wide eyes visible through the foliage. Strike is at his side, and it’s very clear they were eavesdropping.

“I guess you have a family now. We are just a bit insane,” I comment, a smile tilting my lips.

I still hate that I met his ex, but it isn’t his fault. It’s my own issue, not his.

“I do, and I’ve never been happier. I wish I had all of you back then, but now will do.” He kisses my head again. “Don’t let him ruin our night. Let’s go watch movies with those two dumbasses, and then I’ll make it up to you all night.”

Desire floods me, and I crane my head back, a flirty smile curving my lips. “You better.”

“It’s a deal,” he says as he kisses me, chasing away all those petty, insecure feelings.

Nothing has changed between us, and that makes me feel safe.

TWENTY-THREE

He sleeps like a baby, his face so happy and open in slumber. It’s turned toward me, and his legs and arms are tangled with mine as if he’s worried I’ll disappear. Ever since the night we confessed our love to each other, we haven’t spent time apart. It’s like old times, only better because now there is nothing else lying between us, just the truth.

Ryker is mine, and I’ve never been happier. It’s everything I wanted, yet seeing Theo brought back a whole lot of shit.

I guess it’s never nice seeing an ex you ended on bad terms with, but when someone broke your heart so badly? Yeah, it wasn’t just a shock. It was horrible to see him again. He smiled at me like he had any right—never mind that he wanted to talk to me about being back in my life.

As if he had any right.

He was my entire world, and I would have done anything for him. He ruined it. He destroyed what we had, and now he wants to come back? Not a fucking chance. The worst is how insecure it made Ryker. I’ve never seen him like that, and I hated it.

I’ve moved on, and I’m happy. I love Ryker, my friends, and my job, so why is he back now, of all times? It’s like he senses my happiness and wants to ruin it.

He’s the reason I find it so hard to trust, why I almost gave up on my dreams. I wasn’t enough for him, didn’t have enough money, power, or connections. Glancing down at Ryker, I wonder if he would still want me if I wasn’t this . . . rock god, as they call me, but then I remember he did. He wanted me when we had nothing, when we were crowded in a van, barely scraping by. It didn’t matter to him. All that mattered was who I was and what I wanted.

We both shared the same dream, and it created a bond like no other. Loving Ryker healed the trauma Theo caused.

Cheating on someone doesn’t just end the relationship for most people. It’s the effects that are the worst—second-guessing everything and everyone in your life, never being able to fully trust another person, no matter if they have done something wrong or not.

The worst, though, is blaming yourself.

If I were a better boyfriend, would he have still cheated?

“Baby?” Ryker lifts his head, blinking sleepily. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, go back to sleep,” I murmur as I kiss his head. It isn’t fair to be thinking of this when Ryker is right here, but I can’t seem to help it. My mind keeps going around and around in circles.

“You’re overthinking,” he grumbles as he moves closer, humming happily. “Want me to blow you to stop that?”

A surprised laugh escapes me, and when he lifts his twinkling eyes, I know that’s why he did it. He pokes my head with his finger. “Stop this, okay? You need to sleep.”

“I know,” I murmur. “I just . . . Seeing him brought a lot back.”

“Good or bad?” he asks, and there is no judgment there.

“Bad,” I reply as I pull him closer. “He’s always had the ability to do this to me and make me feel . . . weak.”

“You aren’t that person anymore,” Ry says. “So don’t let him. The only person who should ever be able to hurt you like that is someone you love. Do you still love him?” It’s an innocent question, but his body tenses against mine.

“No. Not even a little,” I promise as I tip his head back so he sees the truth in my eyes. I never want him to worry about that. “He’s my past, Ryker, nothing more.”

“Then don’t give him one more minute of your future,” he responds as he moves even closer. “He isn’t worth it. Besides, if he never hurt you, then you never would have found me.”

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