Page 20 of Resist

“No, I want Fox to take me.”

“Damn it, Ry, stop. You aren’t being fair. We’ll take you,” Strike mutters with annoyance in his tone, something I’ve never heard.

“No, Fox!” Ry slurs.

I wasn’t trying to ignore Ry or the others, but I can see how shitfaced he is. He’s a mess and clearly fucking drunk despite his one-drink promise. Sighing, I eye him anxiously as he smacks Dash and Strike away again.

“No, I want Fox!” he yells, drawing eyes, and I know we are going to get kicked out before long.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“Go.” I glance back at Team, and he smiles. “It’s fine, go. He’s your bandmate. If you ever feel like finishing where this was going, hit me up.” He grabs my phone, adds his number, and hands it back. “If not, I had fun flirting with you. You’re really easy to talk to.”

“You too,” I admit as I stand. “Thank you for a good night. I really didn’t want to come tonight, but I’m glad I did.”

He smiles. “I’m glad you did too.”

I smile back, then I turn and hurry to our table as Ry starts yelling again. The bouncers notice. “No, fuck off. I want my Fox!” he yells loudly at Strike as he kicks him, making him grunt.

“I’m sorry, man.” Strike sighs deeply as I appear at their side.

“It’s fine,” I say before I crouch and grab Ry’s hands, jerking him up into a sitting position. He blinks at me. “Ryker,” I snap.

His yell cuts off, and he grins before tossing his arms around me. “There you are. I knew you’d come. I’m drunk, Foxy, and I want to go home with you. Take me home,” he slurs.

I peer at his grinning face. “You’re a mess, Ryker. What happened to behaving tonight?”

He pouts. “You didn’t want to play with me, but you were playing with him,” he mutters. “Do whatever you want. I can drink if I want to,” he snaps before he suddenly presses his face into my neck and inhales. I try to ignore him as he wraps himself around me. “I missed you,” he whines.

“Alright, time to go.” I hoist him into the air and toss him over my shoulder, my hand on his back to keep him in place. “Do not throw up on me, Ry. I mean it,” I snap.

Turning to Strike and Dash, I see they already have our coats. “Come on, let’s get him home before we get into trouble.”

“Good idea. You okay with him?” Strike asks. “I can carry him if you want.”

“No, Fox!” Ry yells and almost falls off my shoulder. Grunting, I straighten him and smack his hip.

“Stop moving or I’ll dump you,” I warn harshly, and he whines as I focus on Strike. “Nah, it’s okay. Come on, let’s go home.”

I wave at Team as I head to the door.

Ryker’s hands slide down my back and smack my ass as he giggles.

I fucking hate the way I like it.

He smells like a brewery.

I dump him on his bed, and he groans, his eyelids fluttering, but they remain shut. I should just leave him, but I can’t. Crouching down in annoyance, I pull off his shoes and socks before sitting him up. He sighs and buries his face in my chest as I tug his shirt off and toss it toward his hamper. It’s a mess in here. There are clothes and makeup everywhere.

“Alright, baby boy, down you go.” I help him into bed, tucking the sheets around him before grabbing the makeup wipes on the side table. Pushing back his hair, I carefully rub off eyeliner and mascara before tossing the used wipe into the trash.

My hand lingers on his face, tracing his perfect features, and I allow myself a moment of weakness. He sighs and leans into my touch, and I swallow the pain it causes before leaping up and backing away. I can’t let myself become entangled again. I can’t give into this. We are too broken.

Turning away, I pick up his clothes and clean his mess, just like I used to in the van, but when I’m lining up his notes on his desk, I freeze when I see the only framed picture in the entire room. I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before, but it’s in a dark frame, the only personal touch in the entire place, and completely clean and dusted.

Picking it up carefully, I scan our faces. It’s just him and me. We were young and we had barely just met, my hair my natural bright blond. Ryker and I smile as he leans into me. We look so happy.

How the fuck did we get to this from that?

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