Page 118 of I Don't Need Your Love
“Yeah. Why? Do you have a problem with that?”
He shakes his head. “No. If he truly has changed, of course I’m happy for you. I just want to make sure it’s what you want. Are you happy with him?”
I smile. “Remember how annoying I was because I kept waiting for the perfect boyfriend? Well, I found him and his name is Ryder Bennett.”
“Ryder is a good guy. And he seems like he has strong feelings for you. I’ve never seen him look at a girl the way he looks at you. That’s how I know he’s genuine and isn’t playing you. But you know he’s had a lot of hardships.”
I nod. “I want to be there for him and help him. I have strong feelings for him, too.”
“I know. I can see. It’s disgustingly sweet how often you two stare at each other like you don’t want to separate from each other.”
I playfully whack his shoulder. “Any more than you and Ximena?”
“You and Ryder have such a deep connection. I should have known you’d end up together.”
“So you’re okay with it? Not that I need your permission, I just don’t want the drama.”
He laughs. “I’m okay with it as long as you’re okay with it and you’re happy. But the second you don’t feel safe or happy, tell me. Don’t keep me in the dark. Even though he’s my best friend, if he hurts you, he’s a dead man.”
I blink at him.
“You know what I mean. I’ll kick his butt.”
I wrap my arms around him. “Thanks for being such a cool older brother.”
He hugs me back. “Even though you annoy me all the time, thanks for being such a great little sister.”
We chat for a bit before we go downstairs, where Mom is handing Ryder containers of food.
“Mom, you stuffed us enough,” I complain.
“This is for the ride back to school. You kids will probably be stuck in traffic for hours and might get hungry.”
I give Ryder a look and he laughs. “Thanks, Mrs. Simmons. I’m sure we’ll need them.”
Mom, Dad, and Blake hug us goodbye. Then Ryder and I head to the car, carrying stacks of containers filled with food.
Ryder’s parents are standing outside their house, and we hug them as well. Then we climb into the car and I pull out of the driveway.
Ryder turns to me with a bright smile. “I’m so happy, Carly. I feel like things are finally starting to work out for me. I’m rebuilding a relationship with my parents, I love dance, I have the most amazing girlfriend in the world. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
I smile back. “Because you’re a wonderful person with a good heart. You care about others and put them first. You know the dance team wouldn’t exist if not for you. And you tried so hard to fix our relationship. I was the stubborn one and held a grudge, but you pushed us to talk. And now look at us.”
“It’s fate,” he says.
I shrug. “I think deep down both of us knew there was something going on between us. We just didn’t understand what it was.”
At a red light, he takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “I think you might be right. There was something that pulled me to you. Something I didn’t understand. It’s that deep connection.”
I smile and brush my lips against his. “It sure is. Something pulled me to you. Even though I thought I hated you, I really didn’t. The Universe works in mysterious ways. It pushed us together.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, if not for me attending Harrington, we wouldn’t be together now.”
I giggle. “Thank you, Universe.”
He laughs, too, bends forward, and gives me a long, sweet kiss. I wish we could kiss for hours, but we really need to get back to school.
So begrudgingly, I step on the gas and we start the long journey back to Harrington.
