Page 89 of I Don't Need Your Love
I sigh as I watch her. What am I doing? She’s my teammate, nothing more.
Carly, Addie, and the rest of the team stand in the center of the room and start the routine we’re practicing. The kids cheer and clap, some joining in.
Carly moves her body effortlessly, like a goddess. When her eyes pin on me, she smiles and motions with her hand for me to join them. I’m glad she’s not upset with me over the twins thing. But why would she be? It’s not like she wants to go to the school dance with me, does she?
“Ryder!” the team calls.
I dash to the center of the room, squish myself between Carly and Addie, and dance. The Parker twins, as well as many others, come as well, and we all have an awesome time goofing off and having fun. Just like a party should be.
A short while later, after I’m fetching drinks for myself and Carly and the others, Felix stands next to me. “I thought you left.”
I raise my head and watch Carly dancing with her friends and the rest of the team. The smile on her face is so bright, like diamonds glistening in the sunlight. “Yeah, well I changed my mind.”
“Because of her?” he asks.
“Who?”
“The redhead. Saw you talking to her before. You into her or something?”
I snicker. “Dude, she’s my best friend’s little sister. And she wants a boyfriend, so no, I’m not into her.” My heart feels heavy as I utter the words. Because they’re not true. But they’ve got to be. Ican’tbe into her.
Something tells me I have no control over that.
He shrugs. “She’s cute and all, but yeah. Looks like the girlfriend type.” He pats my arm and walks off. I continue to watch Carly dance, and that bright smile on her face.
She must feel my heavy eyes on her because she stops and looks at me. She freezes for a second before smiling and giving me a shy wave.
With my own smile, I wave back.
I’m not going to think about commitments or the whole girlfriend/boyfriend thing. She doesn’t see me as boyfriend material, anyway, so why am I getting so bent out of shape? We’re friends and dance partners.
Sure, maybe I like to get close to her and whisper things in her ear, but it’s not like she’s melting into a puddle at my feet. Which means she doesn’t like me as more than a friend.
Good. That makes things so much easier. We’ll just have fun hanging out together.
Carly signals for me to come dance. I carry a tray with drinks for everyone. My hand brushes Carly’s as I pass her a cup of Coke. This weird spark shoots up my arm.
After we’re done drinking, we dance most of the evening away. I’m tempted to show off what Carly and I have so far for our duet, but it’s best we keep the surprise for the competition.
Later, when I’m lying in bed in my room, I replay the events over and over in my head. But the only thing that stands out to me is Carly’s dazzling smile.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Carly
I texted Ryder after the party last night, asking him if he wanted to work on our duet on Saturday afternoon. I want to have most of it down before we meet with Moreno on Monday. I wasn’t sure if he would say yes because it’s the weekend and I was certain he had plans to hang out with his friends, but to my surprise, he said yes. I really appreciate he’s taking this as seriously as me. Actually, he’s been nothing but serious ever since he joined the team. Even if he did think it wascornyat first.
I head to the gym and lower myself on the bleachers, scrolling through social media. Ryder isn’t very active on it, but he’s always being tagged by other people. The camera loves him, even when he doesn’t try. In fact, he looks the best when he’s not even aware that someone is snapping a photo of him. I don’t want to be a stalker or anything, but I can’t help but scroll through the photos, taking in every part of his face. Even though he’s smiling in most of them, there’s always a shadow of pain in his eyes. I still have no idea what he’s struggling with, but I’m glad that being on the dance team and art class are helping. I feel bad that I didn’t want him on the team at first because I thought he wanted to ruin it for me, but I now know that he needs the team just as much as I do.
“I look good, don’t I?” Ryder’s voice says as he drops down next to me.
My phone slips from my hand, but I quickly catch it before it slams to the floor. “Sheesh, dude. Don’t sneak up on people.”
“Are you stalking me?” There’s that lazy smile again.
“I wasn’t stalking you,” I say as I get up. “Photos of you are always popping up in my feed. I swear the kids here think the world revolves around you.”
That lazy smile spreads. “Nah, I think you were stalking me.”
