Page 52 of Taking Care of You
“Okay, yeah. Let’s do it,” I try to say with as much excitement as I can.
I didn’t think I’d enjoy myself, but it was actually a lot of fun. I discovered I’m quite good at beer pong. Ryder is trash-talking the whole time, making us laugh and the other team groan every time they fall for his shit and miss a cup. Crystal seems to beenjoying his jokes, laughing at them and joining in on occasion. When she does, he shoots her quick glances, a small smile on his face.
We’re down to one cup and Ryder has only had to drink twice. He almost seems like he’s getting sad that he’s not getting drunk. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I know the point of the party is to get drunk, but it seems like Ryder feels like he needs it. Makes me think of my mom. So after I sink the last ball, I step away from the table. “I’m done, Ryder.” Crystal gives me a sad look and we walk away.
“Wait!” Ryder exclaims, coming up to us. He pulls me into a large office just down the hall, leaning against the desk that takes up a lot of space on the opposite wall. Like seriously, who needs a desk this big? “What’s wrong? Did I do something?”
For someone so big and imposing-looking, Ryder is turning out to be a really sensitive guy. Not that that’s a bad thing.
I look at Crystal and she nods. I’m not used to telling people about my mother, Crystal knows because she’s always known. And Ethan saw her in action.
Taking a deep breath, I tell him, “My mom is a drunk. I don’t like to drink because of that. And I don’t like people getting super drunk around me.”
Crystal drags me to parties, but she doesn’t get drunk, and the people she hangs out with don’t either. We tend to leave parties before they get to that point anyway, so I’m barely around people when they’re wasted. The times I saw Ethan at that point, it took everything in me not to go to him and make sure he got home safely.
Letting out a long breath, Ryder says, “I’m sorry, Jakoby. I didn’t know.”
I shrug and look down at my feet. “You wouldn’t. And it’s okay. I don’t tell anyone.” He looks so gloomy. “It’s fine, Ryder.I promise. I’ll just…sit in a corner somewhere so you can enjoy yourself. Ethan should be here soon, anyway.”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t need to drink.” He sighs and hops up onto the desk. “Listen, I get it. I have shit parents too. I told Ethan I would take care of you until he got here, so I will. We can hang out here.”
I shake my head. “Nah. It’s your party. Go have fun.”
Softly, so softly I strain to hear him, he says, “I only threw it so I wouldn’t be alone.” He walks out of the office and I feel my stomach drop to my feet.
It’s because of me. I’ve been keeping his best friend from him because I’ve been having a bad time in school. I never thought that someone like Ryder would even need friends around him.
Glancing at Crystal, I see her lip is poked out, like she wants to cry from his comment. She looks at me and I shrug, not knowing what to do.
Before we can follow him out, Ryder comes back in with a few sodas and some chips. He sits everything on the desk and we all sit around and talk.
I see how different Ryder now with just me and Crystal. He’s still funny, but it’s more of an awkward kind of funny, like he doesn’t know if his jokes are good, but he tells them anyway.
We’re hanging out in the office when my phone buzzes. I look down at it and I feel a smile pull across my face.
Ethan: Where is my creep?
I look upand see Ryder and Crystal looking at me with smiles on their faces.
Crystal nods her head down to my phone. “Ethan?”
I nod and stand up to stretch. “Thanks for keeping me company, Ryder. I know you wanted to party.”
He smiles and gives me a pat on the back. “No, Koby. This was more fun. Thank you both for keeping me company.”
Crystal stands as well and puts a hand on her hip. “Well, damn, Ryder. You gonna leave me because you’re off babysitting duties?” I look at her with a raised eyebrow and she waves me off. “You know I don’t mean it like that, bestie. I’m just sayin’, Ryder doesn’t want to hang out with me and that hurts my feelings.”
That slow, lazy smile he gave her the other day comes back, and I notice how handsome Ryder really is. “I can still hang. I was going to walk him out and see my best friend. You can walk with us.” He cocks his elbow out to her and she grasps it, like they’re an old nineteen-twenties couple.
I roll my eyes at their antics and walk out of the office. The party is in full swing, people literally dancing on tables, and music pounding through speakers I can’t see.
Ethan is standing in the foyer, hands in his pockets, looking extremely unhappy. Dawn is at his side, trying to talk to him. I swear, it’s like whenever he’s alone, she tries to slink in. I hear Crystal suck her teeth behind me, but I keep walking to my boyfriend.
When he sees me, he smiles widely and walks away from Dawn. She stumbles, and I notice she has a cup in her hand and she looks unsteady on her feet.
She’s probably drunk.
Ethan pulls me into a hug and tilts my head up so he can kiss me. I don’t think I’ll ever get over feeling his lips on mine. Or him openly kissing me. Or us being an actual couple.
