Page 83 of Save Me

Collapsing into the nearest chair, she burst into tears. Ryker was instantly crouched at her side. “What’s happening? What’s going on?” One strong hand rubbed her back. “Are you going to be sick? Do I need to call someone?”

“I am the worst!” she cried. “I’m standing here yelling at you for doing something that was so completely selfless and then spouting on and on about how it’s not about appearances while I’m blatantly standing here judging you on your appearance!” And then she was crying again—great big full-body sobbing.

“Ryleigh, hey…” he began softly, carefully wrapping his arms around her. “I get what you’re saying. You were trying to tell me I didn’t need to do all of this.”

She nodded even as she continued to cry.

“It’s not always about outward appearances,” he went on. “I may have gone a little overboard, but…how many times did you change your outfit today?”

She held up three fingers.

“I think this is something we both need to work on,” he said, trying to wipe away some of the tears that just kept coming.

“I loved the way you looked, Ryker. All of it. This is just all…it’s new. But you’re still you, and I hate how I’ve just been so horrible to you.”

“Horrible? Baby girl, never,” he assured her.

With a snort, she glared at him. “Oh, please. I used you; I made you feel like you couldn’t come to dinner looking like yourself. If that’s not horrible, I don’t know what is.”

Cupping her face, he tried again to wipe away her tears. “You want to know something funny?”

“No.”

“Too bad,” he teased. “I didn’t mind being used. It finally gave us a chance. That’s all I ever wanted was for you to give me a chance. So if some silly fight between you and your mother made that happen, then I’m not sorry about it.” Leaning in, he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. “Now tell me what to do to make this better because…I can’t grow my hair out in the next twenty minutes.”

Sniffling, she looked at him and gave him a watery smile. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Are you comfortable in those clothes?”

Laughing, Ryker shook his head. “Hell no. These pants feel weird.”

“Then let me fix my makeup and we’ll stop by your house so you can change.” Then she reached up and caressed his jaw. “Hmm…maybe this isn’t so bad. Although… I do like you a little scruffy.”

“Give me a few days and I promise I can make that happen,” he told her, taking her hand and kissing her palm.

Then she raked her free hand through his shortened hair. “Not as much to grab on to,” she commented.

“You’re not trying hard enough,” he countered with a wink.

With a gasp, she pulled back. “Ryker, what about the business?”

“Um…what about it?”

“You have another convention coming up! You can’t go looking all…you know…normal, can you? I mean, I didn’t see any artists who looked so…”

“So…?”

“Neat and clean and preppy,” she said, giggling softly.

“Preppy? Seriously?”

“You look like you should be having lunch at the yacht club right now.”

He was instantly on his feet and pulling Ryleigh to hers. “Oh, good Lord…Go fix your makeup so we can swing by my house so I can change!”

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