I dropped my head down into my hands. “This is a mess.”
Tyler just laughed. “I think you’re stressing to much.”
He grabbed his sweats and pulled them on under the blanket, tossing mine at me before pulling on his shirt.
“I'm hungry. Let's get some food.” His tone sounded off, like something was wrong. “Meet you inside.” He finished, as he started his way down the ladder.
I pulled my clothes back on as quickly as I could. The idea of Kirk, and Tyler, chit chatting without me there, left me scattering to my feet.
“Wait for me!” I yelled, storming off after them.
By the time I reached the back-patio door, to the house, they’d both made it into the kitchen.
“Morning.” My mom smiled at me.
Crap. Think Ryder, think.
“Mom, sorry I ditched out early last night. I just…”
“Ryder, it’s fine. I assumed you two would probably hang out before you left town anyway. Plus, I’ve honestly heard you fall out of that tree so many times in the past.” She chuckled. “So, when I heard you last night, I figured you were just going to meet up with Tyler.”
“You knew? Even when we were kids?”
She smiled. “Of course. It's just, it was Tyler. He was always such a good boy. He would text us and let us know you were with him and when he would have you back safely.”
I shot a look to Tyler. “All these years you were ratting me out to my parents?”
Tyler held his hands up in defense. “I told you, I looked out for you. That way your parents didn’t worry, you didn’t get in trouble, and you got to feel rebellious.”
Tyler grinned and Kirk spit his coffee out in the sink when he burst into laughter.
“It’s not funny!” I yelled at Kirk.
“It kind of is.” He laughed. “You really don’t have a dangerous bone in your body.”
“Ughhh.” I grumbled. “I’m going to go shower and grab my bags.”
“I guess I should go change too.” Tyler said, and then we both stared at each other.
Were we supposed to kiss, hug… high five? Who knew, definitely not me.
What we did do was share an awkward silence with my family, before Kirk spoke up.
“Hurry up you two. We got to get on the road.”
“You’re right, I’ll be quick.” I turned and ran upstairs to get ready, without so much as a wave.
Chapter 18
Tyler
I headed over to my parent's place once Ryder had gone upstairs. I managed to get a pair of jeans on before I plopped down on to my bed with a heavy sigh.
The thought of Ryder leaving today was leaving a pit in my stomach. I felt like I’d been here before.
Five years ago, she left town, and I let her. Now, it was happening all over again.
I headed downstairs with my shirt in my hand, trying to find my shoes. Then, after about twenty minutes, I heard a knock on my front door.
When I opened it, Ryder was on the other side. I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face as she stood there rocking back and forth on the heels of her sneakers.
“Hey Ty, you nearly ready? Kirk said you should take your own car. That way when we are done eating, we can just head out of town.”
Just like that, the smile faded.
To think I was just starting to like Kirk too, and now he was taking Ryder away from me again.
“Almost. Are you guys heading out right now?” I asked.
Her eyes found my chest, taking note I didn’t have a shirt on yet.
“We can wait for you. Kirk is still loading my bags anyway.”
She stepped inside and I closed the door behind her. Then, we stared at each other in silence.
Last night had been so intense and perfect. Yet, this morning we both couldn’t ignore the fact we were saying goodbye again.
“Ry, everything I said last night… I meant it.”
She looked away from me. “I know. Let’s not talk about it, though. It’s too hard.”
I moved towards her. “Ry, please stay.”
“I can't, Ty.”
“Why? I want this. I want to be with you. I want to wake up with you every morning.” I moved my hand to her cheek, forcing her to look at me again. “One day wasn’t enough, Ry.”
We stood there staring at each other, as I waited for her to say something, anything. Instead, she threw herself towards me, colliding with my chest.
My arms instinctively wrapped around her, something I’d been dying to do since the moment we’d woken up. I scooped her up into my arms and I felt her arms fall around my neck.
I kissed her, walking with her in my arms towards the entryway pillar of my living room, pinning her to it.
My fingers started working at the buttons of her pants, before I finally set her back on her feet so I could peel her clothes from her curves, shoving them down as she fumbled with mine.
Once she’d managed to get mine down far enough, I grabbed her again and lifted her up into my arms.
As I held her pinned to the pillar, I shifted her legs open, and buried myself inside of her. She moaned into my mouth as we kissed, and I groaned.
Then, as I gained some composure over my intense need to have more of her, I started bouncing her up and down against my body.
“Faster,” she begged in little pants for breath.
I slammed her up against the pillar behind us. Thrusting into her faster and grunting as I lost myself in the familiar urgency to take her.
“Fuuuuck.” I
