I didn’t see her as I passed the living room. So, I headed upstairs to my room and shut the door. I tossed my bags on to my bed and when I heard my phone vibrate, I picked it up.
Incoming- Ty – 2:37 pm
I hope you made it back safely.
Text me so I know you did.
I tossed my phone on my bed next to my bag.
The time to myself becoming short lived as I heard a knock on my bedroom door.
“Yeah?” I called in question to whomever was on the other side.
"Open the door, you stubborn ass.” Sadie demanded from the other side.
I rolled my eyes, before opening it. “What’s up?” I asked, hoping her intentions weren’t to pry.
She eyed me, then her eyes widened.
“What?” I asked again in annoyance.
She laughed. “You hooked up with him.”
“What are you talking about?” I barked back at her.
“You and the golden boy, Tyler Watson.” She grinned. “I can tell.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m right, aren't I?” She pressed again.
“Why does it even matter?”
“I knew it!”
I rolled my eyes. “Can you go now?”
“So, five years of Tyler watch was all for nothing huh?”
“I’m fine. I actually found out he was never with Crystal that night. Plus, he asked me to stay, and I said no.” I swallowed down the emotions that attempted to make an escape.
She grew quiet.
“I’m fine.” I repeated.
She gave me a knowing look and opened up her arms, ones I happily walked into so she could hug me.
“It will be okay. I know it's hard, but you have worked so hard to be where you are. I like Tyler, you know that. Hell, I was ready to move here with the both of you, but he didn’t come. He could have, even after you ignored him. He let you go, Ry.”
She always gave me the truth. It’s why I respected her advice so much. I hugged her tightly and then finally let her go, smiling my first honest smile since I left my hometown.
“You're right. If he wasn’t willing to fight for me, then I’d be stupid to think things could work now.”
She smiled. “You still have us.”
Kirk was walking by and peeked in. “Who?”
Sadie elbowed him. “She still has you, and I.”
“Ow, you guys are becoming more abusive then I remember.” He teased. “However, she is right. You always got us in your corner. I like the guy; he obviously loves you. The problem is, love isn't always enough. He had a chance to fight for you, and you've waited your whole life for him. Maybe it's time for your happily ever after to be about more than just Tyler.
Sadie smiled. “I hate saying it, but Kirk is right.”
Chapter 21
Tyler
It had been a week since Ryder left. I wish I could say that I got in my car and chased after her the very day she left, but I didn’t.
I went home and did my best to get back to my normal life. The problem was, my life wasn’t normal. It hadn’t been since Ryder left the first time.
To make matters worse, this time was much worse. I couldn’t concentrate, or sleep. All I kept thinking about was, Ryder. The way it felt having her next to me when I fell asleep, and how it felt to have her next to me when I woke up. Everything about her suddenly occupied nearly every thought in my mind.
Maybe that’s what brought me here.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel of my car rental as I pulled off the highway at one of the rest stops. I’d been driving for the last hour, left only with my thoughts.
I was invited to a teacher’s retreat in a city about an hour away from Ryder's, and part of me wondered if I should make the extra hour drive to see her.
I pulled out my phone to check if I had any missed messages from her, but I didn’t. She’d yet to respond to any of my text messages or calls from the moment she left, just like she did the last time.
I sat in the car a moment, thumbing through all my unanswered messages. Trying to consider if she would really even want me to stop by.
Sent – 2:37 pm
I hope you made it back safely.
Text me so I know you did.
Sent – 9:09 pm
Hey, I’m worried about you.
Sent – 9:02 am
Kirk messaged me to let me know
You both were back. Are we not
talking now?
Sent – 6:15 pm
I miss you.
Sent – 8:25 am
My school is having a teacher's
retreat. It’s not far from you.
She never responded to any of them, which seemed like an obvious sign not to come by. So, I tossed my phone in the glove department and started back on the road towards the retreat.
It was two hours later, and I wasn’t sure how I ended up here. Yet, here I was parked out in front of the address I’d squeezed out of Ryder's parents.
She didn’t want me here; she’d made that obvious. The problem was, I needed to know why. Why didn’t she want me here?
When were younger I’d come to terms with why she left. She thought I didn’t love her, and she thought I’d betrayed her by hooking up with Crystal.
However, this time I not only told her I loved her, but that I wanted her to stay. I even offered to go back with her, but she said no.
I sat in the car for about twenty minutes before I heard a tap on my car window. I looked over to find Kirk
