My intentions were only to embarrass her a little, and maybe encourage the older guys to stay away from her.
After fourteen years of friendship, we’d reached a point where we found amusement out of pushing each other’s buttons, and even more so by toying with each other’s comfort zone.
Maybe, this time, I took it too far?
“Ty,” she whispered.
The sound of her voice lingered on me in a way I wasn’t use too. What the fuck, Tyler. I scolded myself for taking enjoyment out of the way my name sounded on her lips.
Sadie saved my sanity when she pounced on Ryder, breaking the moment. “Hey, bestie!”
Sadie was a friend Ryder made last year when she was forced to linger in junior high without us for a year. Sadie was extremely social, loud, artsy, and enjoyed dating… a lot. Nearly the exact opposite of Ryder. Yet, they clicked instantly somehow.
“What’re you weirdos doing?” She asked, very aware of our platonic friendship.
“Making a scene so guys stay away from Ryder. She doesn’t need any losers trying to take advantage of her.” I clarified.
They both shot me a glare.
“You’re such an asshole.” Ryder spat out and looked hurt.
Fuck, what did I do now?
“She can take care of herself, you nitwit. So, stop peeing on her like some kind of dog marking his territory.” Sadie chimed it, looping her arm with Ryder.
I made a mocking barking noise at her before they stormed off together. Suddenly, I was wondering how long I'd have to endure Sadie hanging around with us this year. I liked the way she stood up for Ryder, but I didn’t like that she was a complete bitch to me.
*************************
As I recalled the old memory, I also realized that was the year Ryder and I became more flirtatious.
It started out as a ploy to keep guys at a distance, but then it became an addiction to watch her reactions and feed off the energy that seemed to linger between us.
We weren't great at understanding the boundaries of a normal friendship. Perhaps if we had been, she’d still be in my life today.
Maybe I would have even been more prepared for the day Ryder started dating.
Chapter 4
Tyler
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I hadn’t seen Ryder for most of the summer after my sophomore year, which was unusual for us. I even missed her fifteenth birthday, the first of all of them that I hadn’t attended.
Her parents had taken her to the east coast to visit family and she stayed there until a week prior to starting her sophomore year.
We kept in touch on the phone, but it wasn’t the same. I missed having my best friend with me and I was excited she was going to be home today.
I kept checking the driveway for her parent’s car and texting her for updates. Then, finally, around five o’clock I heard her parents pulling in.
I didn’t waste anytime making my way outside and towards the trunk of the car to help grab her stuff.
“You guys need help with bags?” I asked, already pulling things out of the trunk.
“Sure, thanks Tyler.” Her mom smiled at me before shutting her door and walking over to chat with my mom.
“Ty!”
I heard the familiar shriek coming from around the car, before snapping my eyes up from the trunk. The familiar sound came from an unfamiliar hot blonde rushing towards me.
Wait, no, not a hot blonde. Ryder.
I dropped the bags and caught her in my arms, twirling her once before setting her back down.
“Ry?” I questioned, looking her over to be certain I wasn’t crazy.
Her glasses were gone, and her once comfortable fitting jeans were now tight and snug in all the right places.
Wait, no. All the wrong places.
My eyes traveled to the curve of her ass, where her jeans hugged tightly, complementing her narrow waist. I fought like hell to look away, but my eyes only found a new sight, some skin peeking out over her stomach as she lifted her arms to hug me again.
I couldn’t stop myself from eyeing my best friends’ body greedily, and I didn’t like the way seeing her like that made me feel.
“Damn, Ry. Cover up.” I swallowed, pushing her away finally and trying to pull my eyes from her body.
“What?” Her voice sounded wounded. “Don’t be a jerk, Ty. My cousins took me shopping for school, you don’t like the new me?”
I caught her gaze, only to be reminded she was no longer wearing glasses. She must’ve gotten contacts, and I already found myself missing the cute way she would push them up the bridge of her nose.
“I liked the old you.” I gritted out.
“Well I’m still me,” she grinned, before flashing me her new converse sneakers.
I laughed. At least some things remained the same.
To make matters worse, when school started back up, everyone else noticed the changes too. Guys were eyeing her more intently and I didn’t like the new attention she was getting.
It made me feel even more protective of her.
I knew it was selfish of me to take such an active role in deciding what was right for Ryder. Hell, Sadie was never afraid to remind me I was a ‘controlling psycho’. Yet, nothing would change my life goal of making sure Ryder never settled.
I’d broken up with Kara over the summer, and I was dating Katie now. So, I should’ve had less time on my hands to worry about Ryder. However, it was my job to look out for her. After all, that’d been my job since the day she was born, and nothing came before it.
Of course, none of that stopped our friend Joey from asking her out...
“Please, Ty!” She
