Sure, I’d imagined hooking up with lots of girls from school, but never did Ryder exist in those fantasies. She was off limits; she wasn't like most girls. She was Ryder.
God, this was Ryder.
I snapped back into reality when I was reminded that it was her in my arms, not just some random girl. I pushed her off of me, breaking our kiss. We both looked at each other the moment we were a safe distance away. She was panting, and I was trying to my best to hide any clue that the kiss had affected me in any way.
“There, now stop bugging me.” I said, trying to regroup from the confusion the kiss had stirred up in me head.
Her tongue came out and swept over her reddened lips, a redness I’d caused.
I ignored my urge to kiss her again. Suddenly very aware of her mouth and body, in a way I wasn’t used to.
“Was I any good?” She asked innocently, reminding me that we’d just shared her first kiss and as amazing as it was, she’d only get better.
Fuck.
“It was alright.” I lied, and I saw sadness hit her eyes.
I realized I’d hurt my best friend for the second time. Perhaps it was better this way if I hurt her instead of a loser like Joey. At least I’d be around forever, to pick up the pieces.
“Oh…,” was all she said at first. “Well, I guess I better go get ready to meet up with Joey.”
“Go ahead. I’m going to stay here for a bit.” I explained, still unwilling to admit that I’d just felt anything.
“Okay.” She said, oblivious to my behavior.
“I’ll meet you back here tonight, don't let him try anything on you, Ry.”
“Okay, but that's kind of the point of the date.” She laughed.
I didn’t.
“Ry, I'm serious.” The idea wasn't so amusing anymore. “He isn't right for you.”
She eyed me for a moment before making her way down. “See you tonight,” she called up at me, ignoring my warnings.
I swear if that fool touched her…
Chapter 5
Tyler
*************************
It’d been nearly twenty-four hours since I’d last seen Ryder, and it wasn’t sitting well with me.
She’d been spending more time with our other friends, which wouldn’t have bothered me so much if it was just Sadie. However, sometimes it was just with Joey and Tyson, and in doing so it seemed she didn’t have much time for me anymore.
She was sixteen now, and it’d been months since I kissed her that night in the treehouse. In fact, after that date with Joey she went on several more after, and not always with Joey either.
I did my best after that night to take up most of her time. That included movie nights at my house, weekend trips together, and even nights in the treehouse just talking.
I even tagged along with her and Sadie sometimes, when they let me. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was trying to spend less time with me on purpose.
Tonight, Ryder and I's parents were out of town. Weeks ago, we’d both planned for our friends to come over for some drinks, and a swim in my pool. Yet, when the night rolled around, Ryder was still a no show.
Sadie arrived around ten o’clock, and we teamed up to play some beer pong. I guess a better description would be that we annihilated some seniors at beer pong.
Over the years I’d actually grown to like Sadie, even though she enjoyed busting my balls sometimes. Our friendship, with Ryder, seemed to be enough to build off of because sometimes we didn’t mind each other’s company.
She was actually pretty cool.
Ryder did finally show up, at midnight, about thirty minutes after Sadie had already left with her boyfriend for the night. Ryder didn’t arrive alone though, she had Joey and Tyson in tow.
I didn’t say anything to them when they first arrived. Instead, I grabbed a trash bag and started picking up around the pool.
I saw her an hour or so later, sitting at the other end of the pool with Joey as I finished cleaning up. I wasn’t sure where Tyson had gone for the night, but I wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t stuck around to make sure Ryder got home okay.
That’s why I didn’t trust any of these idiots.
It also didn’t take me long to notice that Ryder’s hand was resting over Joey's. At that point, I stopped paying attention to much else really. Instead, all I could focus on was the sound of her fake laugh as it carried across the length of the pool, to me.
I rolled my eyes, unamused. I knew that wasn’t Ryder's real laugh.
Luckily, by this time, everyone had already started to leave with their sober drivers. Soon, the only people left at my house were Ryder, Joey, Katie, and myself.
“How are you all getting home?” I asked, noting that Ryder and I had both had a few beers.
“Well, I live right there.” Ryder pointed at her house, and grinned. “So, I think I’m good.”
“Smartass.” I muttered.
The other two laughed.
“I didn't drink anything; do you need a ride home?” Katie offered, to Joey.
I grinned. “Perfect, because I have to start picking up. It's already two a.m.”
“What?” Katie yelped before pulling herself out of the pool and making her way to check the time on her phone, which she'd left on the patio table. “Joey, let’s go! My parents are going to kill me.”
“Need me to walk you home, Ry?” I asked.
“I got it, man.” Joey interrupted.
I shot him a warning glare.
He hesitated. We’d been friends
