“She’s fine,” I answer for her. I knew that she could stand up for herself, but I’d seen the way Parker was with her, and I hatedit. He bulldozed over her and didn’t listen or pay attention to her social cues.
“I was asking, Odette.” Parker snapped at me, his eyes finally honing in on me. They looked me over, up and down, noticing where I was standing. They ran over where Odette was placing her hand in mine, and then his eyes were back on me.
I knew my whole demeanor screamedfuck off, but all he did was smile.
“She can speak for herself. She’s a big girl, in more ways than one.”
Fuck this dude.
I went to lunge at Parker, but Odette placed a hand on my upper arm, trying to hold me back.
“Ryker, don’t.” She pleaded, but all I wanted to do was rip this man’s head off for speaking to her like that. For taking that type of dig at her. I’d fuck him up if Odette weren’t standing here; I wouldn’t risk the possibility of her getting hurt.
“When it comes to you, Parker, I’ll be answering for my girlfriend.” I shoved my finger at him, trying to reach any part of him to get a jab, but he stepped back with his hands up. A smug grin crossed his face.
“Girlfriend?” Parker questioned, one eyebrow lifted as if to question what I was saying. He looked me and Odette over one more time and then backed away, shaking his head. “Fine.”
The word was clipped as he walked away from us and toward the water. It had felt too easy, Parker walking away, so I didn’t move us until he was a ways away down the water’s edge.
“Girlfriend?” I looked down at Odette, who was latched onto my whole arm now. I’d managed to slow my breathing after Parker’s earlier comments. I hadn’t ever wanted to hit someone so badly in my life, and I grew up around musicians getting drunk in bars and cafes. But it wasn’t just for what he’d saidtoday, but for what I knew he had to have put Odette through to make her so guarded every time he showed up.
“Girlfriend,” I repeated, this time a smile crossing my face as I looked at Odette. She mimicked the smile back to me. She reached up and grabbed my face, planting a kiss on my lips. I pulled Odette against me and deepened the kiss.
Claiming her as mine, for anyone who walked by us. Anyone who could see us standing on this beach. She pulled away, gasping her air, but I continued the kisses along her cheek, down her neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For you,” I pulled back and took her face in my hands. “Anything, my love.”
And I meant that.
Anything.
Girlfriend.
Ryker had staked his claim in front of Parker, and while a part of me was thrilled as Ryker drove us back to my house, I could feel myself shutting down. What if this were just for now? What if my own limelight fought with his? Or if Parker showing up today wouldn’t be the last time? What if I couldn’t give Ryker peace when it came to my past, or even my present?
I stared out the window as we pulled down my street. We hadn’t spoken the entire ride, and were going to spend the rest of the day together. I was going to cook dinner after a relaxing afternoon, but now I don’t know. Now my head was spinning with questions that I hadn’t really thought of before, mostly because Ryker had put a label on this.
Not that I didn’t want a label, but it made it all real. Even more real than us confessing our love for each other, because now, this was something more public. Something that we would tell others when they asked if we were single.
Parker showing up shook me, not just by him being there, but by his comments as well. Ryker had stood up for me, ready to punch him, but I wouldn’t allow it. I was used to Parker’s remarks and had learned to deal with them, and I didn’t need Ryker to get in trouble for them.
But still, the entire situation had me on edge. I let out a deep breath as Ryker pulled into my driveway.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Ryker asked, and I finally looked over to him; worry was written across his face, eyebrows pinched together, lips pressed. “What’s going through your head?”
“Maybe you should just drop me off, and we can see each other tomorrow. Give us some space to breathe.”
He stared at me, unmoving for a moment, and then he was out of the car. I quickly got out, ready to put up a fight that I was okay and just needed some time alone, when he grabbed my hand and led me to the front door.
Ryker waited patiently beside me as I grabbed my keys and slid them into the lock.
I had no idea what was going on, but as I opened the door, Ryker crossed the threshold first and pulled me along after him. I kicked the door closed with my foot and trailed behind him toward the kitchen. He placed a hand on my shoulder and sat me in one of my kitchen chairs.
I watched in silence as Ryker moved around the kitchen looking for various items. First, my kettle, then tea bags, sugar, honey, and lastly mugs. I made myself comfortable as I watched the man I was in love with make me tea in my house. It was clear he’d watched me plenty of times to know just how to make it. He let the tea bag steep for a few minutes as he cleaned up the kettle, then put four spoonfuls of sugar and a good helping of honey into my mug and only a little bit of honey into his.
“Ryker,” I said his name as he walked over to me with the two mugs in hand. He sat mine in front of me, moved one of the other chairs next to me, and placed his mug down.
