I’m fighting tears again. I can’t seem to blink my eyes fast enough to keep them away. I fan my face with my hands while trying to simultaneously search in my purse for a tissue. Ryder notices what I’m doing and reaches over to open his glove box, taking out a small package of tissues and handing it to me.
“Thanks.” I say through sniffles. I dab my eyes with a tissue and take a few deep breaths. “I just broke up with Andrew,” I say. “Connor and Alex are getting engaged. You guys have an album to write and record. The timing just isn’t right for us.”Not to mention the fact that I’m having another man’s baby and that wouldn’t be fair to you, I add in my head.
Ryder says nothing, doesn’t even glance in my direction, he just keeps driving. He drives us all the way to Rough Mix and parks in the side lot, all without saying a single word. When he turns off the car, he comes around and opens my door, holding out his hand to help me up. Ryder drives a gorgeous Camaro. It’s easy to get into and not as easy to get out of, so I’m grateful for the help.
Before I can go more than a couple of steps, Ryder closes the door behind me, grabs me by the waist, and backs me up toward the car. He notches his hips against me, grinding me against the car, letting me feel the hard line of his cock through his jeans. I just told him we can only be friends. How is he hard right now? My breath catches when he leans down and takes me in a deep kiss. He reaches one hand up into my hair, tilting my head where he wants me, and his other hand grabs my ass hard, pulling me closer to him. I can’t resist. My arms reach up of their own accord, my fingers tangling in his hair, while my tongue dives into his mouth, matching him in his eagerness. I have zero willpower when it comes to Ryder. I was just telling him we can only be friends and now my tongue is in his mouth. We make out like teenagers at a movie theatre for several minutes before he finally pulls back. His hands move back around my waist, and he rests his forehead against mine.
“I have waited fifteen years for you, Denise. I know I love you, regardless of what is happening now, or whether you think the timing is right. And I am pretty sure that you love me back, but I won’t presume to speak for you.” He stops talking to wipe a tear from my eye. “I will give you some time to get used to the idea, but I am not giving up. We will be together, because we love each other. And because when we are together everything finally feels right.” He pulls me in for another kiss, and it feels like he’s pouring all of his love into this one, like he wants to imprint himself into my mind. And it’s working. I lose all track of time and space, melting into him, kissing him like I’ll never see him again.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Someone yells in our direction. Ryder pulls away and looks around. He sees Andrew at the same time as I do.
“I thought you told him not to come?” Ryder whispers to me.
“I did. I don’t know why he’s here.”
“What the fuck is this, Denise? You’re cheating on me with him?” Andrew yells as he stomps closer to us.
“Andrew, I broke up with you, remember?” Did he somehow not understand me when I told him that? “And I told you not to come tonight. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you,” he says. “And I knew you would be here tonight, so I came.”
“This is pretty inappropriate, Andrew. Even for someone with your lack of social skills. You can’t really think it’s a good idea to confront your ex-girlfriend at an engagement party for her friends, can you?”
“Fuck off, Ryder. This isn’t any of your business. This is between me and Denise.”
“It’s OK Ryder. I can handle this. You can go ahead inside and I’ll see you later. Thanks for driving me.”
“Are you sure?” he asks. “You’ll be OK with him?”
“There’s nothing to worry about.” I say in a reassuring voice. I’m pretty sure it will be OK, at least. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Andrew relaxes noticeably at my use of the word ‘we’ll’ regarding going inside. Ryder, on the other hand, tenses up. Still, he leans down and kisses my cheek.
“I’m not done with you yet,” he whispers, so only I can hear. His voice is low and dripping with desire, and I can feel my legs clench with the memories of what we did this afternoon. I am so screwed. “Andrew.” Ryder nods as he turns and walks to the front of the bar.
I don’t give Andrew a chance to say a word.
“And you,” I say, pointing angrily, coming just short of poking him in the chest. “You know it was wrong to come here. Completely inappropriate, not to mention rude. If you wanted to talk to me, you could have called. However, since you are here now, you may as well stay. Don’t make a scene or I’ll have Devon remove you, alright?” He nods his agreement. “You can drive me home after and we can talk then. I have some things to talk to you about, and I suppose tonight is as good a time as any. This doesn’t mean that we are together, though. Because we are not.” And with that I turn and walk to the front of the bar as well, leaving Andrew to scramble along behind me, trying to catch up.
