21
Ryder - Didn’t See That Coming
Ionly went over to see Alex and Connor for a minute, just to say a quick congratulations and let Connor laugh at my waxing fiasco, but when I look up again, Denise and Andrew are gone. My head swivels frantically, trying to find them in the crowd, but all I notice is Aiden calling me over.
We meet in the middle of the room.
“Denise and Andrew just left. I saw them drive out of the parking lot just now.” Aiden is already walking toward the door. “I got a weird feeling, man. I think we should go after them.”
I hurry to catch up. “You really think so?” Andrew weirds me out, but he’s not dangerous. Is he? “They’re just going to talk. Denise said she was going to call me when he leaves her place.”
Aiden stops at the door just before pushing it open. “I know that, Ryder,” he says. “But I’m saying I have a bad feeling about this. And I’ve been in this kind of situation before. Would you rather we listen to my gut and have nothing be wrong? Or not listen, and have something happen to Denise?”
“OK, fine. You’re right. Let’s go.” I pull my keys out of my pocket while we walk to my car. “But if everything is fine, you’re leaving and I’m staying.”
Ten minutes later, we’re getting out of my car in front of Denise’s townhouse. As we’re walking to the door, a loud crash comes from inside the house. Holy shit, Aiden was right. Andrew is nuts! I sprint to the door, reaching for the handle, when Andrew’s voice explodes through the door.
“I can’t believe you would be stupid enough to let this happen!” That fucker Andrew is yelling at Denise, and I can hear her crying. “What kind of dumb bitch can’t take birth control properly?”
HOLD UP! What the fuck? Is Denise pregnant?
I hear another crash and burst through the door, charging into her place.
“Stop!” Denise screams as she sits herself up on the couch, and Andrew takes a step in her direction.
“Alright asshole, I think that’s enough.” I move my body between them. Denise has tears running down her face while she looks down at the floor. “You need to go home and cool down before you say something you can’t come back from.” I may not like the guy but Denise felt something for him once and if she really is having his baby, she probably wants him in the picture.
“You’re just going to let him kick me out?” This question is clearly meant for Denise, but I’m the one who answers instead.
“She’s not letting me do anything. I’m doing this for you before the neighbour calls the cops, and you get arrested. So go.” I point to the door. “You can talk to Denise tomorrow after you’ve both had some time to think.”
“He’s right, Andrew. Go home. Call me tomorrow.” Denise is still looking at the floor, watching the tears fall in puddles at her feet. Fucking Andrew, how dare he make her cry like this.
“Fine.” Andrew grabs his coat and walks out the door, slamming it as he leaves. I’m right behind him, following him out to the driveway.
Aiden is on the porch, just watching us. I’m going to make sure Andrew gets in his car and leaves. Seems that he doesn’t like how closely I’m following him, though, and just before he gets to his car, Andrew spins around and steps right into me.
“It’s probably yours.” He spits at me. “That slut has been after you the entire time we’ve been together. She’s probably been fucking you on the side since the beginning. You and him, and the rest of the trash in your band!”
“Look, asshole.” I grab him by the front of his shirt and push him against the side of this car. “Denise has been faithful to you, so if she says that baby is yours, it’s yours.” I pull him towards me and slam him against his car a little to drive the point home. I lean close, my forearm resting against his throat, and I say quietly, “Besides, I can guarantee if she had been sleeping with me, she’d have been so satisfied she wouldn’t haven’t bothered with you in the first place.”
That’s when Aiden reaches around me and grabs Andrew from my grip. “Alright, Ryder, that’s enough for tonight. I think Andrew gets the point now. Don’t you, buddy?” He looks at Andrew for confirmation, but instead of answering him, Andrew just rubs his throat and glares at me.
“Why don’t you go in and check on Denise?” Aiden says. “Before Andrew here makes you do something you regret.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I did promise her I wouldn’t get into any more trouble. She has enough shit going on now and I won’t be the one giving her more to worry about.”
I take my keys out of my pocket and give them to Aiden. “Make sure he leaves, and then take my car and go home. I’ll take a cab if I need a ride later.”
It doesn’t escape Andrew’s notice when I say ‘if I need a ride’ and not ‘when I need a ride’.
“I knew you were fucking her,” he says, a cruel sneer on his lips.
He doesn’t have time to react before my fist smashes into his face, causing an instant nosebleed.
“I told you to shut up. She dumped you, who she does, or does not, fuck, is none of your business anymore. Now fuck off. You’ve caused enough trouble here for one night.” I look at Aiden. “I’m going in. Take care of this?”
“Definitely. You know how I feel about abusive pieces of shit like our friend Andrew here. I’ll deal with this, no problem. Devon is already on his way.”
At least Andrew finally has the sense to look scared. When Devon and I took care of Alex’s ex-boyfriend a little while back, he didn’t know just how much trouble he was in until parts of him were broken and he required a hospital visit. Devon doesn’t look kindly on those who hurt his friends. He’d just befriended Alex, and he took pleasure in hurting her ex, so who knows what he’ll be like protecting Denise. He’s knownherfor fifteen years.
Things are not looking good for Andrew.
Once inside, I lock the door behind me and walk over to the couch. I flop my ass down beside Denise and pull her into a hug.
“Well, normally after a situation like this I’d suggest a drink but something tells me that’s out of the question.” I say with a small smile.
