I should never have dragged Ward into this. Not sweet, honest, kind Ward who was so much better than all of it, who wouldn’t have lasted ten minutes out here.
Not because he wasn’t smart enough, but because he wasn’t selfish enough.
I hadn’t realized how much I hated all this until I saw it next to Ward.
Matt walked off with one last glare in our direction, and the tension that had been ratcheting up around us broke all at once, the party going back to normal as if nothing had happened.
Nothinghadhappened, I supposed.
Except the life-changing realization that I really did want Ward to be my boyfriend.
And everything that meant.
“You sure you’re okay, big guy?” Allison asked, turning to Ward.
Ward let go of my hip, and I missed the touch instantly.
“I’m okay,” Ward said, still sticking close to me. “Thanks for stepping in.”
“For you, babe? Anytime,” Allison smiled at him, broad and earnest. That was the smile that’d gotten her where she was.
She’d earned it too, though. She was a real professional.
I thought if I was even a little bit bi I would’ve fallen head over heels for her. I’d have to ask Ward later.
“I was actually coming over to give you this,” she said, holding a card out to Ward.
Ward took it, looked at it, then looked at me with wide eyes.
“I’m dating Ryder,” he said. “It, I... I’m flattered, but...”
Allison laughed, and then stepped in and touched Ward’s arm, pulling him down to whisper something in his ear. When Ward straightened up again his mouth was hanging open, but he was nodding in understanding.
I desperately wanted to know what she’d said to him.
“I only want you for your carpentry skills,” she said. “Call me and we’ll figure out the details.”
“I, uh... yeah, I will. Of course,” Ward nodded again. “I’d love to.”
Allison beamed at him again. “Good. It was super fun meeting you. Take care of Ryder for me, okay?”
“You too, and I will,” Ward said, blushing all over now. “And uh, happy birthday, by the way.”
Allison turned her attention to me, still smiling that genuine smile. Ward had that effect on people.
“I like this one, Ryder,” she said. “Hang onto him.”
* * *
Ward somehow managedto both get a cab at this time of night in this part of LA, and bundle me into it without me saying a single word to him, still dazed from the run-in with Matt.
“What did Allison whisper to you?” I asked once we were well and truly away from the party, winding through rain-slicked streets on our way back to the apartment. Allison seemed like a much easier subject than Matt.
Ward shifted in his seat. “Not sure I should tell you. Feels like a secret.”
“We’re keeping secrets now?” I asked, but as soon as the words were out I remembered what Matt had said, and my stomach went cold.
Ward’s hand curled over my knee, but I couldn’t look at him anymore. I was so mad at myself for exposing him to all of that.
