“Cole,” her eyes drop to the floor. “I’m sorry. I. . . ”
I see it all over her face—the shame and remorse. I can’t stand it.
“Ryder, don’t.” I realize she hasn’t pulled her hand from mine, and I grip it a little tighter, wanting her to look at me. It takes her a second, but her eyes drag up to mine. “Don’t apologize.”
I think back to her first night here when I found her upstairs in the gym. “You told me to never surprise you. I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that.”
I watch her inhale and exhale.
What does this to a person?
There’s a flash of her splattered with blood and then running off last night to chase down whoever was waiting for us.
My stomach twists into a tight knot as I resist grabbing her and tugging her into my lap, wanting to protect her from whatever it is.
Her gaze drifts from our joined hands and peeks at me again, stirring the conflicted place in the center of my chest that burns and aches at the same time.
She slips her hand from mine, and I instantly want it back. She stands, offering it again to help me up. I take it, and she tugs me to my feet, then bends to pick up the broken cookie.
“I guess I’ll let you have that one,” I tease. “You can eat it while we watch tape, so I don’t get knocked on my ass again this weekend.”
She peers up at me from her crouched position, blinking twice. “Maybe you should join me at the gym sometime and learn how to defend yourself.”
It takes a second, and then her lips curl upward before sweeping up the crumbs.
Damn.
This is going to be one hell of a terrifying challenge because the only thing I want to do is kiss that little half-smirk right off her face. But I can’t. If that ever happens, it’ll be Ryder’s move. All the way.
“In the off-season, you’re on.” I press my fingers to the sore spot under my ribs.
I see her mouth creep into a grin.
“Just so we’re clear, you owe me,” I say.
Her head pops up. “Fine. You’ll have to tell me where to get these.” She holds out the crumbs.
“I don’t want cookies.”
Her brow scrunches. “What do you want?”
Oh, I know what I want, but I’m not telling. “To be determined.”
She stares at me.
“I’ll turn the game on. You find us some snacks.”
As she cleans up the rest of the crumbs, I drop onto the couch.
“Snacks?” I hear her grumble. “I’ll get you a carrot stick.”
I laugh. “Popcorn and cereal are in the cabinet above the fridge.”
I hear her suck in a breath. “Seriously? You’ve been hiding those all this time?”
“Nah.” I flip on the TV. “Come on, 007. I was seeing how long it would take you to find them.”
“Matthews, I’m ordering groceries next time. You suck at it.”
