“Yeah.” Ryder takes a deep breath and steps back. He runs his hand through his hair and waves a hand at the couch. “Can we sit? I can explain.”
My heart hammers in my chest as I follow him into the living room where he drops onto the couch. Shoulders hunched, he rests his forearms on his knees.
“Yesterday I went to Jax’s and hung out,” he begins, staring down at his clasped hands. “We ended up going to the bar and I got pretty wasted. I had this... feeling, so I insisted he to take me to my apartment above the shop.”
“The one that’s been empty since you got here?”
He nods, glancing up at me. “When I walked in, everything was there, Noia. All my stuff—clothes, books, furniture, everything.”
Careful to maintain some distance, I sink down beside him. “So that’s where all your stuff disappeared to.”
“Yeah. And the feeling I had? It was like a tingle fluttering through my brain that had nothing to do with being drunk. Kind of like when my shirt appeared after you wrote it into existence.”
“Like a sixth sense.”
He nods and his gray eyes meet mine, full of mixed emotions. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Let you know I’m still here, but I still need time.”
“Even after what just happened?”
“Especially after that.” His jaw tightens. “Look, I came running because I was worried about you, and I’m glad I did. But it doesn’t change the fact that I need to figure out what I’m feeling.”
My heart is breaking all over again. “I understand,” I whisper.
“I need to be sure what I’m feeling for you is real—that it’s coming from inside me and not from whatever magic of the universe that brought me here.” He reaches over and takes my hand, his thumb stroking my knuckles. “I care about you too much to not be certain.”
I swallow hard, fighting back tears. “How long?”
“I don’t know. A few more days, maybe?” His eyes search mine. “Can you give me that?”
Nodding, I force a smile.
He leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Thank you.”
“Will you at least text me once a day? So I know you’re stillhere and okay?”
“I can do that.” He stands up, hesitating for a moment. “Are you going to be all right? What if Eric comes back?”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure him. “I can handle Eric. He might be a giant douche, but he would never hurt me physically.”
Ryder’s expression darkens. “Still. If he shows up again, call me immediately. Promise?”
“Promise.”
He walks to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “I meant what I said, Noia. I care about you too much to not be certain.”
After he leaves, I throw the lock. With my back to the door, I slide until I’m sitting on the floor, listening to the sound of Ryder’s motorcycle fade into the distance.
Goonie meows, butting his head against my leg.
“You don’t know the half of it.” I scrub the tears from my face and pull my phone out of my pocket.
Sasha answers on the first ring. “Did he call you back?”
“No.” My voice is still shaky as I push myself up off the floor. “He came over. But that’s not even the craziest part.”
Her voice turns serious. “What happened?”
“Eric showed up.”
