“Oh, uhm, nothing, I just…I’m…I…I never mind,” I stuttered. I didn’t want to tell Ryder what I had just realised. I think I was worried that if I told him, he would want to pull the plug on this whole fake relationship, but I wasn’t ready for that. Even though I didn’t love Chace anymore, it still hurt knowing he chose Christina over me, but that pain disappeared when Ryder was around. Besides, I’d gotten so used to him being in my life, I didn’t want to lose him yet. I knew that when we would eventually break up, we would have to keep our distance. You couldn’t remain friends with an ex, even if he was a fake ex. I didn’t want to lose Ryder as a friend. When did this whole thing get so complicated and messy?
“Hey, we’re here. Damn it, Bailey. What’s wrong? You’ve been silent since I told you what happened. I’m sorry I punched him if that’s what’s got you upset.” He reached over and grabbed my hand.
Upset? No, I wasn’t upset. Well, I was but not about him punching Chace again. Chace deserved it.
“No, it’s not that. He deserves it anyway. Uhm, I just, I…” I started to tell him I realised I was over Chace, but I chickened out. “Are you sure you’re okay? Wanna come in and let me patch that up?” I asked hopefully. He gave me a confused look before shaking his head.
“Nah. It’s fine. Nothing I can’t fix myself.” He smiled that half smile of his when something amused him.
“Oh, okay. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow? And tomorrow night, yeah?” I asked nervously. My stomach fluttered at the idea of a date with Ryder, and even though it was fake, I was looking forward to it. Only, I wasn’t sure he was anymore. Not after Chace’s jump.
“Of course. I really want to piss him off now.” Ryder’s voice had dropped to a low growl. “If you still want to go?” he asked, releasing my hand and putting both of his on the steering wheel.
He looked…I didn’t know how he looked. Not angry or sad. Defeated, maybe. Like he was losing a game. I didn’t like that look. I liked the happy Ryder. The fun Ryder. The confident Ryder.
“Yes,” I whispered before leaning over and turning his face to mine. “I want to go still.”
I crushed my mouth to his, catching us both off guard, but it only took a second before one of his hands found its way around my neck, and he was winding his fingers into my hair. His other hand was digging into my hips, pulling me closer. I realised that I was kissing him outside of my house, where we no longer needed to pretend. I tried to pull away, but Ryder held me closer. I had no choice but to just enjoy the moment and hope it didn’t ruin things.
Ryder released his grip, and I pulled back, leaving us both panting for breath. I opened the door and climbed out of the car before he could see my embarrassment or question why I’d kissed him just then. I couldn’t answer him if he did. I didn’t know why I’d done it.
I didn’t turn around until I was inside and closing the front door, but Ryder was still parked in my driveway, and I could see him tracing his fingers over his lips while they curled into a small smile. Just as I was about close the door completely, he stuck his head out the window with a big grin on his face.
“See you in the a.m., love.”
Chapter Thirteen
It was six o’clock, and I was nervously pacing up and down by the front door. Where was Ryder? He was never late, well, except for class. And yesterday when Chace jumped him. I hoped nothing was wrong, and I hoped he didn’t think that the kiss yesterday was real. He seemed fine at school. In fact, he seemed happier and like he wanted nothing more than to hang around with me. He was a little more hands-on today, a little sweeter, and more attentive. It was weird. He’d always been attentive and kind and the perfect boyfriend, but it was different today, and I had no clue why.
I didn’t know what I was thinking when I kissed him. I just panicked at the thought of him finding out I was no longer in love with Chace and that he wouldn’t want to continue being my fake boyfriend and wouldn’t want to get back at Chace for whatever it was he had done. I needed to ask him about that, too. I’d never really questioned why he wanted payback.
“You look lovely, sweetheart. Going out?” My mother’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see her standing in the hallway smiling at me and eyeing my outfit. I had decided on a pair of black stiletto ankle boots, black leggings, and a tight black lace dress that sat just off one shoulder.
“Uh, yeah. I left a note on the kitchen table. Didn’t want to interrupt you while you were working.”
“A date?”
“What? No. Just hanging out with a friend.” I couldn’t tell her I had a fake boyfriend who I was using to get payback on Chace. She was pretty relaxed about everything, but I was sure she would kill me for that. She raised her eyebrow at me, clearly not believing me.
“With that boy who’s been driving you to and from school every day?”
“Yes, I’m hanging out with Ryder.” I rolled my eyes. I thought I’d been stealthy. Clearly a career as a ninja was not in my future.
“Where are you going?”
“Uh, there’s a new chick flick at the drive-in,” I said, peering out of the window because I could hear a car rumbling out the front. He had finally arrived.
“Oh, honey, that’s a date. No boy who is just a friend will ever sit through a chick flick, particularly at the drive-in, unless they are trying to impress the girl. Not ever.” She laughed and started walking toward the door.
“What are you doing?” I asked when she reached for the doorknob.
“Well, I think I should meet the boy who has helped my daughter move on. The boy who is taking my daughter on a date.” She smiled.
“No, please. Not yet, it’s—” I was cut off by a knock at the door. I shoved her out of my way and opened it slowly to see Ryder standing there with a black eye, nervously chewing on his lip ring and wearing black skinny jeans and a plain white holey t-shirt showing off the scattered tattoos on his arms. Why was that so freaking sexy?
“Hi.” I tried not to open the door too wide so my mother couldn’t embarrass me.
“Hi. Ready?”
“Hi, you must be Ryder.” My mum pushed me aside and greeted him, smiling warmly, which surprised me for some reason.
“Ah, yes. Hi, Mrs. Mitchell.” He put his hand out to shake my mother’s. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Polite. I like that. So you’re taking my daughter on a date?” I groaned and rolled my eyes at her attempt at being a concerned mother. Pushing past her, I grabbed Ryder by the shirt and tried to drag him away, but he just chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, I am. We’re going to watch a movie. It won’t be a late night.” He smiled at her.
“Okay, well have fun but not too much.” She narrowed her eyes at him. I just shook my head in disbelief. “Bailey knows her curfew.” Ryder acknowledged her with a tilt of his head and turned away, but just as I made to follow him, my mother grabbed me. Oh no, here we go.
“I know my curfew, Mum? Really? I don’t have one.”
“Yes, and you know that. Just trying the protective parenting thing out. What do you think?” I sighed and waited for her to continue. “Holey t-shirts, facial piercings, tattoos, Bailey.” She raised her eyebrow at me then smiled. “Have never looked so good. Have fun.” She winked and closed the door in my face. What? I thought for sure she was going to say something about them. Guess I was wrong.
Shaking my head and laughing, I made my way to the car. No, not car. It was a truck. A truck with big spotlights on the roof. It was huge. I pulled open the door and climbed into it, almost needing to jump. “I thought we were going to the drive-in, not hunting,” I joked.