“Hey, I was young once too. Though I didn’t know any boys that looked like Ryder. All I’m saying is that I can’t stop you. You’re old enough to make your own decisions, but just be careful, okay?” she said seriously.
“Goodbye, Mother,” I said firmly, kissing her cheek and walking out the door, not wanting to acknowledge that extremely uncomfortable conversation.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She laughed and waved us off.
“What was that about?” Indie asked when I slid into the front seat beside Ryder.
“Uhm, nothing. Just her being her.” I could feel the blood rushing to my face in embarrassment. I was relieved when Indie just shrugged and started singing along to the radio, not questioning me any further. I turned to Ryder, who was silent. I noticed he had a death grip on the steering wheel, and his jaw was clenched tight. Something was wrong with him.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied, his voice clipped and short. Something was wrong.
Feeling confident, I reached out and placed my hand on his knee but quickly pulled it back when he glanced down at it then looked away. Maybe he didn’t want me to touch him, although I wasn’t sure why. He always held my hand while driving, so either me or something else was bothering him.
“You sure? You seem kin—”
“Yes, Bailey. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong.” He cut me off and turned the music up, putting an end to any chance of a conversation we might have had.
Sighing in defeat, I turned and looked out the window to try to figure out what could have happened in the past few minutes to make him so mad. He seemed fine at the house when he told me I looked beautiful before me kissing me. He even took my hand to lead me. Something must have happened while I was talking with my mother.
Ryder parked his car on the street just a little way down from Chace’s house and got out. Indie and I practically had to run to catch up with him as he made his way to the party without waiting for us.
“What’s up with him?” Indie whispered in my ear as we rushed down the street after him.
“I wish I knew.”
His shoulders were tense, and his hands were shoved in his pockets like he was closing himself off from everyone. I started to wonder whether he was having second thoughts about this whole fake relationship. Maybe he was sick of me. Or maybe he was missing being able to sleep around like he used to. This was probably the longest he’d ever gone without sex, and it was probably getting to him now.
I cautiously reached out and linked my arm through his. I was relieved that he didn’t pull away, but at the same time, I was disappointed that he didn’t make a move to touch me at all. He just kept his hands in his pockets.
Ryder pushed the door open and gestured for Indie and me to walk in first. I followed Indie, who immediately pushed her way through the people crowding around the entrance to the living room.
“I’m getting a drink. You want one?” Ryder asked us.
“Coke, please.” I smiled at him.
“Coke?” He raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
“Yes, Coke.” I didn’t feel like drinking anymore. In fact, with Ryder being in whatever mood he was in, I just wanted to go home. He nodded and frowned slightly before turning to Indie, who asked for a beer. I was a little caught off guard when a few of the girls that I used to be friends with came over and started talking to us, complimenting our outfits and hair. It was weird. I hadn’t spoken a word to these girls in months. They were all still friends with Chace and Christina.
Ryder returned a few minutes later with Jayden following behind him. The girls quickly disappeared. I didn’t even realise Jayden was there yet, but I immediately greeted him before turning to Ryder and accepting my drink.
“Jayden, meet Indie.” Ryder pointed at Indie, who was staring with a shy smile on her lips.
“Hi,” they both said at the same time and started laughing. Yeah, these two were going to get along great. They were already making eyes at each other. I looked at Ryder when Indie and Jayden started having their own conversation. He was leaning against the wall typing on his phone.
“Wanna dance?” I asked hopefully, gesturing towards the makeshift dance floor in the middle of the living room. I needed to get him to do something to talk me—or anything.
“No.”
“Wanna go for a walk?”
“No.”
“Sit outside? Skinny dip? Play strip poker? Anything?”
“No, I’m fine.” He rolled his eyes. “Just have fun with Indie.”
“Well, I would, but she’s off having fun with Jayden on the dance floor,” I hissed at him. He was making me angry now. It was his idea to come to this stupid party where I only talked to him, Indie, and Jayden and now he was ignoring me. Ryder’s eyes widened briefly as he looked up from his phone, scanning the room until he saw Indie and Jayden dancing together.
“Nice, Jayden,” he muttered with a small smile on his perfect lips before turning back to his phone.
“You know what? Fine. I’m going.” I threw my hands in the air dramatically as I turned and began pushing my way through the crowd. I could feel tears prickling at the back of my eyes, and I hoped like hell I didn’t run into Chace or Christina right then. I finally made my way to the door and outside. The fresh air was welcome on my skin after being in the crowded house full of hot sweaty bodies.
I knew I shouldn’t be upset at Ryder for being like this. There was obviously something bothering him, but it still hurt that he’d dragged me to this party and then practically ignored me since we left my house. I couldn’t figure out what I did wrong. Dammit! None of this would have bothered me a couple of weeks ago. I was blissfully ignorant of my feelings for him, and now look what they had done to me. This was such a mess. I was finally starting to feel happy again, but now I felt like crying—all because Ryder freaking Jones didn’t want to dance.
That was not good. A revenge relationship was such a bad idea.
“Bailey.” I heard him call out from the front yard, realising that I’d begun walking down the street. “Bailey, wait,” he called again.
I didn’t want to wait. I just wanted to go home and be left alone with my misery. I needed to end it. I needed to finish it right then. If I didn’t, I knew I would be left heartbroken later down the track, and it would be so much worse than Chace. I knew my feelings for Ryder were different from the feelings I’d had for Chace, and this fake relationship could only end badly for me. Best to do it soon before it got any harder.
“Bailey, please stop. Where are you going?” I stopped and turned to face him. He reached out to touch me but hesitated. Instead, he ran his hands through his hair and put them back in his pockets.
“Home, Ryder. I’m going home.” I blinked back the tears that were threatening to escape. I couldn’t let him see me crying over him.
“Why? We just got here.” He had no idea. He didn’t know that I was afraid of losing him, that I was upset because he was acting weird, and that I liked him.