All Our Next Times: Fallen Brook Series: Book 1

by Jennilynn Wyer

  “I can’t wait to see you race Stella here,” I say as we approach the track. “Now, let’s see what my future wife can do.”

  Ryder lines up his Hellcat at the start of the course, revs his engine a few times, wiggling his eyebrows up and down to the time of the revs causing me to bust a gut laughing, and before I know to hang on, he releases the clutch and shoots off in a flash. God, I love this. The adrenaline rush, wind whipping through the open windows, my long hair flying out everywhere. Ryder drives lap after lap, drifting, sliding, speeding around the corners like a demon. I never want it to end.

  He shifts down and comes to a stop. “Your turn.”

  “I’m sorry, what now?”

  “Your turn,” he says, putting the car into neutral and getting out.

  “No, Ryder! I can’t!”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “Are you crazy? I’ll probably drive it off into a tree!”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “Yes, I will.”

  “Elizabeth, get into the driver’s seat.”

  “Nuh uh. Nope. No way. You can’t make me.”

  I cross my arms, shaking my head no like a two-year-old. Before I know what’s happening, Ryder has my seat belt unfastened and me hoisted up and over his shoulder as he walks over to the driver’s side.

  “What is it with you guys always carrying me around like a sack of potatoes!” I shriek and grab onto the back of his shirt which causes me to notice the hard muscles underneath.

  Then it hits me. Something buried deep. Something potent and alive, wanting desperately to claw to the surface. Something that causes my heart to constrict. Something I should not be feeling because I forced it into lockdown when I chose Jayson.

  Everything stills.

  “Ryder, put me down please,” my words a low timbre.

  Hearing the quiet, serious tone of my voice, Ryder stops. His arm that’s banded around my thighs tightens before slowly relaxing. He takes my hips in his large hands and moves me down his body until I am standing on my own two feet. My hands are pressed flat against his chest, his hands still gripping my waist. I inhale, his woodsy scent perforating my overstimulated senses.

  I keep my head bowed, looking at our feet. “Ryder, we can’t.”

  “I know.” He steps closer to me. We stand motionless like that for several minutes.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know, Elizabeth.”

  Our arms reach around each other at the same time to bring our bodies together in a hug. It’s an embrace of two friends, two best friends, who could have been more if things were different but no longer have that choice.

  Ryder is the first to pull away. He tips my chin up and gives me one of his captivating smiles letting me know we’re going to be alright.

  “You’re still driving.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  Yes, I did, and it was awesome.

  Chapter 12

  Eleventh Grade

  Ryder

  About a year ago, the senior class at Highland High started throwing bonfire parties. The location of each bonfire event is kept secret until the day of, and then a mass text is sent out giving the GPS location of where to show up. Elijah usually forwards the info to me and Julien. Tonight, the GPS location has us headed to an abandoned warehouse an hour away. Julien’s in the car with me, and Jay is behind us in his truck with Elizabeth, Hailey, and Maria.

  “How’s your leg feeling?” I ask Julien. At last week’s game, one of the members of Highland High’s soccer team purposely kicked Julien, who had the ball at the time, driving his spiked shoes into Julien’s left calf. The guy, Marshall, ripped about six inches of skin off. Rumor has it, the next day Elijah cornered Marshall in their student parking lot and beat the shit out him.

  “It’s healing. Doesn’t look as bad as it did when Mom took me into the hospital. I’ll probably have a scar.”

  “Hey, you can impress the girls with stories about how you got it. Say it was a shark attack or something.”

  “Yeah, like that scene in Jaws, where they’re sitting around shooting the shit and comparing wounds,” Julien chuckles.

  “When do you think you’ll be able to start playing again?”

  “Doctors think another three weeks and I should be good to go. I’ll have to go in for PT a couple of times a week for a while.” Julien looks at his phone. “The warehouse should be right up ahead.”

  We can already see cars and trucks lined up all along the side of the road, and a glow of what is more than likely the bonfire creates a halo in the distance. I pull over to park behind an SUV, and Jayson parks his 4-door Chevy Silverado behind me.

  I hear Maria’s voice as she gets out. “Holy shit! This place is packed.” It’s the first time Maria has joined our group to come to a bonfire party. She’s a bit high strung for my taste, but Elizabeth adores her and they’ve been friends for a very long time. She’s funny as hell though.

  I notice that Julien is walking with a slight limp and wonder if his leg isn’t bothering him more than he lets on. I’ll make sure to keep an eye on him tonight. At the moment, my eye is all on Elizabeth. She looks fucking stunning in her black skinny jeans, black knee-high leather boots, and green blouse that hangs off one shoulder. Her hair is done up in some sort of fancy braid that wraps around her neck to fall on the right side of her shoulder. Jay says something to her, and her face lights up before her head tilts back and a lilting laughter leaves her throat. I watch as he pushes her up against the side of his truck and ravishes her neck, sending her into a fit of giggles. My jaw clamps down hard. Hailey runs over and playfully pushes Jay off of Elizabeth. Elizabeth loops her arm through her sister’s and they walk together toward the bonfire. Jay jogs up behind Elizabeth and smacks her ass before dipping his hand into the back pocket of her jeans.

  “Hey tall, dark, and handsome,” Maria says as she comes over. “Aren’t you coming?”

  I sigh. “Yeah. I’m coming.” I lock my car.

  Maria follows where my gaze has been locked for the past several minutes. “Oh. Shit. Um, ok,” she stutters. Being Elizabeth’s friend for so long, Maria knows our history. “Hey, I can be your wingman tonight if you want. You know, my Goose to your Maverick.”

  “As long as I don’t have to sing.”

  Her eyes go big at me. “What! You haven’t lost that loving feeling?”

  “Nope.”

  “Don’t you feel the need for speed?”

  “Already drive a Dodge Hellcat, so I’m good.”

  “Wanna buzz the tower?” Maria hip bumps me as we start walking to catch up to the others.

  I look down at her, “You’re a riot, Goose.”

  “I have my special talents, Mav,” she says as she points her finger at me and pretends to cock it like she’s firing a gun.

  “God, you’re corny as hell.”

  “But I’m a hell of a lot of fun,” she says, patting my arm. I look to where Elizabeth and Jay are up ahead. Elizabeth is glancing back at us, a frown on her face.

  “Come on,” Maria pulls my arm, “it’s my first time at one of these famous bonfire parties and I’m in the mood to try my first beer. You can be my DDB.”

  “DDB?”

  “Designated Drinking Buddy. Keep up,” she teases.

  We make our way to where the rest of the gang is standing. Elizabeth pulls Maria away from me and I hear her ask Maria, “What is that all about?” before a guy I know from the Fields calls out to me.

  “Hell yeah, you made it!” Fallon shouts. He and a few other guys from Highland High, whose names I don’t remember, approach and we do that weird guy handshake. “How the fuck are ya, man?”

  “Can’t complain. You?”

  “All’s good, all’s good.” I do a double take when I notice Jacinda hanging on Fallon’s side. He has his arm wrapped around her back under her armpit, his hand casually cupping her breast beneath the strap of her tank top. My gaze drops briefly to her chest where Fallon’s hand is sque
ezing, because, well, shit, I’m a guy. Jacinda notices and smiles at me.

  Julien comes up to my side, cuffing my shoulder. “Hey, Fallon.” I guess he knows the other guys too because he says their names in greeting.

  “Dude! Heard about what happened at the game. How’re you doing man?”

  “A little sore, but better. Thanks for asking.”

  “Yeah, I know Marshall. He’s a total douchebag. Heard he got a beat down from Elijah.”

  “Wouldn’t know,” Julien replies.

  Fallon grins. “Uh huh.” Elijah must have arrived sometime while we were talking because he’s standing next to Julien.

  “Speak of the devil,” Fallon grins. “Heard you put a beat down on Marshall.”

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about,” is all Elijah says, but none of us miss the bandage he has around his right hand.

  “Uh huh,” Fallon says again as Elijah and Julien leave, lost in their own conversation. Fallon and I make small talk for another five minutes, mostly about next week’s race at the Fields.

  “You racing your ‘Cat next week, yeah?”

  “Don’t think so. Dad and I are planning on installing a new fuel system upgrade, so I’ll more than likely be bringing the bike. You know me - I don’t care what I ride as long as I race.”

  “Awesome, man.” Fallon looks over my shoulder. "I see kitten's here," he begins, but is interrupted when someone yells out his name. “Yeah! Hold on!” he yells back. “Catch you later, man.”

  Jacinda looks back at me as Fallon drags her away. “See ya around, Ryder.”

  Jayson is next to arrive, handing me a beer. “I would stay away from that one,” he warns, tipping his bottle up toward where Fallon and Jacinda are now standing with a group of guys. He takes a long pull from his bottle, guzzling over half of it.

  “Not interested, so doesn’t matter,” I tell him before glancing in Elizabeth’s direction.

  “Well, she definitely is interested,” he snickers. “Shit, Ry, you shoul-,” but he’s interrupted by Maria as she runs over, pulling Elizabeth and Hailey behind her.

  “I’m so going to get drunk tonight!” Maria shouts.

  “That’s not something you want to be announcing to everyone here,” Elizabeth warns her as several boys’ heads turn our way after Maria’s enthusiastic announcement. “Besides, Mar, you’ve never been drunk in your life.”

  “Oh, please, chica. You never drink. But tonight’s the night that I am going to let loose. I’ve got you and Mav to back me up and protect me,” she winks at me. “Oh my God!” she screeches, distracted by a couple making out against the abandoned warehouse like they were filming a porno. Maria shields her eyes with her hand. “I really do need to get drunk to get that image out of my head.”

  Jayson grabs the beer he recently handed to me and steals it for himself. “Get used to it. Shit like that is normal at these parties,” Jayson informs her.

  Since it’s Maria’s first bonfire party, I give her a couple of important tips. “Ok, Goose. There are two rules to remember.”

  “What, like don’t talk about fight club, or what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?”

  “Close, but good try.” I hold up my index finger, “Rule #1: Don’t accept a drink from anyone,” then lift my middle finger, “and Rule #2: Just say no to drugs.”

  Maria snorts and pulls the fingers I'm holding up to her head and gives me a mock salute using them. “Yes, sir!”

  Elizabeth has been watching our exchange, a scowl on her face, and opens her mouth to say something, but Maria once again interrupts by squealing loudly. Jesus, this girl is loud.

  Someone has brought Bluetooth speakers and hooks up their phone to blast out music. “Hell yeah! Let’s dance!” She and Hailey run off and begin dancing around the bonfire.

  Jayson kisses the side of Elizabeth’s cheek and tells her to join the girls. “Nah, I’m good here,” she replies, taking a sip of her water.

  “Lizzie! Get your ass over here!” Maria shouts, jumping up and down rocking out to the music.

  “Baby, go have some fun. Besides, I want to see your sexy ass wiggle.” He gives Elizabeth a nudge. We both know she’s dying to get out there. Her hips are already moving to the beat of the music.

  A girl passes in front us carrying four beers. Jayson reaches out and snags two causing the girl to yelp out “Hey!” before she sees it’s Jayson who was the one who took them, then goes “Oh!” before blushing bright red.

  “Hi, Jayson. Hi, Ryder,” the girl says to us. Elizabeth frowns. She’s been doing that a lot tonight.

  “Thanks,” he winks at the girl and turns back around completely ignoring her. We hear a humph as she stomps off.

  “Lizzie! Come on!” Maria and Hailey both shout out.

  “Elizabeth, seriously. Go dance,” I tell her.

  “Are you sure?” she asks me, looking warily between me and Jayson as Jayson pops the top off one of the bottles he stole.

  “Elizabeth, get over here!” Hailey calls out.

  I can see Elizabeth hesitate, not sure on what she should do. I feel bad for her knowing she’s more than likely going to be nursing Jayson’s drunk ass later at the rate he’s going.

  “Go, Elizabeth. I got him,” I assure her.

  She links her pinky with mine and squeezes before leaving to join the girls.

  I turn to Jayson after she’s out of earshot. “You need to slow down,” I motion to the bottle in his hand.

  “Whatever, man. I don’t need a babysitter,” he slurs slightly, somewhat buzzed and heading toward tipsy fast.

  He’s starting to piss me off with his surly mood, so I shrug and ignore him and watch Elizabeth dance around the bonfire, her braid bouncing, eyes closed, head tilted to the side, mouth slightly parted. Maria backs up to Elizabeth so their asses are touching. Both girls giggle as their bodies slither up and down, hands raised, slightly bent, fingertips reaching for the night sky. Something stirs inside of me when I hear Elizabeth’s voice belt out the lyrics to the song she’s dancing to. God, I love her voice.

  “She’s so fucking sexy,” Jayson groans. I couldn’t agree with Jayson more. “You should hit up Maria.”

  For the second time tonight I reply, “Not interested.”

  “You guys appeared quite cozy earlier.”

  “She’s just a friend,” I clip back.

  “Be right back,” he says and hands me his empty beer bottle.

  I watch Jayson stalk over and grab Elizabeth, smashing his mouth down on hers. She jumps, startled, but then relaxes as she weaves her arms around his neck. I know I should turn around and leave. Why torture myself? But that’s exactly what I do. I watch as he kisses her passionately. I watch as he grabs her ass and lifts her up. I watch as her legs wrap around him, her hands grip his neck and slide into his hair. I watch as he pushes up into her, her head dropping back, his lips at her neck. I stand there like a perv and watch it all, wanting to be him, jealous that I’m not. Jayson carries Elizabeth off, stumbling a bit.

  A movement beside me catches my eye. Jacinda slides in next to me holding out a bottle.

  “Hey,” she purrs. I chug the rest of Jayson’s beer and take the one she’s offering.

  “Hey,” I say back.

  Jayson

  It doesn’t escape my notice that Elizabeth has been distracted tonight ever since she saw Ryder and Maria together. Maria has always been a bit odd, but tonight she and Ry appear to be hitting it off. I’m happy for him, really. He’s a great guy and deserves to be with a great girl, even though I know the great girl he wants is mine.

  For the past year, Ry and I have slowly put our friendship back together. It’s almost like old times between him, me, and Julien and it feels good to have my friend back. Doesn’t mean that I’m going to let my guard down when it comes to him and Liz. I know he still loves her. I see the look he gets on his face when he watches her. Perhaps I can help push his attention elsewhere, and Maria seems as good as any for me to use to star
t that push.

  When Ry and Maria catch up to us, Elizabeth pulls her aside as Fallon walks over to greet Ryder.

  “What was that all about?” Elizabeth asks Maria. I take that opportunity to go get us beer, but I can still hear them talking as I stroll over to a cooler sitting in the dirt.

  “What was what all about?”

  “You and Ryder.”

  “What about me and Ryder?”

  “Mar.”

  I spot Julien heading toward Ry and Fallon. By the time I get back to Liz, whatever conversation she and Maria were having has ended. I hand Liz and Hailey a water and Maria a beer. Elijah and Julien walk off as do Fallon and Jacinda. Fallon’s been feeling her up the entire time and she doesn’t seem to mind one bit.

  “I would stay away from that one,” I warn Ry. Jacinda’s been eye-fucking Ryder even though she’s apparently with Fallon tonight.

  “Not interested, so doesn’t matter.”

  My jaw clenches when I see him looking at Elizabeth, but I keep my mouth shut.

  “Well, she definitely is interested. Shit, Ry, you shoul-”

  Liz and the girls join us, stopping me from finishing my sentence, and I see Liz frowning once again as she watches Jacinda. My mood suddenly sours. I gulp down my first beer hoping it will help alleviate the ache in my chest, decide it isn’t enough, and start guzzling my second. Some of my old fears decide to rear their ugly heads at me. The only way I’m going to get through tonight, I decide, is to get hammered. When Maria shouts out “I’m so going to get drunk tonight!” I tip my bottle back in absolute agreement.

  By the time Ryder and I are standing watching the girls dance around the bonfire, I’ve got a very nice buzz going. It mellows me out enough so that I don’t get too pissed as I continuously side-eye Ryder next to me because he can’t seem to stop looking at Liz. Jealousy is a dangerous thing. I swore to Liz I would move heaven and earth to make sure our unit of four stayed intact. I know how much her friendship with Ryder means to her, means to me too, and I love my girl, so I will not do anything ever again to hurt her like Ry and I did last year. That doesn’t mean, however, I can’t show him who she belongs to now.