by R. Linda
“And Nate.” Ryder smirked. Indie tended to forget that Linc, the love of her life, shared an apartment with her brother. Well, maybe not forgot, but chose to ignore that fact. She had blinders on when it came to him.
“Eh.” She waved him off. “Nate doesn’t count.”
Chapter Three
Ryder
The drive home took forever. With the constant stopping for toilet breaks and food, it took much longer than it should have, but we were finally back in Blackhill. I pulled off the highway and parked the car outside the roadhouse just outside of town.
It was my home away from home. The place I ran to when things got tough, when I needed a feed and when I needed a job. Johnny had saved my neck more than a few times in the past, giving me shifts because I needed to send Kenzie money, even when there was no work. He was a good man.
“I’ll be five minutes. Just want to say hi to Johnny,” I said as I got out of the car and leaned down to look at Bailey.
“Great. We’ll come with,” Indie said with a huge grin.
“We will?” Bailey turned in her seat to look at Indie. “I mean, I was going to, but you were just complaining that you were tired and didn’t want to move anymore.”
She had complained the entire drive.
My music sucked. She was hungry. She had to pee. Could I turn down the A/C because she was cold? Could I turn it up because she was hot? Why didn’t my car have electric windows? Because they didn’t exist in the 60’s. She didn’t see the appeal of vintage models. They weren’t classic. They were old. I should upgrade.
And when she wasn’t complaining, she talked nonstop about Linc.
“That was before I saw Linc’s car right there.” Indie pointed across the parking lot where there was another car as Bailey got out and shut the door.
I chuckled. “Desperate much?”
“Shut up. I’m not the one who faked a relationship to win someone over. How juvenile.” Indie flipped her hair over her shoulder and climbed out of the car.
I threw my arm over Bailey’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. “It worked, didn’t it?”
So what if Bailey and I fake dated for months? It felt real the whole time.
“Whatever.”
We walked, over and I pulled open the doors to the diner, letting Bailey and Indie go in first. I smiled. The place hadn’t changed at all. The black and white tiled floor, Formica tabletops, and tatty red leather seats, the table where I had etched my name with a knife, before Johnny kicked my ass and made me work off my debt. Grease permeated the air, and the loud clattering followed by the unmistakable rough voice of Johnny swearing in the kitchen. Probably dropped a pot on his foot.
I rapped my knuckles on the counter and called through the small window, “What’s a guy gotta do to get a decent feed in this town?”
Crash. Bang. Clatter.
Johnny cursed again. “You pain in the ass. You know where the grill is,” he grumbled as he pushed the kitchen door open and came out to greet us.
He pulled me in for a hug. “Good to see ya, kid. Been a while,” he said in my ear before turning to Bailey. “Pretty Bailey, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“Hey, Johnny.” She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Remember Indie?”
“Sure.” He winked at Indie when she gave him a small wave. “So, what brings you back? Missed my burgers that much?”
I scoffed. “Like a hole in the head.”
It was a long-running joke between the two of us. Ever since he gave me a job at sixteen working the grill, we’ve argued over who makes the best burgers. I do, clearly, but he just won’t let it go.
Johnny turned to Bailey. “How do you put up with this little shit?”
“I’m pretty good at keeping him in line.” She rubbed her hand up and down my back.
“I’ll bet. Sure got the kid wrapped around your little finger, huh?”
“Something like that.” Bailey smiled.
“I’m standing right here.” I tried to sound pissed, but I couldn’t. It was true. I was wrapped around her little finger, and every other body part she’d let me.
“All right. So, you eating?”
“Nah, not tonight. Just wanted to stop and say hi. It’s Cole’s birthday, so we’re here all weekend.”
“Fair enough.” Johnny nodded. “Well, if you’re not going to eat, I have a mess in the kitchen to clean. Make sure you call in before you leave again, yeah?”
“Of course.” I nodded and shook his hand so he could return to the kitchen and we could keep going.
“Ready?” Bailey asked Indie, but she shook her head.
“Where’s Linc?”
“You sure it was his car?” I asked. Knowing Indie, it was probably an entirely different model and colour.
“Of course, it is. I memorized his registration.”
Bailey laughed. And I was sadly not surprised by that revelation. She was obsessed with the guy.
“Maybe he’s around the corner.” Bailey pointed to the other side of the diner where there were more tables and chairs hidden from view.
“Ryder, go look!” Indie shoved me in the back.
“No.”
“Please. I don’t want to look stupid if I walk around and he’s not there.”
“If he’s not there, then you won’t have anyone to look stupid in front of, will you?”
“Good point.” Indie tapped her chin. “But if he is there, then I look stupid for wandering around a diner when I’m not eating.”
Jesus.
I stared at her.
“Please!” She placed her hands together like she was praying. Begging.
“Come on, Jones,” Bailey nudged. Thought she was meant to be on my side. Not Indie’s.
“So, it’s okay for me to look stupid, but not you?” I asked Indie.
“No one would ever think you’d look stupid. You’re too…” She paused and tilted her head.
“I’m too what?”
“You. You’re too you.”
“If I go, will you shut up?”
“Definitely.” She nodded.
Shaking my head, I walked off and made my way around the corner to the other tables and chairs. Sure enough, there was Linc. Only he wasn’t alone. He was with a chick. Blonde hair, too much makeup, skin-tight jeans, and a lowcut top with too much cleavage. Left nothing to the imagination.
And was that…glitter? On her arms. I pressed my lips together to stop from snickering.
She was running her hands over his chest and pressing her body into his side.
Crap.
She was either his girlfriend, or judging by the way her hands just slid between his legs, someone he was screwing around with.
If Indie saw them together, it would break her heart.
I turned and walked away, needing to get Indie as far from the diner as I could before she saw them. Last thing I wanted to deal with this weekend was a miserable Indie.
“Well?” Indie asked. Her eyes were wide with excitement and hope. She was so damn naïve. This was going to kill her.
“No one there.” I shrugged and grabbed Bailey’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Oh.” Indie lowered her eyes and chewed on her lip. She looked dejected. The excitement suddenly replaced by disappointment. I hoped like hell that whoever Stripper Barbie with Linc was, she wasn’t someone serious. “Okay.”
Bailey’s hand tightened in mine, and she slapped my chest, nodding in the direction I had just come from. Linc was approaching with his arm around his date. He hadn’t seen us yet, and Indie was still facing the other direction. I turned Bailey and me around too, so all our backs were to him. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.
“Hey, In, want to come to ladies’ room with me?” Bailey asked in an attempt to distract her and get her out of his sight.
Indie screwed her face up. “Umm, no. You don’t need my help. You’re a big girl. I believe in you, B,” she said sarcastically, patting Bailey’s arm in encouragement.
�
��Princess?” Linc’s voice asked curiously.
Dammit.
Indie stiffened briefly, and a small gasp escaped her lips as she turned around. His face lit up when his suspicions were confirmed that it was Indie. He smiled at her and dropped his arm from around his date’s waist. I angled my head and watched him with piqued curiosity as he stepped to the side, putting distance between himself and the sparkling disco ball beside him.
She seemed not to notice and was more focused on her nails than what was going on around her. Her mouth was working a piece of gum. No, scratch that, bubblegum. She blew a giant bubble and let it pop, obnoxiously loud.
I cringed.
Indie had taken a few steps toward him when she must have realised he wasn’t alone. It didn’t stop Linc, though. He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
“Who’s that?” Bailey leaned up on her toes and whispered in my ear.
Chew.
Chew.
Bubble.
Pop.
“Don’t know. Girlfriend, I guess.” I lifted a shoulder and watched as Linc continued to hold Indie. Hug her longer than appropriate for ‘friends.’
“We better go over there,” Bailey said, pulling on my hand and making me follow her.
“Bailey,” Linc said with a smile and kissed her cheek before looking at me and holding out a hand for me to shake. “Hey, man, how’s it going?”
“Good. You?” I asked.
“Can’t complain,” he said, rubbing a hand over his side and focusing his attention back on Indie. “When did you get here?”
“About ten minutes ago. Ryder just wanted to say hi to Johnny. Didn’t know you were here,” she replied and shot me a glare like I did something wrong.
Shoot me for not wanting her to get hurt. And for not wanting to hear about it for the rest of the weekend.
“I’m glad you’re here. You’re still staying with us, aren’t you?” Linc asked, not taking his eyes off Indie.
“Babe, what’s taking so long?” The glitter bomb he was with teetered over on her stupid high shoes. How she didn’t trip and break her ankle or neck baffled me. They were the type of shoes that strippers wore. Silver, sparkly, strappy, and covered in those fake diamond things that Bailey sometimes braided into her hair.
Linc swallowed and pinched his eyebrows, still focused on Indie, as the other woman placed her left hand on his chest, and right arm around his waist.
Chew.
Chew.
Bubble.
Pop.
A shiver ran down my spine, and it took everything I had to mask my features into something neutral. She was blowing bubbles and chewing gum like a teenager with an attitude problem.
“Yeah, ahh, just give me a minute, babe,” Linc said. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Indie’s posture deflate. Her shoulders sagged, and I could practically hear her heart fracturing in her chest.
“You going to introduce me to your friends?”
Chew.
Chew.
Bubble.
Pop.
Please don’t.
She tapped her fingers across Linc’s chest, and that was when I noticed the diamond on her finger.
Shit.
Linc squeezed his eyes shut and tilted his head back as though he wanted to be anywhere else but there. And if I were him, I’d probably feel the same way. I was almost positive the dude was as infatuated with Indie as she was with him. He just couldn’t act on it because he was best friends with Indie’s brother Nate.
“Jasmine, this is Ryder and Bailey,” he said. He took a deep breath and reached out to touch Indie before having second thoughts and dropping his hand. “This is Indie. Nate’s—”
“Baby sister!” Jasmine squealed. “Hi. Oh, my gosh, I’ve heard so much about you!”
“Funny, I’ve not heard anything about you.” Indie forced a smile.
“Oh, that’s okay. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of chances to catch up between now and the wedding!” Jasmine said.
Chew.
Chew.
Bubble.
Pop.
Linc choked on air, and his skin drained of colour.
You could practically hear it as Indie’s heart shattered, echoing in the dead silence of the diner. Even Johnny had stopped clattering around in the kitchen.
Bailey subtly moved closer to Indie, likely placing a hand on her back to comfort her without making it obvious. That fracturing sound in Indie’s chest grew louder as she sucked in a breath.
“You’re staying with us this weekend too, right?” Jasmine asked. She was too perky. Happy. Cheery. No one should be that bright.
“No, actually, there was a change of plans. I’m staying with Bailey and Ryder. Isn’t that right?” Indie turned to us with wide, pleading eyes.
Running a hand through my hair, I nodded. There wasn’t really much room at my mother’s house since she moved to a smaller place, but she couldn’t go to her parents’ place because they were renovating and staying out of town while the work was being done.
Linc’s eyes narrowed, and his eyebrows pulled together. He spoke through a clenched jaw. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“Didn’t you get my message the other day?” Indie feigned innocence. “Maybe you were too busy planning your wedding,” she hissed. “We really should get going. It was good to see you, Linc.”
Indie straightened her shoulders and walked away.
“Princess, wait.” Linc reached out for her.
Princess.
He still called her Princess when his fiancée was standing beside him. Bailey would have my balls made into damn earmuffs if I even thought about calling another woman Princess.
Indie hesitated.
“Will I see you at the house this weekend?” He cleared his throat and continued, “I mean, Nate has been counting down the days until you arrived. He’s so excited to have you home for the weekend.”
“Maybe. We’re pretty busy with the party and things.” She shrugged and walked away.
“Bye, Indie,” Jasmine yelled after her.
Chew.
Chew.
Bubble.
Pop.
Bailey smiled politely and ran out after Indie to make sure she was okay.
Linc’s gaze followed Indie until she was out of sight.
“Look, man, if you want to bring Nate to Cole’s party tomorrow, I’m sure Kenzie won’t mind two extras,” I said emphasising you and two, to make sure he understood not to bring Jasmine with him if he didn’t want Indie to commit a violent act of hatred.
“Yeah, thanks. I think I’ll do that. He’d be furious if he didn’t get to talk to her this weekend.” He nodded.
“I’ll let Kenzie know you and he will be coming.”
“Thanks, man.” He held out a fist for me to bump with my own. “And, ahh…” he rubbed his neck, “maybe don’t tell Indie about it, yeah?”
“Sure.” I nodded and left.
Chapter Four
Bailey
We were heading to see Ryder’s mum. The drive to Joan’s house was quiet and subdued. Indie sat in the back silently staring out the window, the quietest she’d been since we left campus. I tried to speak to her, but she ignored me. I knew she was hurt and confused, and most likely contemplating stealing Ryder’s car to get out of town. It was what she did. Whenever Linc inadvertently—I refused to believe he did it on purpose because he cared about her too much—hurt her feelings, she ran.
The house was empty when we arrived. Ryder’s mum, Joan, was working the late shift at the hospital and wouldn’t be home until midnight.
Ryder carried all our bags inside and switched on some lights. “Anyone hungry? Want a drink?”
“I just want to go to bed,” Indie said and folded her arms over her chest.
I looked at Ryder. We hadn’t planned for Indie to stay here, and there were only two bedrooms. He pinched his bottom lip in thought. “You two take the spare room
. Bed’s big enough, and I’ll crash on the sofa.”
“Okay,” Indie mumbled before grabbing her bag and dragging it upstairs. Ryder watched her go until she had disappeared at the top.
He pulled me into his arms. “You okay with sharing with that?”
“Sharing with Indie?”
“Mmm,” he mumbled.
Resting my chin on his chest, I looked up at him. “Of course. Are you okay on the sofa?”
He sighed. “Not what I planned, but it’s only three nights. Do you need anything?” He lifted his eyes to the ceiling as Indie thumped around above us.
“No, but I should check on her. Do you want some help setting up down here?”
“It’s fine, love. Go make sure Indie is okay.”
I nodded and made to move away, but Ryder’s arms were so warm, and I just wanted to snuggle against his chest a little longer.
“I can’t believe he has a fiancée. How did we not know about it? Surely, someone would have thought to tell Indie,” I said.
“Don’t know. I think maybe he was scared to tell her.” Ryder walked backwards with me still held to his chest until we reached the sofa. Sitting down, he pulled me onto his lap.
“Scared?”
“Come on, Bailey. Even you must have noticed how he is with her.” He brushed a strand of hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ear, leaving his hand cupping the side of my neck.
“He’s protective,” I said. Much like Ryder was with me when we first began fake dating.
Ryder shook his head. “Uh-ah.” His thumb drifted up and down my throat while his other hand gripped the top of my thigh.
“Of course, he’s protective. They grew up together. She’s like his sister, only she doesn’t see it that way.” I leaned into his touch.
“So naïve, love.”
“What?” I sighed, his fingers making my skin prickle.
“He’s crazy about her.”
“No…” I pulled back and studied Ryder carefully. He bit his lip and nodded. “Really?”
“He’s too overprotective. He looks at her the way I look at you. He watches her every move, never takes his eyes off her. When they’re together, they’re in sync. They move together, mirror each other. And they’re both too stupid to do anything about it.”