Wasted Summer

by Cathryn Fox

  When he pulled back, they were both breathless. “That’s all I could think about all day,” he murmured. She caught his mischievous grin when he added, “Among a few other things.” His eyes moved over her face. His smile instantly fell and he stiffened, his muscles tightening beneath her hands. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she said, realizing how well he could read her and how impossible it was to keep anything from him.

  “Is it because I’m late?” he asked.

  “Of course not,” she said, Justin’s words still pinging around inside her brain. I wouldn’t be off fucking around with Suzette. God, why was she letting him inside her head? Ryeland had offered to quit the tournament and she was the one who insisted he stay.

  “We were late getting a court, so we ended up going over to make up for it,” he went on to explain anyway.

  “It’s fine, Rye.”

  He pushed her hair back and cupped her cheek, his hands so strong and protective as he held her. “Something’s wrong, Melody. Tell me what it is.”

  “Nothing, really.” She didn’t want to get into this, but she knew Ryeland wasn’t going to let up. “It’s just that Justin came in tonight and told me you weren’t the guy for me, and then asked me to do something with him.”

  “Fuck,” Ryeland said, as he briefly closed his eyes. “What the hell does he think he’s doing?”

  “He was high.”

  “He’s always high. I’ll talk to him.”

  “No, don’t. Just forget it, okay? He’s not worth it.”

  “But you are.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek and she closed her hand over his. “Don’t worry, he won’t bother you again. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about Justin anymore.”

  When lights flashed behind them, Ryeland stepped on the gas and drove past the staff buildings. He shot her a glance. “Know what I want to talk about?”

  “What?” she asked, wanting to forget about everything and anything but Ryeland and the way he made her feel.

  “Last night,” he said.

  She felt heat move into her face. “What about it?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe just how much I liked it, and how much I want to make out with you again.”

  He spun around and headed down the hill toward town. “Where are we going?”

  “I thought we’d go to the drive-in.”

  “You want to make out with me at the drive-in?”

  He flashed a big smile her way. “Yeah.”

  “I thought you were supposed to be studying tonight and I was supposed to be working on my assignment.”

  “Technically this is work.”

  “Really? And technically how?” she asked, her heart racing a bit faster as she thought about feeling his mouth on her body again.

  “Chapter five.” He grinned. “And well, really this is about me helping you with those sex scenes.” He shot her a look, his expression full of mock exasperation. “The sacrifices I’m willing to make for you.”

  She laughed. “Oh, is that what you’d call it?”

  “Doesn’t matter, because in ten minutes the only thing you’re going to be calling is my name…”

  Chapter Fourteen

  After the movie, and a hot and heavy make-out session, Ryeland dropped Melody back at her place, and now here he was combing the streets looking for Justin. Figuring he’d be at the Cave, he headed to the beach area and shot him a text. Except Justin didn’t answer. Ryeland found Cameron, who had his arm wrapped around Maggie, a cute brunette who vacationed here yearly.

  “Where you been hiding?” Cameron asked.

  “Not hiding. Just hanging out with Mel.” He looked past Cameron’s shoulders. “Is Justin here?”

  “Yeah why? What’s up?” Cameron asked.

  “I want to talk to him.”

  “You actually look like you want to kill him.” Cameron dropped a kiss onto Maggie’s mouth, then whispered something in her ear. A second later she disappeared.

  “What’s going on?” he asked when she was out of earshot.

  “Justin hit on Mel.”

  “What is it with him anyway? The guy needs some serious counseling. Last I saw him he was doing a line of coke.”

  “Christ.”

  “You might want to wait until he’s sober to talk to him.”

  Just then he caught Justin out of the corner of his eyes. Then he spotted a drunken Suzette coming his way. Shit. Jamie, the camp counselor he’d given horse rides to, caught his eye and started his way but stopped when Suzette pushed past her, giving Jamie a look that could kill.

  “Ryeland,” she squealed, a wide smile on her face. “About time you showed up.” Before he knew what was happening, she threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his mouth.

  “Suzette,” he said, peeling her arms from his body. She whimpered in protest and flung herself at him again. “You know I’m with Melody.” That’s when he spotted Jaelyn watching him, her face stone cold.

  “Come on, Ryeland,” she half purred, half slurred. “We all know what you’re doing with her. Just taking your turn like everyone else.”

  With his anger raging, he cast Cameron a pleading look. Cameron grabbed Suzette’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go get Ryeland a drink.”

  “Oh, good idea. I’ll be right back,” she murmured and left with Cameron. Ryeland went to find Jaelyn, wanting to explain what she saw, but instead stumbled upon Justin.

  “Ryeland,” Justin said. “What the fuck are you doing here, man?”

  “Looking for you.”

  Justin reached into the cooler and pulled out a beer. He held it out to Ryeland. “You finally ready to loosen up and have some fun, or what?”

  Ryeland didn’t take the beer, instead he said, “Stay away from Mel.”

  Justin shrugged, then uncapped the bottle in his hand and took a huge swig. “What the fuck you talking about?”

  “She told me what happened tonight.”

  Just then a giggling little blonde came up to Justin, and he tossed his arm her shoulder. “Nothing happened.”

  Ryeland stepped closer and lowered his voice. “And nothing ever will happen, so stay the fuck away from her.”

  Justin laughed. “Hey, man, whatever happened to bros before hoes?”

  Ryeland clenched down hard and through gritted teeth he warned, “Don’t ever call her that.” His nostrils flared and he worked to pull himself together before he did something he would only regret. Justin was wasted and the last thing Ryeland wanted was to get in a physical fight with him. That would only give his parents the fuel they needed. He had no doubt they’d use it to their advantage and remind him that there’d be no tension between friends if it wasn’t for Melody. He scrubbed his chin and glanced around, noticing Trevor in the crowd. The douche has his lips smashed with some girl’s and Ryeland was glad. He didn’t want to deal with him tonight too.

  Ryeland fisted his hands. “All I’m saying is if you bother her again, next time we won’t be talking.”

  “Hey, come on, what do I need with your girl when I’ve got my own.” He pressed his mouth to the blonde’s and she giggled and kissed him back.

  “That’s what I’m wondering too.”

  Cameron came up to them and Ryeland turned from Justin. “Want to get out of here?” Cameron asked. “We could head in to Grizzly’s for a beer. You look like you need to cool down a bit.”

  “Yeah, sure,” he said, needing to get away from Justin and that smirk on his face. “But what about Maggie?”

  “I told her I’d catch up with her later.”

  They drove to town, and a short while later, they both took a seat at the bar and gestured Trent for a beer. Still unable to shake his anger, he turned to Cameron.

  “What the hell did Justin think he was doing anyway?”

  “He’s an asshole, and like any asshole, he wants what someone else has.”

  “He doesn’t know her, you know. She’s not what everyo
ne thinks.” He looked at Cameron pointedly. “She’s not a whore.”

  Cameron took a sip of his beer and planted the bottle on the tabletop. “I don’t know her, but if you say she isn’t then she isn’t.”

  “She’s incredible, Cameron.”

  “Then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks right?”

  Ryeland blew out a breath. “It matters to my folks.”

  “Yeah, I kind of thought it would. Your father is a bit of a hard ass.”

  Ryeland exhaled slowly. “He wants to see me with Suzette and warned me away from Mel.”

  “What do they have against her?”

  “She’s a local, and my mother automatically hates her because of it. Jesus, my mother grew up here, so I don’t know what her problem is.” He took a small pull from his bottle. “Apparently she thinks Mel is using me and is only hanging around because she wants something.” Christ, Ryeland was used to people wanting things from him. His father and mother expected the perfect son, a child who would follow the path they set out for him without question. Suzette wanted to become a Montgomery, to marry into the right kind of family. Then there were the girls he’d been with in the past. They all wanted something from him, whether it was a roll in the sack, or for him to open his wallet and buy them pretty things. Only Melody seemed to like him for him, and asked for nothing.

  “I’m crazy about her, Cameron.”

  “Then you should be with her.”

  “Shit,” Ryeland said. “I’m sure Jaelyn’s planning on telling her she saw me at the Cave with Suzette.”

  “You’ll explain. If she’s as great as you say, she’ll understand.”

  Cameron finished off his beer and Ryeland pushed his to the side. “I should go talk to Mel, to explain what happened. I just hope Jaelyn hasn’t texted her yet.”

  Cameron checked his phone and grinned. “Yeah, Maggie sent a few texts already. She’s going to pick me up here. Her folks are out for the night, so we’re heading to her chalet.”

  “I’ll catch up with you later.” Ryeland slipped from his stool and walked outside. The cool night air washed over him, and he breathed it in as he linked his hands behind his head and stretched. He crossed the road and he reached for his car handle, but when a movement on the sidewalk caught his attention, he looked up, catching a flash of dark hair swishing beneath the light of the lamppost before disappearing around the corner. Melody?

  What the hell?

  He hopped in his Wrangler and followed, and when he caught her rushing up the steps to an apartment building and disappearing inside, he killed the ignition and opened his door. The street was quiet, only a few cars passing as he sat on the bonnet, and he stole a glance at his watch. Soon minutes turned into hours, and as he sat waiting for her, small doubts crept into his brain. While he didn’t believe his mother and the things everyone said about Melody, there was nothing he could do to keep the words of warning from rattling around inside his brain like dice in a Yahtzee cup. When she finally came out and caught him sitting there, panic moved over her face.

  “Hi,” he said as she slowly came down the steps.

  “Hi,” she returned and shot a glance around. Her voice cracked when she asked, “What…what are you doing here?”

  “I thought you might need a lift.” She stood there staring at him, so he pushed off the engine bonnet and opened the passenger door. “Hop in.”

  With her arms crossed, she hugged herself and moved toward him. “Thanks,” she said quietly. “How did you know where I was?”

  He braced his hand on the top of the Jeep and leaned toward her. “I caught a drink with Cameron at Grizzly’s and saw you when I was coming out.”

  “Oh.”

  He shut the door after she got in, and took note of the way she was shivering. Ryeland circled the Jeep, jumped in and turned the heat on high. Melody remained quiet, too quiet, and while he wanted to ask what she was doing he kept his mouth shut.

  “It’s not what you think,” she finally said, breaking the quiet.

  He turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers, then looked back at the road. “I never said what I thought.”

  “I wasn’t with another guy.”

  “I never thought you were.”

  “You didn’t?” she asked, sounding surprised.

  His hand slid across the seat and captured hers. He gave a little squeeze. “No, I didn’t,” and while that was true, he couldn’t help but wonder what it was she was hiding from him. When he dropped her off earlier, she told him she was going to do some writing and then go to sleep, because she needed to be well rested for the overnight camping trip with the ten little girls she was in charge of tomorrow night. Then again, he told her he was going to study and hit the sack too, but instead had gone and looked for Justin, despite her not wanting him to.

  He listened to her breathing change, and when he looked at her again, he could see her swiping at her eyes. Everything inside him tightened. “Melody,” he whispered. “What is it?” he finally asked, hating to see her hurting. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t want you to think less of me,” she choked out.

  “Could never happen,” he said.

  She went quiet for a long time, her hand still in his. They drove past the Cave and up the hill, and it was only when he was nearing her lodge that she broke the silence.

  “Remember when you asked me why I didn’t drink?”

  “Yeah, you said it didn’t do nice things to the people you care about.”

  “I was talking about my mom. She drinks too much. She gets angry, really angry, and often ends up in fights with whatever guy she’s with. Most times Officer Sattler calls me to get her, but one of these days he’s going to have to lock her up. Tonight I was able to save her from that.”

  He swallowed. Hard. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. I’m lucky Sattler was able to get ahold of me tonight.”

  “Officer Sattler, as in Trevor’s uncle?”

  She nodded.

  “He calls you?”

  “Texts.”

  “That’s good of him. He must really like you.”

  “More like pities me,” she said quietly.

  She looked down, hiding her eyes, and he sensed there was more to the story with Sattler. He squeezed her hand tighter, hating that for a moment there he’d let others plant doubt in his head. Melody didn’t deserve that from him.

  She cast a quick glance his way. “He also told me he talked to Trevor. He won’t be bothering us anymore.”

  “I can handle Trevor, but he better damn well stay away from you.” She leaned her head back on the backrest and stared at the roof. “What’s your mom so angry about?” he asked.

  “For one, she hates the vacationers. She feels like they all look down their noses at the locals. I guess she’s just not happy with her lot in life but doesn’t want to do anything to change it.”

  “And what else?” She angled her head his way and gave him a confused look. “You said for one, so I thought there must be a two.”

  “Oh.” She turned and continued to stare at the roof. “I don’t know. I didn’t mean to say that.” There was a deep sadness on her face, and Ryeland knew she was holding something back. Sweet Melody Spencer had secrets and plenty of them, and damned if he didn’t want to help her slay the demons that haunted her.

  He pulled into his usual parking spot and walked around to her side. He pulled her to him, holding her shaking body. It occurred to him that Melody had an incredible sense of responsibility for her mother, yet no one was taking care of her.

  “You never have to go through this by yourself, Melody. Not again.”

  He walked her up the stairs and to her room, and when she opened her door, the loneliness he caught on her face made his heart catch.

  “I’m staying the night.” He kicked off his shoes.

  “What?”

  “You’re clearly shaken up and I don’t want you to be alone.”

&nb
sp; Her voice hitched when she said, “Being with Mom always makes me emotional.”

  He dropped down onto her bed and pulled her with him. She rested her head on his shoulder and he held her tight, until her body stopped quivering. When her breathing slowed, he covered them up, and dropped a kiss onto her forehead.

  “Try to get some sleep,” he said.

  “Ryeland,” she whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  “Jaelyn texted me.”

  He cupped her chin, and met her eyes. “It’s not what you think.”

  She looked at him for a long time, then said, “No, then maybe you should leave.”

  He stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

  “From the way Jaelyn explained it, Suzette was all over you and you pushed her away.”

  His heart pinched, because trust didn’t come easy to her, yet she was ever so slowly believing in him. He kissed her, a long, hot kiss that set his heart racing. “I told you before, I only want you.”

  “She also told me you got into it with Justin.”

  He fell onto his pillow and pulled her in tighter. “I know you asked me not to say anything, and I hope you’re not upset, but you’re with me now, Melody, and no one, and I mean no one, is ever going to hurt you again.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Last night Ryeland had vowed to protect her, but Mel knew the only person who could ever hurt her now was Ryeland Montgomery himself. She was in deep with him, so totally lost in his touch, his taste, the way he cared for her, that she could barely go a minute without thinking of him.