Distract Me

by M. J. Berterman

  I sat back in my chair and looked at her. Did I miss something between the two of them? I had been so preoccupied with Ryder lately that I hadn’t noticed anything. My thoughts flashed back to Mariella the other night and my failure to realize she was even dating anyone. I felt bad that I was neglecting my friendships. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I leaned forward and gave Janie the biggest smile.

  “When did you two become a thing?” I winked.

  Her hands covered her mouth, as she couldn’t hold back the huge grin on her face. I know how she felt because it was the same emotion for me when I talked about Ryder.

  “We hooked up the night we all went to watch the game at the pub.” She closed her eyes like she was remembering the details.

  “I didn’t plan it, but I was drinking and feeling pretty good that night, and the Yankees won, which made my night even better. So one thing led to another, and I went back to his apartment...” She stopped to catch her breath.

  “I got it... so it turned into more?” I put my hands up.

  Janie was smiling from ear to ear. She had a glow about her. I wondered if people saw that with me.

  “We went to lunch a few times, and lunch led into other things too...” She blushed.

  “I got it. Work and pleasure and those aren’t my snacks anymore.” I put my hands up again and laughed. “I’m so happy for you, Janie, and of course, I have no problem with the two of you dating. Trent is a great friend, and so are you.” I grabbed my necklace and remembered what a great thing he did by returning it to me.

  Truly, I couldn’t think of a better guy for Janie. I heard a knock on my door and snapped my head up to see Trent standing in the doorway. He had his hands in his pockets and stood there smiling at Janie.

  “Hey, Adi.” He waved. “Janie, are you ready for lunch?” he asked. He looked more relaxed than awkward now.

  “Yes, she’s all yours.” I waved her away.

  She giggled as she stood up. The two of them walked out of my room grinning at each other like they shared a secret. I could only imagine what their plans for lunch would be. It made me miss Ryder, so I sent him a quick text.

  “Can’t stop thinking about you.” It wasn’t a minute later that he sent me a text back.

  “You’re always on my mind. Can I see you again tonight?” I smiled as I read the message.

  First, I needed to check with Mariella to make sure she didn’t need me to come home tonight.

  “I’ll let you know soon. Love you.” It felt so good to tell him I loved him.

  “I love you more.” I read his message aloud.

  The hours passed, and all the kids were gone for the day. I finished grading papers and cleaned the boards in my room since we were down to our last two weeks of school, and there wasn’t much left to do. Summer was looking like more of an adventure now that I had Ryder, and I was probably more excited than the kids were.

  Mariella called an hour ago saying she wouldn’t be home tonight because she had a hot date. It made me feel better about going to Ryder’s apartment for the night when I knew she had other plans. I still felt guilty about leaving her alone at our apartment. I checked my phone before putting it in my bag. One unread message from Ryder.

  “Sorry, baby. I know its short notice, but I have a work emergency, so I have to stay a few hours over until it’s resolved.” I read his message and my smiled disappeared.

  His work was really important, but part of me worried he would become a robot like most of those men at his parent’s dinner. I hoped he would keep a balance. I wondered if I could ever be that wife who would just stand and nod at fancy dinner parties next to her husband. That party made me so uncomfortable, and it made me miss my family more.

  “I understand. Work is work. Hopefully, we can make plans tomorrow,” I replied.

  Walking outside, I saw Janie and Trent standing on the side of the building laughing and touching each other’s hands as they embraced. I gave them a quick wave and smiled to myself because I knew what they were feeling.

  The streets were calm, and I made it all the way to my apartment without any sirens or chaos, which was odd for these city streets. The apartment was quiet, and I found it peaceful. My head had been spinning from last night’s surprises, and I still couldn’t shake the way his parents were. I fell on the couch in exhaustion.

  The vibration of my phone woke me from my sleep. Dad calling flashed on my screen. I jumped up, wiped my eyes, and grabbed my phone before voicemail picked up.

  “Hey, Dad!” I yawned. I lay back down on the couch with the phone to my ear.

  “Adi girl, how are you?” he asked.

  I smiled into the phone because I missed his voice. It made me feel like I was home again.

  “I’m good. Just took a nap on the couch. How are you?” I asked.

  “Did those kids wear you out today?” He laughed.

  “Yeah, it’s been a crazy few days since summer is almost here. It’s been a wildness overload.” I sighed from the lie.

  It was Ryder that was keeping me up all night.

  “How is that boyfriend of yours?” he asked.

  I took a deep breath, probably a little too loud on the phone. Chase told him about Ryder, and I was annoyed.

  “Chase told you?” I asked.

  “No, I just caught on to my little girl not calling me every night, so I figured there must be another guy in her life.” He laughed.

  “And... Chase told you.” I smiled.

  He laughed his belly laugh into the phone, and I could imagine him holding his chest.

  “Well someone has to fill me in on my little girl. I haven’t heard much from you lately.” He sighed.

  I frowned because guilt consumed me again. I’ve been so shitty to everyone lately.

  “I know, Dad. I’m sorry. I should have told you about him. His name is Ryder, and he’s an attorney... and he’s just amazing.” I held the phone tight to my ear.

  My dad’s opinion always stuck with me, and I appreciated any advice he gave.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that, Adi. I want you to be happy, and if you’re happy, then I am too. Don’t worry about putting other things on hold. Finding a person you can share things with is hard to find. Time doesn’t exist when you’re with them, and that’s when you know they are worth it. Explore it and live,” he said.

  “Thanks, Dad.” I felt like I needed his approval still. Even as an adult it meant everything to me. He made me feel so much better about Ryder consuming most of my life right now.

  “Well, when can I meet this guy who has kept you so busy?” he asked.

  “Hopefully, soon,” I replied.

  “Well, Chase is having dinner for Delilah’s birthday tomorrow night. You should bring him with you.” He sounded hopeful.

  Delilah’s birthday? How did I forget? I needed to text Chase as soon as I ended the call with my dad.

  “Oh, that’s right. Okay, Dad. I’ll ask him if Ryder can come,” I said hoping he would get the hint that I needed to get off the phone.

  “All right, Adi girl. I’ll see you tomorrow, and I love you.” He cleared his throat.

  “Love you too, Dad.” I ended the call.

  Now I needed to text Chase. Damn, I needed to get my shit together and balance everything in my life that was becoming hazy since I started seeing Ryder. I held tight to my necklace as I waited for him to reply.

  “Hey, little sis, miss you. Hope things are going good. Yes, we’re doing dinner, my house at seven, and I hope you can still make it.” I read his text.

  “Yes, of course. I can’t wait to see everyone. Can I bring Ryder?” I replied.

  Lying back on the couch, I played with my thumbnail as I waited for him to text back. Chase could be a bit overprotective of me and come off as kind of an asshole to my boyfriends.

  “Yes, please...we can’t wait to meet the guy who has stolen our Adi from us. ;}” I read his message and shook my head.

  I wondered what Mariella had been
telling Chase and my dad.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow...and please, be nice.” I texted him and threw my phone on my nightstand.

  The pillow under my head started to feel too stiff, so I adjusted it. My eyes were still heavy, so I shut them again. Just drifting off to sleep, my phone began ringing violently. It was Ryder’s ring tone, “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC. It made me grin remembering the night we made love until sunrise, and he changed it without me knowing and then called me the moment I left his apartment. I was so confused at first, but when I heard the lyrics to the song, I burst into laughter and never changed it back. The next time I saw him, I changed my ring tone to the acoustical version of “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones on his phone. He loved it.

  “Hey, how’s work?” I answered.

  “I’m still stuck here.” He sighed.

  “There is a deposition being taken tomorrow, and I need to stay a few hours over to make sure we have everything ready for it.” I heard him take a deep breath, and I knew he was stressed.

  “I’m sorry, babe. I hope your night goes by quickly and tomorrow goes well.” I stretched on the couch.

  “It will. I just miss you and was looking forward to seeing you again tonight.”

  “I was too.” I paused. “So my sister-in-law’s birthday is tomorrow night, and we are all doing dinner at their house if you would like to come with me?” I asked.

  There was a short pause before he answered.

  “Tomorrow night?” His voice sounded nervous.

  “Yes, tomorrow,” I answered.

  “Yes, I would love to.” His voice sounded distant.

  “Well, I would love to show you off to my family since they’ve been asking about you a lot lately.” I felt like a giddy schoolgirl. He laughed.

  “Well, is it casual or should I wear a suit?” he asked.

  I forgot the differences in our family dinners, and I didn’t think I would have to tell him what to wear.

  “No, it’s laid back...wear jeans or something comfortable,” I said as I walked to my room to change out of my work clothes.

  “Okay, that sounds good. So what are you doing now?” he asked.

  “I’m just changing out of my work clothes and wishing you were here to help me.” I smirked.

  I knew he was at work, but I could still have a little fun with him.

  “Oh, you have no idea how much I want to be there right now. What are you changing into?” he asked.

  “Well, right now, I am just standing here in my red bra and thong since my work clothes are laying on the floor.” I looked at myself in my mirror as I waited for his response.

  “Mmmm...red. I bet you look sexy.” His voice was lustful.

  “Can you do me a favor and send me a picture of you right now?” he asked.

  I quickly took my phone, snapped a quick photo from the mirror, and then sent it to him.

  “Check your phone,” I told him.

  I heard some rustling of papers in the background.

  “Okay, let me look— Damn, Adi. You’re so beautiful, and you have no idea how hot this made me.” He moaned.

  I bit my bottom lip.

  “Are you alone in your office right now?” I asked.

  “Yes, I am,” he said in a low voice.

  “Send me a picture of how hard you are for me,” I asked shyly.

  I’d never done anything like this over the phone. My cheeks felt warm, and I was getting off just hearing his voice. I heard a chime on my phone, so I checked my messages.

  “Ryder... I can’t wait to feel you inside me.” I studied the photo he sent of his hardness coming out of his black dress pants.

  My warmth between my legs was becoming wet.

  “Touch yourself for me, Adi. Please?” He was pleading now.

  I lay on my bed and started exploring myself.

  “Mmm, Ryder, I wish you were touching me right now.” His breathing picked up.

  “Put me on face time with you. I need to see you right now,” he commanded. “Rub it for me, baby. Imagine my tongue licking and fucking you,” he said in a low lustful tone.

  I watched him on the small screen of my phone. He was so handsome and seeing him made me even hotter. I rubbed faster and moaned louder, getting lost on the phone.

  “Mmm... Ryder. I’m close.” My clit was hard against my fingers, and I was so wet.

  “Let me see more of your body,” he asked.

  It was hard to concentrate on holding the phone and getting myself off with Ryder watching me. Imagining it was Ryder rubbing his palm against me as he fingered me, I moaned louder in pleasure.

  “Adi, let go for me.” His voice was gentle.

  My body shook under my hand.

  “Ryder, I want you so bad right now.” I could barely catch my breath.

  I opened my eyes, and his face was intense as he watched me.

  “That was so sexy. I swear just when I think you can’t get any wilder, you go and do these dirty little things over the phone with me.” My cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as I came down from my orgasm.

  “I got carried away,” I said.

  “That was amazing, and I almost jerked off right here in my office watching and listening to you moan from touching yourself.” His voice had that low raspy tone when he really wanted me.

  “Ryder, I need you so bad right now.” I sighed.

  “I wish I could be there, Adi. I have a few more hours before I’m finished here, but I will definitely see you tomorrow night. I hope you can stay over at my apartment after your family dinner.” His voice sounded hopeful, and I was excited he said yes to meeting my family.

  “I will. I can’t wait... I love you,” I said.

  “I love you too and see you tomorrow.” Laying there in bed, I thought about how things would go tomorrow.

  I knew everyone would love him. The way he was with Mariella showed me he could be so down to earth with the people who meant everything to me.

  My fingers played with my charm as I thought of how much my mother would have loved him. It hurt knowing she would never be there for me for the bigger things in my life now. One day, I will have to get married without her blessing. She would have been so excited for that day and welcomed Ryder to the family with one of her tight bear hugs. I smiled remembering her and how she made me feel safe in her embrace. My new hope was I would never forget that safe feeling that I felt in her arms because I had Ryder to hold me in his. The irony hit me that I would have probably never met Ryder if it wasn’t for her death. Everyone says that things happen for a reason, but you can’t understand it. I wished that our paths would have crossed in a different way, but that just wasn’t reality.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Take this left on Conklin Road then straight onto River View Court.” I pointed toward the narrow road just a few minutes from Chase’s house.

  Ryder picked me up right on time after he got off work. I could tell he was tired from his busy day, but he looked handsome and relaxed in his dark jeans and fitted black T-Shirt. I don’t get to see him dressed so casual as much as I would like, but I loved this side of him. Looking down at my outfit, I felt relaxed too. My favorite dark skinny jeans, white converse, and my blue and gray flannel. Tonight Ryder would see the warm, happy, family I grew up loving, and I couldn’t be prouder to introduce him. We weren’t tied up on the fancy linens, chandeliers, and classical music because our dinners had chaos, laughter, and children making their own music while coloring at the table. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I was excited to show Ryder.

  “Pull in right behind my dad’s truck.” I pointed at the large black Toyota Tacoma that my dad drove everywhere.

  Ryder shut off the car as I leaned over and kissed his cheek.

  “Do you want a repeat of what we did in my parents’ driveway?” He asked. I laughed.

  “No, I think we will keep it PG tonight…at least until we get back to your place.” I laughed.

  “I t
hink I can do that, but we better get out of the car before I change my mind.” He winked.

  Ryder walked around and opened my door. Stepping out, I wrapped my arms around him.

  “Ryder, I love you.” He smirked.

  “What’s that for?” I squeezed him.

  “You’re just so sweet, sexy, and just you. So thank you.” He grabbed my hand as we walked up to the door.

  “Well, thank you for coming into my life too.” He kissed my hand.

  For a moment, I thought about the pain that brought me into his life, but I quickly dismissed it because he had filled that pain with such love that I didn’t want to go back to that darkness again.

  “Aunt Adi!. Mom, Aunt Adi is here!!!” both Madie and Ally yelled as soon as I opened the door.

  They jumped up and down waiting patiently for the Barbie dolls, Playdoh, and books I had brought for them. I always spoiled my nieces. They were the kids I didn’t have yet, and they knew it too.

  “I’ve missed you two sweeties terribly!” Squeezing them both into a bear hug, they giggled as I tickled their sides.

  Their little eyes studied Ryder quietly.

  “This is my boyfriend, Ryder. He is having dinner with us tonight too.” I pointed up to Ryder.

  He waved and gave them a big cheesy grin.

  “I think I might have something in my pocket for the two of you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two packs of skittles.

  Their eyes lit up when they saw the candy. They both grabbed them from Ryder’s hand while jumping up in the air.

  “But you have to wait until after dinner to eat them.” He continued.

  “Thank you, Ryder,” they said as they ran off.

  “Well, they are easy to win over. Nothing at all like their Aunt.” He kissed my cheek. “But once I did, wow, what a prize.” I blushed at his touch.

  “Adi, my baby girl.” My dad came in just as I pulled back from Ryder’s kiss.

  “Dad!” I jumped into his arms for a big squeeze. He kissed my cheek as he sat me back down on my feet.

  “Who is this fine fellow you have with you?” He reached out to shake Ryder’s hand.

  “Hi, sir. I’m Ryder Bennett.” He shook my dad’s hand firmly, but my dad pulled him into a hug with a stiff pat on the back.