“I thought you did,” he replies, brushing a stray hair out of my eyes.
Why? Why do I care so much what other people think? Whose opinion matters other than ours? No one’s. They can all say what they want to about us being together. They can have an opinion. At the end of the day, the only people in this relationship that matter are the two of us.
And there I go. Admitting it’s a relationship. Angela would be proud.
“I care about you, and you know what, that’s all that matters. Screw those girls. One day it will be them in this situation. One day they will be on the other end of things and realize that it’s not their place to pass judgment on others or to gossip and spread rumors.”
“You’re giving them more credit than they deserve.”
“Maybe, but I’d rather give them the benefit of the doubt than continue to fight this.”
The moment my words register, Ryder’s eyes light up with delight. Kissing me gently, he takes my hand and we head to join the rest of his friends.
As we enter the room, my instinct is to pull my hand from his, but when I attempt to, Ryder tightens his grip, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. Looking ahead of us, I spot Allison and Justine deep in conversation with Devon. Neither of them are paying any attention and, at first, I feel relieved. It’s not until Devon smiles at Ryder deviously that I feel the need to make our relationship known.
Avoid the gossip.
Be the one to announce it myself.
That’s my plan.
Ryder must read my mind because he changes course and heads toward Devon and the gossip queens. As we approach, Allison’s eyes widen in surprise when she sees our hands clasped together. She recovers quickly, replacing her look of shock with a raised eyebrow and forced smile.
“You ladies play nice. We’re going to grab drinks,” Devon announces as he claps Ryder on the back. Watching as they walk into the kitchen, laughing the entire way, I ready myself for ridicule from the ladies standing beside me. He left me to fend for myself, to fight my own battles. He understands this is something I need to do on my own.
“So it’s about time you two confess your sins,” Allison says.
When I turn to face her, I find a giant smile waiting for me. I expected her to have a sassy grin or a knowing look on her face, but that’s not the case.
“Excuse me?” My surprise is evident in not only my voice but it’s more than likely written all over my face.
“Emerson,” Justine begins, “you two have been eying each other for weeks. It’s about time you finally got over yourself and jump that man as quickly as you can. He’s a catch.”
“But you both seemed so adamant—”
“To get you to admit that something was going on?” Allison finished for me.
“Yeah. I figured that you were trying to keep us apart, not push us together.”
“Why would we do that?” Justine asks.
Her timing is perfect. As I’m about to answer, Megan walks up behind them and tosses me a forced smile.
“Because of her,” I reply, nodding toward Megan.
“Don’t pull me into this. You can have him.” Her words are laced with hatred. I doubt she even realizes the way she sounds is a complete contradiction to the words leaving her mouth.
“I can have him?” I ask, suppressing my anger. “Why, thank you. I wasn’t aware that he needed permission to find someone who appreciates him, but I’ll be sure to pass your blessing along in case he cares. What are you doing here anyway? I’m pretty sure you weren’t on the guest list.”
“I don’t need a personal invitation. Tyler’s my family.”
Her voice grates on my nerves. Picturing myself scratching at her eyes is the only thing that calms me.
“Not anymore.”
“Just because you’re fucking my ex doesn’t mean anything. His family is my family, they always will be. You might want to get used to that. I’m here to stay. The jury is still out on you.”
Laughing, Megan shakes her head and walks away.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Allison notes, sliding up next to me.
“She’s just pissed she couldn’t save her marriage,” Justine adds, reassuringly.
“Why are you friends with her?”
“She’s actually really nice.” Allison sounds sincere, but I still don’t believe it. Every interaction I’ve had with her has been bad. Either she’s in permanent bitch mode or she’s just a bitch.
“Can I ask you something?” Justine’s voice screams “approach with caution,” putting me on high alert. “What happened with your boyfriend?”
Not what I was expecting, but okay.
“We grew apart,” I reply, giving them the simplest answer I can think of. “He wanted me to be the person he fell in love with, and I’m not that person anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” they say, practically in unison.
Megan’s laughter catches my attention and we all turn, watching in silence as Megan makes her way around the room, greeting each person as if they are a guest in her home. The only two people she doesn’t approach are Ryder’s parents. I have a feeling she burned that bridge as well.
“What really happened with them? I know about her cheating, but there has to be more to the story than that,” I ask, directing my question to Allison. She’ll give it to me straight, and if she’s actually the center of the rumor mill, she’ll have all the details.
“Remember when I told you to ask Ryder about his last assistant?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, Megan insisted that he hire a man. She was afraid someone would try and steal Ryder from her. She can be insecure like that sometimes. She really is a nice person, but she has low self-esteem. So, there was one day when she needed to help Ryder with a few things. He was out of town and needed files, so she went into the office to use his computer and send them to him. It should have taken her five minutes but instead, she was in his office, with his assistant, for well over an hour. When she emerged, she was flushed and her blouse was on inside out. He quit the next day.”
“She cheated on him with his assistant?”
“She’ll never admit it to anyone, but that’s the way it looked. That was about a month before you started. Rumor has it, he caught her in a few lies on top of that. She won’t even tell us what really happened. You might have a better chance getting it out of Ryder.”
Not wanting to bring that up with him again, I think I’ll accept Allison’s story as fact and move on.
“Thank you,” I say to the girls.
“For what?” Justine asks, biting her lip as her eyes shift from mine.
Devon appears at my side and hands each of us a drink. “Hey.”
This could get interesting. Justine is obviously smitten with Devon, but I wonder if he feels the same.
“Play nice,” I say only loud enough that he can hear me as I step around him and head for the patio. I’m needed outside. I can’t imagine why, but I leave him with the girls and use his words against him.
“Oh, I plan to,” he calls after me.
His words make me wonder what type of person he really is. Will he wake up in the morning with both of them next to him in bed, or will he wake up alone? I saw the way Justine’s eye lit up when he was talking to her. Allison seemed unimpressed, but not much appears to impress her these days.
Walking onto the back patio, I hear Ryder call my name, but when I look around, I don’t spot him right away. Heading toward Angela and Tyler, I hear him holler my name again. Stepping off the patio, I finally find him sitting in a chair in the middle of the yard, in the dark, facing the house.
Quickly removing my shoes, I make my way through the grass. There’s still a chill in the air and the grass is cold and damp, soaking the feet of my stockings. When I finally reach him, I’m surprised to find only one chair. The one he’s sitting in.
“What are you doing way out here?” I ask, stopping in front of him and blocking the light from the back patio.<
br />
“Cooling off. Someone got me hot and bothered and the more I watched her sway in her dress, the more my body decided to take notice.”
Laughing, I look down to inspect the problem but it’s too dark to see.
“Have a seat,” he says, patting his thigh.
“You didn’t think to bring a chair for me?” I ask, carefully sitting on his lap.
“I did. Then I realized you wouldn’t sit on my lap if you had another option, so I left it on the porch.”
Rolling my eyes, I lean back against Ryder and stare at our friends and family on the patio. Laughter floats across the breeze. Angela and Tyler are wrapped in each other’s arms, taking to his parents. I can still see Devon and Justine in the dining room, engrossed in conversation. Allison and Megan are in the kitchen staying out of trouble for now.
All of our hard work to surprise Tyler was worth it. He seems to be having a good time. The other guests are having a good time. I’m happy and content at the moment.
“You know,” Ryder says, wrapping his arms around me tighter. “This changes things.”
“I know.”
Of course I know that. I’m going to have to start looking for another job first thing Monday morning. As much as I enjoy working for Ryder, it wouldn't feel right. Especially considering everyone in the office will know we are together by the time they clock in on Monday unless Allison and Justine find a way to keep their mouths shut, which I doubt. Even as accepting of our relationship as they are.
“I was talking to Tyler today, and he thinks it would be a good idea to switch you and Allison.”
“What?”
“Well, he wants the four of us to be able to hang out together more, so he suggested having you work under Hunter instead of him. Plus, Allison has already worked for him and this would be good experience for her as well.”
“I was planning on looking for a new job next week,” I confess, my voice soft and unsure.
“Um, no. You’re an asset to the company. My father would be furious at me if you left. Plus, I like having you at the office. You brighten my day, you know what the hell you’re doing, and as soon as Hunter realizes that, you’ll be moving up through the ranks. Based on merit, not how I feel about you,” he adds, knowing my concerns.
“I like that idea,” I say, turning to face him. “I also like being able to see you every day.”
“I have other thoughts on that topic, but I think I’ll save that for another night. Baby steps, right?”
“I’m pretty sure we left baby steps in your bathroom an hour ago.”
“Well, if that’s the case…”
Wiggling his eyebrows at me, I smile but narrow my eyes. Something is obviously on his mind.
“Care to share what else you were going to say?” I tease.
“Only if you promise not to run away from me if it scares you.”
“Hmmm. I’m not sure I can promise that. But I can promise to keep an open mind as to whatever you’re about to suggest.”
“I can live with that,” he replies, “but for now, let’s go mingle. I’ll share my dirty little secret with you later.”
“Seriously,” I state, standing and placing my hands on my hips. “You’re going to make me wait? I’ll go insane wondering what it might be.”
“That’s the point,” he whispers in my ear.
Taking my hand, he walks backward toward the house, mimicking my pout the entire way. This man is everything I need in my life right now. Whatever his idea is, I have a feeling I’m going to want to go along with it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Back inside, the party is in full swing, the music louder than it was an hour ago. Allison and Megan are mixing some kind of frozen drink, the blender on high. People are spread throughout the main floor, plates of food in one hand, drinks in the other.
Ryder grabs two empty plates, handing me one as we make our way around his kitchen table, loading them up. Looking at the spread before me, I want to praise Angela. She did an amazing job with the food. It all looks incredibly gross, in a good way. The only thing I opt to stay away from are the three eyeballs Ryder put on my plate. They’re staring at me. I have no idea what she made them out of, but they’re too realistic looking for me.
Taking a seat in the living room, Ryder and Devon catch up while I pick at my food. It’s been hours since I’ve eaten, but I’m not hungry. My nerves are still on end and Ryder’s “dirty little secret” as he called it, is on my mind. When Devon excuses himself to get another drink, I go in for the kill.
“If you don’t tell me, the answer is going to be no for sure.” Pointing my fork at him as I threaten him, a small smile spreads across his face, so I stab him in the elbow, the plastic forks tongs breaking in the process.
“That’s not fair,” he states, popping a piece of eyeball in his mouth. Mushrooms. I’m glad I stayed away from them. I’m not a huge fan of the fungus.
“Not my problem,” I tease, picking up a meatball with my fingers and taking a bite. Ryder’s eyes never leave my hand as I finish it and lick my fingers clean.
“Tease,” he starts as Devon returns. “Devon, Emerson wants me to tell her all my dirty little secrets. Care to share?”
Devon hands me a fork when he notices me picking at my food with my fingers. Before I can grab it, Ryder slaps it out of his hand, smirking at me.
“Are you sure that’s a good thing? She might run and hide. You may never see her again, and I like this one.”
They’re in on this together. Devon obviously knows the secret. Assholes.
“Go for it. If she can’t handle your stories, she can’t handle being with me. You know me better than anyone.”
Permission granted, Devon starts telling me all about Ryder in college. His ex-girlfriends. Stupid shit he used to do. Beer-pong tournaments. Football games. Trips to the casino where he would lose all his money. He told me about all the times he got in trouble and all the things he got away with.
I listen, laughing along with the guys, but in the back of my mind is the last thing Ryder said.
You know me better than anyone.
Shouldn’t that title be reserved for his ex-wife? Shouldn’t she know him better than his friends? Maybe that’s part of why they grew apart. Ian should have known me better than anyone, but at the end of the day, it was Angela who did. She saw how he was trying to change me.
Devon is Ryder’s Angela.
He’s known Ryder longer. He’s been through more with him. It’s the same with me and Angela. She knew me long before I met Ian. Before we started dating. She knew the person I was back then, and she saw the person I was becoming. Not because of Ian, but because of our relationship.
Sometimes change is good. People are meant to grow and change over time. Relationships help them develop a part of themselves that they can’t do alone. You can find yourself in someone else, or you can discover what you want in life. The change can be good as long as both parties want the same things.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with my relationship with Ian or Ryder’s relationship with Megan.
“So, after hearing all that, you’re still sitting here,” Devon points out once he’s done.
“It’s going to take more than a few stories to scare me away. Plus, the person I know isn’t the frat boy you went to college with. I’d like to think he’s matured a bit since then.”
“Well, thank you,” Ryder chimes in, sitting up straight and pretending to straighten an imaginary tie.
“If you only knew,” Devon replies, shaking his head.
“I doubt that was the dirty little secret you didn’t want to tell me, but it’ll suffice for now.”
“If you really must know,” Ryder says, leaning close so that only I can hear what he’s about to say. I suck in a breath and anxiously await his response. “I was going to ask if you wanted to stay with me tonight. You. Me. Alone. I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I like where my imagination has taken the idea. Only if you
want to, though.”
For a moment, I actually think about running, but my body doesn’t move. Ryder’s so close to me that I can smell the linger of his aftershave and feel the heat from his breath on my cheek. I don’t want to move. My body doesn’t want to move. It likes where we’re at right now. The thought of staying the night with Ryder shouldn’t freak me out, but on the inside, that’s exactly what’s happening.
Enter Angela to save the day.
Pulling me away from the boys, she announces that we need margaritas. Looking back over my shoulder, I see Ryder watching me, a smirk on his face. He knows the effect he has on me. He must know that I’m contemplating his offer. Both of those things seem to make him happy.
As the drinks begin to flow, the music is turned up another notch and the party kicks into high gear. Angela drags me into the living room and forces me to dance with her, my first clue she’s had more than enough to drink. Angela doesn’t dance. Not in front of other people anyway. And not provocatively like she is right now, grinding against Tyler.
He’s holding her hips, helping her find a rhythm. It’s not working, but his presence is enough of a distraction for me to sneak away. Knowing she’s in good hands, I head out back to get fresh air, hoping it will help me clear my mind enough to make a decision about Ryder’s proposition.
Because, let’s be honest, that’s what it was.
A proposition.
Stay with me.
I can read between the lines. He wants me alone, in his room, behind closed doors. Naked.
The thought intrigues me. Ryder naked. All clean lines and toned muscle. My fingers tracing his tattoo.
“What are you doing out here?” Ryder's voice startles me, causing me to jump, my drink falling from my hands and onto the concrete.
“You know, it’s cold out here, right?”
“It’s not too bad,” I reply, reaching down to pick up my cup.
Smiling up at Ryder, he shakes his head and extends his hand to help me up.
“Not warm enough to make you look that flush.”
My thoughts must be written all over my face. The fact that I was thinking about him shirtless is enough to bring out my blush to begin with. I can only imagine how pink my cheeks are right now since I was thinking about him naked.
Rumors: Emerson & Ryder Page 18