Ryder

Chapter 45

It's all over the news they had a boy, Archibald Bartholemew IV. I sigh. I can't deny it still stings, but it's been a year since we split up, and today, I'm moving out. Dad's helping me pack up my room. Well, my clothes. I'm leaving the bed and furniture here. I want to be able to stay with Mum and Dad if I want to, even though I'm only moving a couple of streets away.

This is going to be the van's last journey before it's going to the scrap yard in the sky, and tomorrow is a fresh start. I've already moved on, but everything from my old life will have now changed for the better.

I drop my boxes off at the new house and head into town to meet Jay for some food to celebrate. I'm walking across the car park, and when I hear my name called out, I turn and freeze.

Archi-fucking-bald.

I sigh and turn to walk away. "Ryder, please."

He sobs, and I turn, confused. I look at him, really look at him. He's lost weight, a lot of fucking weight. He has bags under his eyes, and his suit hangs off him and looks crumpled. I fold my arms across my chest. He steps closer to me, but I take a step back.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Ryder, please. I just want to talk."

I huff out a laugh. "You've got nothing to say that I need to hear, Arch. Go home to your wife and kid." I turn and walk away.

"Ryder, please?" I turn when I hear a thud as he drops to his knees. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be without you. I love you. Ryder, it's still you. It's always been you."

"Arch, it wasn't me a year ago when you tossed me aside, so get up off your fucking knees. You're embarrassing yourself."

"Ryder." I turn as Jay jogs across the car park to me.

"You okay?" I nod and smile at him.

"I just need…"

"Arch, I'm gonna be as respectful as I can. Clearly, you're going through something, but I'm not interested in anything you have to say. Actions speak louder than words, and you showed me exactly what you thought of me a year ago, so trust me when I say I don't need to hear what you have to say now. I'm good. You don't even factor on my radar anymore. So have a good life, Arch. Despite everything, you deserve to be happy, because I am."

I turn to walk away again, and he whimpers from behind me. "You've met someone?"

"No, Arch. Turns out he was there all along." I throw my arm around Jay and kiss him on the cheek as we go to walk away. Arch gasps out on a wrecked sob.

"He's not even gay!"

"Turns out, I'm more gay than you've ever been. The difference between us, Archie, is that I will fight for my man." Jay slides his arm around my waist, and we walk over to the restaurant. Today, we're celebrating our six-month anniversary. It turns out that Jay was my person all along.