Ryder

Chapter 48

I'm still hugging Mum and Dad, and I've almost stopped sobbing. There's a knock at the door, then it swings open, and he strides in. He glares at us all, then frowns. "You took my favourite jogging suit."

I look at him and frown back. "What?" That's not what I was expecting to come out of his mouth. Mum lets go of me, and Dad steps back.

"My favourite jogging suit." He points. "You took it."

"You came to get your jogging suit back?" I cross my arms over my chest and look at him, really look at him. I'm fucking confused. He drops a bag on the counter and then looks me up and down.

"It doesn't go with your boots; you look a twat!"

I let out a huff and turn and look at Mum and Dad. He shakes his head and leaves the room, and Mum just shrugs and grabs the washing basket, heading out the back door.

"So, you came to tell me I look a twat?"

"Yes!" He smiles proudly. "And to give you this." He steps forward with his hand clenched and holds it up towards me, stepping closer. I reach out to take it from him, but he lifts his hand higher and slaps me around the face. I gasp in shock.

"What the fuck?"

And then he steps forward again. "And to give you this." He grabs the front of my shirt and drags me to him, crashing his lips to mine. He wraps his arms around me and grabs me tighter against him. I slide one hand tentatively behind his back and run the other up to his face. I don't know whether this is the start of something or the end of everything, and if this is goodbye, I need him to know I love him.

When we break away, breathless, chests pounding and pulses racing, I ask him, "What does this mean?"

"It means you look good in my clothes." He smiles, and I laugh.

"What does it mean for us?"

He shrugs. "Who knows, but it's a start, right? It's something." He looks deep into my eyes, right down to my soul. "We don't have to figure this all out right now. But I refuse to lose you either way. You're too important."

"Did you kiss me because you don't want to lose me as a friend and think this is the only way to keep me?"

"I kissed you because you look fucking good in my clothes." He kisses me again before whispering, "And I really, really, fucking liked it."

I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. I don't ever want to let him go, but he holds me back. I don't know what's going to happen, but as long as he's by my side, I can win at everything.

Pulling back, he looks at me, gripping my jaw. "What about Arch?"

"Who?" I smile, and he grins back and kisses me gently. I close my eyes and savour every second. When he pulls back, he looks down at his watch. "Shit, shit, shit. I've got a client I need to go. Have dinner with me?"

"What?"

"Dinner with me."

"Like a date?"

"Exactly like a date." He kisses me and heads for the door. He turns as he opens it. "Pick you up at seven, wear something pretty." He winks, and I laugh.