16. Ryder

Gia never responded and she never showed up for our date.

This isn't like her, not the Gia I know, anyway.

Is she okay?

I stand outside Gia"s cottage again, my phone pressed to my ear for the umpteenth time. But there"s still no answer. Not even a voicemail.

I"m worried, damn it. Where is she?

I dial Josh"s number, hoping against hope that he"s heard from her.

"Hey, Ryder," Josh answers.

"Josh, have you heard from Gia?" I blurt out.

There"s a pause on the other end, so brief I almost miss it, but it"s enough to set my nerves on edge.

"No," Josh says finally, his tone clipped. "Why? What"s going on?"

"She was supposed to be home hours ago," I explain, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. "We were supposed to have a date. I"ve been calling her nonstop, but she"s not answering."

"Maybe she"s just busy," Josh offers, but there"s a note of uncertainty in his voice.

"I don"t think so," I say, my worry mounting with each passing second. "She wouldn"t just ignore me like this. Something"s not right."

There"s a heavy sigh from Josh"s end of the line. "Ryder, maybe you should just let her be. You know how she is. Always running off when things get too real. She"s not meant to stick around."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. It"s not the first time I"ve heard them, but coming from Josh, they sting more than usual. He"s always been skeptical about Gia and me.

"That"s not fair," I snap, my frustration boiling over. "Gia"s not like your dad. She"s not just going to up and leave without a word. She"s not him."

There"s a tense silence on the other end of the line before Josh speaks again, his voice softer this time but no less cutting. "Maybe not. But she"s still not good for you, Ryder. You deserve better than someone who"s always going to let you down."

I grit my teeth, trying to rein in my anger. "I don"t need you to tell me what I deserve, Josh. I need you to help me find her."

Another heavy sigh. "Take this as the blessing that it is."

He hangs up before I can respond, leaving me standing there in the fading light, feeling angry.

I pocket my phone and start walking, the tension in my muscles begging for release. I need to clear my head, and there"s only one place I know where I can do that.

The boardwalk stretches out before me, the sound of the ocean crashing against the shore a comforting backdrop to my troubled thoughts. I start to run, each footfall pounding out a rhythm that matches the frantic beating of my heart.

As I run, I try to push aside the doubts and fears that threaten to overwhelm me. I need to find Gia. I need to make sure she"s okay.

I get in a good run, a great sweat and I stand at the end of the boardwalk, in front of my car catching my breath.

I feel a little better.

I check my phone. There's still no response from Gia. I blow out a breath and throw my phone into the front seat of my car.

"Ryder!" I hear someone call my name and I turn to see Mia sauntering toward me.

"Hey baby, I love it when you're all hot and sweaty," she flirts as she opens her arms to hug me.

I step out of her way. "I told you I'm not interested in anyone but Gia, Mia."

Her eyes flash with anger before she rolls her eyes and giggles. She"s wearing green contacts, but it's not Gia's laugh, even when she's trying to make it sound as it is.

"What do you mean? I am Gia!" she purrs as she tries to kiss me.

"Stop playing."

"You're not Gia."

I take a wide step back from her as she takes another step forward.

"This isn't funny, Ryder. Did I do something wrong? Why are you acting like this?" she drops her voice into a whiny pitch, something that Gia would never do.

"Why are you pretending to be Gia?"

"I'm not pretending, I am Gia. What"s the matter with you Ryder?"

Gia lives in workout clothes ninety percent of the time. A simple tank top and leggings. Unless she's out and about in town and then she's usually wearing a soft sundress with her hair down. She also isn't a woman who normally flaunts her cleavage in obvious ways.

The woman before me is wearing extremely short shorts and a midriff-baring top with long sleeves. Gia has a full colorful sleeve of tattoos on her left arm and a tattoo of daisies on her right wrist. Mia doesn't have either of those things, hence the shirt with sleeves.

Their posture is different as well, the way they walk and the way they laugh and smile. Mia's smile doesn't meet her eyes and Gia's does. Gia has an absolutely beautiful confidence in her and it's clear that Mia is more focused on anger and screams insecurity.

"You're not Gia. I don't have time for games."

"Why are you being like this?" she asks tearfully.

"Do you know where Gia is? She's not responding to my calls or texts, and I'm worried about her."

"I've been looking everywhere for you. I had things to do in town and… I'm sorry I didn't respond. I hope that I didn't worry you."

Gia would tell me that she can take care of herself and not to worry about her.

Man, you would think if this woman was going to play games, she would learn more about her twin sister than she knows right now.

This is pathetic.

Mia takes another step forward trying to touch me. I shake my head and take another step back.

"I need to go."

"I'll follow you home. I've been thinking about you inside of me all day," she says with a pouty face.

This time when she reaches out, she's able to grab me, effectively cupping my balls in her hand.

What a weird situation to be put in. You're looking directly into the face of the woman you love, but it's not the woman you love.

It's her evil twin sister.

"Whoa!" I grab her wrist and remove her hand as she takes the moment to move even closer.

"I like it when you get rough," her eyes flash hungrily.

"I'm not doing this with you, Mia. I don't know what game you're playing but I'm not interested."

I move her away from me and quickly climb into my truck at the same time as I let go of her. She tries to get in between my door so that I can't close it. I do anyway.

"Bastard!"

The door is closed, I lock it and drive off.

I'm not dealing with her games, but I definitely can't wait to find out what Kline has found on her. I'm certain that it's nothing but trouble.

I drive toward my house, trying to call Gia at the same time.

Was that a test? Was Gia in on it? Is that why I haven't seen or heard from her?

She doesn't answer the phone, so instead of turning into my driveway, I go to the entrance to get to her cottage. As I get closer, I see that her car is parked outside.

Finally. Thank goodness she's okay.

I pull behind her and get out of my truck realizing that she's sitting in her car and it's still running. As I get closer, I see that she's staring out at the ocean. I don't think she realizes that I pulled up behind her.

I tap on the window, and she jumps. Her eyes are wide as she turns to look at me. Tears are streaming down her face.

I grab the door handle and try to rip the door open. It's locked. She's staring at me with so much pain and vulnerability in her eyes and all I can think of is stopping her pain.

"Gia, unlock the door."

She does so slowly. As soon as I hear the click, I open the door and bend down to hug her tightly.

"What's wrong?" I ask her.

"It's nothing. It's… nothing."

"It's not nothing if you are crying. You didn't even notice that I came up to the car."

"I'm fine."

"Okay, I'm not going to push but I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

I wish she trusted me like I trust her.

She moves and shuts off the car. She climbs out and goes straight into my arms. I envelop her in a hug, and we stand there for a few minutes, the only sound being the rolling in of the waves.

Gia and I step inside the cottage, the weight of the evening hanging heavy between us. I can sense something"s off, but I don"t want to push her. Instead, I guide her to the couch, and we both collapse onto it, her head finding its place on my shoulder.

For a while, we"re silent, lost in our own thoughts. I hold her close, trying to convey without words that I"m here for her, no matter what.

Finally, I break the silence, my voice soft. "It seems like you"re going through some stuff, and I don"t want to make it worse, but I need to tell you something."

She shifts beside me, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What is it?"

"Mia tried to pass herself off as you today."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I went for a run on the boardwalk," I explain, choosing my words carefully. "And she came up to me, pretending to be you. She was even wearing green contacts. But I knew it wasn"t you. I can tell the difference, Gia."

"This doesn't make sense."

"And she maintained she was you the entire time. Even when I confronted her."

"Why would she do that?"

"I don"t know. At first, I thought maybe you two were playing some kind of game, but... there"s something off about Mia. I can"t put my finger on it."

"I can"t believe she would do something like that."

"I made it very clear to her that I wasn"t interested," I assure her, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair away from her face. "But I thought you should know."

"Thank you for telling me that. I'm sorry she put you in that situation, I'll get to the bottom of it."

"No need. Now that we're both aware of what's happening, we can be mindful of it."

"I find out I have an identical twin sister and then realize she's evil."

"You want to get away? Let's go somewhere and forget about everything. Chloe is still with Ren."

"I don't want to leave. I want to stay right here and snuggle with you. Can we do that?"

"Absolutely. I can order Chinese food; we can stay right here and drink wine and watch movies. Whatever you want to do."

"That sounds perfect."

I order Chinese food for us, adding wine to the order. She's still sitting on the couch, staring off into space as I move around placing the order.

I wonder what happened to mess with her this bad.

Did someone hurt her?

Is the ex back in the picture? Or whoever it was that shot her.

When everything is ordered and done, I go back to the couch with her.

"Why don't you sit on the floor and let me give you a shoulder rub?"

"I'm fine."

"It'll help. You're holding a lot of tension through there."

She lets out a sigh and then moves onto the floor in between my legs. She leans back against the couch, and I start kneading her shoulders.

I feel the tension slowly dissipating beneath my fingertips as she leans into my touch. Her muscles are tight but gradually start to loosen as I work out the knots. The silence between us is heavy, filled with unspoken words and untold stories. I can sense her pain, and her struggles, all hidden behind a facade of strength.

As I continue the massage, she finally speaks in a voice barely above a whisper, "You don't have to do this, you know."

I pause for a moment before responding, "I want to. Let me help you, even if it's just with this."

She lets out a shuddering breath, and I can feel her walls crumbling down with each passing second. It's as if my touch is unlocking something within her, a floodgate of emotions she"s kept tightly sealed.

I don't know how long I massage until there's a knock on the door. She jumps.

"It's just the food."

She nods as she starts to stand. I put my hand on her shoulder.

"I'll get the door," she says.

"Stay, relax. Let me do it."

To my surprise, she doesn't fight me. She nods and remains on the floor. I grab the food from the delivery guy and then go to the kitchen with it all. I make us both plates of food before carrying them into the living room.

"Thanks… for taking care of me."

"Of course."

I put my plate down on the coffee table and then go to pour us two glasses of wine. I bring those back too.

I grab the remote and look for a comedy on Netflix before settling back into the couch. She sits down next to me.

We eat in comfortable silence, the only sound between us the occasional clinking of our utensils against the plates. The tension that lingered in the air slowly dissipates, replaced by a sense of ease and warmth. She steals glances at me every now and then, her eyes soft with unspoken gratitude.

After we finish eating, she leans back against the couch and lets out a contented sigh. I clear our plates and move closer to her, my knee brushing against hers. I can feel her gaze on me, a mixture of vulnerability and something else that I can't quite place.

As the movie plays in the background, she turns to me, her eyes searching mine for something. Without a word, she leans in and presses her lips against mine. It's soft at first, tentative, as if she's unsure. But as the seconds pass, the kiss deepens, becoming a silent conversation of longing and connection.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer as if we are two puzzle pieces finally fitting together. Her hands find their way to my face, holding me close as if she"s afraid I might disappear. The weight of her against me feels like a balm to my own hidden wounds, and for the first time in a long time, I feel a sense of peace settling over me.

When we finally break apart, she rests her forehead against mine, her breath mingling with mine in the space between us. There are no words needed at this moment; our hearts are speaking volumes that our mouths cannot articulate.

I brush a strand of hair away from her face, studying the way light frames her face. I lean in and kiss her again, this time, pulling her into my lap as I do so.

She lets out a soft gasp of surprise but then melts into my embrace. Our bodies fit together as if they were made for each other, creating a sense of serenity in the midst of chaos.

Her fingers trace patterns on my chest, a silent language of desire and trust. I hold her close, memorizing the curve of her waist, and the feel of her skin against mine. Each touch ignites a fire within me, a longing that I didn"t know was there until now.

I whisper her name like a prayer, and she responds by capturing my lips in another kiss. It"s fierce this time, hungry and desperate as if we"re both seeking solace and salvation in each other. Our hands roam freely, exploring and claiming, giving and taking in equal measure.

I start removing her clothes as she begins doing the same.

I need to feel as close to her as I can be. I need to feel her body, her soul, everything. I've never wanted anything so badly in my life.

The warmth from her skin, from her caress and kisses, makes me feel alive and whole at the same time.

My mouth follows my hand, kissing each piece of bare skin.

"Ryder," she breathes as she drops her head back and gives me full access to her neck.

She catches her breath as I trail my lips down her neck, to her shoulder, and then lower still. I take a moment to savor the way her skin tastes, the way her body responds to my touch.

Her hands are on my shoulders now, urging me closer, and I don"t resist. I kiss her deeply, our tongues tangling together as we explore each other"s mouths.

I lift her as I stand, carrying her to the bedroom. I set her down on the soft bed before I begin removing my pants. She eagerly takes hers off as well.

I grab her by the ankle and tug her closer to me, she shrieks and giggles as I do.

As our laughter fades, I gaze into her eyes, lost in the depths of our connection. She smiles wickedly at me as her hand reaches out to grab my shaft, her fingers wrapping around tightly as her sweet mouth follows. My hand instinctively goes to the back of her head as I grab a fistful of hair.

"Yes, Gia, that's amazing."

She hums her response, and my cock thickens even more.

Gia continues to work her magic on me, her mouth moving up and down on me with the perfect rhythm. I can feel myself getting closer to the edge, but I want to last longer, to savor this moment with her.

I pull her up from her knees and lay her down on the bed, her body glistening with sweat. She looks up at me with lustful eyes, her lips swollen and red from her efforts.

"Now it's my turn," I whisper, as I lean down and take her nipple into my mouth. I suck and tug on it gently, eliciting a gasp from her. I move down to the other nipple, kissing and licking it until her breath hitches.

Slowly, I make my way down her body, Kissing and licking her neck, her collarbone, and her chest. She's squirming beneath me, her hands grasping at the sheets as I move lower.

My tongue travels down her stomach, tracing the curve of her hip bone before dipping into her navel. I look up at her, watching her reactions to every touch, every kiss. Her eyes are locked on mine, her breaths coming in short, sharp pants.

As I continue my descent, she finally speaks. "Ryder, please," she begs, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smile against her skin before continuing, my tongue tracing the line of her panties. I gently push them aside, exposing her desire, her wetness. My tongue finds her entrance, lapping at her folds, causing her to moan loudly.

She bucks her hips, trying to push down harder against my face. I tease her, running my fingers through her folds, tracing the line of her delicate flesh. She groans, but I know she can wait. I want to draw this out and savor every moment with her.

Finally, I plunge my tongue inside her, tasting her sweetness, and feeling her walls clench around me. She screams my name, her hips bucking against my face in a wild rhythm. I hold her steady, never breaking the connection between our bodies.

As she slows down, I pull away from her, kissing my way back up her body until I reach her lips. She meets me with a deep kiss, our tongues entwining as our bodies shudder from the aftershocks of pleasure.

I move back up her body, our eyes locked as I bring my lips to hers. Our kiss is deep and passionate, our tongues dancing together as we both pant for air.

I slowly pull away, gazing into her eyes. With a smirk, I say, "You wanted me, Gia. I'll give you everything."

With that, I align my body with hers, pushing myself into her. She gasps, her eyes widening. It's tight, but she adjusts quickly, wrapping her legs around my waist as I begin to move.

"You feel so good," she whispers, urging me to go faster.

I comply, my rhythm growing more frantic, our bodies slamming together with a fierce intensity. Gia"s nails dig into my back, her moans growing louder with each thrust.

"Oh, Ryder," she cries, her voice breaking with emotion. "I need you to... to..."

I know what she needs. I pick up the pace, thrusting harder and faster, my desperation mirroring hers. She arches her back, her body convulsing beneath me. Her walls tighten around me, pulling me deeper, and I can"t hold back any longer.

"Gia," I groan, my voice hoarse as I spill myself into her. Our bodies shake with the force of our release, our hearts pounding in sync as we catch our breath.

When we finally come back to earth, I collapse on top of her, my heart still racing. She wraps her arms around me, her breath warm on my neck.

"Damn if I didn't need that," she giggles.

"Me too."

She rolls over and kisses me before taking her spot next to me, snuggling in as she lays her head on my chest.

"I don't want to leave this spot. Let's just stay here for the night."

"Done," I chuckle as I kiss the top of her head.

I will stay here forever if I can.