* * *
I’mgrumpy when I meet Evie in the parking lot. She keeps sneaking glances over at me and smiling as we walk into the building.
“Why are you smiling at my misery?” I’m teasing, but really she’s acting a little strange.
“I’m not smiling at your misery, Dacen. It’s your cute face, can’t help it.”
“Eye roll,” I groan.
As we approach my locker I slow down and start to dig my heels in. Evie shoves me forward toward Ryne, who stands there propped against his locker waiting and watching silently. She plants me in front of him and pats my arm softly.
Completely ignoring my glare, she leans against me and whispers, “I’ll see you later,” and walks away.
In his hands, Ryne holds a cup of some hot drink and a bag of something from the bakery. He shoves it my way and I look down at it warily.
“It’s hot chocolate and a muffin.” I continue to stare silently, then turn toward my locker and spin the combination to unlock it. Amazingly it opens without putting up too much of a fight. Ryne shoves the items my way again when I close my locker and turn toward him. “Here. Take them. They’re for you.”
I bite my lip and slip my bag on. “What’s it for?”
“Just take the damn things,” he snaps out when I don’t reach for them. The drink and bag get unceremoniously deposited into my hands.
“Thanks.” I don’t know why I sound so testy. I’m still upset but there’s no reason for me to act like a child. Ryne grunts in response. I take a small sip and the sweet creamy flavor explodes all over my tongue. It’s really good. “Thank you.” My tone is much less irritated this time.
Ryne takes a deep breath and his scowl disappears. He nods at the cup in my hands. “It’s a little different than the last time I tried to bring you some.” The homeroom bell rings. He gestures to the cup while walking away slowly, backward.
I hold it up and peer at the side. There’s writing on it, chicken scratch but I know that writing like the back of my hand and easily decipher what it says.Courtesy of Ryne Patrick.My lips turn up in a small smile and I look back at him. Ryne Patrick. I love the way that sounds. Ryne Patrick Sutton. How is his name both adorably cute and incredibly hot at the same time? He shrugs with a smile of his own, then turns to head toward his homeroom class. I take another sip and make my way into homeroom as well.
When I slip into my chair, Evan immediately turns to me. “Herschel! I got something for ya.” He digs into his backpack and then sets a few photographs on my desk.
I pick the first one up and tilt my head to the side. “Is this you and Ryne when you were little?”
He nods. “Yup, like second grade maybe?” Evan’s got his arm thrown around Ryne’s shoulder, and Ryne has a shit-eating grin on his face. Two of his front teeth are missing and his thick, dark hair pokes out every which way. It’s one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. “I bet him he wouldn’t swallow a worm whole, and the crazy fucker did it. He didn’t even win anything other than bragging rights. He’s always been extremely competitive.”
My smile widens as I set the photo down and pick up the next one. I have another sip of hot chocolate while I take in the details. It’s all four of them this time, decked out in camo clothing and hunting gear.
“Twelve. We’d completed our hunter education class the weekend prior. The first time we all went hunting together without an adult. Had a great time but didn’t catch a damn thing.” They look exhausted but happy. Even Ryne is smiling, though not as carefree. I know by that point things were very different compared to his life in the first photo.
The announcements start while I pick up the final photo. My breath catches in my throat. It’s a recent picture of Ryne at the lake. He’s lounging in a chair staring off at something and there’s a small smile on his face. Even with the grainy quality of the photo, I can tell he’s entertained by what he sees. He looks genuinely happy. Evan leans over and speaks in a hushed voice.
“Sorry about the photo quality. It’s from my phone and I had to print it quickly last night. I took it while Ryne wasn’t looking, not all that long ago. I was gonna tease him, give him shit about it for fun, but couldn’t when I really looked at it. I didn’t delete it, and kinda forgot about it until yesterday.”
I glance at him. “What was he looking at?”
His eyebrows raise and he smirks at me. “Notwhat. Who.” Warmth floods through me and I swallow hard. The bell rings and all around us students gather their stuff and head out the door. Evan stands and picks up his bag, and turns to me again. “I’m not saying he’s not a difficult asshole, Dacen, but he’s different since, well, since you. He smiles more, real smiles. He’s one of my best friends, and though I’ll probably never admit this out loud again in my life because he’d kick my ass, it’s been hard watching him over the years. There’s always, I don’t know, a heavy weight dragging him down. He’s been through some rough shit. But since you showed up here?” He shrugs. “It’s like he can breathe again or something. Anyway, you can keep the photos.” He nods once and walks away. I just sit here for a moment absorbing his words, completely speechless.
* * *
I’ve been quietly eatingwhile trying to pay attention in chemistry. Halfway through class, my watch lights up with a text message. When I see who it’s from I sneak my phone out and take a closer look.
RYNE: Did you eat your muffin?
Why does that question make a little flicker of excitement flare alive inside me?
ME: I’m almost done.
RYNE: Good.
A few minutes later my phone lights up again.
