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“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“It’s just,” I shrug, “my mom should be the one wanting me safe and comfortable, and yet she put me out on the street. I still can’t believe Angela did that, and I can’t believe she still hasn’t tried to get in touch with me either. It’s like she doesn’t care whether I live or die.”
Ryder pauses for a moment.
“Your mom will come around eventually,” he reassures. “And if she doesn’t, that’s her loss. If Angela can’t see how wonderful you are, then she doesn’t deserve you.”
I nod, knowing he’s right, unable to keep the smile off my face. Yet Ryder continues.
“Plus, if your mom ever sees the light, she lives in the same neighborhood, right? So it’s not that big of a deal, honey. It’s not like she’d have to fly to Alaska to make amends.”
I nod.
“You’re right,” I say in a low voice. “I guess I just have to adjust to this new reality, and it’s hard.”
“You will adjust,” he reassures me. “I’m here for you, honey.”
A warm balm pours over my soul at his words, and I smile into his handsome blue eyes.
“Thank you for everything, Ryder,” I whisper, squeezing his hand. “You don’t know how much I appreciate this.”
“Of course, baby,” he growls gently, squeezing back. “I’d do anything for you.”
Then the magic is interrupted by the long-awaited arrival of the food. Dish upon dish of deliciousness is served up in front us, and Ryder starts walking me through each of them, insisting that I try them. We laugh as he tries to feed me a burger made of Kobe steak and the sauce goes everywhere, splattering not just on my chin and lips, but also onto the table, napkin, and his lap. Ryder makes a big show of wiping off his crotch, which is more comical than anything, and we collapse into laughter again.
Yes, I can do this for the rest of the summer, or even more, if he’ll let me. The question is, how long do we have together? Or is our time limited because I haven’t been totally honest?
13
Ryder
My stomach drops as I park my car in the campus parking lot. Ellen’s next to me in the passenger seat, and I can tell that neither of us wants to get out. After all, she’s back on campus for her sophomore year and we both know that as soon as we leave the car, our magical summer will come to an end.
The thought makes me literally nauseous. When I think of returning to my house, empty of her lovely presence, I know it’s going to be a tough sell. But what am I supposed to do? Move into her dorm room?
I look over at Ellen and smile, who smiles back sadly.
“I wish I could stay with you, Ryder,” she whispers on the brink of tears. Knowing these tears are for me is both terrible and warming because I don’t want to be the reason she’s upset, but I also know that if parting from me can cause this much discomfort, it must mean she has strong feelings for me.
But I have to do what’s right, and that means saying goodbye temporarily, at least. Of course, I’ll be up to see Ellen on weekends, so it won’t be too bad. But the thought of five days apart every single fucking week makes me irritable as hell.
Still, I have to keep it together, for Ellen’s sake as well as mine.
“I know,” I say, smoothing a wayward brown curl behind her ear. “But don’t worry,” I add in a low tone. “I’ll come visit you every weekend.”
“Promise?” she says, her big brown eyes filling with hope.
“Promise,” I growl.
Somehow, we bring ourselves to exit the vehicle and begin the walk across campus to Ellen’s dorm. One of my heavy arms encircles her waist, and I carry her bags in my other hand. Of course, we waited until the last possible day for Ellen’s return in order to prolong our time together, so we’re last to the party. Most other students have long since moved in, and the quad is full of students.
“Holy shit,” I say in amazement, looking around. “You weren’t kidding. There are a lot of pregnant girls at Coleman, aren’t there?” A woman with an especially big belly waddles by, and we stop to share a look.
“Right?” she exclaims. “And look how happy they all look too! It’s weird, right? I mean, getting pregnant this young isn’tthatstrange, but everyone looks like they’re glowing. It’s positively Stepford-wifeish.”
I pause because I hadn’t picked up that vibe myself, but now that Ellen mentions it, I can see what she means. All the pregnant girls have a kind of radiant happiness about them as they chatter to their friends. Have we entered some kind of weird Twilight Zone?
But finally, we’re at her dorm room and she sits on the narrow twin after I close the door.
