AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The second I turn away from the fire, my eyes land on Ridge. Only, he’s not looking at me. He’s talking to a girl.
Something stirs inside me. A feeling I don't like. It’s a mixture of butterflies and bee stings.
His arms are stiff with his hands in the front pocket of his jeans, and he looks past her while she talks, but whatever she’s talking about brings a smile to his face. And when she rubs her hand down his arm, I wanna chop it off and toss it in the fire.
Then it happens. His mouth moves.
Rage consumes me and I can’t stop myself as I walk steadfastly toward them. I’m dodging people left and right when they walk away…together.
My eyes stay locked to Ridge’s leather jacket, but when someone steps in front of me, blocking my view, I lose it.
“Move, please.” I look around him, but he hinders my view once again. I step to the left, and he does the same. “Listen, asshole…” I look up and swallow hard. “Hey, Maddox.”
“Where ya headed?” he asks, a seriousness to his tone.
“I was just going to get a drink,” I lie.
Dammit. Ridge is gone. How dare he talk to another girl when he can’t even say a single word to me. And where are they going? Is he leaving withher? She wasn’t even cute. Or maybe that’s my jealousy talking. Oh my god. Am I jealous?I am!
“Me, too. I’ll join you.”
Ignoring Maddox, I find myself still searching for Ridge. But it’s pointless. There are over a hundred people gathered at this small parcel of land.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I said I’ll join you. Make peace, if possible. What will it be? Beer?” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a bottle of liquor. “Or vodka?”
With Ridge still in the back of my mind, I focus on the here and now. I’m still upset with Maddox for standing me up, but it seems he’s trying to make up for it.
I snare the vodka from his hand and crack a smile as I twist off the top. “Clear liquor, huh? Where’s the whiskey?”
“It just so happens that dark liquor makes a girl I like sick, so I left it behind.”
My chest flutters. Did he just admit that he likes me?
“Ahh. A girl you like?” I bring the bottle to my mouth and take a sip while watching him. It goes down smooth and the burn in my chest ignites my adrenaline. After a good shot's worth, I hand it back to him with the top on. “If you like this girl, then why’d you stand her up earlier?”
“I didn’t stand her up. Are we talking about the same girl?”
He wasn’t talking about me. I’m beyond mortified. Nervously, I fidget with the sleeve of my sweatshirt. “Guess not.”
Maddox laughs, mouth curled upward, and he nudges my arm with the bottle. “I’m fucking with you, Riley.”
I exhale an audible breath. “You asshole,” I tease. “Seriously, though. Why’d you ditch me earlier?”
Maddox takes a drink of the vodka, averting his gaze, then he puts the top on and sticks it back in his jacket. “Got a text from my dad. He’s sort of a hard-ass and left me feeling a little defeated. Didn’t wanna drag you down with my sour attitude. Do you forgive me?”
The puppy pout on his face makes it hard not to forgive him.
“Sure. I guess I can forgive you. Even if Ridge showed up there instead of you. I’m not kidding, Maddox. I think you need to have a talk with your friend about proper etiquette when approaching someone.”
“Oh yeah?” He purses his lips. “If he’s so improper, then why were you just trying to chase him down?”
“You saw that?”
He nods. “Mmhm. Maybe this mysterious side to Ridge intrigues you more than you care to admit.”
My cheeks fill with air, like balloons on each side, and I blow it out all at once. “Fine. I’ll admit, I’m slightly intrigued. I just don’t get it. Why won’t he talk to me?”
