CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

RYDER

I make my way over to the open bar at the far side of the tent. I place my empty glass on the white tablecloth, and the female bartender smiles at me. “Ready for another already?”

I nod. “Make it a double.”

She takes my glass and puts a scoop of ice in it followed by a shot of scotch. I reach up and undo my tie and yank it off, before stuffing it in my pocket. I feel like I’m suffocating. I only agreed to come to show off Ashlyn. She’s my trophy that I wanted to wave in people’s faces. Mainly my mother’s. I wanted her to see that I finally found the one that was meant for me. But I got pissed the moment I saw Vicki here. I tried to prepare myself, but it wasn’t enough.

“Ryder.” My father says my name as he comes up next to me.

“Father,” I say tightly.

He sighs. We haven’t really spoken since he kicked me out of his office. “Son, I wish you’d understand where I’m coming from.”

“I understand that you feel you have no other option.” I turn to face him. “And I also feel that you are wrong.”

“Tell me what to do,” he growls. “Tell me how you would make the situation I’m in better?”

“I wouldn’t give that bitch whatever she wants,” I say and throw back another gulp.

“I have no choice,” he snaps loudly, and people turn to face us.

I laugh it off. “You make it sound like you owe her your life. When we both know it’s the other way around.”

He sighs heavily.

I go to speak, but a hand softly touches my shoulder. I turn to see it’s Ashlyn. “Would you like a drink?” I ask, giving her a tight smile.

She frowns as if my mood swings are scaring her. “Yes, please. A glass of white wine.”

“Ashlyn,” my father greets her. “How are you doing?”

“Good.” She lies. We all know that she’s lost her job. And that I’m being a fucking douche.

He nods. “That’s good.”

She places her hand on his shoulder. “How are you doing, sir?”

He looks at me as if I have an answer for him, but I look away at the bartender, asking for a glass of wine for her.

“Good,” I hear him say, and I snort.

“You’re both horrible liars,” I say, pulling out a ten-dollar bill from my wallet for a tip. “Thank you,” I tell the woman as she hands me the glass of wine.

I turn to give it to Ashlyn, and she’s narrowed her eyes at me. She takes the drink from my hand and throws me a fuck you look before turning to my father. “It was good to see you, Mr. O’Kane.” Then she walks off without another word.

“Ryder, I—”

“I don’t wanna hear it,” I interrupt him before I walk off. “I fucking hate weddings,” I growl to myself, taking another drink.I just wanna go back to the house and bury myself between her legs.

ASHLYN

I sit at the table as I watch Ryder dance with a little girl. She looks about seven years old. She has bright blue eyes and long dark hair that cascades down her back in big waves. He holds her right hand above her head as she twirls around and around. Every now and then, she sways as if dizzy. She giggles, and he picks her up, spinning her around. Her purple flower girl dress floats in the air as they spin around like a spin-top. Those toys you used to play with as a kid.

He sets her down, and she clings to his leg, laughing as she tries not to fall over. He laughs, and I smile. He seems to be doing better. It’s been an hour since the weird conversation with his father, and the sun has officially set. The fireworks should be starting any second.

“Ashlyn.” I look up to see Ryder standing beside me with his hand out. “Dance with me.”

“Are you gonna spin me around?”

“No. I’m pretty sure if I spin anymore, I’ll be in the bushes.” He laughs at himself, and I know he’s drunk. He’s had more drinks than I can count, but I didn’t try to stop him. I’m his girlfriend, not his mother.

“Then yes.” I place my hand in his, and he pulls me to stand. He raises his hand above my head, and I spin around under it as we walk to the dance floor. Now that the sun has set, little white strings of lights light up the tent.

He pulls me close to him, his right hand on my lower back and his left on my cheek. Both of my arms wrap around his firm body. He lowers his forehead to mine and releases a long sigh. I can smell the lingering scotch on his breath. “You’re not supposed to do that.”

“Do what?” I ask confused.

He smiles. A drunken half-smile. “Look better than the bride.”

I chuckle, and he pulls me tighter. “I’m serious,” he whispers. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.” He stops dancing, and I look up at him through my dark lashes. We stand in the middle of the dance floor, people all around us probably staring, but all I see is him. All I hear is him; the music has faded away, and I’m lost in his dark green eyes.

His hand leaves my back, and he cups the other cheek. “I’m so in love with you, Ashlyn.”

I can never get enough of those words. “I’m in love with you too.”

He smiles, and I feel like my world just turned upside down. My knees threaten to buckle, and I suck in a deep breath. He steps closer to me and lowers his lips to mine. He whispers, “I’m in love with you, Ashlyn, and I want the world to know that you’re mine.” Then his lips are on mine. He kisses me deeply. I kiss him back passionately. Showing him everything that I’m unable to say at the moment as I hear the first fireworks explode in the sky above us.