Chapter Twenty-five

So, the afternoon was about as confusing as my Math exam. Zane seemed determined to just drag me along to every boring task possible. I now firmly believed he had a motive behind dragging me out of class, but I also knew I didn’t have a chance of getting the real reason out of him.

So, I didn’t bother.

“Yo, Allie.”

I spun around on the staircase to see Ryder running towards me. “Well hello, stranger.”

“How come your home early?”

We started to walk up the staircase together. “You really don’t want to know.” I shot him a sideways grin. “Let’s just say your brother thought my afternoon would be better spent helping him instead of, you know, learning.”

Ryder chuckled. “Sounds like Zane. What is up with you two anyway?”

Well, this got awkward quickly. “Um, nothing really.”

Both his eyebrows shot up. “Really?” He wasn’t going to drop the subject. “He seems to like you.”

I shrugged off the subject and quickened my pace. “So, um, what did you do today?” Yes, great idea, Allie, change the subject to make it even more awkward. “I heard you were going back to university.”

Ryder scoffed loudly. “The parents want me to head back; doesn’t mean I am going to.”

We stopped at my bedroom door. “At least your parents care about what you do. My mom isn’t even speaking to me.” Just mentioning it gave me a stomach of guilt.

“How much longer are you staying with us?”

“Don’t know. Mom hasn’t had enough space yet.”

Ryder’s lips twisted in an apologetic smile. “I’m sure she will come around, Allie.”

“I don’t really care if she does anymore.” I looked down at the floor. It hurt to say it, but it was the truth. This small time away from her made me see it - I didn’t need her anymore.

“You coming to the party this weekend?” Ryder asked and pulled me from my own thoughts.

“Who’s party?”

Ryder broke out in laughter. “You’re funny.” He pointed a finger at me, looking amused by my serious question. “So that’s a yes then.”

I slowly nodded my head. “Um, sure, I’ll be there.”

He winked. “Good, see you Saturday.”

Even after he left, I stood at my bedroom door a bit longer - confused.

What had I missed? I must have missed something.

What was this Saturday?

I racked my brain for an answer, but couldn’t find one.

 

***

“I told you it isn’t like that,” I snapped at Blake. I swear if he didn’t wipe that smug look off his face, I was going to wipe it off with the back of my hand. “Stop laughing!”

Blake shielded his face. “Come on, Allie, it’s funny.”

“No. NO IT IS NOT! What type of friend forgets a friend’s birthday like that?”

I had got my answer to what was this Saturday night. It was Ryder’s birthday.

“Especially seeing as he is your ‘special friend.'” Blake began to chuckle again.

How many times did I have to say it! “Ryder isn’t my special friend! I told you it isn’t like that.”

“Like fuck it’s not, he was giving you the eyes at the meeting last week.”

I roll my eyes. “You think everyone gives me the eyes.”

He shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to the television. “Not my fault you don’t wear much.”

“I’m starting to regret this movie night idea,” I grunted, turning on the couch to look at the television.

“Missing Ryder already? OUCH!” He rubbed the arm I had just punched.

“One more reference to Ryder and I having sex, and I’ll hit you again.”

“Always so violent.”

“You haven’t seen violent.”

He flicked the channel. “So, what do you want to watch?”

“Don’t really care to be honest.” I crossed my arms, the bad mood he had put me in was starting to show.

“Oh, come on, Allie.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “I was only joking.”

“It wasn’t funny.”

“Kind of was.”

“WASN’T!”

He flinched away from me. “Ok. Ok. It wasn’t. Don’t see why you are getting so touchy about it.” His eyebrows slowly arched. “Unless it is true.”

I groaned in frustration. “That’s it, I’m going home.”

Blake’s laughter got deeper which made my mood sourer. Why was he in such a good mood anyway? Usually, he was all pissy.

“Why are you in such a good mood?”

He stretched his arms across the back of the couch. “If you really want to know, I got laid this morning, and it was fucking awesome.”

I scrunched my nose up. “God, you are disgusting.”

“You love it.” He winked at me. “So, do you want to watch Misfits or not?”

“That’s a TV show, not a movie.” I felt like being picky, seeing as he had annoyed me to my limit.

He gave me a challenging look. “So, you don’t want to watch it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

The smirk now on his face annoyed me a bit more. “Well then, let’s watch.”

I was regretting agreeing to hang out with him more than ever, but when the start of Misfits started playing, that regret lowered.

Amazing what my favorite TV show could cause.

 

***

I was into the episode when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I was half expecting it to be Blake, being childish, so my eyes widened when I saw Zane’s name across my screen.

Why did my stomach drop like that?

Fuck, that wasn’t healthy. I opened the message.

‘So, mom was thankful for our help today.’

Just reading something from him caused a stupid smile on my face. I quickly answered back. ‘Here I thought you just made those jobs up…’

‘ ;) wouldn’t do that.’

‘Uhuh…’

‘You busy?’

I glanced at Blake, who hadn’t noticed I was on my phone yet. ‘Just at Blake’s.’

‘Leave you to it then.’

I chewed my bottom lip. How did I get across to Zane that Blake and I weren’t doing anything like that? Why I wanted to get that across to him, I wasn’t sure…but I did.

‘Can’t miss out on the details of his latest woman, can I?’

Was that clear enough? Why the heck did I care so much? My questions were interrupted when my phone buzzed again.

‘Haha, good friend aren’t ya. Coming home soon?’

I snuck a glance at Blake. Usually, I would stay the night, but if I had a reason to head back to the pack house, I’m sure Blake wouldn’t care. ‘Not sure.’ I sent back to him.

‘You should.’

‘Why?’

My heart seemed to beat faster than it should, and I was surprised Blake hadn’t turned to see why I was having a heart attack.

Then my phone buzzed again.

‘Cause I want to see you.’

I bit back a grin. ‘That’s a bit sweet.’

‘ ;) so?’

Zane, the tattooed, muscular sex beast of a man, wanted to see me? Why did that make something in my stomach flip-flop around?

‘Yeah, I’ll be home soon.’ I re-read it twice before sending it. Was it wrong to want to spend time with him? And if it was so wrong, why did I enjoy talking to him so much?

It was official! I was turning into a hormonally crazed teenager.