CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

RYDER

“Get a room.”

I open my eyes and pull away from Ashlyn to look at the woman who just walked by us. And I think I’m seeing things when I see who said it. “Yes, they’re here…” She says into her phone. “Yep. They’ve moved in together.” She rolls her eyes bitterly. “I don’t know. She’s drinking…” She snaps as her eyes look Ashlyn up and down. They linger on her belly for a second longer and then her eyes meet mine. “It’s pathetic,” she says and then hangs up.

“Vicki!” I slur her name. She must have been talking to her mother. I’m sure Debra has a lot to say about me and Ashlyn.

She then looks me up and down with disgust. I laugh. “Finally, we feel the same about one another.”

“Ryder,” Ashlyn says my name in warning and glares at me. “Please stop. She’s not worth it.” I giggle snort and she looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.

Vicki walks over to us and stops right in front of me. “You are pathetic,” she spits in my face.

“And you’re a bitch!” I say with a shrug. “What’s new?” I ask swaying on my feet.

Vicki gasps, and Ashlyn places her hand on my chest and shoves me backwards. I stumble but manage to stay upright. “He’s drunk,” she informs Vicki as she stands between us. “Walk away, Vicki,” she warns.

She gives Ashlyn an evil smile, then tosses her drink at her. Ashlyn takes a step back gasping in surprise, her arms out wide. The champagne runs down over her face and onto her blue dress. I should be pissed, but my first thought is I want to lick it off her chest.

Vicki simply says, “Don’t worry, honey, shit floats.”

Ashlyn wipes some of the excess drink off her and flings it down to her sides and lets out a laugh that makes Vicki raise her brows in question.

“Everything okay?” Becca asks as she and Jaycent join us. She looks at Ashlyn and gasps. “What the …?”

“Yes,” Ashlyn answers, interrupting her. “We were just leaving,” she adds, turning to face me, and grabs my upper arm. “Let’s go.”

“How does it feel to have my sloppy seconds?” Vicki shouts.

I come to an abrupt stop when Ashlyn yanks on my arm. She lets go of me and spins around. “What did you just say to me?” she demands.

“Not everything is about you, bitch,” Vicki snaps.

Ashlyn fists her hands down by her sides. “You piece of—”

Jaycent grabs Ashlyn’s arm as she takes a step toward Vicki. “As I said, not everything is about you,” she interrupts her. Vicki looks over at Becca, and she licks her lips and gives her a big smile. Then her eyes land on Jaycent. “Give me a call when you’re done with your little toy. I’d love another round …”

Becca gasps, and Ashlyn shoves Vicki back.

“What the fuck …?”

“Shut your mouth!” Ashlyn snaps at her.

Vicki just laughs at that. “What are you gonna do?” she asks with an arch of her brow. “Gonna make me? Maybe I should call Bradley …”

Ashlyn steps up to her, and I see her fist her right hand, but it’s like in slow motion. She pulls it back and then swings, connecting with Vicki’s jaw. Her head snaps back as I call out Ashlyn’s name. I’m running for her when she hits her again.

I connect with Ashlyn’s back, and I can’t stop my momentum due to my drunkenness, and we go crashing to the ground.

“You fucking bitch!” Vicki screams as she gets up off her ass beside us. Ashlyn had hit her so hard it knocked her to the ground.

I try holding Ashlyn down.

“Ryder …” She snaps at me and then elbows me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me, and I roll off her, feeling I may vomit due to alcohol and getting hit in the stomach. She’s up on her feet the next moment and has a hold of Vicki’s hair. She yanks it back as Vicki lets out a scream.

My father comes out of nowhere and rips them apart. He holds Vicki as Jaycent grabs Ashlyn.

“I’m gonna kill you!” Vicki yells at her.

“I’d like to see you try,” Ashlyn growls back, trying to fight off Jaycent, but he has a good grip on her.

I manage to stand but sway on my feet. “What the hell is going on?” my father demands.

“This whore is attacking me!” Vicki cries.

Ashlyn throws her head back, laughing. “Whore? Honey, between the two of us, you’re the one who has spread their legs for both Ryder and Jaycent.”

“Is that true?” Becca asks, looking at Jaycent.

Vicki smiles, knowing exactly what she’s done. Jaycent lets go of Ashlyn and turns to face Becca. “It was a long time ago—”

“Don’t lie, baby,” Vicki interrupts him. “It was right before Becca moved back …”

“Enough!” my father orders. He lets go of her and turns to face her. “Leave!” he orders Vicki.

“But …”

“Vicki, get out of here now!” he snaps.

Blood runs down her lip, and I can see her eyes already starting to swell. She takes a few deep breaths and then throws a “fuck you” look at Ashlyn before turning around and storming off.

My father turns to face us, taking in a deep breath himself. “I think it’s time you all leave as well.”

I reach out to Ashlyn, but she yanks her arm away from me before I can get a hold of it. And then she too storms off with Becca right behind her.

My father straightens his tie and turns to face me and Jaycent. “I hope you guys have learned a lesson.”

“What would that be?” I can’t help but laugh. They don’t.

“To keep your fucking dicks in your pants!” he snaps.

ASHLYN

I sit on the floral-patterned couch back at the house. The plastic on the floor by my feet. Becca sits next to me, and Jaycent sits on the floor in front of us cross-legged.

“I’m sorry, Becca,” he says for the millionth time.

She shrugs. “I can’t really be mad at you. I was with Conner before I moved back.”

“Yeah, but I should have told you.” He sighs.

Becca looks over at me. “Do you think Ry is okay?”

I snort. “He’s passed out cold. I put a trash can by the bed and made sure he was on his side just in case he pukes.” I’m so pissed at him. His attitude tonight and how much he had to drink. What was he thinking?

“I know Vicki likes to talk a lot of shit, but why does she bring up Bradley?” Becca asks. “How would she even know his name?”

“I don’t know,” I say, fisting my right hand. It’s sore, and I have a cut across my knuckles. I think a tooth got it. “Maybe your mom.”

“How would she …?”

“She met him when she came down for your birthdays and for graduation. I mean, we were best friends. We were always hugging and … friendly. Maybe your mom thought we had a thing.” I shrug.

“Maybe,” she agrees.

Jaycent clears his throat, and we both look down at him sitting on the floor. He smiles at me. “I just wanna be the first to tell you that you hitting Vicki was awesome,” he says, and we all laugh.

I tried so hard not to be that woman. The one who looks jealous or causes a scene. I couldn’t care less what she said or does to me. She’s just jealous that I got the guy. But she crossed the line when she threw Jaycent under the bus and hurt Becca. I will always take up for my friends. No matter what.

“It’s late, and I’m tired,” I say, looking outside the big floor-to-ceiling windows and see nothing but blackness. The fireworks stopped long ago.

We say our good nights, and I show them to a bedroom. As I walk back through the living room to the other side of the house where our bedroom is, I stop and walk outside. I overlook the back porch and swimming pool. I can’t see the ocean, but I can hear it. I think about what Vicki said.

I hold my cell in my hand and pull up Bradley’s number. He still randomly calls and texts me, but I quit responding a long time ago.

I decide to dial it, and after the second ring, it goes to voicemail. I smile, good for him for moving on. He deserves someone who loves him.

I walk into the bedroom and find Ryder in the same place that I put him. His mouth is open, and he snores. I get out of my dress and crawl into the king-size bed and turn my back to him, close my eyes, and let out a long sigh. Maybe tomorrow will be better.