Page 4 of Five Days to Be Mine

Sabrina leans down and hugs me. “You deserve to be happy.”

“Come on, my beautiful woman, let’s get you that drink. Have fun, you two,” Kyle says as he leads Sabrina away.

“How have you been, Mara?” Ryder takes a seat across from me.

I tense, grip the arm of the chair as if i could dislodge the tension in my body by gripping the wood.

“This is a surprise.”

I don’t know how I get the words out. But they are measured and calm, and in the back of my mind, I’m proud of myself for not screaming at this guy and causing a scene.

“I hadn’t heard from you since our last date. I thought we’d hit it off.”

He bites his lip, raising his eyebrows as if he’s puzzled. His skin is super fair, his pale eyes look hollow.

I kind of want to throw something at him.

I can’t believe Sabrina did this to me.

I told her that I didn’t want to go out with Ryder, that I didn’t call Ryder back after our last date, thinking he’d take the hint.

“Mara, talk to me.” He takes my hand off the armrest and holds it in his.

“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m not interested in seeing you.” I try to take my hand out of his, but he holds it tighter.

“Okay, it doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment. You like to play. Let’s do that.”

“Ryder, you’re a nice enough guy, but you’re not for me.”

“Mara, you must understand, I play tennis and ski.”

Whatever I was expecting him to say wasn’t that. I burst into a startle laugh.

“I hike and swim. What’s your point?”

“You do?” Ryder’s eyebrows will fall off. They’ve climbed so high on his face.

“Yeah.”

“My point is, if we’re going to see each other, even casually, I need someone who can keep up with me. I didn’t mean anything when I said I’d only top you if you lost some weight.”

“Oh, you didn’t?” I manage to squeak out the words, keeping my voice level.

“No, take it as a friendly suggestion. Look, if you need to aim for a smaller goal first, we can do that. Lose three pounds, and we can play. Agree to it now, and I’ll take you back to my room.”

“No, thanks.” I pull my hand out of his clammy grasp, rage rolling through my veins.

“Mara, it would be for your own good.”

“To be with you?” I can’t put enough credulousness in that word.

Ryder retakes my hand and claps the other one over it. “Yes, to have someone who can motivate you to your goals.”

“You have no idea what my goals are!” I snap my hand away again.

“Come on, Mara, one night, and we can discuss it tomorrow.”

I stare at him, shock waves holding me to my chair when all I want to do is run out of the room. I’m frozen with humiliation and disbelief.

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