Page 85 of It Never Was

"Good, sir," I turn to my work.

"Oh yeah, Parker is feeling realllly good today," Willow drags the words out, "Probably the 'goodest' he has been since starting. Wouldn't you say Parker?"

"You know what," I turn around, "I think you're right."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," he darts his eyes between us, "I hope working here is a part of that."

"Oh, it's definitely from working here Paul," she walks up patting him on the shoulder before walking out of the kitchen.

Paul stayed, keeping an eye on me for a moment longer, "Parker, I know you and Ryen have been…" he crossed his arms in front of his chest as he looked for the words to choose, "—getting close. I just need to know you aren't going to hurt her." His shoulders tense, "I can't let her get hurt again by someone that was supposed to care about her." He lifts his hand, stopping the words I was about to say, "And I know you seem like a great guy. Hell, I can see you are one of the good ones, but I wouldn't be doing my job as her family if I didn't say this." He inhales and huffs it out with a sigh, "Don't get into this, if you think there is a chance you will leave or that you hurt her. She deserves better, much better. She has always deserved more than the life that was handed to her."

"Sir, I am in this completely. I don't ever want to hurt her."

"Good, good." He nobs, "Now prove it." With that he leaves me.

I had so much more to say to him, I wanted to tell him that I knew life dealt her a fucked up hand of cards but I wanted to help her heal those wounds. I wanted to shower her with love and care and see her blossom into all the amazing aspects she had buried under the shambles of her pain and trauma. I wanted him to know I cared more about her than I could have ever dreamt I would. That the moment I met those forest filled eyes that I was a goner. I was all in the moment she shook my hand and stumbled closer.

I needed him to know how much I fucking loved her.

52

Ryen

I've been in my room with my head in the books since I woke up, cramming for the test I have next week. My eyes are burning from all the studying I have been cranking out. It's stormy outside and the wind bellows as it makes the house creak. The lights in my room click off and the house grows eerily quiet. I grab my phone on the charger to see it's no longer charging. "Shit." I whisper to myself. The power must be out.

I put my phone back down not wanting to waste the battery in case it's a while before the power comes back on again. Parker said he was stopping here to keep me company with my mother being more absent than usual. So, I was studying late here instead of at the library at school, so I didn't have to worry about driving home half asleep. I clean up before I can make my way to my bed where I go to rest my sore and overstrained eyes. I stand to stretch, my core aches from last night, and a smile forms across my face and a tingle spreads through me at the memory.

I can't wait to have Parker back in my arms.

A yawn escapes my lips as I stack my textbooks in the dark, the only light from outside, which was barely any with how stormy it was getting.

I hear my bedroom door creak beside me, my muscles tense, "Parker?" I don't dare look at the door. A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead, the uneasy feeling in my stomach returns. The same one that has been haunting me these last few weeks.

"Always were so studious.'' The voice echoes through the room, bouncing from wall to wall in my skull.

My body stills. I hear the door click into place. I can't move, even though my brain is screaming to move my feet, to run the fuck out of this room.

Devon's hot breath hits my ear, "There you are baby." His hand grips my hair pushing it over my shoulder before landing on my hips.

"Devon…what are you doing here?" I fight to keep my tone void of emotion.

I see ivory skin covered in freckles paired with red ginger hair bouncing as the figure skips in front of me, rounding the side of my desk. A sinister grin in place.

Suzie. What the fuck was she doing here with Devon?

"What kind of response is that to seeing your boyfriend?'

"You aren't my boyfriend anymore Devon. We made that perfectly clear months ago."

His fingertips dig into the fabric of my leggings, "Says who baby girl?" His mouth is just barely touching my ear now.

"I did." I grip his arms attempting to shove them away but failing.

A sting on my cheek knocks my head to the side. A giggle escapes Suzie's lips as she is leaning over the wooden surface.

"Tsk tsk, Rye." His tongue laps at my earlobe, I have to swallow down the bile that burns up my throat, "You should know by now if I didn't say it, then it isn't true." His hold grows stronger, and I can't help the little cringe that rolls over me, "Isn't that right Suzie?"

She is nodding her head with enthusiasm, like she is playing her favorite game.

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