Page 63 of Healing Souls

“Then why did you kiss her?” I asked him.

I originally didn’t want to bring it up, but I saw the tail end before they shot away from each other when people started coming upstairs. It was their moment, and it should stay that way, but he is starting to make me mad too. Harley doesn’t deserve this.

“You fucking kissed her and then let nasty ass Steph hang off you all day? Are you fucking insane? Is there something wrong with your brain, Cayden? Because I’m beginning to wonder if something is broken up there!” Ryker had shouted.

“The kiss meant nothing,” Cade responded but he had tucked his hands into his jean pockets and looked away, refusing to make eye contact with either of us.

I knew right then and there that what he said bothered even him, that it wasn’t the whole truth. But for some reason, he is keeping this wall up. He isn’t even letting us in to tell us what’s really going on.

Which is why we are all silent on the ride home now. There is not much to say when he won’t tell us what he really thinks. Sure, I can guess, and I know I would be right, but that still doesn't do us any good if these two can’t pull it together and just let everything out. I have a feeling that I will be intervening sooner rather than later.

When we park back at the club, Cade is the first out of the truck and heading inside. When we catch up to him, Ry demands, “Where are you going?”

“For a run.” Then he’s taking the stairs two at a time and disappearing from view, leaving us fuming.

Ryker starts to go up the stairs, but I grab his arm, halting him. I have to be the voice of reason here. There’s no use fighting, and Harley might hear it.

He looks back at me with furrowed brows. “What?”

I pull on his arm, bringing him back down to the bottom of the stairs with me so we are standing face to face. “Give him a break.”

“He needs to fucking pull it together.”

I sigh. “Ry, he is already talking more than he used to. Can you imagine the war going on inside his head? When was the last time he talked this much?”

Ry searches my eyes before responding, “That night he got drunk and spilled about some of the crap his dad had done to him.”

“Right. And I don’t even think he fully remembers that. So besides then, the most he is talking is now with Harley around. And he is probably battling with himself about it. I don’t think any of us quite understand what’s happening between all of us.”

Ry opens his mouth, but I quickly press my finger against his lips. “No. I know you have some ridiculous answer about how you know, but you really don’t. You have even changed in ways I don’t think you understand since she has been around. Since the day she got shot you have had plenty of opportunities to do something stupid and get yourself in trouble, but you haven't.”

He shuts his mouth and gives me a small nod. I remove my finger, and he sighs, running a hand through his hair.

We are standing so close to each other that I can make out the brown in his dark eyes. Ryker’s eyes always look almost black, but standing this close they are more of a dark brown that I can’t help but get consumed in as we stare at each other.

His hand drops from his hair, and he searches my expression, his own contorting with a confused look. A small piece of his hair fell into his face when he ran his hand through it, and my hand twitches to reach up and push it back, but before I have a chance, doors slam and voices are heard coming from the other side of the club.

It brings me back to reality, and I take a step back from Ry, shaking my head as he frowns at me. Ry is in love with Harley.So what the fuck am I doing?

I have always felt the closest to Ryker, but I just thought it was because we are good friends. Now, I know it’s more than that. The way that I feel when Harley is around or when someone talks about her, I am beginning to realize is the same feeling I get with Ryker. It has been for years.

Rage, Raven, and Presley come out from the kitchen and walk down the hall towards the stairs where we are. Ryker sees them and asks, “Where’s Harley?”

Rage frowns. “In her room, I think. But maybe give her some time alone. She’ll come down when she’s ready. I think today was a lot for her.”

Ryker lets out a loud humorless laugh, “Fat chance.” He turns and heads up the stairs.

I let out a breath and glance at them. “Everything go okay today?”

Presley sighs, shaking her head in distaste. “If they would all stop pushing the poor girl so much, it would be fine. She needs to catch a break. And these two aren’t giving her one,” she says with more anger than I usually hear from her as she aims a glare at Rage and Raven.

Raven smirks and shrugs, but Rage draws his brows together seeming lost in thought.

“I’ll go make sure those two don’t get into trouble. Everything will work out okay,” I say, giving Rage a small smile that he tries to return, but it’s forced.

I turn and quickly head up the stairs to Harley’s room. Ryker is already standing in front of her door with his forehead resting on the wood.

“Um, Ry? What are you doing?”

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