Page 59 of No Rhyme or Roughing
“I won’t apologize for all this.” She pointed to the pie. “I earned it.”
“You did.”
She gestured to the spot beside her on the bed. It wasn’t a good idea, but I didn’t care. Not when she needed me. Climbing up beside her, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head.
Relaxing into me, she sighed. “I’m sorry about them.”
“About your parents?” I turned my entire body to face her. “Why the fuck would you be sorry?”
“They ruin things.”
“And that’s your fault how?”
She stuck the fork in my mouth again, and this time I tasted how good Rowan’s pie really was. I moaned.
She licked her lips.
I stared.
Her throat cleared. “I should’ve stayed quieter. I’m always disappointing them, and it?—”
“No. Just fucking no.”
She flinched at my tone, so I reached for her hand.
“Sydney, I need you to hear me. Their issues are because ofthem, not because of you. You’re?—”
“Too much? I know.”
“You’rehonest,sure. But in a good way. The words that come out of your mouth shock me sometimes, amuse me others. I never, ever want to stop hearing them. I wasn’t lying when I told them you matter.”
“I don’t?—”
“You matter to me.”
Her gaze snapped to mine, and she dropped the fork into the pie. “I… Ryder…” She shook her head. “You’ll tire of me if I stay too long. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to?—”
“Stay.”
“What?”
“I don’t care if every crumb from this pie ends up in my bed?—”
“My bed.”
“—I want you here. At my side. Teaching me to dance. You make me brave, Sydney. This is probably the wrong time to admit this, but I want to?—”
“Kiss me.”
That stole the words from my lips. “You’re hurting. I’d never take advantage of that.”
Even though I wanted to.
Slowly, Sydney slid from the bed and set the pie on the bedside table. I figured that was the end of the conversation as she walked to the door. Instead of leaving, she shut it, flipping the lock.
When she reached my side, she whispered, “Youmake me brave too. That’s why I’m going to kiss you right now. Because I want to. Because I’m being brave.”
I should’ve stopped her, told her this was wrong. I was older. She was my best friend’s sister. Yet, none of those reasons seemed to matter as her lips brushed mine once before pulling away. I missed them instantly.
