Page 64 of Loathing Ryan
“I don’t want you to go.”
I pulled away slightly and bit my lip, looking at him apologetically. Those words had been on the tip of my tongue all week. It was selfish of me to say that, but it was true. I knew saying them out loud wouldn’t change anything. Nor would I let it. If I begged Ryan to stay, he would. I believed with all my heart that he would drop everything and stay here with me. But I couldn’t ask that of him. I couldn’t take away this opportunity.
That didn’t mean I had to like it.
He exhaled sadly and ran the back of his fingers down my cheek. “I don’t want to go either.”
“But, you have to.”
Ryan nodded. “It’s probably for the best.”
It was true. This Norwin Bates Internship would set him up for the rest of his life, without a doubt.
Now having better control of my emotions, I sat up straighter and wiped my eyes. I gave him a sad smile. “Sorry for getting all blubbery.”
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. “I don’t mind. I hate seeing you cry, but it makes me feel a little better knowing I’m not the only one hurting.”
“We’ll get through this,” I said, hoping I came across as confident. I had to redirect this conversation before I completely lost control again. “We should probably get back to the party.”
Ryan watched me, his eyes studying my face. I couldn’t make out whatever thought process was going through his mind, but finally, the corners of his lips were tipped up. His eyes gleamed as he asked playfully, “Think they’re missing the guest of honor?”
I rolled my eyes and stood up. “I don’t know why they would. He’s obnoxious.”
“Yeah,” he drawled, following my lead and taking my hand. “But you love me.”
“You don’t know that,” I teased him. “Maybe I’m just a good actress. I might still loathe your existence.”
“You don’t.” He looked at me from the corner of his eye and gave me a heart-stopping grin.
My fingers fumbled with the small silver heart now resting over my chest. I got Ryan’s message: his heart belonged to me, and mine to him. We had overcome and learned so much in so little time. Though this next chapter of our lives might be difficult, we at least had that to fall back on. If Ryan and I could survive being stranded out in the middle of the woods together, we could survive the distance.
If I had learned anything in the past few months, I learned there was so much more to this King of Bennett than just the crown. Ryan was reliable. He had proven that to me over and over again. The cruel, arrogant boy I had pegged him as before turned out to be more loving and gentle. His confidence gave me hope that we could pull this off.
More than anything, I had to believe that.
And Ryan was right, of course. My days of loathing him were over.
27
RYAN
The horrible soundof my alarm pulled me out of my dream. I groaned and reached over to my nightstand to shut it off. Izabel sighed against my chest as I shifted to get my phone. Her cheek stuck to my skin, both of us a little sweaty from our proximity.
I was shocked when her father said it was okay for her to spend the night. Mr. Sanders and I had had a few good talks once it was clear to him that Bells and I were serious and not just a summer fling.
He had called me out on the back porch one evening when I was over there for dinner. Handing me a beer, he said, “Sit down, son.”
Not going to lie, I considered running. Izabel’s dad looked at me seriously and addressed me sincerely. But I didn’t run. Instead, I squared my shoulders and listened to what he had to say. I had never done the boyfriend thing before, so I hadn’t known what to expect with the “Dad-Talk.”
We talked, he asked my intentions, and I answered him honestly. I divulged more to him about how I felt than I had outwardly to Bells.
She meant everything to me, and I was going to marry her. Not now, of course. But someday. I knew without a doubt that we would spend the rest of our lives together.
Mr. Sanders, or Dan, as he told me to call him, nodded at my answers and took a deep swig of his beer. “We’ll see,” was all he said. Still, he patted me on the shoulder approvingly as he walked inside.
Once my alarm had been shut off, I turned back to my girlfriend, rubbing my nose against the top of her head and breathing in her sleepy scent.
Three hours to go.
