Page 97 of Unforgettable
I trudged over to the stereo, found the power cord, and yanked on it. The couple who had their tongues down each other’s throat broke apart.
Tabitha laughed.
Ryker didn’t move or wake up.
His chest was moving, so I knew he wasn’t dead. That could change, though.
I kicked his bare foot, which was resting on the coffee table.
The man didn’t budge.
“Leave him be,” Tabitha cooed. “He’s had a hard day.”
I busted out with a snort and a growl. She was acting like she and Ryker had a long ongoing relationship. Nevertheless, a part of me felt sorry for her. The other part wanted to pluck her off him by her blond ponytail.
I tapped Ryker on the face.
Tabitha shot up and tried to scratch my face. “Get away from him.”
Revulsion and fury pulsed in my veins.
Ryker stirred, and when he opened his eyes, he shot straight up, wobbled, and fell back down to the couch.
Déjà vu hit me as I remembered how he’d acted that first night I’d met him. Nevertheless, I clamped down on my tongue. We weren’t dating, so I shouldn’t care what chick he had on him. But Tabitha wasn’t any chick. She was the daughter of my father’s mistress, the girl who wanted to bury her pink-painted nails into Ryker, the same woman who was bringing out a side of me I didn’t like. I’d never been one to physically fight, but I had a mean kick thanks to a kickboxing class I’d taken in boarding school.
His eyelids fluttered as he shook off his sleepiness or drunkenness. Or maybe he was high. None of that mattered when he laid eyes on Tabitha. The sight of her seemed to sober him up. “What the fuck are you doing?” He sounded repulsed rather than guilty.
She tried to touch him.
He lifted his hands in the air. “Get off me.” His voice was hard and pitted. Then his wild expression rounded to me, and his jaw came unhinged.
I hugged myself. “Why am I not surprised?” It was more of a question for Tabitha than him.
Ryker pushed to his feet and listed to one side. “Fuck.”
Tabitha yanked on his hand and pulled him back down. Ryker went easily, mainly because he was tipsy or trying to shake off sleep.
He tried to stand again. “Tabitha, if you touch me one more time, I’m calling the cops.”
Her thin eyebrows furrowed. “I’m calling your father,” she said to me, whipping her phone from the back pocket of her shorts before she stomped away.
“Tell him I said hi.” At least she was confirming my suspicions.
When Ryker was upright, he roughed two hands through his thick black hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Catching you with other women,” I teased.
“No, seriously,” he said as if he were stone-cold sober.
My father’s ringtone alerted me to a text.
“I have to go,” I said. “If my father finds me, you won’t ever see me again.”
Ryker tensed. “Come on.” He started for the stairs.
When we reached the kitchen, Lucas was leaning against the island as though he were waiting for us. “Need help?” he asked.
“Stay with her,” Ryker said to Lucas. “I need to get my shoes.” Ryker darted out.
