Page 15 of What are the Risks
Ryker snickered. “When you said finishing up dinner, I assumed you meant cooking it, not pouring it. Your diet is dreadful, Rubz.”
“It’s all about balance. This is technically breakfast for me anyway.”
I propped my phone against the fruit bowl so that I had both hands free.
Ryker’s bare shoulders came into view as he shifted, getting comfortable. “You look nice. What are you so dressed up for?”
“Jaz’s birthday. We’re going out.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Yeah. It should be.”
Silence followed as the conversation fizzled.
I hated this. I hated this. I hated this.
Ryker and I didn’t do uncomfortable silences.
I searched my mind, attempting to think ofanythingto say, but it’s like my brain had turned to mush.
Ryker was the one to eventually break the awkwardness. “Are we good, Rubz?”
I exhaled. “Of course we are.” A heaviness lifted off my chest. “I’m sorry I overreacted on Thanksgiving. I shouldn’t have flipped out at you. And I shouldn’t have said–”
“You don’t have to apologise.”
“I do. You were doing the right thing by telling me but... I don’t believe it, Wheels.”
He nodded. “Okay. Then neither do I. Let’s forget it.”
I absentmindedly grasped the stem of my glass, unable to meet Ryker’s gaze. “But you must’ve if you said something.”
He sighed. “I was only repeating what Stefan told me.”
“I know, and I’m not saying I think Stefan’s lying, I think he might have just misread the situation.”
“Probably. The guy is clueless. Mum told me over the break that she had to buy him a whole new wardrobe because he shrunk everything the first time he tried doing laundry at college.”
I laughed. That sounded like Stefan. He was the opposite to Ryker in so many ways. Ryker needed to understand situations and be in control, whereas Stefan would happily go with the flow, even if the flow danced him into a volcano.
“So, what have you been...” Ryker’s attention slipped as he responded to a notification on his phone.
“Who are you texting?” I checked.
“No one.”
“Uh-huh. What’s her name?”
He smirked. “Maria.”
“Ma-ri-a.” I pointedly enunciated each syllable. “Blonde?”
“More of a red head actually.” His focus returned to me. “How was your shift last night?”
“Amazing. I got to sit in on a hysterectomy.”
Ryker grimaced, his dimple deepening as he crumpled his face. “TMI, Rubz.”
