Just a Little Crush(62)

I stumbled to the bed and plopped down with my hands in my lap. The door flew open.

“C’mon.”

I stood and, with his hand on my back, Ryder guided me downstairs and toward the front door. Jeff stood in the kitchen, adjusting a lopsided picture hanging on the wall. He eyed me up and down and I turned away.

Ryder unlocked his car and I jumped inside. Everything about him in that moment screamed volatile, from his knuckles whitening as he gripped the steering wheel to his eyes, dark with anger. I sat quietly in the car as he backed out of the driveway and pulled onto the road. As soon as we coasted through his neighborhood and onto the highway that led to campus, he reached for my hand, curling his over mine.

I stared at our interlocked fingers and glanced at him. His jaw was set in a hard line as he stared at the road. I flipped his hand in my lap and lightly traced my nails across his wrist, up his forearm then back down. Slowly the tension in his face faded.

“Only you could give me a huge fucking hard-on when I’m this pissed.”

My hand froze.

He chuckled.

I grinned. “Sorry.”

He shook his head. “No, I am.” He glanced at me as he changed lanes. “I’m sure you heard what he said. And I’m sorry. You’re not just some girl. You know that, right?”

“I hoped I wasn’t.”

“You’re not. Don’t ever think that.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“I hate that asshole. Fuck.” He slammed his hand onto his steering wheel. “I hate him.”

“It takes a lot of energy to hate people. Maybe you should just say fuck him.”

“Is that what you do?”

Though he didn’t come right out with it, I felt like the unspoken subject of the question was my mother.

I angled toward him. “You know, it kind of empowers people when you hate them. It’s a very strong emotion, and if you hate someone, you are allowing them to elicit that from you. I think some people don’t deserve my feelings. I’d rather save them for the people who do. And, really, anyone who would warrant my hate isn’t worth my time.”

He exited the highway and turned onto one of the main roads through campus. “You know, you’re pretty fucking amazing, Brinley. And you’re right. There are better emotions than hate.”

Back at my dorm, Ryder walked me upstairs. I leaned against the wall outside my room and he rested his hand above my head. On my tiptoes, I kissed him and he grinned down at me.

“See you tomorrow?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m planning on studying at the library tomorrow after class. But we can meet for lunch before.”

“What, you think I don’t study?” He frowned. “Oh, wait, you assumed I’m also gifted with natural intelligence.”

I kept my expression serious. “You’re not?”

“Well, actually, again, yes, I am. But sometimes I like to read the textbooks—you know, for fun.”

“In that case, if you want to read for fun, you’re welcome to join me.” I opened my room door and slipped inside.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He leaned forward and planted a kiss on the top of my head.

A flash of light drew my attention away from him.

Fallon sat at her desk with her phone and a grin. “So when’s the honeymoon?”

“Did you just take a picture?” I asked.

“I needed to capture this moment, you know, for the wedding album.”

“You’re hilarious,” I said, my cheeks warming.

“Can I see it?” Ryder asked as he walked over to Fallon. She handed him her phone and he smiled. “Mind sending it to me?”

“No problem. What’s your number?”

He handed the phone back so she could type in his number.

A moment later, his phone chimed and he glanced at the screen. “Nice. Thanks.” He tucked it in his pocket and strolled out of the room. “See you later.”

His crooked smile was ridiculous. No one should be that freaking hot.

When I didn’t respond, he chuckled.

I snapped out of my trance. “Bye,” I muttered, and shut the door behind him.

“Oh my God,” Fallon snorted. “You’ve got it bad.”

I plopped on the bed and sighed. “Do you blame me?”

“Actually, no. He’s delectable. I think someone needs to clone him and turn him into a sex toy. Like a live-action one. My birthday’s in a month, so feel free to snag some of his DNA and see what you can do to make that happen. Put that biology degree to good use.”

I laughed. “Yeah, okay. Ryder sex toy. On it.”

“I knew rooming with you would eventually pay off.” She stuffed her laptop into her messenger bag. “I need to get going. I’m meeting Leena for coffee. Want to come?”