Just a Little Crush(80)
Mason wandered over to Leena, tugged her hand, pulling her from her seat, and plopped into her chair. As he cradled her in his lap, she giggled and threw her arm over his shoulder.
Ryder’s gaze jerked away from them and moved to me.
With a small smile, I offered him a shrug.
“Have my chair,” Chris said. “I’m going on a beer run.”
The seat opened up next to Ryder.
“Thanks.” I nibbled my lip as I sank into the chair.
“So,” Ryder said.
“So,” I repeated.
“He kissed you.”
“You saw that.”
“Yep.” The fire crackled in front of us and the flames danced as a light breeze fanned them. “But now he’s with her?”
“He and I are finally on the same page. The kiss confirmed that.”
“Interesting.” He stood and motioned with his head for me to follow him.
My stomach swirled. This was the conversation I’d been wanting, yet now that it was here, it filled me with anxiety. I stood and followed him. The crashing of waves replaced the laughter and crackling fire as we walked farther away.
“So what page are we on?” he finally asked.
“That’s what I’d like to figure out.”
We’d stopped along the water’s edge. Other than the tiny whitecaps, it looked black under the night sky.
He stared out into the ocean. “Well, you know where I stand.”
“Do I?” I glanced at him. “When I left your room that day, you couldn’t even look at me.”
“That’s what you thought?” He sat down on the sand, arms draped over his bent knees. “No, Brinley, I couldn’t stand to watch you walk out of my life.”
“You tattoo painful memories onto your body. I’m one of them.” I sat down next to him.
“I tattoo moments I never want to forget. Mistakes, mine and others’. You’re not a painful memory. My mistake is. Hurting you is my mistake. It’s my pain.”
I reached out and held his hand. “How about we not call it a mistake. Let’s call it a misunderstanding.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
I shifted onto my knees and faced him. “Don’t be mad, but I know what you did.”
“What do you mean?”
“Paige told me.”
He looked away.
With my hand on his cheek, I guided his face back toward mine. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me.” His gaze dropped.
“Going to your stepdad is a big deal. I don’t understand why you would bargain with him over me. Your mom needs to know the truth. You can’t carry this around anymore.”
“The thought of people reading that fucking article and judging you, thinking I’d used you…I had to stop it. I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t an easy thing to do, so thanks.”
“It wasn’t a difficult choice. Nothing in my life has come as naturally as protecting you.”
My heart swelled and I knew there was no going back from a fall like that. And it had been way too long since I’d kissed Ryder. As I leaned forward, my phone blared from my pocket. Stupid, freaking phone. But I could think of only one person who’d be calling.
“I’m sorry, it might be my grandma.”
I dug it out and stared at the unknown number. Not again. My heart rate sped.
“Hello?”
“May I speak to Brinley Dawson?”
My stomach sank. “This is she.”
“Hi. This is Karen calling from Memorial Hospital. You are listed as a contact for Elizabeth Dawson.”
“Yes, that’s my mom.”
“Well, Elizabeth came into the ER with a laceration on her leg. It’s been treated but we’re holding her here until someone can pick her up. She’s intoxicated and we can’t release her unless we know she has a safe ride home.”
How many nineteen-year-olds got the call to pick up their drunk parent? “I can pick her up, but, well, I’m three hours away.”
“Is there anyone else we can call?”
Grandma was out of state visiting my great-aunt Sarah, so there was no way to call her. Which was probably for the best. She didn’t need more stress. Mom had alienated most of her friends over the last several years, and Mason, the only friend I’d even consider asking, was at the beach with me. “No. But I can leave now and be there in a few hours.”
“Don’t worry. A few hours of sleep won’t hurt her. Paperwork might get a bit tied up too. I’ll take care of it. Just get here when you can. If all else fails, she will be sober by morning and we can send her home then.”
“Okay, but I’m on my way. Please call me if anything changes.”