Resisting Ryder(29)

“Did you get something to eat?” he asked.

“I did, thanks.” She still couldn’t stop staring. She noticed a tattoo peeking out from under his sleeve and wondered why she hadn’t noticed it before.

“What do you want to do today?” he inquired. “We can do anything you want.”

“I am fine with whatever. This is your city. Show it to me,” she replied.

“I was thinking maybe the Santa Monica Pier?” he said with squinty eyes. “It’s a tad bit touristy, but it’s so much fun and you can’t beat the people watching there.”

“Sounds fun.” Stormy smiled.

As Ryder and Stormy road to Santa Monica on that beautiful day, she tried her best to take in all the various sights and sounds of the city. There were so many people, so many fancy cars, and so many palm trees. She felt like she was in some sort of far off, exotic place that she’d only ever seen in movies. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to leave on Sunday.

Ryder rode around for a bit looking for a place to park before finally finding one several blocks from the pier.

“We’re going to have a bit of a walk,” he warned her. “This place is nuts, especially on Saturdays.”

“No problem,” she said as she followed him.

They strolled down to the pier where people on rollerblades whizzed past them and hot dog and cotton candy vendors lined up every twenty feet or so. The peaceful rush of the ocean waves in the distance provided the most beautiful backdrop against the crazy chaos that was the pier.

“What do you think so far?” Ryder asked with a mischievous smile. “Pretty crazy, huh?”

“I’m just fascinated,” she said. “So much to take in.”

A man rollerblading in bright yellow short shorts glided past them with his little wiener dog trailing behind him. Up ahead, a woman wrangled her five small children who were trying to go every which way. Next to them, a sweet couple sat together on a park bench, holding hands and sharing a stick of pale pink cotton candy. There were joggers, power walkers, and musicians singing for change. She had never seen so many different types of people all in one place, and she loved it.

After a few minutes, they happened upon an empty park bench and quickly grabbed it up.

“Are you ready for the most amazing people watching experience you’ll ever have in your entire life?” Ryder teased.

He leaned back and placed one arm on the back of the bench, behind Stormy. She breathed in the salty sea air as she took in the overabundance of sights, sounds, and people that surrounded them.

“This is so different from Coleville,” she observed. “But in a good way. I’m glad I came out here.”

She turned towards him and smiled.

“Thanks for making me come out here,” she added.

“Whoa, you came out here on your own free will,” he joked. “I didn’t make you do anything.”

Stormy blushed as she realized he was right. It was her idea to come visit, though he had been the one to extend the invitation and plant the seed.

“I’m glad you came out too,” he said as he tried to clear the awkwardness he had just created. “I wish you were staying longer actually.”

Butterflies ruffled around her tummy as he said those words. She wondered if she was reading too much into everything or if she was just drawn to him because of his stark resemblance to her dead husband. She didn’t know much, but she knew she was enjoying his company and she didn’t want it to end either.

“Maybe I’ll come out again soon,” she suggested. “I’d invite you back to Coleville, but that would just be punishment for you.”

Ryder laughed and looked down at her. She could tell he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it.

“If you ever need me to come out to Coleville, you know I would,” he said. “It’s not exactly Aruba or anyplace I’d want to vacation, but I’d go if I had to.”

“Thanks, I think?” Stormy chuckled.

“That came out wrong,” he said. His cheeks flushed for the first time ever. It took a lot to embarrass him. “I just mean, Coleville is pretty lame, but if you needed me for something, I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

She smiled as her heart warmed over. It was nice having someone to protect her and care about her well-being. She had her parents and Brooklyn, but there was something special about having a guy who cared about her when he really didn’t have to.

“I’m a pretty independent girl,” she said. “But my door is always open for you, Ryder. I hope you know that. If you ever get sick of these palm trees and watching dolphins swim in the ocean and riding your bike down the Pacific Highway, Coleville is just a quick plane ride away.”