Resisting Ryder(41)

With her love triangle officially over, she headed back inside where Ryder was sitting on the couch. She was sure he heard everything through those thin living room windows, but he didn’t say a word.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“I think so,” she said. “Just a bruised ego.”

Ryder raised his eyebrows.

“His. Not mine,” she clarified. “He’s not used to being rejected and not getting what he wants.”

Ryder tugged on her arm and pulled her into his lap as he wrapped his arms around her.

“I think you made the right choice,” he teased. “Hometown hero who also happens to be a jerk wad? Or powerful, big city biker guy who happens to be really, really ridiculously good looking and crazy about you?”

Stormy playfully slapped his chest and giggled. She loved that he had a sense of humor about everything. Even Jett, as much as she loved him, could rarely get her to laugh the way Ryder did. Jett was always so serious, but she couldn’t blame him for that. Jett seemed to live his life in black and white. Ryder was pure Technicolor.

“I’m going to hop in the shower if that’s okay,” Ryder said as he nudged her to get up.

“Of course,” she replied. “Make yourself at home.”

As Ryder grabbed his things out of his car and headed back inside to get ready, Stormy headed back to her room to tidy up a bit. As she fluffed her pillows and made her bed, she caught the glimmer of her rose gold promise ring sitting on her nightstand. She felt bad for hurting Hayden, even though he had probably hurt her ten times worse before. She didn’t like to hurt people. It wasn’t in her nature. She imagined he was probably crying by now and thinking of ways he could win her back. He was never one to go down without a fight. She reminded herself that she had picked the right guy in choosing Ryder and that Hayden was getting a good old-fashioned dose of his own medicine. It was nothing but pure karma.

Later that night, Ryder drove them out to Odemeyer Road where they found a spot nestled along the side of the road between various other Coleville locals. They put a blanket down in the field and laid down as they prepared to watch the show.

The sun was setting fast and it was only a matter of time before the fireworks began. They had spent the day mostly doing nothing but in a good way. They had taken a walk, had a million and one conversations about completely random things, shared sweet kisses, and reminisced about the days when life was simpler.

The instant the sky was filled with night and stars, the fireworks started. One by one, one after another, bright bursts of gorgeous colors spread out in various patterns. The pops and crackles shot through the air and tickled their ears. It was a splendid sight, and Stormy couldn’t think of anyone better to spend it with than Ryder.

“What would you be doing tonight if you were back home?” Stormy asked him.

“There’s a little bar by the ocean that my buddy owns,” he said. “He usually reserves a table on the roof for a bunch of us. We watch the fireworks from there. It’s sort of tucked away. A special place.”

“Aw,” Stormy said. “I’m sorry you’re missing that right now. That sounds really nice.”

He turned towards her. “I’d rather be with you than there.”

Her heart warmed over as he said those words.

“Move to California, Stormy,” he said as he propped himself up on his elbow and turned to look her in the eyes. “I’m completely serious. Be my old lady. Help me find out who killed Jett.”

Stormy laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not realistic for me right now.”

“If I figure everything out for you and all you have to do is pack your bag and hop on a flight and be there tomorrow, would you?” he propositioned her.

It was very tempting to Stormy, but it scared her to the core. She was a planner, and adapting to big changes was not her strong point.

“What’s stopping you? Really?” he asked.

“My house for one,” she said. “I don’t know how long it would take to sell it.”

“I can take care of that,” he said. “I’ll buy it from you.”

“That’s insane,” Stormy laughed. “Also, I need a job.”

“I’ll take care of you until you find one,” he insisted. “Old ladies don’t work anyway. You don’t even need a job.”

“Then I’ll feel like I owe you,” she said. “I don’t want to feel that way. And I certainly don’t want to feel like a mooch.”

“You’re not a mooch,” he said. “And you won’t owe me anything. I want to do this. I want to be with you, but I can’t do the long distance thing. This is the only way it would work.”