Ryker (12 page)

Max filled two glasses, and Tyf set mine in front of me.

The cold liquid slid down my throat and made me cough. I also got an instant ice headache. “Holy shit. What’s in this?”

Tyf took the straw out of her mouth long enough to say, “Tequila, lime, and whatever else Max threw in. Do you like it?”

I took another sip and let it rest on my tongue a while. “Yeah, it’s really refreshing. I think the lime threw me.”

“Who’s ready to eat?” Max said as he set a plate of steaks on the table.

Tyf uncovered a dish of baked potatoes.

Jake grabbed his fork and speared a steak. “This looks great. I’m starving.”

We devoured our dinner in silence, except for our forks scraping against the porcelain dishes. I stood to clear the table, and Tyf helped me. We brought the dishes into the kitchen and loaded them into the dishwasher.

Tyf stopped to sip her drink. “Are you having fun?”

I smiled at her. “Yeah, this is great. I love hanging out with all of you.”

“Even Ryker?”

I didn’t want to answer that. “Let’s go. I want another drink.”

We stepped outside, and Tyf asked Max to make more drinks for us.

He groaned. “Don’t pass out on me tonight.”

“Oh, baby, don’t worry. I won’t.”

Michael chuckled. “Man, you guys are disgustingly in love.”

The table went silent. Everyone just looked at him and then at Max and Tyf. I needed to help them out.

I said, “Do I need to blend my own drink, or are you going to do it?”

Max grinned and went to the blender. Ryker went to the edge of the deck for another smoke, and I watched him. He was truly a beautiful man. Max brought us our drinks, took a beer for himself, and sat down.

Tyf raised her glass. “Cheers!”

We all raised our drinks, and the topic of Max and Tyf being in love was forgotten.

Looking back at my friends, I was thankful to have them around me. Then I’d look back at the lake and feel alone again. I took the final drag off my smoke and rejoined them. My seat was across from Faith, and I noticed her face. She had been kissed by the sun and looked even more beautiful than she did earlier.

“How about we head down to the beach and have a bonfire?” Max asked, sounding excited.

Tyf yawned. “Sounds good to me.”

Max glared at her. “I could throw you in the lake to wake you up.”

“Haha. I’m fine. Let’s go.”

We walked down the stairs to the beach. I grabbed the cooler of beer, and Max grabbed his acoustic guitar. Max told the guys to grab the matches that were next to the grill and the pitcher of margaritas. The bonfire was more of a fire pit. I was thankful that it wasn’t too close to the water.

I watched Faith organize the chairs around the fire that Tim started. Meanwhile, Tyf snapped pictures of us. They were mostly candid, but she also took one of just the band. Then she asked Max to take one of her and Faith. That would be the best one.

When we all sat down, Max grabbed his guitar and strummed. I didn’t know the song he was playing.

He stopped and looked at Faith. “Shall we?”

She looked like a deer in headlights. “Oh, no. I’ve sung enough for a week.”

Tyf stuck out her bottom lip. “Come on, please? I love when you guys sing together.”

Max smiled and gave her a look. “Just one song. Will you do it for your best friend?”

With a roll of her eyes, Faith gave in. “Ugh! Okay, fine. One song, but that’s it.”

Max smiled and winked. “Our usual?”

Faith laughed. “Yeah, sure.”

Clearing her throat and holding a pretend microphone, Tyf said, “I now present the ever fabulous and most gorgeous Faith Bishop, and my hot ass boyfriend, Max Morrison, singing, ‘Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart.’”

We all clapped, and I watched Faith’s face turn red as she covered it with her hand. I loved when she got that look. My smile grew as I watched how comfortable she was with Max. I envied that. Having never had that type of connection, I wondered what it would be like. Sure, Max and I were best friends, but we didn’t grow up together. After they finished their song, Max set the guitar down, and Tyf launched herself at him.

She peppered him with kisses and giggled. “Baby, that was great! Do you think Blanco Diablo will let you guys sing that song?”

“I don’t think it’s their style; it isn’t even our style.”

The sound of the fire crackling and the smell of the wood was relaxing. My eyes followed the sparks that went up toward the sky. As I leaned back to watch them and listen to my friends’ laughter, I wondered how different my life would have been if I had grown up there.

Jake’s voice took me out of my little pity party. “So, Ryker, tell us about Tori. I’d love to get a piece of that. She’s hot as fuck!”

My eyes shot to his and then glanced over at Faith. Max whispered something in her ear, and she gave him a half grin.

Asshole
. “Need to know about my sex life because you don’t have much of your own?”

Jake laughed. “Nah, man, my sex life is just fine. I’d be careful with Tori though. Those luscious legs have been wrapped around more things than aluminum foil.”

Tim chimed in, “I’d let her wrap me in anything. She’s smokin’.”

Michael chuckled. “I need to join the band.”

All the guys laughed, and I felt uncomfortable. Normally I’d have no problem talking about women, but not that night.

“Guys, there are ladies present.” Max sounded annoyed.

I was relieved. That conversation needed to end.

“Chill out. Tyf and Faith are cool with this, aren’t ya, ladies? I mean, it isn’t like you both have virgin ears and haven’t heard about the women we’ve had.” Jake laughed, but everyone else remained silent.

Max went to stand, and Tyf grabbed his arm. “It’s okay, babe. Really.”

Faith stood, and the skirt of her dress flowed in the breeze and showed off her legs. She pushed it down. “I’ll be back. I need to go inside for a bit.” She grabbed her sandals and shook the sand out of them as she walked away.

I watched her for a bit to make sure she was out of earshot. Then I stood and looked at Jake. “I’d lay off the drinks for a bit before you get your ass kicked.”

“Really? Who’s going to kick it? You? What’s the big deal? They know how we are. I don’t know why you’re so pissed off.”

I glared at him. “Just cool it, okay?”

Putting his hands up, he said, “Sure, man, whatever you say.”

Faith was no longer in sight. I decided to go check on her. “I’ll be back.”

Being the friend he was, Max chimed in, “Be careful, Ry.”

Looking back at him, I nodded. There was something about Faith… After witnessing her dream that morning, my dick has been thinking about her all day. There was something about the way she’d called out my name. Whether she was asleep or not didn’t matter. She did it, and I’d loved it. The need to hear it again consumed me.

The sand under my feet reminded me where we were, and my heart ached. I walked up the dimly lit steps, across the wooden planks, and saw Faith on the deck swing. She looked totally lost in thought.

Moving toward her, I studied her. She was beautiful, but her heart was what made her who she was. “Can I sit with you?”

“Sure.” Never looking at me, she stopped the slow movement of the swing with her foot.

I sat down. “Are you okay?”

She looked at me. “Yes. I just needed to make a call.”

“Who?”
Please don’t say who I think you’re going to.

“What?”

“Who did you have to call?”

“Erik. He texted me earlier, and I decided to come up here and call him instead.”

Disappointment. That was what I felt. “Oh. How’s he feeling?”

She gave me a look of surprise. “You really want to know?”

Stretching my arms along the back of the swing, I said, “Yeah, sure.”

“He’s fine.”

“Why do you look so sad?” That I needed to hear. I didn’t know why, but I did.

She shrugged and stared at the water, which was getting rougher. “I don’t think you’re the right person to confide in.”

“Why? We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Looking at me, she said, “That’s what you say, but I don’t know. I guess maybe we are.”

“Faith, look, the guys were just being the guys if that’s what’s bothering you.”

“It isn’t. I know how you all are. That wasn’t anything new or anything I hadn’t heard before. Believe me, Max has told me about his conquests. I get how it works.” Very softly, she said, “They’re all the same.”

I knew she hadn’t meant for me to hear that, but I did. “Who’s the same?”

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Faith stood and walked into the house. I was going to follow her, but she came back out with two beers. “Want one?”

“Yeah.”

She handed me the bottle, and the cap was already off. The tip of her bottle met her mouth, and I watched her lips wrap around it. The breeze blew her hair as she looked out toward the water.

“You can go back to the fire. I’m fine.” Faith walked down the steps.

I needed to know, so I asked, “Where are you going?”

“To walk along the water.”

Looking at the waves, which appeared to be crashing against the shoreline, I didn’t think that was the best idea. Then I had an even worse idea. “Can I go with you?”

“Do what you want.” She was so stoic.

That threw me off. Faith took off her shoes and left them on the deck. I hopped over the railing to catch up to her. The pace she kept was out of pure determination to get to the water.

“What’s the hurry?” I didn’t want to go any farther.

We were already out of our friends’ sightline, and aside from the few houseboats that were faintly lit and rocking with the waves, we were the only ones out there. She stopped just shy of where the tide was rolling in, bent over, and set her beer bottle in the sand. Leaning her head back, she inhaled deeply, making her breasts swell. I had to tear my eyes away.

Her lips curled, and she looked at peace. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

Looking up and then back at her, I didn’t know what she was referring to. “What is?”

“Everything. Haven’t you ever closed your eyes and taken in all that’s around you?” She looked at me, and her eyes made me wonder about her.

“What’s there to take in?”

She snickered. “Are you kidding me? What’s wrong with you? Do something for me.”

Starting to get nervous, and I never got nervous, I said, “What?”

“Close your eyes.”

I looked at her. “No, I’m good. I get it. We’re surrounded by nature. I close my eyes, and you’ll probably push me in the lake.”

Laughing, she said, “I will not. Just do it.”

Letting out a huff, I closed my eyes. “Okay, they’re closed.” I crossed my arms and waited.

I felt her hands on my forearms, gently uncrossing them. She turned my palms out and slightly raised my arms. Before I knew it, she was behind me with her hands on my back, as if to steady me. If I fell backward, we’d both fall, but I wasn’t about to tell her to move. It felt nice; she felt nice.

“Just listen.”Her voice was soothing and sexy.

Silence. All I heard was silence. Then I heard the water, and my eyes sprung open. “Yeah, that was great. Can we go now?”

“Where? Why? You haven’t even given it a chance.”

“Back to our friends. I’m sure Max is ready to send out a search party for you.”

Nodding with a look of all-knowing disappointment, she said, “You’re probably right.” She grabbed her beer. “Let’s go.”

“Wow! Did you just say I was right about something? Should I write this date down?” I laughed, and she pushed me, making me stumble.

Thanks to the sand, I had zero traction. She grabbed my arm, and we both landed in the sand, spilling her beer on my shorts.

“Ow. Why the hell did you push me?”

“Why do you always have to be an ass?” Realizing she was lying half on top of me, she went to get up.

I held her in place. “Faith?”

Her eyes went soft. “What?”

“You’re lying on my stick, and now thanks to you, my pants are wet.”

She looked down, and her face turned red.

I chuckled. “Not that stick. Wow, you have a dirty mind.”

She shoved off me. “See? Ass!”

I reached into my pocket, pulled out a drumstick keychain, and held it up. “This stick was digging into my hip, and because of your violent mood, you spilled your beer on my shorts. Geez, Faith.” The corner of my lips fought the urge to curl in amusement. Anytime Faith was riled up I was turned on. No, that isn’t true, she always turned me on.

I jogged away from her. Knowing how she was, I was sure she wasn’t far behind me. Thankfully we made it back to the group unscathed.

Max was strumming his guitar. “There you are. Everything okay?”

Faith answered, “Yup.”

I huffed, and in pure over-dramatic exasperation, I said, “No. I was being nice and keeping Faith company when she laid on my stick and made my shorts all wet.”

Everyone laughed except for Max. “Do I want to know what that means?”

Chuckling, I said, “Probably not.”

Faith stood next to the fire. “It means that Mister Graceful over there was going to fall. I tried to help him, and I ended up falling and spilling my beer on him.”