With a nonchalant attitude, I said, “I wasn’t sure you wanted to talk to me.” She let out a small laugh.
“Usually people attempt to talk to a person before they make that assumption.”
“Well, considering I’ve been calling you for months, and you ignore my calls—” She took a step back and shook her head.
A look of hurt moved across Ryn’s face as she slowly said, “You’re seeing . . . another . . . girl.”
“It’s not like that. We are kind of off and on. I mean . . . I’m not seeing her right now.” She rolled her eyes before looking into mine.
“Do you have any idea how much you hurt me?”
My heart felt like it was physically hurting as I swallowed and said, “I just thought . . . I wasn’t planning on—” I looked away and then back into her eyes. “I thought you just wanted to have fun, Ryn. Then you started acting different and I started having these feelings and . . . I was confused.”
Anger replaced the hurt in her eyes. “The only thing that confused you is why you brought the wrong girl to meet mom and dad.”
She turned and began walking into the house. I wanted to call out for her, but I couldn’t. My heart felt like it was squeezing in my chest as I stood there and listened to her retreating footsteps.
I turned and stared out at the dark ocean again. That’s what my heart felt like. A deep sea of . . . darkness.
THE SUN SHINING IN THROUGH the window caused me to let out a low grumble. I knew the moment I opened my eyes I’d feel the hangover. Yesterday was my younger brother, Lark’s wedding to his spunky and beautiful new bride, Azurdee. I still couldn’t believe Azurdee had won over my brother and tamed his wild ways. For a while there I was pretty sure he was more against a committed relationship than I was. I heard my phone vibrate on the side table. Reaching over, I grabbed it.
Lark: Why the hell do you want to know about Dodge?
Sitting up, I let out a frustrated moan as I ran my hand down my face. Last night I watched as Ryn said goodbye to my parents and walked out the door with this Dodge guy. A built, blond-haired, blue-eyed asshole who had his arm wrapped around her waist and held her like she was his.
Motherfucker.
Me: Ryn mentioned him last night. He showed up and he is with her now. I remembered you mentioning a Dodge guy once when you and Azurdee were split up.
Lark: He manages Red 7. According to Azurdee, he is Ryns RFB.
RFB? Ryn had said that last night to Dodge. What the fuck is a RFB?
Lark: Before you ask it means Rebound Fuck Buddy.
My mouth dropped open as I stared at the text. “You’ve got to be shitting me,” I whispered.
Lark: Azurdee said Ryn is pretty much exclusive to the guy. They’re dating, but not really dating. Guess Dodge is into Ryn and she doesn’t feel the same.
Interesting.
Me: Thanks, Bro. I think I’m going to be staying another week . . . or two. I’ve got the time.
Lark: Ah shit. Don’t start any trouble down there. Have fun.
Me: I’m gonna try not to. Later.
Setting the phone on the bed, I headed into the bathroom. I took one look at myself in the mirror and frowned. I looked like shit. Tired and hungover was not going to work if I wanted to try and run into Ryn today.
Glancing back into the bedroom, I looked at the clock on the side table. Seven on the dot. Ryn would be heading out for a run any time now if I knew her.
I quickly splashed water on my face, brushed my teeth and changed into a pair of jogging shorts, a white T-shirt, and running shoes. One quick look at myself in the mirror and I was headed down to the beach.
Glancing up and down the beach, I was almost positive Ryn would run this way. Looking toward the beach house she was renting for the next two weeks, I smiled when I saw her heading down the steps to the beach. She did a few funky ass yoga moves and then took off running, in the opposite direction of me.
Shit.
I pushed my ear buds in and started running. My full on run was quickly catching up to Ryn’s jog. I smiled as I took a good look at her ass. She had the nicest ass of any girl I ever dated. I loved Ryn’s body. She had curves and wasn’t afraid to eat me under the table when it came to a large buffalo chicken pizza from Double Dave’s. Liberty, my ex-girlfriend, was boney as hell and I swear the only things she ate were carrots and cheese sticks.
Ryn’s long wavy brown hair was pulled back into a sloppy ponytail. Ryn never cared too much about being prim and proper. She could dress up and look like a million bucks easy, but she only did it when she had to. Otherwise, she was in her favorite pair of comfy pants, as she called them, and a T-shirt.
