Ryder (Scandal U Book 1)

by R. Linda

  It was becoming an expensive habit, but one I didn’t intend to break anytime soon. I had tried just about every type of coffee and flavour combination on the menu at the Coffee Pot, and some not on the menu. But I had my reason for subjecting my body to the disgusting drink and extra calories that I needed to work off at the gym each morning.

  And that reason was across the room wiping tables.

  “You’re becoming a stalker,” Ryder’s voice sounded from behind me.

  “Am not.”

  He kicked out a chair and sat across from me. “No?” He raised his eyebrow in disbelief.

  “Just enjoying my coffee, man.”

  “Sure.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his other knee and tapped his knuckles on the table while he waited for my response.

  Jerk.

  He wasn’t going to get one. I wasn’t a stalker. I was cautiously observing from afar. There was nothing wrong with that. Right? It was normal to take up drinking coffee just because you wanted to see the girl in the coffee shop every day. It was normal to stop by said coffee shop four times a day to get that coffee so you could see her just one more time. Right?

  No. Jones was right. I was bordering on stalkerish.

  “Dammit. Fine. Okay. But I’m not stalking. I’m—”

  “Cautiously observing from afar. Yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night.”

  He heard that excuse a few times, I guessed. “What are you doing here, then?”

  “Watching Lennon.” He shrugged like it was no big deal admitting he was here watching a girl who wasn’t his girlfriend.

  Why couldn’t I be that honest and admit what I was doing so easily? “Stalking Lennon?”

  “I’m not stalking her.”

  It was my turn to raise a challenging eyebrow at him. “Bullshit.”

  “I have no romantic interest in her. I’m here on Bailey’s orders. She’s worried.”

  “I have no romantic interest in her either.” I lifted my mug to my lips and winced as the bitter taste of death slid down my throat.

  Coffee was so gross.

  Ryder chuckled. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

  I kicked his leg under the table, but it only made him laugh more.

  “Getting a bit defensive there, Jay.”

  “I’m here on Bailey’s orders too, asshole. That girlfriend of yours can be pretty freaking intimidating for such a sweet person.”

  Ryder smiled and nodded once, proud.

  Ever since that party at my house a couple of months ago where we’d learned that Lennon’s boyfriend had been beating her, Bailey had put us all on Lennon Watch. Basically, we took it in turns to stick to Lennon’s side like glue. It wasn’t like any of us thought he’d hurt her in public, but Bailey was determined not to leave her alone. Though nothing could be done once she returned home to him each day.

  She didn’t have much of a life. Work. Class. Home. That was it. She never went anywhere with friends. Never stopped and spoke to people on campus. Her eyes were always downcast, her bag hugged to her chest. She never made eye contact. She only interacted with the customers briefly. The only people she seemed comfortable talking to, even just a little bit, were Bailey and Ryder. I was working on getting her warmed up to me, though.

  Bailey told me I had to.

  Two plates with chocolate cake and another coffee were placed on the table in front of us. Lennon stood there with her bony hands on her hips and tilted her head. Her blue gaze was hard, piercing. She didn’t look too happy.

  Ryder grinned. “My favourite,” he said, reaching for a slice of cake and picking up his coffee mug.

  “You two would only look slightly creepier if you were camped out in the bushes and peeking through the windows.”

  “Just here for the coffee and cake, love.” Ryder made a show putting his fork into the cake, as if to prove a point.

  Lennon’s hard gaze softened, and she smiled at him. I’d swear to God, that guy had a way with chicks. Didn’t matter who they were, how old they were, all he had to do was flash those stupid dimples and call them “love,” and they were putty in his hands. I’d seen him do it countless times over the years, and I just didn’t get it. I tried and was met with eye rolls, scoffs, or slaps in the face.

  “You’re going to get fat,” Lennon said and stormed off.

  Ryder shoved more cake into his mouth. Getting fat seemed to be the last thing on his mind.

  “She’s right, you know? I spend an extra thirty minutes at the gym every morning, and an extra hour on the field just to burn off these drinks.”

  “Do I look like I’m getting fat?” Ryder angled his head.

  “No. Bastard.”

  “You gonna eat that?” he asked, eyeing my cake. I shoved it in his direction.

  “How do you eat so much and not get fat?”

  “I have a girlfriend.”

  I frowned.

  “Sex is excellent cardio.” He pointed his fork in my direction. “You should try getting laid sometime.”

  “I get laid plenty,” I argued defensively, and Ryder barked out a laugh.

  Okay, fine. Maybe not plenty. But it wasn’t like I was celibate or anything.

  “Piss off. Why are you here?” I chose to ignore his laughter.

  “Boss’s orders.” His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket with a goofy smile on his face. “Speaking of.” He held up a finger to silence me, like I wanted to talk to him any more than I already had, and answered his phone.

  When he hung up, he gulped down the last of his coffee, leaving me wondering how he managed to do that when mine was still almost full and stood. “Gotta go. Want me to send Jack with his binoculars so you can follow her home?” he asked, his voice loud, causing everyone in our vicinity to turn and stare.

  “One. You’re an ass. Two. Why does Jack have binoculars?”

  “Never said I wasn’t. What doesn’t Jack have? I don’t ask questions anymore. They lead to answers I wish I never heard. Dude must have a warehouse full of junk, I swear. You know he brought a leaf blower to campus the other day because the tree he likes to sit under was ‘malting’.”

  “Malting?”

  “His words. Not mine. But where he got a leaf blower from, no idea. So, if you want me to hook you up with those binoculars, gimme a shout.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder and left.

  I was glad for the peace and quiet once he’d gone and resumed my position of nursing a drink I didn’t like, just so I could watch the girl who didn’t want to be watched.

  Almost as though she sensed I was watching her…ha, even I had to laugh at that. There was no sensing about it; she knew I was watching her. Lennon whipped off her apron, grabbed a juice out of the fridge, and walked toward me.

  Shit.

  I glanced over my shoulder to see if there was any way I could escape. But I was trapped, and she was closing in.

  She dropped into the seat Ryder had vacated and stared at me.

  I folded my arms across my chest. Cleared my throat. Reached for my drink and guzzled the entire damn thing.

  “What are you doing, Jayden?”

  “Drinking my coffee.” I winced and shook my head as the bitter aftertaste took hold of my mouth.

  Lennon pushed her juice over to me. “You don’t like coffee.”

  “I love it.” It was a lie. I knew it. She knew it. And it was only confirmed when I downed half her orange juice to wash the taste out of my mouth.

  Lennon sighed and rubbed a hand over her face, the slight bruise barely visible beneath the makeup she had been wearing more and more. “Why are you here?”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off, “And don’t say for the coffee. From Ryder, I’ll believe that. But you barely stepped foot in this place before that, that…that night.”

  “I’m here because I care, Lennon. Everyone else might be too stupid or blind to see what’s going on. They might be too self-absorbed to care. But me? I care. Bailey cares.
Ryder cares.”

  Lennon pressed her lips together and looked away. Maybe because she didn’t want to look at me. Maybe because she didn’t want me to look at her. I reached over the table placed my hand on her cheek. She flinched and pushed her chair back so fast she nearly kicked it over.

  I held up my hands. “Sorry. I…”

  “Just leave it, Jayden. You can care all you want. You, Bailey, Ryder can follow me around campus, stalk the coffee shop, my classes, hide in the bushes, for all I know. It still won’t change a thing. I’m fine. Everything is fine.”

  “Lennon, wait.” I stood.

  “Stop. Just leave me alone.” She turned and stormed off back to the counter.

  And what did I do?

  I ordered another damn coffee and returned to my seat.

  I wasn’t going anywhere. Apart from the fact Bailey would string me up by my balls if I failed my mission, it didn’t matter what Lennon said.

  She needed help.

  I might not have been able to save someone when they needed me, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to let that happen again.

  Even if she didn’t know it, Lennon needed saving.

  And I was going to be her knight in fucking armour.

  Acknowledgements

  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Limitless Publishing for their amazing work and dedication to bringing my books to life, and for taking a chance on this new spin-off series.

  My editor, Lori Whitwam, for her patience and her incredible ability to decipher my words and make them shine.

  Deranged Doctor Design for creating this beautiful cover. It is absolutely stunning.

  Amber Garcia for being the best assistant I could ask for. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.

  My squad. You are the best group of readers an author could hope for. Your love for Ryder and my characters astounds me, but I’m grateful to each and every one of you.

  Fiona Keane, my BFF. You’ve been one of my biggest supporters since day one, and I can always count on you to be there with wine, words of encouragement, and endless inspirational gifs.

  My book besties, Alley, Marisol, and Sierra. I have no words for how much I adore you three. Your encouragement and inspiration know no bounds.

  And finally, my amazing street team. Your encouragement, advice, and help along the way are phenomenal.

  Thank you all.

  X

  About The Author

  R. Linda drinks wine and writes books.

  A coffee-addicted, tattoo-enthusiastic fangirl with a slight obsession for a particular British boy band and solo artist, she is a writer of Contemporary YA/NA Romance and Suspense, sometimes dabbling in Paranormal as well.

  Renee lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two sons. When not writing, she can often be found reading books to her children and cuddling up with them on the couch to watch their favourite movies.

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