Ryan looked away for a moment, then back down at her. “He said you had a great ass. I didn’t like him disrespecting you, so I told him to stop looking at your backside.”
Two thoughts occurred to her at that moment. The first was that she wanted to twist around so that she could look at her butt. Did she have a good butt? Was it noteworthy? She’d never really thought about her butt all that much, but…?
The second thought was that he hadn’t “told” Greg anything. She knew by the look in his eyes that Greg had said something far worse than that and Ryan had punched him. Looking at Ryan’s hand, she noticed the bruised knuckles.
“You hit him,” she stated softly. She reached out to touch his knuckles, one of which was raw, the skin scraped away. “You defended me?” She smiled slightly. “No one’s ever defended me before.”
He shrugged. “That’s not…uh…well, not completely true,” he mumbled. “I’ve gotten into a few scrapes over the years when someone else tried to plan a prank on you.”
His words softened her heart even more. “I think…” she began, twisting her lips slightly, “I think that’s very sweet of you.”
He moved closer. “I figured if they wanted to pull something on someone, they needed to get their own girl.”
Cynthia wanted to correct him about that, but he kissed her. A soft, coaxing kiss that caused her heart to flutter wildly. She’d never kissed a boy before and starting with Ryan was a bit like wanting to learn to walk by running a marathon in the Olympics.
Instead of trying to do it right, she lost herself in the kiss, perhaps fumbling a bit, but she followed his lead, doing to him what he did to her. So when he nibbled on her lower lip, she teased his upper lip. When his tongue touched her lips, she darted her tongue out, wanting to taste the residue, but instead, ran into his tongue. And that felt even better!
Over and over, he kissed her gently, teasing her into participating until she was a full partner in the kiss.
“Time to go, ladies and gentlemen!” the principal called out.
Cynthia jerked backwards and looked around, startled to realize that the hallway was empty. How long had they been standing here?
Ryan laughed, grabbing her hand as he led her toward the parking lot. As they looked around, heading to his Jeep, she realized that even the parking lot was mostly empty, the teachers having left for the day. Not that they stuck around for a long time after the students, but good grief!
When he pulled into the bar parking lot, she was just about to jump out when he touched her hand. “Hey, don’t forget to meet me at the creek,” he reminded her and then kissed her again. Another soft, experimental kiss that left her wanting a whole lot more. Tonight, she thought with a mix of worry and excitement. A few hours and it would be dark and she could meet him to experiment later.
She smiled shyly at him, then grabbed her book bag and headed inside.
Two hours later, she texted Ryan, letting him know that she was done with her chores. She didn’t really think he’d show up at the creek, but she grabbed her homework and headed out the door. “I’ll be back later!” she called out as she left through the bar’s kitchen doorway.
Ten minutes later, she rounded the huge boulder on the path to the creek. She honestly didn’t think Ryan would be there, but as soon as she jumped off the big tree that had fallen over the vague path leading to the creek, she spotted him leaning against a rock.
Standing in the pathway, she stopped and stared at him, wondering if he was real.
“Yes,” he answered immediately. In that same moment, he pushed away from the rock, walking towards her with a determination that set her senses on fire!
“Yes what?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yes, I want to kiss you,” he replied. “That’s what you were thinking, right?”
Cynthia laughed. “No. Not even close.”
“Think you can handle this?” he asked softly, his hands resting lightly on her waist.
“Handle what?”
Ryan moved closer, thinking that Cynthia was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. “This,” he lowered his head. Relief surged through him when she lifted her face to him, returning his kiss eagerly. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in closer, feeling her soft curves press against his body. It was almost embarrassing how fast his body reacted to her, and he pulled back, not wanting to scare her.
When he lifted his head, he noticed that her lips were slightly swollen and he smiled, realizing that they’d done that together.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah, what?” he asked, taking her hand and leading her down the pathway to the edge of the creek. He’d brought a lantern and several blankets, knowing that the temperature would drop as the sun set.
“Yeah, I can handle this.” She pulled on his hand and Ryan turned, looking her in the eye. “As long as this is real.”
He knew what she was thinking. “I know. I’ve been horrible to you over the years. So it’s going to take time for you to trust me. We’ll take it slowly, okay?” He squeezed her hands gently. “Just as slow as you want. I’ll earn your trust.”
She didn’t say anything for a long moment. Didn’t even move. He held his breath, watching her and wishing he could pull her into his arms and kiss her again. But he held back, wanting more than just a kiss from Cynthia. He’d dated a lot of the girls from school and several from neighboring areas. None made him feel as special, as alive and on fire, as Cynthia could with just a look.
“Fine. Slow.”
He grinned and turned again, leading her the rest of the way. “I brought some stuff to help us study,” he pointed to the lantern and blankets. He suddenly realized how…goofy the setup seemed. He’d wanted it to be a romantic gesture, thinking that Cynthia deserved a bit of romance after all they’d gone through over the years together. But seeing it now…it seemed a bit…corny.
But then he turned and looked back at her.
She stared, and…were those tears in her eyes?
“Hey,” he shifted, blocking her view of the small spot he’d set up by the creek. “I didn’t mean anything by the stuff. I wasn’t implying that we’d…that you and I would…!” He cleared his throat, running suddenly nervous fingers through his hair. “I didn’t bring this stuff to have sex with you, Cynthia,” he blurted. “I just…I know it’s going to get cold pretty fast. And when the sun sets, we won’t have any light to do our homework. So, I just…”
She turned and he saw the smile in her eyes.
“I love it. This was very thoughtful of you.”
Relieved, he nodded and gestured to the blankets. “Yeah, well, you’re one of the smart ones in school. And I have to keep my grades up. I need a scholarship in order to pay for college. If my grades drop, I won’t qualify.”
She inhaled and his eyes automatically dropped to her chest. Her breasts were hidden underneath the thick sweatshirt she’d pulled on. But he knew what was underneath. He’d seen her at the community pool over the summer.
They sat down on the blankets and opened their books. Unfortunately, the studying didn’t happen. Instead, they sat next to each other and talked. Not about anything important. Just talked and got to know each other. Well, got to know the people they were now instead of the children they’d been growing up. It was a learning experience for both of them.
Over the next several months, Cynthia and Ryan found different places to study, but they always did it together. When he wasn’t at football practice or working at the hardware store, he was with Cynthia. She did her chores more quickly, eager to be ready when he swung by to pick her up.
The only caveat from either of their parents was that they had to maintain their grades and never miss a curfew, which Cynthia and Ryan respected. Knowing that Ryan needed his scholarship in order to pay for school, Cynthia made sure that Ryan finished his homework before she kissed him each night. She’d quiz him on all of his subjects, but Ryan made it a deal that she had to kiss him for every answer he got rig
ht. And since she enjoyed kissing him as well, she didn’t mind, although she ensured that he had to work for every kiss.
Chapter 4
Several months after she and Ryan started dating, Cynthia heard sobbing as soon as she stepped through the door after school. She looked around, but the bar was empty. The chairs were still perched on top of the tables, the glasses stacked and ready to go, and the lights were on. But something wasn’t quite right. Something other than someone sobbing, although she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly was bothering her.
“Mom?!” Cynthia called out.
Immediately, the sobbing stopped. A moment later, Cynthia’s mother stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her eyes. “Hi honey. How was school?” she asked with an overly bright smile.
“Why are you crying?”
Mona laughed airily, waving dismissively. “Oh, just cutting onions. I’m fine.” She moved behind the bar and started storing the glasses for the night’s rush. But as she worked, Cynthia noticed that her eyes filled with tears and she pressed her lips so tightly together.
Cynthia moved around the room, doing her normal chores but keeping an eye on her mother. After a half hour, she propped the broom up against the wall and touched her mother wrist softly.
“Mom, you are upset.” She looked around. “Where’s Dad? Why isn’t he…?”
Her mother’s head bowed. “I’m sorry, Cyn. Your dad…he’s gone.”
“To Denver?” she asked, bewildered. “Did we not get the order on time?”
“No. He didn’t go to Denver.” Mona stared out the window and shrugged, obviously fighting another round of tears. “Actually, I don’t know if he went to Denver or…wherever. He left me a note. He just…left. He’s gone.”
“A note? Where’s the note?”
Mona shook her head. “It doesn’t say much. Just that he couldn’t do it any longer. That he’d failed and he needed to go find himself.”
“So…when is he coming back?” Cynthia asked in a whisper, her heart pounding.
Mona swallowed hard and wiped away more tears. “I don’t know, dear.”
Cynthia thought about the past few months. Her father had been stressed lately, ruminating over invoices and mumbling about traps and too much responsibility. Had he meant that he’d felt trapped here? Did he feel as if she was a trap?
Of course he had responsibilities. Everyone did! How could he just…leave? There were many days that she didn’t understand her homework or didn’t want to go to school, but she didn’t stay in bed. She got up, got dressed and figured things out! That’s what people did!
This was just…wrong! “So…he just…walked out?”
Mona nodded her head, trying to pull herself together. “Yes. He packed a few things earlier this morning, right after you left for school. I don’t know where he went or when he plans on coming back, or even if he’s coming back. But I’m going to assume that he’s not.” She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. “Just because he’s gone, I’m not letting our life fall apart. We’re going to get through this!” she announced, as much for herself as for Cynthia. “And if your father wants to come back, then he’ll need to explain a few things. Right?”
Cynthia stared at her mother, feeling almost adrift at sea. Her father had left? Just…gone away? How could he have walked out on his daughter? His wife?
Mona wrapped comforting arms around Cynthia’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her forehead. They stood like that for a long moment, struggling to make sense of it. “Cynthia, we will get through this. But we can’t afford to close the bar for the night while we figure this out. We need the money and I’ll need your help.”
Cynthia nodded obediently, but in her heart, she was reeling from hurt and shock. But, she did what she always did and started her chores. Routine, she thought. Just get through the day and she’d have time to figure things out later. Maybe after talking with Ryan, her world would make sense again.
Unfortunately, her chores didn’t take up much of her brainpower, leaving her mind frantically churning. Why had her father left? How could he just…walk away? Was she not a good enough daughter? Had her parents fought about something? Was he worried about the bar being in the red over the past several months?
She felt her phone buzz, indicating that she had a message. Checking it, she saw that Ryan was asking her where she was. Every afternoon, they met down by the creek to do their homework together.
“Can’t meet today. Talk to you tomorrow,” she texted back, then stuffed her phone into her book bag, not in the mood to text right now.
Slowly, the evening crowd filtered into the bar and she frowned at the table where her father’s friends congregated every night, drinking free beer. Anger overwhelmed her and she stomped over to the table before her mother could arrive with their drinks.
“Why did he leave?” she demanded of the men, fighting back tears. Their faces transformed from laughter to confusion. None had an answer for her.
“Honey, don’t,” her mother whispered, squeezing her shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ll talk about this later.”
Cynthia shook her head and pulled away. “No! I need to understand! These guys were Dad’s friends. They sat here every night, drinking free beer, and listening to my dad complain about everything.” She turned back to the group of five, stunned men, glaring at each in turn. “So tell me, why did my father leave us? Why?”
Mona put her arms around Cynthia’s shoulders as the tears broke through her control. The pain rolled through her like a wave and she left the bar, racing up the stairs to her bedroom.
Joe and Jimmy watched Cynthia leave in shocked silence, before turning to Mona. “Is that true? Did Brian really leave?”
Mona glanced sadly up the stairs. “Yes. He left a note saying that he needed to find himself,” her last few words were laced with disgust and anger.
Jimmy huffed. “Damn him!” he muttered. “He’d said something the other night about being pissed off, but we didn’t really listen. Brian was always complaining about something.” He turned to the other men. “Okay gentlemen. You heard the lady. We’ve been mooching long enough. Ante up! No more free beers! Give Mona what we owe her.”
Immediately, all five men emptied their wallets, putting money on the table. There was about a hundred dollars there. Jimmy looked at the cash, shaking his head as he gathered it up and handed it to Mona.
“Not enough, but we’ll make it up to you,” Joe promised. “Starting now.” He looked around at the customers filing in and no beers being brought to their tables. He nodded once and stood up. “You’ll need help tonight. We’ll tend the bar and wait the tables. This isn’t right, Mona. Brian shouldn’t have left. If he had problems, he should have stayed and figured them out, talked to us. We’re his friends,” he grunted. “We would have helped.”
Mona covered her mouth with her hand, shaking her head. “No, he shouldn’t have left. But I can’t take your money.”
Dan chuckled as he stuff the cash into her apron pocket and stepped behind the bar. “Mona, we take care of our own. You’ll take the money and our help. Once you’re on your feet again, then we’ll talk. Until then, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you.”
Ryan read the message, not sure what was going on. She wasn’t coming? But they met down here every afternoon!
Looking up the path, he shook his head. “Hell no!” he muttered. It had taken him too long to realize that he loved Cynthia. No way was he letting her go now.
He hurried up the path back to town, barely even huffing as he reached his Jeep. Racing to the bar, he realized that it was packed. It looked like everyone in town was in there. “How the hell am I supposed to find her in that mess?” he muttered grumpily. Pulling out his phone, he texted her several more times, asking her if she was okay. When she didn’t reply, he phoned her, thinking she hadn’t seen the texts. Nothing.
Turning, he drove back home, wondering what was going on. They never missed an afternoon together. So whatev
er had happened, it must be bad.
Stepping into the house, he dumped his book bag on the floor. “Dad?”
His father came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “Hey Ryan. Is Cynthia okay? I heard the news and I’m sure she’s devastated.”
That horrible sensation in his gut intensified. “She didn’t meet me to do homework this afternoon, just texted me that she couldn’t make it. What’s happened?”
At the look in his dad’s eyes, Ryan knew that the news was bad. Was Cynthia sick? Was it cancer? Her mother or father? Whatever it was, he wanted to help her. “Her father left. Just walked out. Wrote a note about…”
Her dad? Walked out? Ryan didn’t wait to hear the rest. If her father left town, Cynthia would be devastated. He had to go to her!
Racing to his car, he drove to the bar, his tires sliding on the gravel as he parked precariously towards the back of the building. Ignoring the front of the bar because he was underage, he grabbed the key hidden over back door, unlocked it and raced up the back stairs.
“Cyn!” he called frantically. He didn’t care where she was, he just needed to get to her. To help her through this. She loved her dad, idolized him! He was horrible with numbers, but so fun to be around.
“Cynthia!” Ryan stopped and listened. There was the noise from the bar downstairs filtering through but…
He walked down the short hallway and peered into her bedroom. At first, he didn’t see her. But he noticed the lump amid the blankets on the unmade bed was moving slightly.
He sat near the foot of the bed and sighed. She curled up into a smaller ball. He could feel the pain radiating from her. He lifted her long, slender frame into his arms, holding her on his lap. She struggled for only a moment before she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him as she cried out her sadness, pain, and confusion.
“Why?” she whispered. “What did we do that was so bad?”
Second Chance Temptation Page 4
