by JA Huss
“Oh, no,” my father says. “No. You’re not going to play us against each other. You’re grounded. From now on you will not leave this house except for school. I’ll drop you off and pick you up—“
“You already do that, Dad.”
“—and you won’t set foot in the city without me by your side. And you can forget about any fun you had planned over summer, young lady! That’s over.”
“Plans?” I laugh. “I didn’t have any plans. But you know what? I do now.” I walk over to my closet and pull out my suitcase.
“Aria.” My mother finally speaks up. “Put the suitcase away.”
“No,” I say. “I’m eighteen and I’m moving out.”
“Honey,” she says. “You haven’t even graduated high school yet. You don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Don’t I?” I ask. And now I’ve got attitude. I spent all my teenage years being this good little girl. This perfect role-model of a daughter. Never talking back, never drinking, never doing drugs, never having sex. And I’m tired of being that girl. I’m tired of being sweet.
“You cannot be thinking that Ryker North will let you stay with him?” My father laughs. But it’s a bit hysterical. “He used you, Aria. And now that I’ve threatened to take away their loan, he will not even take your calls.”
“We’ll see about that,” I say, still tossing things into my suitcase.
“I’ll give them the loan,” he says. “You stay here, promise to never see him again, and I’ll give him the loan. You’ve ruined his business, Aria. Blown it all up. You have to know that. And if you stay here and be good, I’ll put it all back together.”
I hesitate inside my closet as I reach up and pull a shirt off a hanger. Thinking this offer through. Putting all the little pieces together in a logical way and decide… I’m sad.
I toss the shirt in my suitcase, then throw in a few pairs of jeans, one school uniform and some shoes, and close it up.
“You know what?” I say, turning to face my parents, then directing my words to my father specifically. “I’ve heard about bankers my whole life. How they ruined the world with bad loans, and how they take advantage of poor people while they collect fat bonuses and live in huge mansions that come with a country club. But I never believed you were one of them, Dad. I always thought you were one of the good ones. But this offer—“ I shake my head. “I’m not blowing up Ryker’s business plans. You are. And you’re not doing it because he’s not worthy, or because he can’t pay back this loan, or because the project isn’t a good idea. You’re doing it because you don’t like the thought of us dating. And I just want you to know… that’s why I’m leaving.”
And then I take off my grandmother’s diamond ring, place it on my dresser, and walk out.
I had to wait on our front porch for an hour until the car I called finally arrived. By myself, because neither of my parents followed me out and I’m pretty sure they thought I was six and this was nothing but a childish bluff, but it wasn’t.
That car came and I got in. And all the way into the city I prayed that my father didn’t decide to remove his credit card from my ride app, because I had no money to pay for this ride if he did. And wouldn’t that teach me a lesson? Running away using your daddy’s credit card is the epitome of childish.
I don’t call Ryker in the car because I’m not really sure how he’s feeling right now and I don’t want to give him a chance to tell me to go home. So when I arrive at his building—thank God the transaction goes through—I just walk inside, go up to the concierge, and tell them to announce me.
I fidget and worry as the woman at the desk calls up and tells Ryker I’m here. At least he’s home. If he wasn’t I’d have to take another car over to my sister’s house and beg her to let me stay. And that’s not something I want to do.
“He’s coming down now, Miss Amherst,” the concierge says, smiling at me.
“Oh,” I say. “OK.”
I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Will he turn me away? Tell me to go home so he can save his deal? I have a sick feeling in my stomach that I just made a huge mistake. What if he was just using me for sex? What if he chooses his business over me?
It would be the logical thing to do. Letting me up to his apartment means everything he’s worked for goes up in flames.
I want to vomit, that’s how stupid I feel right now. Why did I walk out on my parents? Why did I come all this way when I could’ve faced the facts in the privacy of my own home? Why did I ever think a man like Ryker could fall in love with me?
The elevator dings and Ryker steps out. He’s frowning at me. “Aria, what’s going on?” He looks around, like maybe my father is here too and this is some kind of intervention.
Then he spies my suitcase and his eyes meet mine.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I shouldn’t have—“
“Yes,” he says, walking towards me to take my hand. “Yes.”
And then he leads me into the elevator and we go up to his apartment.
When we step out he takes my suitcase and puts it aside. Then turns to me and pulls me into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
I hold him tight and sigh. “This is all my fault. It was a stupid idea to take you up to my bedroom. None of this would’ve happened if I had just acted more mature.”
He chuckles, making a deep rumble noise in his chest. “Well… it’s probably my fault for telling you about getting-caught sex that first time.”
Which makes me smile and relax a little. But then I remember what my dad said in my bedroom after Ryker left. “He really is going to cancel your loan,” I say.
“I know. And Ozzy is probably going to buy me out.”
I pull away from him and stare up into his eyes. “They why did you bring me up here?”
“Aria,” he says, swiping my hair away from my face. “You are the most important thing in my life right now. I’m not going to give you up for money. Never. So just please, put that out of your mind.”
“But you worked so hard for this,” I say. “And now it’s over.”
“I worked hard for something,” he agrees. “And money is nice, don’t get me wrong. But there’s lots of things money can’t buy, and you’re one of them.”
I glance around and realize that I live here now. Maybe it’s just a few days. Maybe it’s longer, but tonight I will stay in his bed.
Another first.
Does he understand that?
“I thought you didn’t want to play house with me?” I ask.
“What?”
“That’s why I never stayed over. And now I’m staying over. So… we’re playing house and you didn’t want to do that.”
“Oh, you sweet thing,” he says, placing a hand on my cheek. “Listen to me, Aria. If you’re ever in trouble and someone who claims to love you says they can’t help you because of their principles, then they suck. They are not your friend. I don’t give a shit about playing house. You’re staying here with me where you’ll be safe. I would never turn you away. Not in a million years.”
I hug him again, feeling protected. “I think I love you right now.”
“Yeah? Well, I think I fell in love with you that very first night we met. Come on,” he says. “Let’s get you unpacked and settled in.”
He gives me a whole dresser even though I didn’t bring enough clothes to fill it. And then he tells me we’ll go shopping tomorrow and buy whatever I need. And on Monday he’ll drop me off at school.
He smiles as he says that. But I just frown. “You don’t feel weird about that?”
“That you’re young, and still in high school, you mean?”
“Yes,” I say. Pouting. Because I’m not as grown-up as I thought when I stomped out of my parents’ house earlier trying to take a stand. I’m just a kid and he’s an adult, and this will never, ever last.
Ryker looks at me thoughtfully, then takes my hand and pulls me over to the bed and pats the mattress. I sit. Wondering
what he’s gonna say.
“You have two weeks left of school. After four long years of high school you’ll graduate and go to college. And four years later you’ll wake up one day and realize you’ve now been out of high school longer than you were ever in it. And then four years after that you’ll wake up and realize you’ve been out of college longer than you were ever in it. And one day, eighteen years from now, you’ll wake up and realize you’ve been out of your parents’ house longer than you were in it. This is just how life works. Time marches on and perspectives change. And hopefully, on the day after you turn thirty-six, you’ll wake up and realize you’ve been with me longer than you’ve been without me.”
I think about that for a second.
Then I put my arm around his waist and lean into his chest. “Thank you.”
“I love you,” he says. Then he picks up my hand and says, “Where’s your birthday ring?”
“I gave it back,” I say. “Because I don’t want to be my daddy’s girl anymore. I want to be yours.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - RYKER
First time coming inside her. First time making dinner together. First time sleeping in the same bed. First time making love in said bed. First time waking up, first time making breakfast… so many firsts happen in the span of twenty-four hours.
And then the first time dropping her off at school. Aria has mentioned her friends at school during our nightly conversations, but they are mostly just acquaintances. It’s hard to forge true friendships outside of school when you live an hour away from everyone.
The cynical part of me wants to blame her father for that. Wants to think he might’ve done that on purpose to keep her at home on the weekends. Keep her distant from all her peers, both the ones in her neighborhood and the ones from school.
Because that’s certainly how it turned out.
But I’m not that cynical when it comes to Mr. Amherst. I really do think he’s just a guy who loves his family.
“I feel weird,” Aria says, hand on the doorknob of my car as I idle in front of her school. When she put that uniform on this morning I wanted to bend her over and finger her pussy. Get her panties all wet and make her sit in school squirming and desperate because I left her hanging.
But I didn’t. I might not have so much self-control tomorrow, but I held it together today. “About what?” I say.
“I dunno. Should I kiss you goodbye on the cheek like I do my father? Or climb in your lap and get you hard, then leave you hanging all day so you’ll want to finger me in the car when you pick me up? Thanks for that, by the way. I appreciate the rides.”
She is the sweetest fucking thing alive.
“You want me to choose? Because if you climb in my lap I’m going to pull around to the alley and give you a quickie before school.”
She giggles and smiles. “Cheek then,” she says, leaning over towards me. She places one hand on my far cheek and kisses the near one. Whispers, “I can’t wait to go to bed with you tonight.”
“I could stop by at lunch.” I waggle my eyebrows at her.
“Oh, for sure. Do that. But I mean… just sleep next to you tonight. That’s what I mean. Staying the night with you is the best thing ever.” The school bell rings and she sighs. “I hope everything goes OK at work. I’m so sorry—“
“Don’t apologize,” I say. “Now scoot. You’re going to get detention and then I’ll have to spank you when we get home.”
Her eyes open wide. “Hmmm.”
“Out!” I say, pointing at the door.
She opens the door, laughing as she gets out and shuts it. Blowing me a kiss as she walks off.
I stare at her until she disappears inside the door, reluctant to go into work and face Ozzy, but knowing I have to do it.
The drive over is too quick. Everything is too quick. And before I know it I’m walking into the office and everyone is looking at me while simultaneously trying not to look at me.
Wonderful. He’s already told the staff. I guess he’s serious about this break-up thing.
“Ah,” he calls from his office. “He shows.”
I stop in his doorway, glancing over my shoulder, and find every single employee is watching us. “Should I come in and close the door?” I ask. “Or should we just hash this out in front of everyone since you’ve clearly already told them?”
Ozzy frowns at me. “I was angry.”
“So?”
“So come in and close the door.”
I do, then take a seat in the chair in front of his desk, casually propping an ankle on my knee like I’ve got all day.
“You took her to school, I take it? Mr. Amherst knows she’s at your house. He checked her ride app and he’s worried she’s going to miss school.”
“I did,” I say. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
He shoots me an incredulous look. “You’re joking, right? You just blew up the deal, Ryker. I should’ve known that drumming was a bad idea. I knew it would bring back memories, I just never thought you’d be that guy again. And I fucking told you to stay away from the young ones.”
“So?” I say again. “Since when do I have to take your advice?”
“Since I pulled you out of that downward spiral you were on back in college and gave you something to work towards,” he says.
“Work towards,” I say, “is the key phrase there. Because I worked for all this.”
“And you’re about to throw it all away over a relationship that probably won’t last through the weekend.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Which part? The part where you get dumped by an eighteen-year-old girl once she realizes Daddy’s not going to pay for her college? Or the part where you ruin the business we’ve spent the last ten years building? I get to have my say about this, Ryker. You’re fucking me over, dude. Pretty goddamned hard, too.”
“Look,” I say, sighing heavily. “I like her. She likes me. Her father is freaking out over nothing. If it doesn’t last, then hey, you all get your way. But if it does—“
“You’re not listening to me, man! He pulled our loan! We’re seventeen million dollars in debt. We can’t finish our current projects unless we get his loan. Which means we can’t sell them to pay back the fucking loans we already have. What the hell is wrong with you? You’re thirty-five years old. You should’ve learned not to think with your dick by now.”
“It’s more than that,” I say. “And frankly, I’m tired of explaining that to you.”
“You’re tired of explaining? I’m going to lose my penthouse. I’m going to lose everything over this girl, Ryker. Just…” He sighs. Gathers himself. Takes a deep breath and tries again. “Just tell her it’s temporary. Just tell her you two have to break it off for a little while so we can get the loan and—“
“Lie to her father, then? That’s your answer.”
“It’s not lying if you really do it.”
“So I what? Kick her out and make her go home?”
“Yes!” Ozzy says. “Yes! Kick her out, make her go home. Apologize to her father—profusely—and then beg him to see this through as you promise never to touch her again.”
I’m already shaking my head.
“Don’t shake your head at me, asshole. We’re going to lose everything! Do you really want to start over with nothing at thirty-five? Because I don’t.”
I know he’s right. I get it. Losing this deal will ruin us. But selling Aria out for money is just so wrong. Even if we’re lying to her father and we get back together. I don’t want to do it. I want to keep her with me. I want her in my bed every night. I want to have lunch with her, and go grocery-shopping together, and have babies.
And more importantly, I don’t want her father to hate me. I want him to bless this relationship and understand I’m going to take care of her the way she deserves.
“I don’t want to,” I say. “It’s just as simple as that. I don’t want to.”
“Dude,” Ozzy says, leaning back in his c
hair. “I do things I don’t want to all the time. Do you think I wanted to take care of you when you got out of control? Do you think that was fun for me?”
I sigh again.
“It wasn’t, OK? It sucked seeing you like that. But I showed up for you because you’re like a brother to me. And if you can’t show up for me for this, if you can’t just put this girl on hold for a month or two so we can get these deals done, well… then I guess you’re not the guy I thought you were.”
We stare at each other for a few moments. Then he stands up, buttons his suit coat, and says, “I’ve got meetings today. Gonna placate nervous lenders and lie to them so they don’t call our loans before the end of the day and make me fire all those people out there working their asses off for us.”
And then he walks out.
Eventually I get up, go into my own office, and shut the door behind me. Sit at my desk and think about my options.
Aria or Ozzy.
Fucking wonderful.
Why does it always have to be this way? Why do people always have to choose?
I think about losing her. A month or two seems like a very short period of time. But I know what’ll happen in those two months. Aria will graduate, probably go on some summer trip—courtesy of her parents. Backpacking through Europe or some shit. Just to get her away from me.
And they’ll do that because they know it will work. They know she’ll forget about me. She’ll meet new people, and move on. And when she comes home for college in the fall, she’ll be someone else.
She won’t be my sweet thing ever again.
That’s what I’m afraid of.
That this isn’t real. That we’re not in love. That there’s nothing there but sex, even though I tried my hardest to keep that from happening.
And so it isn’t fair, is it? To Ozzy, to her, to her family.
Keeping her for myself because I’m afraid she’ll move on is no different than walking out on someone because you have a deal in the works.
My phone starts ringing soon after that. Business to do, people to talk to, shit to plan. And I do all that because it’s my job.
