Sweet Thing

by JA Huss

  But in the back of my mind I think about Aria and her parents.

  And when three o’clock rolls around and it’s time to pick her up from school, I know what the right thing to do is.

  Take her home.

  I have to take her home.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - ARIA

  Well, Ryker doesn’t show up at lunch for a quickie. But he left a message on my phone that he’ll be there after school. I wasn’t really expecting a quickie for lunch, but it was a good fantasy while sitting in calculus. In fact, I fantasized about him all day. I wrote my name out in cursive. Mrs. Aria North. Mrs. Ryker North. I did it over and over again. I pictured my wedding, and our honeymoon, and what our kids would look like.

  The whole shebang.

  And I loved every second of those fantasies.

  I know how I got to his place is wrong. I understand that. My father is pulling his funding, his business partner is crazy upset, and my family life is a mess.

  But I’m relieved that our relationship is now out in the open and we get to spend more time together.

  It’s not playing house, I tell myself. Yes, it’s a little soon to move in together but everything about it feels right to me and I can’t wait to see him after school.

  He’s waiting for me outside school at the curb with the parents. His silver sports car just a little bit out of place in the line of Mercedes and Audis the parents drive.

  I didn’t tell anyone what I did over break other than stay at my sister’s and take the Photoshop class. No one was impressed. Not one word about the older man I’m now living with. Not one word about losing my virginity, or the game Ryker and I played in the Corinthian, or getting caught having sex in my bedroom.

  No popular boys will be asking me to prom. In fact, I’m not going to prom. I was never going to have a date to begin with. I’m just not what these boys are looking for.

  But that’s OK. I’m what Ryker’s looking for and that’s all that matters now.

  I wave at him as I open the car door and slide in. “Were you waiting long?” I ask, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

  “No, not long,” he says. He smiles at me, but then he frowns.

  “Is something wrong? Did Ozzy yell at you today? Oh, God. Please tell me my father didn’t show up at your work? He didn’t text me all day. Not that he usually texts me, but you know. I didn’t see him this morning and…” Ryker is just staring at me. “I’m rambling, sorry. What’s up?”

  “Aria,” he says, taking my hand.

  “What?” I ask, my heart starting to beat fast.

  “You can’t stay with me.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “Just listen, OK? You’re eighteen. You have high school graduation coming, and a whole summer before you start college in the fall—“

  “So?” I say. Too loudly. “So what? I don’t care about graduation. I don't care about any of it.”

  “That’s my point. When we started this—when I started this—I didn’t want to take over your life. I didn’t want to change everything and rip it all apart.”

  “You’re not!” I say. “You’re not. I want this too, Ryker. I do.”

  “I know you do, Aria. I want it as well. But just… not like this.”

  “Not like what? What’s changed? We were happy this morning.”

  “Yeah, and then I realized… well, I realized that taking you away from your family is the wrong way to start something real. You can’t stay at my house. You have to go home. We have to sort this out and either your parents are on board, or we’ll…”

  “No,” I say. “They don’t get to make this decision, I do. We do,” I say, taking both his hands. “I’m eighteen now. It’s my life.”

  “I know,” he says. “That’s how I felt at eighteen.”

  “And you moved away. Everyone moves away. This is how things are done.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t understand why I moved away, Aria. No one wants to leave the way I did, and if I take you now. If I let you move in and we seal the deal before we’re ready—“

  “We’re ready,” I say, becoming desperate.

  But he shakes his head at me. Then he lets go of my hands, puts the car in gear and pulls away from my school. “We’re not ready, Aria. We barely just got to know each other. Things are going too fast and I feel like we’re skipping steps.”

  “Well, I don’t feel like we’re skipping steps.”

  He gives me a side-eyed look. “You don’t actually know what the steps are.”

  “That was mean,” I say.

  “I’m not trying to be mean.”

  “Then what are you trying to do?”

  He doesn’t say anything for a few moments.

  “Oh, my God. Are you breaking up with me?”

  “No,” he says, getting on the highway that leads to my parents’ house.

  “Well, you’re taking me home.”

  “I’m not breaking up with you. Not exactly.”

  “Ryker,” I say, starting to get pissed. “Explain. Tell me what the hell is going on.”

  “I just did, Aria. You’re not listening to me. I’m taking you home and we’re going to talk to your parents and see if they’ll see things our way.”

  “And if not?” I ask.

  “If not…” He sighs. “If not then we’ll have to put this on hold.”

  “Is this about the deal?” I ask.

  He points a finger at me. “Don’t you dare. I’m doing this for you. For us. Not that deal or the money. So just don’t even think that.”

  “I don’t want to go home. Just take me to my sister’s house then.”

  He looks at me, then back at the road. “Either we go to your house and have a conversation about this and respect your parents’ wishes, or you break up with me. So which way does this go, Aria? It’s up to you.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Dead serious.”

  I lean back in my seat and cross my arms, so pissed off. “Why do you get to make all these decisions? Why don't I get a say?”

  “You do get a say. You either do it my way and give us a real chance to make this work or you break it off with me. Because those are my terms.”

  “Those aren’t terms!” I shout. “That’s an ultimatum!”

  “You can think of it that way if you want. But that’s not how I see it.”

  “What if I give you an ultimatum?”

  “That’s your prerogative.”

  “Nice,” I huff. “Real nice.”

  He sighs, then takes my hand again. “Just… give me a chance to make it right, OK? Just trust me, Aria. If I ruin your relationship with your family you will resent me for as long as we’re together. It might not happen right away, but it will happen. And I can’t live with myself if I do that.”

  I pull my hand away from his, so angry right now. I feel like I did that day back in the Corinthian hotel restaurant when he ordered me grilled cheese. Like a stupid child.

  I take deep breaths as we drive, trying my best not to sigh on the exhale and huff and puff like I’m having my own silent tantrum.

  But I am having my own silent tantrum. Which makes me feel even worse. Because he’s right and I know he’s right, I’m just scared that this will be the last time I ever see him and all those fantasies I had today will end up being just that. Fantasies.

  My parents are never going to be OK with this. Never. I can’t imagine a single explanation that might sway them over to our side and make them happy at the same time.

  And I don’t even blame them for that. I just… want what I want.

  Before I know it, we’re pulling into my driveway. My father’s car is there, which I was not expecting since he usually stays at work until at least five. And that means he didn’t go into work today. He stayed home because he was upset with me.

  Ryker turns the car off and takes my hand again. “Ready?”

  “Does it matter if I’m ready?”

  “Of course it does, Aria. All your
feelings matter.”

  “You just get to make the final decision though, right?”

  “If you want to see it that way, I can’t stop you. But I promise,” he says, squeezing my hand. “That’s not what’s happening.”

  I pout and frown.

  “Just trust me.”

  He gets out of the car but I don’t. I sit, refusing to budge. But he just walks around to my side, opens my door, and offers me his hand.

  I take it. Reluctantly. And get out of the car.

  He holds my hand all the way up the walk to the porch and even though I have never in my life knocked on this door, I feel like I should knock.

  I even raise my knuckles to do that, but Ryker pushes my hand down and says, “You live here, Aria. This is your home.”

  So I open the door and walk inside. My parents are both standing at the bottom of the stairs like they were waiting for us.

  “I called them ahead of time,” Ryker says. Then he lets go of my hand and says, “Please,” as he motions to the front living room, like he wants us all to go in there for a chat. “I’ll only take a minute of your time.”

  We all go in to the living room, my mother coming to my side to pull me into a sideways hug and give me a squeeze, my father frowning at everyone, like he’s not in the mood for talking and wants Ryker out of here as quick as possible.

  But Ryker takes a seat on the couch and leans back. Hands on his knees. “I know this isn’t what you want for Aria.”

  I open my mouth to protest that they don’t get to decide that anymore, but Ryker puts up a hand and says, “Please, Aria. Let me speak and then you can have your say.”

  “Fine,” I say. But I pull away from my mother and take a seat next to Ryker. I want them all to know what my decision is. Even if none of them care.

  “I’m not going to take your daughter away from you, Mr. Amherst. And I already told her that we can’t date unless we have your permission.”

  My father is already shaking his head, already opening his mouth to say something, but before he can, my mother speaks. “Harold,” she says. “You were almost fifteen years older than me when I got pregnant with April at eighteen. And we had to face my parents and your parents in less than ideal conditions as well. So you will shut your mouth and let this man have his say, so help me God, or you will leave the room. He came all the way out here, brought our daughter home, and now we’re going to hear him out. Do you understand me?”

  Holy shit. My mom just put her foot down. I have never seen them fight before. Not that she’s even raising her voice, because she is the epitome of grace and manners right now. But they have always presented themselves as a unified front and any and all discussions where they were at odds always took place behind closed doors, so I’ve never seen this side to her.

  “Doris,” my father protests.

  But she puts up her hand to silence him. “No. Let Mr. North speak.” Then she looks at Ryker and says, “Go ahead, Mr. North. You were saying?”

  She winks at me. I blink at her in surprise.

  But there’s no time to process that wink because Ryker takes a deep breath and begins speaking again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - RYKER

  “I came from a pretty messed-up situation at home,” I begin. “My father left when I was four and never sent my mother a dime to help out.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Doris says. “That must’ve been difficult.”

  “It was and it wasn’t,” I say. “My mother and I grew very close in those early years. Like we were a team, ya know? A real family, just the two of us. Just her and me for almost ten years because her parents got divorced early and didn’t pay much attention to her, or me, for that matter. But then she met this man and I didn’t like him. To be honest, there wasn’t much to like about him. He treated my mother like crap and me even worse. But she was tired. Tired of raising me alone. Tired of working two, sometimes three jobs just to stay afloat. Tired of just existing. So maybe he wasn’t her Prince Charming? She often told me she loved my father, even after he left. So Prince Charming didn’t get her anywhere.”

  Aria takes my hand and gives it a squeeze when I pause for too long.

  “And when I was about to graduate high school my stepfather said we were moving away from Kentucky to Nebraska where he could find work. He was in the natural gas business and the industry was dying in Kentucky. But I didn’t want to go, so I said that. And he said I wasn’t invited. That it was time for me to pull my weight, like he did when he was my age, and find a job and be on my own.”

  “That’s terrible,” Doris says.

  “I didn’t realize it was terrible at first. Because I figured my mom would stay with me. But she didn’t,” I say. Aria squeezes my hand again. “She left with him.”

  “She left you?” Aria says.

  I nod. “She did. And she never looked back. And I felt kinda betrayed, ya know?”

  “Of course you did,” Doris says. “That’s… I just can’t imagine doing that to one of my children.”

  “No,” I say, looking at Aria. “No, you guys would never do that to each other.” I look at her father. “The Amhersts are a family,” I say. “A very tight one too. And when I met Aria I had no intention of breaking you apart.” I turn a little to face Aria. “I can’t take this away from you, Aria. Even if you think I’m the greatest guy in the world. Because it’s no fun when your family turns their back on you. And if you stayed with me, sure, I could take care of you. Even if your father didn’t want to pay for your college next year, I could do that. I would do that if it came down to it. But it’s not going to come down to that. I won’t allow it. This is your family and it’s a good one. If having you right now means I come between all this, then I can’t have you.”

  “Ryker,” she says.

  “Just wait,” I say. “And listen. Because if you stay with me without the blessing of your parents then I’m that guy, ya know? The one who comes in mid-stream and rips everything apart. And you’d be the one walking out, Aria. Not them. And I won’t let you make that mistake. Because after my mom left I got into all sorts of bad things. Drugs, drinking, sex,” I say, glancing up at her father, then avert my eyes. “I was in a garage band and did things wannabe garage band members do when they have no real future. But I had worked hard in my first few years of high school trying to make my mother’s new boyfriend like me and I had a scholarship waiting for me here. So I came here, worked three, sometimes four jobs to pay for that first year, but I wasn’t doing great. I was still on drugs, still messing up, and I was about to be kicked out of school when I met Ozzy. Mr. Herrington,” I clarify for her parents.

  “Ozzy straightened me out. He helped me get through the next year. Gave me a loan, which I paid back,” I say, looking at Mr. Amherst. “My word is good. I promise you, it is. Or Ozzy Herrington wouldn’t be partners with me. So I’m here to give you my word. If you could just… give us a chance—that’s it. That’s all I want. Just give Aria and me a chance to see if this is real or not—I’d appreciate it. Because even though I don’t know your daughter the way you do, I’m falling in love with her. I know she’s the right girl for me because she’s sweet, and kind, and honest, and smart. And she’s all those things because you made her that way. But if you say no, then I’ll respect that. I give you my word, I will respect your wishes. Because I want you too,” I say. “I want all of you. I don’t just want her.”

  I pause as they all look at me, then throw up my hands and say, “That’s it. That’s my big speech.”

  Doris looks at her husband, who sighs. Then she says, “Will you two excuse us for a minute so we can have a discussion?”

  “Sure,” I say.

  Aria turns to me and says, “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  I sigh, feeling relieved to get all that off my chest. “I don’t want you to go through what I did when my mom left. And I don’t want your parents to go through that either, Aria. So whatever they decide, we’ll respect it. And if they sa
y no, we’ll take a long break and maybe we can have lunch sometime in the fall and see where we’re at.”

  “The fall?” She pouts.

  “I told you I wanted to do this right and I meant it. If we’re really in love now we’ll still be in love then.”

  She leans her shoulder into mine and sighs. “OK,” she says. “That’s fair.”

  We sit like that for a good twenty minutes before her parents return. Mr. Amherst takes a seat in a chair while Doris sits on the other side of Aria.

  Amherst clears his throat, then says, “OK.”

  “OK?” Aria asks. “What’s that mean?”

  “It means I have conditions,” he continues. “First, Aria lives here.” He points to the floor. “At home.”

  “Done,” I say.

  “Second, you do not pick her up from school. That’s my job. And you do not see her during the school week.”

  “Done,” I say.

  “Third…” He sighs.

  “Go on,” Doris says. “Finish it.”

  “Third,” he repeats. “You have lunch with us every Sunday in the city. And that’s the only day you two get to see each other until the summer is over.”

  “Dad!” Aria protests.

  “Done,” I say.

  “Ryker,” she says, turning her frustrations to me.

  “It’s all good, Aria. One day a week is a very good start to a new relationship.”

  “No,” Aria says, standing up. “I get to negotiate too. I’m capable of making my own decisions.”

  “I told you,” her mother says.

  Her father looks at her and nods. “OK, Aria. Renegotiate then.”

  “One,” Aria says, pacing the floor in front of the couch. “I live here but Ryker can come visit any time he wants.”

  Amherst glares at me, but he nods. “Done.”

  “Two,” Aria says. “He can pick me up from school on Fridays. There’s only two left anyway. And,” she continues, “we get to have a date that night with no curfew.”

  Her father hesitates so long on this one, her mother intercedes. “Done,” Doris says.