Ryker didn’t say another word to me the rest of the day only waving when he left for practice at lunch.
The next two weeks went the same. Ryker’s and my lesson plans being checked by Coach G then used to pick different activities to get the kids moving and Ryker remaining silent and aloof toward me but having fun with the kids which I was glad of. They loved when he got involved and I had to admit it was quite entertaining to see. He also missed a couple days for matches, and glutton for punishment that I was, I couldn’t help checking the school paper to keep up with how he was doing. He was still undefeated for the year, which made me happy for him.
So even though I was still hurt I felt like I was slowly healing. Nothing like having to see the object of your pain on a daily basis to speed up the old healing process. Good to see that my use of sarcasm was in no way affected by everything.
15—Stalemate
Valentine’s Day came and went. It was on a Saturday and Ryker had had a match the Friday before, so at least I didn’t have to suffer through seeing him getting sent a cheesy stuffed teddy bear or some stupid box of candy from whichever flavor of the week he was seeing. Since we were both single, Sharee and I decided to make the most of the annoying-only-if-you’re-single holiday by making a reservation at a very posh restaurant. We’d noticed that everyone from the maître d’ to our waiter had treated us as if we were a couple which had us giggling the whole time. We even called Gladys and put her on speaker phone so she could hear when Sharee stood up at our table in the middle of dinner holding up her glass of champagne and shouted, “She said yes!” and we all three laughed like crazy when the other patrons clapped for us.
The strangest thing that happened was the Monday after VD when Sharee and I met at O’Leary’s after our classes for drinks to celebrate our coupledom which had become our running joke. I got to the bar first and needed something a little harder than usual and ordered a scotch on the rocks with a splash of club soda. Just after taking my first sip and letting out a sigh, I heard someone call my name. Looking up, I saw Loch standing at my table smiling down at me with a lovely auburn-haired woman at his side.
“Hey, Loch,” I said smiling back at him.
“Hey, Frankie. This is my girlfriend Simone St. John. Simone, this is Frankie Mangenelli.”
She and I said our hellos then Loch whispered something in her ear. She smiled telling me it was nice meeting me then she went to a table where another couple was sitting.
“Would you like to sit down?” I asked Loch.
“Sure.”
“So, how’ve you been?” I inquired, taking another much-needed sip of my drink.
“I’ve been good. You?”
I shrugged giving him a weak smile. “Could be better, could be worse.”
“Frankie, I’m just gonna throw this out there but I want you to know that Ryker’s completely miserable.”
I tapped my glass with my fingernail hating that I liked hearing that. “Well, I’m sure his latest fling will help make him feel better.”
“He hasn’t seen anyone since you.”
I huffed out a laugh as I looked at him. “Sure he hasn’t. We both know you’re brother’s not the most discriminating person when it comes to whomever he takes to bed. Matter of fact, I heard he was with Nikki the night he and I split up.”
He shook his head. “Nikki hasn’t been over in months.”
I raised my eyebrows. “But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t gone to her.”
He shook his head again. “Look. I know he’s known to be a huge player, but honestly, he’s not as bad as people make him out to be. Now, my brother Gable? Different story. But you know Ryker. He doesn’t let people in very easily. So, yeah, over the past four years, he may have been with five, six different women but it was never anything serious until you.”
“What’re you trying to tell me, Loch? That I should run back into his arms because he’s been abstinent for three weeks?”
He chuckled. “I just wanted you to know he’s been the broodiest son of a bitch since you two stopped seeing each other. Even more so than usual. I might be telling you to take his ass back so I can get some relief from all the bitchiness he’s been throwing my way.”
“Hey!” Sharee said walking up to the table. “I know you.” She smiled at Loch who stood and shook her hand.
“How are you?” he asked as she sat but he remained standing.
“I’m doing great, thank you. You?” she asked.
“Doing great as well. I’ll let you two do your thing. It was good seeing you both again.” He looked at me. “Help a guy out, would you?” He winked before walking away.
Sharee looked at me curiously. “What was that all about?”
I rolled my eyes. “Apparently, Ryker’s been miserable since we broke up and hasn’t been the easiest to live with.”
“Oohh, that’s good, right?”
“Depends on how you look at it, I guess.”
“You know, I’m just gonna say it.” She gave me a pointed look. “I know you think you’ve handled things pretty well, and for the most part you have, but, Frankie, you’ve been miserable too. Don’t think I haven’t heard you crying in the shower.”
My mouth dropped open. “You have? I mean, no you haven’t! I’m doing fine!”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” she said to the waitress who’d stopped at the table. “Lagavulin 16?” she asked and at my nod the waitress smiled then went to put in her order. “It’s okay. I know you fell hard for him. But who’s to say he’s not been doing some heavy thinking since your split?”
I took another drink wincing a bit at the burn in my throat. “He’s shown no sign of being miserable to me. You should see him in class, getting crazy with the kids. You should’ve seen him the other day when he chased the first graders around the gym acting like some damned monkey.” I giggled in spite of myself remembering how ridiculous he’d been.
“Of course he’s shown no signs. He’s happiest when he’s with you, don’t you see that?” The waitress set Sharee’s drink down in front of her, and Sharee thanked her, picking it up and taking a long pull on it. “God, I needed that. Jurisprudence just about put me to sleep tonight.”
“So are you saying we should get back together?”
“That’s up to you two. You still love him. If he’s willing to finally talk, who knows? You may get things worked out.”
“Thanks a lot. I’d just settled into the fact that he and I were over and I needed to move on and now you and Loch are making me feel things again. The only thing I’ve felt in weeks is this scotch at the back of my throat and now you’ve ruined that.”
She laughed. “Welcome back to the human race where feelings screw you the fuck up. Just remember, though, if it doesn’t work out with you two, you always have me to come back to, lover.” She batted her eyelashes at me.
I laughed with her. “God, we’re pathetic. We need boyfriends STAT.”
~*~*~*~
That night just as I was falling asleep, my phone chimed. I picked it up squinting at it in the dark.
Text Message—Mon, Feb 16, 11:23 p.m.
Ryker: I hope you had a good day today. See you tomorrow xx
I’d changed his name on Sunday after my Jane Eyre-athon because I’d thought the other name had been stupid. And I didn’t need a reminder anymore to be his friend.
But the text was a surprise. Then I remembered and thought that Loch had probably told him he’d seen me at O’Leary’s. Whatever.
But I read the message with a small smile before deleting it.
~*~*~*~
The next day, things at PE had been the usual until lunch.
I’d gone into Coach G’s office as usual to eat while sitting on his couch and watching his little TV until the bell rang, assuming Ryker had already left for practice. I’d just popped my cup of noodles into the microwave when I heard a sound at the door. Turning to the right, I saw Ryker standing in the doorway.
“Oh! I th
ought you already left for practice,” I said.
God. He was bigger than life, his presence filling up the entire doorway to where I saw nothing but him.
When he still stood there just looking at me, I wasn’t sure what to do. “What?” I finally asked.
“I miss you.”
Damn it. Direct hit to the heart.
I bit my lip not knowing what to do. I wanted to tell him I missed him too and couldn’t we try again but I was still confused about everything, so the only thing that came out was, “I’m not sure what to say.”
I saw his eyes flare for a second then he nodded and left.
The microwave beeped and I pulled my noodles out then sat on the couch halfway watching a guy on Maury confess that he’d slept with his wife’s three sisters. Jesus. And I thought I had it bad.
~*~*~*~
That night just before I turned out my light, my phone chimed.
Text Message—Tues, Feb 17, 11:07 p.m.
Ryker: Goodnight, beautiful
I smiled right before deleting the text.
~*~*~*~
The next day at school went as well as the day before. The kids were enthusiastic to play kickball and had a blast. When Ryker left that day, he’d made sure to put his hand on the small of my back and tell me goodbye.
That night in my athletic injury class, the guest speakers were coming in to talk about their injuries and treatment they’d received. Jared Littleson who was a linebacker for Hallervan’s football team talked first telling us how he’d separated his ribs in a game when he’d made a tackle. He’d been out for two months and said the doctor told him he’d have been better off fracturing a rib instead because it would’ve healed faster. He’d had to be taped the first month constantly and he told us it hurt like a bitch when he had to sneeze.
Coach Nolan then demonstrated on Jared how to tape that type of injury. When he finished, he thanked Jared and looked at his notepad then around the room for a second.
“Frankie? Can you run across to the fieldhouse and see if Chance Reynolds is in the weight room by any chance? He’s supposed to talk to us about turf toe.”
“Sure, Coach,” I said and left the room, jogging over to the fieldhouse that held the Athletic Director’s office along with locker rooms for football, baseball and wrestling and of course had a weight room.
Once inside, I jogged down the hallway to the sound of rock music blaring and weights clanking. Once at the weight room, I stuck my head in to see several guys lifting.
“Hey, is Chance Reynolds in here?” I called.
Fifteen sets of peepers turned to look at me but I only focused on the pair of light brown eyes that glittered back at me. Ryker stood there shirtless (God help me) wearing a long pair of maroon athletic shorts that hung low on his hips and he looked amazing, his whole body covered in a light mist of perspiration. Gah.
“Hey, Frankie,” Chance called. “What’s up?”
I couldn’t take my eyes off of Ryker as I told Chance, “Coach Nolan said you’re supposed to speak to our class tonight.”
“Fuck, I forgot. Okay, I’ll be right there,” Chance said as he toweled off.
By this time, Ryker was making his way over to me checking out the black yoga pants I wore as he did. When he got to me he smirked and said, “You trying to make every one of us pop a fuckin’ boner with those pants?”
I huffed out a laugh. “That was exactly my intention.”
“Frankie?” Coach Kennison, the Athletic Director, called from behind me out in the hallway and I turned to see what he needed.
“Yeah, Coach?”
At the same time I heard Ryker mumble, “Fuck me.”
I looked over my shoulder to see him staring at my butt which embarrassed and thrilled me at the same time.
“You going back to the gym?”
“Yes.”
“Think you can deliver a box to Coach Nolan for me?” Coach K asked.
“Sure. I’ll be right there,” I told him then wheeled around to see Ryker’s eyes move slowly up my body to meet mine. “Enjoying the show?” I asked.
“Oh, fuck yeah. Your ass looks smokin’ hot in those pants. Jesus fuck, Francesca,” he mumbled.
I missed his calling me by my full name. Oh, hell, I missed him. But I still didn’t think I was ready to move forward just yet.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Every girl on campus wears these, Ryker.”
“Every girl doesn’t have an ass like yours.” He didn’t even bother hiding the lust that flickered in his eyes.
“I’ve gotta get back to class,” I said with a laugh shaking my head at him.
“Make sure to leave slowly,” he replied, his amber eyes burning into mine revealing every dirty thought he was having right then.
I smacked his bare chest which was a mistake because it had me thinking my own dirty thoughts about him. Jeez. “See you tomorrow,” I said, turning and leaving, conscious that his eyes were on my butt the entire time feeling mortified but also kind of loving it. I got the box from Coach K and delivered it to Coach Nolan then listened to Chance describing the debilitating effects of turf toe but a part of my brain was back at the weight room envisioning Ryker’s magnificent body.
~*~*~*~
My phone chimed just as my head hit the pillow that night.
Text Message—Wed, Feb 18, 11:16 p.m.
Ryker: Don’t tell me you’re still wearing those pants because you might hear me trying to beat down your door in about 20 minutes
A moment later his next text came through.
Text Message—Wed, Feb 18, 11:16 p.m.
Ryker: G’night, gorgeous xx
I smiled as I looked at my phone and fell asleep with it in my hand.
~*~*~*~
Thursday we had the kids play freeze tag. Ryker jumped in and every time one of them tagged him, he “froze” in the silliest positions making the goofiest faces and the kids loved it. I cracked up on every one of them but his velociraptor took the cake. The look on his face was priceless along with the way he shortened his arms and held his hands as if they were claws. Coach G even got tickled on that one and laughed so hard he had a choking fit.
Before Ryker left that day he caught me in Coach G’s office coming in and closing the door. “I just wanted to let you know I’ve got a match out of town tomorrow so I won’t be here. But I also wanted to check something.”
Nonplussed, I cocked my head to the side wondering what he had to check. Keeping his eyes on mine, he slowly stepped into me backing me against the wall then bending down, his lips a mere inch away from mine, he mumbled, “I just need to know,” and he touched his mouth to mine.
What started out as an innocent little kiss gradually turned into something much hotter and definitely not innocent at all. By the end of it, one of my hands had slid up into his hair where my fingers twisted, tugging hard making a groan come from deep inside his throat. My other hand ended up on his shoulder, fingers digging in trying to pull him closer to me. As for him, his hand was in my hair, his fingers tangled in it clenching almost as hard as I was holding his, and his arm was wrapped tightly around my waist holding me as close to him as possible.
Dear God.
When he pulled away, we were both breathing hard, our eyes half-lidded and in no way hiding what we wanted from the other.
He nodded slowly as he looked down at me, his eyes aimed at my lips. “Yeah. I thought so.” His eyes slid up to mine and he whispered, “Goodbye, Francesca,” and left.
I stood against the wall for a moment, touching my fingers to my lips wondering if that had really just happened. The tingle in them let me know it had.
Apparently our chemistry was still on target. Damn.
~*~*~*~
That night, a text came in.
Text Message—Thurs, Feb 19, 11:22 p.m.
Ryker: I love your lips… I think mine buzzed for an hour afterward… I’ll miss you tomorrow. ‘Night xx
This time I wrote back.
&n
bsp; Text Message—Thurs, Feb 19, 11:22 p.m.
Me: Have a safe trip and good luck tomorrow. P.S. my lips are still buzzing… I’ll miss you too. Goodnight xo
Pretty sure I fell asleep with my fingers on my lips.
16—Offensive
Friday, for some godforsaken reason, the first graders wanted to play dodgeball again. I truly didn’t understand it. Maybe their exposure to violent video games had given them a thirst for blood. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t say I was as happy to play as they were because after their begging me to join them, the minute I stepped out onto the playing field, I was nailed by twelve balls, all but two getting me in the head. Fun.
That night as I lay in bed, all I could think about was Ryker. I wondered if he’d won his match, wondered if he really missed me, wondered if we could be together and last.
And that’s when my phone chimed and I smiled.
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:34 p.m.
Ryker: Hey, cara… you awake?
God, he could be so sweet.
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:34 p.m.
Me: Hi, handsome… I am…
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:34 p.m.
Ryker: How’d today go?
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:34 p.m.
Me: The bloodthirsty 1st graders chose dodgeball & talked me into playing. I think I have 12 knots on my head
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:35 p.m.
Ryker: Did they knock any sense into you? ;)
I chuckled.
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:35 p.m.
Me: Yeah, I think maybe they did ;) Did you win?
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:35 p.m.
Ryker: Good. I did. Finally got a fucking pin. It felt good.
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:36 p.m.
Me: Yay! Good for you! Congratulations!
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:36 p.m.
Ryker: Can I call you?
Text Message—Fri, Feb 20, 11:36 p.m.
Me: Yes
My phone rang five seconds later.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Hey.”
“Where are you?”
“Charter bus, just went through Portland.”
Ryker (The Powers That Be Book 4) Page 13
