8 Chapter 8
I finally had all the items on my list and checked out in record time. I made my way to the hardware store across the lot to get some parts for my leaky bathroom sink, then headed to the pharmacy for painkillers and Band-Aids. At last, I crossed the parking lot and trudged toward the bus stop, since I didn’t feel like walking a mile home with all my purchases. Yeah, I was being lazy. It was my day off, after all.
As I waited for a car to pass before crossing to the sidewalk that led to the traffic light, I heard a horn beep close by. I looked up and saw Ry sitting in a Range Rover.
“Give you a lift?” he asked.
Unbelievable. “No, thanks,” I replied and crossed in front of him before standing at the corner, waiting for the walk signal.
“Come on. Why are you being so difficult?” Ry asked when he stopped next to me at the light, leaning across the seat to speak through the open passenger-side window.
“I don’t have to explain anything to you.” I crossed the street and sat in the bus shelter next to an old man who smoked a smelly cigarette. We waited in silence for our ride.
Not a minute later, Ry pulled up in front of the bus stop and parked, his emergency flashers on. That did not endear him to motorists, who beeped their horns at him and hurled invectives when they had to go around his vehicle.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I yelled at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw ashes fall to the ground from my companion’s cigarette.
“Offering you a ride, dumbass. Get in the fucking car.”
“No.” And then I saw a bus in the distance. This could get ugly.
“There’s a bus coming. A cop could show up at any moment. Get in the damn car, Georgie. Right now.”
With the bus bearing down upon us, I huffed and puffed, then threw my things into the backseat, the door to which he’d unlocked, and jumped into the passenger side of the car just as the bus arrived.
As he spun his tires to haul ass down the road, Ry said, “Now was that so hard?”
* * * *
I let him drive for a few minutes as he asked repeatedly where I lived. Let him waste gas while I cool down, since he’s so hot to trot.We even passed my turn-off, going ten miles down the road before I had him swing around and head back in the right direction.
“Take a left at the light,” I said, and when he’d done that, I directed him to the back of the apartment complex near the small community park. Once he pulled up in a space and turned off the engine, I got out.
“I suppose I should say ‘thanks for the ride,’ but I’m not feeling very grateful.” I opened the door to the backseat and grabbed my purchases. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” I moved away.
He got out of the car and locked up. “Aren’t you going to invite me up?”
“Not on your life.” I walked into the lobby, Ry close at my heels. “Get lost.” I pressed the UP button next to the elevator bank.
“I know why you’re pissed at me.”
I laughed humorlessly. “Right.”
“You’re jealous,” he said as he stepped into the elevator with me when it arrived.
“Am not,” I replied too swiftly, but I stood my ground.
“Hell yes, you are. Admit it.”
“I don’t see why I should. It’s not true, after all. Like I said, you’re an adult. You can do whatever you want with whomever you want.”
When the elevator arrived on the ninth floor, I got off and headed toward my door, my pain-in-the-ass companion close behind. “I don’t believe you.”
“That’s yourproblem.”
I set my purchases on the floor and dug out my keys before turning to face Ry. “This is borderline stalking, Ry Archibald. What do you want from me?”
He backed me against the door, both hands flat on either side of my head as he leaned in, hot breath on my face. “You know what your problem is? You’re spineless. You sit there letting someone take what you want—no, don’t deny it”—I’d been vigorously shaking my head in the negative—”just because you don’t think you’re worthy of it, for some dumb reason. That’s absolute horseshit.”
My breathing stuttered. “I have a goddamn spine!” Well, I did now. “I don’t give a fuck what you and Trent do together,” I stated, completely giving myself away. “It could be anyone, really, but you know what? You made me feel like dirt under your shoe and I refuse to let anyone treat me that way anymore, like I don’t fucking matter. I matter, and I’ll thank you to remember that. I don’t need all you pretty, in-crowd people making me feel even worse about myself than I already do. I do that plenty, on my own. Now if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it if you left me alone.”
I folded my arms across my chest and stared down the hall, away from his tempting chest and mesmerizing, infuriating eyes. I wouldn’t hold out long if he gazed at me much longer.
