“Try again, Margret. The only thing you did for me was show me all the things I did wrong.”
“Your grandfather wants to see you. He’s not getting younger, Ryder.”
“I’ll come see Grandfather soon. When I know you won’t be there.”
“Rayna would be so disappointed in you.”
I grit my teeth together until I can feel my molar crack. “Don’t say her name. You don’t get to breathe her name.”
I didn’t give her a chance to respond. She can cry, scream, and try to guilt me all she wants. I have no intentions of being anywhere near the vile, wretched woman for the holidays. I’d rather be alone than anywhere near her.
Sweat pours down my face, and I continue with one blow after another. My body is screaming at me for a reprieve, but I’m still frustrated and pissed. Venom floods my very soul.
It doesn’t help that I haven’t seen Heaven since the other night in my penthouse. I hate to admit it, but I miss her when she’s not around. We’ve all been busy though. I’ve barely seen Maddox in the last few days or even Dane and Jake. Finals are around the corner, and work has been crazy.
“What did that bag do to you?”
I spin on my heels, swinging wide, only to have my arm grabbed and toget pushed into the punching bag. “What the fuck, Ry?” Maddox demands.
“Make some noise next time you creep upon someone,” I spit.
“What’s crawled up your ass?” He growls in irritation.
“Nothing,” I grunt as I return to the bag. I am starting to feel my knuckles swell in the gloves. My shoulders and neck feel like the muscles are ripping away from the bone. But I can’t stop.
“This got something to do with Heaven?” His voice is taunting. Mocking me for something he knows I won’t admit. Something he knows is pissing me off because whether I admit it or not, he’s right. That little pixie has me worked up. “I told you pushing her was a bad idea.”
“But you went along with it, anyway, didn’t you?”
“I did,” he nods then starts grinning widely. “I didafterI told you it was a bad idea.”
I give a grunt and turn back to the bag, punching again. He stands there watching me for a minute or two as I wail on the bag like it personally offended me. I can see from the corner of my eye his growing darker by the minute.
“Stop!” he yells. “You’re going to break your damn hands. What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing, Maddox! Just leave me be!”
“Fuck that! I know you, Ry. What did she do this time?”
With a final blow, I grab the bag dropping my head to it. My chest heaves from my exertion and anger. “Christmas. She wants me to come home.”
“I can’t believe she actually thought you would.”
“Of course, she did. Why wouldn’t she? She’s Margret Rosenthal. She had the nerve to mention her, you know.”
“Mention who?” I hear a little pixie behind me.
I turn around to see the object of my obsession standing behind me. Even though not seeing her has been killing me – even though her absence the last few days is a small contributor to my abuse of this bag, right now is not a good time. I can feel it in my gut. My mindset is not where it should be to be around her.
“No one,” I grit out, so I don’t bite her head off. “What are you doing here?”
She seems slightly taken aback for a split second before she shakes it off. “I texted you and Mads about hanging out. He said he was on his way here to you.”
I toss Maddox a glare who quickly raises his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know she would come. I didn’t even know she shouldn’t until a few minutes ago.”
“You don’t want me here?” she asks, her face falling into a frown.
“I’m just not in a good headspace right now, Heaven.”
