She moves a step closer. I look over to Maddox, mentally pleading for him to get her out of here. He could be useful if he wanted to be. He could swoop in right now and take her somewhere. Impending disaster diverted.
But all the asshole is doing is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’m a good listener,” she tells me softly.
“It’s not a big deal, cupcake,” Maddoxfinallydecides to interject. “He’s just having a family disagreement about where to spend the holidays.”
“Is that all?” She waves like it’s no big deal. I suppose in her family– in most families – itwouldn’t be. “I thought it was something serious. Do they have plans out of the ordinary for this year?”
“I doubt it,” I mutter, “but I don’t plan on finding out.”
Her head snaps back in surprise. “You’re not going home for Christmas?”
“Nope.” The one word settles deep in my belly because I can see in her face that she doesn’t understand. How could she? I don’t talk to her about these things. I don’t talk to anyone. Maddox only knows because he’s been with me through most of it.
“Why? Ryder, you should go home. That’s what Christmas is about. It’s about family.”
“Cupcake, you need to drop it,” Maddox warns her as he pushes off the wall, moving closer to her.
“I just don’t understand. It is your family. You should want to be with them for the holidays. Don’t you miss them? Don’t you miss your mom and dad?”
Like a poison in my veins, anger weaves through my blood and marrow. Hate and loathing spread like icy tendrils across glass already beginning to crack. That feeling of ruin seeps through me. I know what is about to come out of my mouth. I can stop the collision before it happens. Stop the pain I know I’m about to inflict.
But she has no clue what she’s talking about. She doesn’t understand the hell I’ve been through in my life. She doesn’t understand the loss I feel. She will never comprehend the bone deep hate I have for the woman that gave birth to me.
“Don’t you think you should at least wait until you’ve spread those pretty little legs before you assume to know what I need or want, princess?” I let the toxic words fly from my mouth, knowing full well the impact they will have.
Her eyes flash with fury. Her body begins to vibrate in anger. I wait. I wait for her to lash back. I wait for her to spew her own venom because I want it. I want all her hate and fury and rage.
She doesn’t give it.
She simply turns around and leaves.
“Ryder,” Maddox’s voice is low and threatening — and disappointed. “I never say anything to you about your anger or the things you say to people. I stand aside because I know you’re just lashing out and don’t really mean it. Butthatwasn’t cool. She didn’t deserve that.”
“She shouldn’t have interfered in my business.” I’m a bastard and I know it. I know he’s right, but I needed her to back off. I also needed someone to hurt like I do. I needed them to feel wrath and fury like I feel. She was supposed to fight back.
“Well, I hope you’re prepared for her to stay out of your life.”
My stomach clenches. I ignore it. “Easy come, easy go. Except she wasn’t so easy, so I didn’t miss much.”
“You’re such a goddamn idiot,” he says with a clenched jaw. “She likes you, Ryder.”
“She likes you, too. Big deal.” I begin to work the gloves off my hands, wincing through the pain and havoc I wreaked on them.
“God, why don’t you pull your fucking head out of your ass. She really likes you. And you fucking like her. You’re just too chicken shit to admit it.”
I laugh at that, but it sounds strained and forced. “Yeah, I like her. I’d like to get between her legs.”
“When did you become such a moron? I’ve known you for a long time. You have never chased a girl. You have never missed a girl. But with her, you’ve done both.”
“I don’t like her, Maddox. Now shut the hell up and drop it.”
“I hope that’s true, man. Because you just blew any chance with that girl. You completely shattered her,” he tells me as he begins to walk off.
His words, though, make my stomach flip. Nausea overcomes me, so strongly I pitch forward for a second. When I get it under control, I run to him, grip him by the shoulder, and turn him around. “What do you mean by that?”
“What do you think I mean? The reason she’s been so hesitant is because she didn’t want to be another girl in your bed—"
