“Hey fuckface,” I taunt as the police officer reads me my rights, “next time don’t assume because someone is rich and young that they can’t kick your fucking ass.”
“Alright, kid,” the officer tells me. “That’s enough.”
I might regret all of this once I’m sober, but for now, it was exactly what I needed to quell the raging storm in my head.
Ryder
Say Hello 2 Heaven
“Jamison,” my name echoes among the voicesclamoring around me. I move my arm from over my face with a raised brow. It’s all the acknowledgement they’re getting from me right now.
I was placed in a room alone. It kind of pissed me off that I was getting special treatment. With a few exceptions I hate special treatment. The bed, however, had me quickly changing my mind.
I’ve been here less than two hours. The ink probably isn’t dry on my paperworkyet butMads works fast.
They lead me out to where he has a worried and pissed frown on his face. He looks ready to kill me, so of course I smirk.
I’m still walking a thin line between totally trashed and semi wasted. The floor shifts beneath me, but I manage to walk without stumbling. Maddox’s face transforms into a grin as he shakes his head.
“Wanna tell me what the hell happened?” he asks as we drive to my place.
“She’s gone,” I tell him with a low rumbling growl. The booze that was easing the fury inside of me is either wearing off or deciding to take me in another direction. Considering the amount I drank, probably the latter, and that is never good.
“What do you mean ‘gone’?” He turns his head slightly, keeping his eyes on the road, but there’s no missing the confusion on his face.
“Gone. Left. Not here,” I grunt. This conversation is killing my buzz.
“Where did she go?” His voice is colored with surprise and hurt. “What happened?”
“I don’t fucking know, Maddox. I don’t know anything. She said she would think about it, and I guess this is her answer.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“I talked to Heidi. She told me Heaven left days ago, and she didn’t know when or if she was coming back. Wouldn’t tell me anything else. Said if Heaven wanted me to know, she would’ve told me herself.”
“Fuck, Ry. I’m sorry. If I’d never told her where you were that day, she wouldn’t be gone right now.”
“Goddammit, Maddox, don’t do that shit. Don’t blame yourself for something you didn’t know would happen. This isn’t on you. It’s not even on me. I apologized. I told her I would make it up to her. She’s the one who chose to leave without a word.”
We don’t say anything else the rest of the way. He follows me upstairs to my apartment. Probably to make sure I get inside before I collapse. When we step off the elevator, the breath is knocked out of me.
Sitting on the floor next to my door is a little pixie. She looks sweet and innocent sitting there with her head leaned against the wall.
When she looks up at us, I shut it all down. I shut down the irritation and frustration and anger, choosing instead to feel nothing.
“Oh my god!” she exclaims, jumping to her feet. “What happened?”
She reaches for my face with worry etching hers. I catch her by the wrist before she reaches me. “You happened,” I growl. “Why’d you come back? Were you feeling guilty for being a coward? Did you decide to grow a pair and tell me how you felt in person?”
“What are you talking about?” The confusion lining her face is laughable.
“Don’t play stupid, pixie. It’s not a good look on you.”
“Ryder,” Maddox barks, “let her talk.”
I glare at him. “Nah. I don’t need to hear anything. I got the message loud and clear,” I tell them both. “You know the way out. Be sure to use it.”
I walk into the apartment, leaving the door open, knowing Maddox won’t be far behind me. I stumble over to the sofa because the floor isn’t just moving now. It has become an ocean.
