Stealing Ryder (16 page)

“This gross thing? Ick. I hate it. It’s too much dress for me. I want something classier. I was
trying
…” she emphasized, while staring at the poor sales lady who was probably shaking in her boots, “to tell this lady that I wanted something with a little more class, and a less prom dress look.”

I walked around the store for a few moments and started picking up different dresses for Skye while she argued with the sales lady. I started running my hands o
ver the beautiful white and off-white dresses. They were absolutely gorgeous.

Secretly, I ha
d dreamed about my wedding since I was a kid. I always wanted a big white dress to walk down the aisle in. I had always imagined my father walking me down the aisle, although now, I’m not too sure. With everything that happened with Tye, I don’t even know if he would consider coming to my wedding…

Anyways, I had always imagined walking down a long lined aisle
, and looking at my future husband’s face at the end of the aisle. I imagined the look on his face, the smile that would  spread ear-to-ear. I could already feel the way his hand would feel when he would take me from my father. That spark that we would share in that brief moment would be a testament to our undying love.

I c
ould imagine his eyes staring into mine as we hold hands and the officiator goes on about staying true and faithful to each other. I pictured it almost like a movie. Where everyone is talking around us, but we are there sitting in our own moment. We are there as one, sharing that moment and holding each other close. Our wedding would be the most flawless event that I would ever plan because, as a Type-A personality, I know I would have everything down to the very last flower petal.

And the sad part?

Those eyes I pictured are pools of sparkling blue. Those hands I touched are big strong ex-football player’s hands. Those moments we shared are only with him. Ryder. My one true and only love.

I knew I messed up. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. In fact, the wedding I seriously have dreamt about since I was a young child included him. When I was younger
, the face always changed as I grew, from Ken doll and GI Joe, to Matthew McConaughey, all taking the place of the groom. But now, all I could think about was Ryder. This whole wedding was just pulling on my damn heartstrings. Of course I wanted this for myself.  I would be ignorant to say that I haven’t secretly hoped I could find my Prince Charming and walk into the sunset all happy-go-lucky.

But I guess that lifestyle wasn’t for me. It wasn’t in the works for me. I was always going to be that girl who lived in the reality of today. There was no bright future or exciting romance planned out for me. I was average
, and had to deal with the pain of a breakup just like everyone else who has gone through something like this. It was just something I had to go through, and I chalk today up as a weak day.

I snapped out of my thoughts and picked up a dress I knew Skye would immediately fall in love with. It was a mermaid-style dress and puffed out where the knees were. It had some lace on the top
, and thin straps that were wrapped with lace too. It was the epitome of a stereotypical classy wedding gown and perfect for Skye.

I brought it to the saleslady
, who had driven Skye back into the dressing room, and was clearly frantic, trying to find the perfect dress, but was struggling.

“Here, bring this in and have her try it on.” I gave the dress to the lady
, and walked over to the sitting area where a very attractive server gave me a glass of champagne. I could hear squeals coming from the dressing room and immediately knew I had done well.

After a few moments, I heard the daintiest footsteps come clamoring in from the back.

“ERMAGOD.” Skye was able to squeak out when she saw herself in the mirror.

“I just die
d over this dress.” She looked at me, waiting for my approval.

“And guess whose best friend picked it out for you?”

“You did not?!” she half-asked and half-yelled.

“I did too.”

“I love you so much, Harper Mae. You just get me,” Skye said.

“You look stunning babe.”  I got up to go give her a hug
, and she got down from the pedestal and wrapped her arms around me.

“Don’t get makeup on this dress, because I am buying it
,” she squeaked, and we both fell into a fit of giggles.

“Seriously, this is amazing.”

“So,” I asked, “are you saying yes to this dress?” I asked.

“Yes! Absolutely
,” she cried, and ran back to the dressing room to change. I downed the rest of the champagne and sat back down to wait for her, not letting my thoughts wonder anywhere else.

Once Skye came back in
casual clothes, she grabbed my hand, dragged me out of the store, and down the street to her car.

“Hop in
, homeslice,” she demanded.

“What is going on?” I asked
nervously.

“Don’t question it.”

“What happened to the dress?” I asked her.

“Oh
, it is going to be altered. It’s a process, Harper Mae, and the wedding isn’t for a while,” she said, getting into the driver’s side.

“Where are we going? You know my car is
, like, parked right there.” I pointed just up the road to her.

“I know, but you are not driving. I am.” She was being super shady
, and it was bothering me. I knew she was up to something. She never acted like this.

“What is going on?” I asked again
, more annoyed.

“You know how much I love you
, right?” she asked, pausing as if she was waiting for an answer from me.

“Yeah, I mean
, we have been friends for so long. I would hope at this point you love me,” I batted my eyelashes at her” to try to act goofy because she was being super serious.

“I am trying to be for real, Harper. You know I do everything
for
you, and not because I am trying to
hurt
you, right?”

“Sure. You’re seriously starting to freak me out though. Can you please tell me what is going on?” I asked,
shifting in my seat.

I looked outside my window
, and saw the familiar road down Genesee, which led to my apartment complex, that we took quite often.

“Are we headed to my place?” I questioned again.

“I cannot tell you where we are headed. Well, I guess I could. Yeah, we are going to your place, but I need you to remember that everything I do is for your sake. You know that, right?”

“Sure
, Skye. You’re acting like a crazed mad-woman right now, but sure, I know that. I do the same, ya know? I would do anything for our friendship,” I said.

“Good, just remember that…”
she mumbled off, saying something completely inaudible.

“Are you…sweating?” I provoked.

“Shut up, biotch. Yes, I am sweating. You don’t need to point it out. How embarrassing.”

“What the…fuck is going on?” I was seriously so confused. We were pulling closer and closer to my
apartment. This was so weird; if she wanted to go to my place, she should have just let me drive home and then followed me or something. Now she was being all twitchy.

I swear
, it must’ve been a full moon because everyone was in full crazy-mode. First, Kylee wanted to meet with me, and not only that, but she was actually nice to me. I was shocked that I even decided to meet her. Skye picked out a wedding dress, and it was surprisingly much easier than I had anticipated, because she is so freaking high maintenance. Now, Skye is acting like the Mad Hatter and driving to my apartment while sweating profusely from her armpits.

What.

Is.

Going.

On?!

Once we got to my
complex, Skye pulled into a guest parking spot and shoved the shifter into park.

“Are you going to tell me what is going on now?”

“Nope,” she said very quickly. How strange. A moment ago at the bridal salon, she was so excited and full of energy. Now, she is sitting here with a very serious look on her face.

“Is there a bridesmaid’s gift inside?” I questioned.

“I wish this was a gift.”

“Okay…
so are we going to go inside, or what?” I asked, because the curiosity was getting the best of me. I wanted to see what the heck the big deal was.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath and reached for the handle to open the door.

“Now, remember what you said earlier. Repeat it to me,” she told me.

“That I love you?” I inquired.

“Yeah, say it again,” she demanded.

“Okay, I swear. No matter what happens
, you will remain my best friend, and I love you, so...” I said to appease her nerves, which were obviously out of control.

“Can we go inside now?” I asked
again.

“Yeah, I suppose we should go.” She pulled on the handle and walked outside. I followed her
up the steps to my door.

Skye looked like she was about to pass out. She was white in the face
, and her palms were glistening from the sweat.

“Girl, you are starting to scare me
,” I said, but put the key into the doorknob and opened up.

I was still staring back at the freaked out Skye
, who looked like she saw a ghost when I opened the door. I lightly laughed, but turned around to see what she was gasping about.

My heart sped up a hundred miles a minute.

My hands dropped my keys to the floor.

My throat was immediately dry.

My stomach was doing a hundred different somersaults.

I was queasy, nervous,
excited, and felt like I was dreaming or in another world. There was no way Ryder could be sitting in my living room.

Absolutely.

No.

Way.

Not Possible.

What the hell was Ryder Andrew Kent doing sitting in my living room as if he lived here and owned the place? Sure, I gave him a key when we were dating
, and had planned on getting it back, but I just hadn’t felt like seeing him. I didn’t think that he would ever actually use it like this.

And Skye…
what a fucking cunt. Seriously, I was so pissed at her. Now, it was all very clear that she had been a participant in all of this. This was some sort of a sick joke on her behalf. She had no right to sit here and orchestrate all of this. This wasn’t her life she was fucking around with, it was mine. MINE, damnit!

“You are such a bitch
,” I spat at her, as she followed me inside and closed the door behind her.

“I told you to remember what you said. Harper, I am so sorry
, but there really was no other way to get him here. He sat me down this morning and talked to me all about it. He told me everything that happened, and you should really hear him out.” Skye tried to talk as fast as she could as she followed me into my kitchen, but I pushed her away and grabbed for a glass so I could pour some water into it. At this point, I hadn’t even given any sort of acknowledgement that Ryder was there.

When I poured my glass of water, I felt him come
up next to Skye, so I violently turned around and faced both of them. As I held the glass up to my lips and downed the water, I stared at Ryder in the eyes, not even blinking. There was nothing in that stare but pure unadulterated hate. The same hate I felt for him when I saw the kiss with Kylee.

See, I knew I was right. I didn’t have feelings for him. I hated him. Ugh. I knew it. I should have never tricked myself into th
inking that it was possible to trust him again. There was no love left between us. We were broken.

Both of them s
tood there in stunned silence as I finished my glass of water and stuck the cup in the sink. It was so silent that you could hear a pin drop from miles away. When I finally spoke, it was like I was screaming from the top of a mountain, but really my voice was barely above a whisper.

“What are you doing here,” w
as all I could croak out. There were no other words for him being here.

“Harper, please
,” he began, but I was too disgusted with all of this to listen.

“No. No. Absolutely not. This is unacceptable.” I huffed and stormed into the living room. I had no idea what I was doing, but I tried to look busy to avoid the rampant thoughts that were flooding my brain.

I didn’t let either of them talk before I continued with my train of thought, “And you, Skye? Why would you do this? I am your best friend. You are supposed to be on my side. I don’t care what he does. First off, you are not supposed to meet my EX-boyfriend behind my back, no matter what. Second, you didn’t tell me about that meeting and then told him that it was acceptable for him to show up to my home. The place where I find solace and peace. You thought it was totally okay for him to just show up here. What did you think was going to happen? He was just going to apologize and I was going to drop down to his feet? Fuck that!” I screamed at her.