Read Online Cowboy Way by Cindy Sutherland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cindy Sutherland
Ads: Link
came down, and so did his dad, and he wanted them to call the cops and press charges against me, but Mike said no, because he just wanted to forget about it and didnt want anyone to know. And he wouldnt look at me anymore, and my parents didnt know what to say, and they sent us home, telling me to go to the principals office in the morning.”
His voice was scraping and cracking, like the physical act of talking was painful. “They said they believed me, my parents, but God, Jake, maybe I did? Maybe I pushed him? Maybe I was wrong, thinking he wanted it!” He was sobbing again, and Jake couldnt take it anymore.
He pulled on Ryans hair gently, to tip his head up so he could look him in the eyes. “Ryan, you listen to me. You didnt push him, and you didnt push me. Mike was a confused kid who panicked and threw you under the bus to save himself. How old were you? Seventeen?”
Ryan shook his head. “Just turned eighteen.” “Its not in you, Ryan, to hurt someone in that way. You didnt push me, Ryan, but you did pull me.” He smiled at the look of confusion on Ryans face. “You pulled me out of myself, and you pulled me into your orbit, and the pull of you had me crashing into you, but, Ryan? I was so ready, and I wanted it, wanted you! So please, believe me when I say you did nothing to force me, and that I am here because I want to be. What happened the next day?”
“When I got to school, I went to the office, but I could feel everyone looking at me. By the time it was done, I was asked to leave the school and never come back. It was close enough to the end of the year, and I was an honor student, so they said they would send my diploma, but I wasnt allowed to attend any graduation activities. And then they pushed me out of the office and out the door and that was that. And as I was leaving, I saw her, Cathy. She walked up and punched me so hard I fell. Then she spit on me and walked away.” Jake could feel the humiliation burning through Ryans body, and his heart broke all over again for him.
“No one asked me, Jake, not one of my friends. They all believed him, everyone did. And they treated me like garbage, and they harassed my family, and I left. I havent been home since.”
Chapter 12
J
AKE couldnt bear the sadness in Ryans voice and face. There was something so wrong about such a caring and loving person being treated so horribly. It made him angry, and Ryan felt him tensing up and mistook it for something else. He started trying to edge away, the humiliation and heartbreak burning into his soul again, like it did before, when he had seen that look on Mikes face. Only now it was worse, because he was pretty sure that he cared far more about Jake after twenty-four hours than he ever did about Mike.
Jake felt the shift and rolled himself on top of Ryan, pinning him to the mattress and looking in his eyes. He could see overwhelming fear and needed to calm it. He reached up and cupped Ryans cheek. “Hey, where you going?” Ryan was quietly sobbing, and each sob tore at Jakes soul.
“I dont know, I just, I dont want to burden you with this. I mean, you dont know me, and you dont need this, and I should just go.” But his hands told a different story, clutching at Jakes back like he was trying to find something to hang onto. Jake wanted to give it to him.
“You dont need to go anywhere, Ryan.” He carded his fingers though Ryans silken strands, letting it calm Ryan. “Youre safe here, and wanted here, and believed here, and I dont want you to go.” Ryan looked up at him, puzzled, but Jake could see the hope there too.
“Ryan, what happened to you was awful, but its not who you are. Ive never met anyone like you. After all the hurt you have suffered, you opened yourself up to me and made me feel more special than I ever have in my life.” He could feel Ryans breathing calm down. He kept touching him, just letting his fingers wander over warm skin, brushing tears from that heartbreakingly beautiful
His voice was scraping and cracking, like the physical act of talking was painful. “They said they believed me, my parents, but God, Jake, maybe I did? Maybe I pushed him? Maybe I was wrong, thinking he wanted it!” He was sobbing again, and Jake couldnt take it anymore.
He pulled on Ryans hair gently, to tip his head up so he could look him in the eyes. “Ryan, you listen to me. You didnt push him, and you didnt push me. Mike was a confused kid who panicked and threw you under the bus to save himself. How old were you? Seventeen?”
Ryan shook his head. “Just turned eighteen.” “Its not in you, Ryan, to hurt someone in that way. You didnt push me, Ryan, but you did pull me.” He smiled at the look of confusion on Ryans face. “You pulled me out of myself, and you pulled me into your orbit, and the pull of you had me crashing into you, but, Ryan? I was so ready, and I wanted it, wanted you! So please, believe me when I say you did nothing to force me, and that I am here because I want to be. What happened the next day?”
“When I got to school, I went to the office, but I could feel everyone looking at me. By the time it was done, I was asked to leave the school and never come back. It was close enough to the end of the year, and I was an honor student, so they said they would send my diploma, but I wasnt allowed to attend any graduation activities. And then they pushed me out of the office and out the door and that was that. And as I was leaving, I saw her, Cathy. She walked up and punched me so hard I fell. Then she spit on me and walked away.” Jake could feel the humiliation burning through Ryans body, and his heart broke all over again for him.
“No one asked me, Jake, not one of my friends. They all believed him, everyone did. And they treated me like garbage, and they harassed my family, and I left. I havent been home since.”
Chapter 12
J
AKE couldnt bear the sadness in Ryans voice and face. There was something so wrong about such a caring and loving person being treated so horribly. It made him angry, and Ryan felt him tensing up and mistook it for something else. He started trying to edge away, the humiliation and heartbreak burning into his soul again, like it did before, when he had seen that look on Mikes face. Only now it was worse, because he was pretty sure that he cared far more about Jake after twenty-four hours than he ever did about Mike.
Jake felt the shift and rolled himself on top of Ryan, pinning him to the mattress and looking in his eyes. He could see overwhelming fear and needed to calm it. He reached up and cupped Ryans cheek. “Hey, where you going?” Ryan was quietly sobbing, and each sob tore at Jakes soul.
“I dont know, I just, I dont want to burden you with this. I mean, you dont know me, and you dont need this, and I should just go.” But his hands told a different story, clutching at Jakes back like he was trying to find something to hang onto. Jake wanted to give it to him.
“You dont need to go anywhere, Ryan.” He carded his fingers though Ryans silken strands, letting it calm Ryan. “Youre safe here, and wanted here, and believed here, and I dont want you to go.” Ryan looked up at him, puzzled, but Jake could see the hope there too.
“Ryan, what happened to you was awful, but its not who you are. Ive never met anyone like you. After all the hurt you have suffered, you opened yourself up to me and made me feel more special than I ever have in my life.” He could feel Ryans breathing calm down. He kept touching him, just letting his fingers wander over warm skin, brushing tears from that heartbreakingly beautiful
Similar Books
