Read Online Only With You by Monica Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

the hell would you think I was texting with a stripper?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve had a lot to drink tonight. I might not be in my right mind.”
    “Gee, you think?”
    I could not believe she’d sent that in a text. Syd and I were not in a place where she’d apprec iate that or even think it was funny. She’d hate it. Dammit!
    “Just go,” I told her, hoping she’d finally leave. I was so done with her.
    “Fine,” she said, and I sent up a silent cheer. “Sorry about your phone.”
    “Whatever.”
    “Ryder,” she said when she paused at the door.
    “What?” I asked, glaring at her.
    She sighed, and then her expression changed. She looked like she felt sorry for me.
    “What, Kirsten?!”
    “You’re too good for her.”
    “You don’t even know who she is,” I said looking away.
    “No, but I know you, and she should be lucky to get the chance to be with you. It’s what I wanted all along.”
    I looked back up at her. “No, you didn’t. You just wanted to screw around and pick fights.”
    She shook her head. “It’s called protecting your heart, Ry. I was pretty in love with you for a long time, even before we got together, and you never even knew it. You just kept pushing me away, and I hated it. You were so blinded by this girl who I know has been messing with your head for a long time. And if she can’t see what a great guy you are, then she doesn’t deserve you.”
    I ran my hand back through my hair and closed my eyes. I was so pissed and irritated and a nnoyed. My phone was busted, Sydney had texted me, now Kirsten was telling me that she was in love with me and I’d treated her like dirt. Could this night get any worse?
    When I didn’t respond, she let herself out of the room, leaving me alone to stew with my thoughts. The worst part was that she was right. I’d let Sydney have this hold over me for so long, and I was tired of it. I was sick of the rollercoaster ride of emotions. I’d pushed every other girl away for a fantasy that would never come true.
    I sat alone on the couch for what felt like hours before I finally crawled into my cave and fell asleep, welcoming the feeling that came when I finally, blissfully passed out.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
    Sydney
     
    I was a hot piece of ass?! Are you kidding me?
    Should I be mad? Should I be flattered? I wasn’t sure. I thought mad might be a good emotion, because Ryder knew I hated when guys looked at me like an object rather than a person, and I had a feeling he’d said it to piss me off. Well, mission accomplished.
    And t hen he hadn’t even responded to my follow-up text.
    Possibly he was upset with me for not acknowledging him at the show. Okay, yeah, he probably was. I’d send him tickets, he’d driven down to Orlando, and then I’d essentially ignored him the whole night.
    I hadn’t wanted to, but once I was on stage, I knew if I looked at him, it would completely derail me, and I needed to keep my focus. I should have given him the stupid umbrella. I handed one out at each show, and I knew exactly where he’d be sitting. My original plan was to give it to him, but then I’d chickened out.
    Now some girl I didn’t now had a message from me that said, ‘Call me, and we’ll hang out after the show’. I’d written it on the handle next to my signature, knowing Ryder would see it, but then I’d panicked. Then I’d debated for a few hours if I should just call him. Texting felt safer, so I went with that option, and look where it had gotten me!
    I was an idiot.
    My phone rang then, and my stupid heart leapt at the thought that it might be Ryder. It wasn’t. It was Paul.
    Why was I getting my hopes up anyway? It wasn’t like I could have Ryder the way I wanted him. We could only ever be friends, and I knew that, but I’d missed him so much that I’d take being his friend if I could just talk to him again. Of course, I wasn’t sure if that was even an option anymore. And I’d be lying if a