Ryker (9 page)

Faith:
Sorry for what?

Me:
Being me.

Faith:
Oh that.

Me:
Are you mad?

Her next message took longer, and that worried me.

Faith:
Why would I be mad?

I shrugged and realized that she couldn’t see me.

Me:
Because I’m an asshole.

Faith:
No, I’m not mad. I’m used to that.

Great. She’s used to me being an asshole.
I closed my eyes because she was right.

Me:
I’m sorry.

Faith:
You said that already.

Me:
Do you forgive me?

Faith:
I don’t know.

Fuck! She didn’t know? I had no clue how to respond to that. I wasn’t going to beg. I should, and part of me wanted to, but I didn’t. I needed to forget everything that had happened. If it wasn’t for the band, I’d leave town and start fresh like I did when I was younger.

Me:
Okay.

That was it. That was all I had, just “okay.”

I set my phone back on the nightstand and stared at it. I knew she wouldn’t text me back, but I still looked at the phone, waiting to see if it lit up with her response. I stared at it until my eyes would no longer remain open.

I woke the next morning to a text, but it was from Max.

Max:
My place. 11am
.

That was it. I didn’t even reply because I knew I couldn’t get out of it. I looked at the clock. It was only seven. I rolled over and tried to get more sleep, but that wasn’t happening, so I got out of bed and took a shower.

Mr. Bishop was outside washing his car when I got to Max’s. I inwardly cringed and felt guilty for how I’d treated his daughter. There was no way he would approve of me. My own mother didn’t approve of me. So with no reason to try to talk to him, I just gave a quick wave.

Max greeted me. Rather than having a scowl, which I was sure would be there, he greeted me with a big smile. “Hey, man, just waiting for the others to get here.”

“Others?”

Max looked as if he was ready to come out of his skin. “Tim and Jake. I have news, and I want us all together when I announce it.”

“Oh. Okay, when are they getting here?”

No sooner did I ask than they walked in.

Tim looked exhausted. “What’s up, guys?”

Max cleared his throat. “I heard from Northern South Entertainment. They were at The Pub the other night, and we’ve been selected to open a show for Blanco Diablo next month in North Carolina! How cool is that?”

Tim was the first to speak. “No way! That’s awesome!”

Jake chimed in, “I’m totally stoked!”

They looked at me. I was happy about the opportunity, but I had other things on my mind. North Carolina didn’t hold great memories for me, but I couldn’t let them know that. “Sounds good to me too.”

Max lowered his brow, and his expression showed total disappointment. “Something wrong, Ryker?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m really excited. Sorry, I was just caught off guard.”

“Great, because we need everyone on board. Our practice times just got longer, and we need to get in as many gigs as we can. Tim, can you work at lining us up gigs during the week as well as on weekends? We have the next five weekends booked, and we need to make some adjustments to our schedule.”

“I’m on it.” Tim punched things into his phone. “I’ll talk to you all later and let you know what I have on tap for us. This is great news. Thanks, Max.”

Jake walked out with Tim, and I was left with Max. I decided I should go too, before he started in on me about what he’d seen the night before.

“Well, I’ll see ya later.” I turned toward the door.

“Hold up a minute, I want to talk to you now that the guys are gone.” Max’s demeanor changed, and he no longer had a light tone in his voice.

I closed my eyes and cringed at the thought of the verbal lashing I was about to get. I opened my eyes and turned toward him. Trying to play it cool, I said, “Okay. What’s up?”

“I think you know. What happened last night with Faith? I told you not to fuck with her head.”

My eyebrows lowered.
Shit.
“Yeah, I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t.”

Max got angrier as he spoke. “You never mean to. You never mean to hurt people, but you do. You never mean to lead people on, but you do. You never mean to use people… well, maybe you mean to do that, but not Faith. Do you hear me? Not her.”

“Ya know what? Who the hell are you to tell me who I’ve hurt and who I haven’t?”

Max glared at me. “Who am I? Who am I? I’ll tell you who the fuck I am: your friend. She’s like a sister to me. You use women for fun and then toss them aside.”

I laughed. “I use women? If you weren’t back with Tyf, you’d be doing what I am. But now that you’re back with her, you have this holier-than-thou attitude, and ya know what?”

“What?”

I shook my head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

“No, I want you to tell me. Go ahead.”

I remained silent. I didn’t want to fight with Max. He was all I had left.

“You’re not going to say anything?” Max said. “Well, I will. I love Faith, and I’m begging you not to turn her into one of your stamps. Maybe you’re right, and you’re not good enough for her.” Max winced after that comment flew out of his mouth.

I felt as if I’d just been shot. As I headed for the door, I looked back. “For the record, you didn’t tell me anything I haven’t heard before. I’ve been told my whole life that I’m not good enough. It is what it is, and I am who I am.” I opened the door. “Did you ever think that I need her more than she needs me, and that scares the shit out of me? Has the thought crossed your mind that I don’t have anyone, and loving someone isn’t an option for me? Have you thought about me at all?” I walked out and closed the door.

Alone was what I deserved to be. I needed to keep reminding myself of that. Going home wasn’t an option. Being surrounded by cold walls wasn’t what I needed. My car weaved down the winding road until I found myself back at the beach. I got out, leaned on the hood, and just looked at the water. I thought about everything Faith had told me last night about the water and what she said about the stars. She had a way of looking at things differently. I wondered if she would ever look at me differently. Did I even deserve that?

It was Friday night, and we were playing at The Pub. Open mic was going on between our sets, which was great because it meant we had more time to chill. I thought about the last time I was there, and my cock twitched at the memory.

Tim had purchased a new trailer for our instruments since we’d heard that we may be traveling with the guys from Blanco Diablo. I didn’t see his truck in the parking lot yet, so I decided to have a smoke while I waited. It was a warm June night, and the humid air kept the temperature perfect. I loved summer nights. I saw Max’s car pull in. As my hand rose to wave, I saw that he wasn’t alone. Tyf was in the front seat, and I saw Faith in the back. I blew out a long stream of smoke and threw my cig on the ground. The sound of the car doors closing and laughter hit me. I had never been the recipient of that laughter, but I knew that laugh.

Max shouted, “Hey.”

I turned my head, and all three were looking at me. “Hey. How’re you guys doing?”

Tyf said, “We’re great! We’re celebrating tonight.”

I nodded. “Oh yeah? What are ya celebrating?”

Tyf threw her arm around Faith. “Our girl here starts her job on Monday.”

I looked at her, and when our eyes met, she lowered hers. I hated that she couldn’t even bear to look at me. “That’s great. Congrats, Faith.”

She looked up and half smiled. “Yeah, thanks.”

The sound of Tim’s truck brought the diversion I needed. I noticed Michael and some other guy were with him. They parked, hopped out, and walked over to us. Tim shook my hand and kissed Faith and Tyf on the cheek.

Michel pointed to his friend. “Guys, this is Erik.”

I looked the guy over. He was okay looking. Then I looked at the girls. From their wide eyes, they thought he was better than just “okay.”

Tyf held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Tyf, Max’s girlfriend, and this is my single friend, Faith.”

Faith swatted Tyf’s arm, and they both giggled. My brows shot up. I was starting to feel ill. Giggling? Really?

Erik extended his hand. “Good to meet you, Tyf.” He looked at Faith. “Really good to meet you, Faith.”

She blushed. She fucking blushed!

I walked to Tim’s truck and opened the trailer to get my drums. As I brought them into The Pub, I was greeted by some friends and then by the chick I’d almost screwed the other night. Did I ever get her name? I didn’t think I did, but I remembered her long-ass legs wrapped around my waist. Not bothering to make small talk, I continued toward the stage. Max was working with the sound guy as I set up my drums. My eyes caught everyone walking in. Jake was walking next to Tim while the girls were with Michael and Erik. I walked over to Max.

“Hey, you gonna let Tyf hang with those guys?” I slyly pointed straight at them.

Max looked up. “Who? Michael and Erik?”

My forehead wrinkled as my brows lowered. “You know Erik?”

“Yeah, I met him the other night when I picked Michael up to go to Faith’s party. Why, what’s the problem?”

I shook my head. “No problem. The guy looks shady, that’s all.”

Max looked at me as though I was crazy. “Shady?” He looked at Erik, who was chatting it up with Faith. “So you don’t like him talking to Faith. Is that it?”

When I didn’t say anything, Max hopped off the stage and went over to our friends. I followed. Max sat next to Tyf, and I sat at the opposite end of Faith, who was next to Erik. I grabbed a glass, poured beer from the pitcher on the table, and slammed it back. As I refilled my glass, I heard Faith giggle.
What the fuck.

Erik had that look in his eyes. He wanted to get in her fucking pants. How could she not recognize that look? She’d seen me use it on numerous occasions. Granted, not directed at her, but still.

I grabbed my phone to check the time. We had twenty minutes before we went on. I needed to be behind my set; the sudden urge to feel comfortable was overwhelming. The place was getting crowded, and there was a unique blend of people. I looked around, trying to ignore what was happening at my table.

Erik had his hand on the back of Faith’s chair. “Want to go out sometime?”

I didn’t know what possessed me to do it, but I grabbed my phone and sent the fastest text I could.

Me:
say no

Faith looked at her phone, which was sitting on the table in front of her, and then at me. Like a dagger to my heart, she said, “I’d love to.”

I took a deep breath and finished my beer. Legs came over just as I set down the glass. I grabbed her waist and pulled her into my lap, making her squeal. She covered her mouth with her hand and swatted my chest.

“You scared me. Don’t do that.” She smiled and batted her eyes at me.

“Don’t do what? Don’t do this?” I pulled her in for a searing kiss. I closed my eyes and thought of Faith. She didn’t taste like Faith, but at the moment, I didn’t care. I held her head tight, and our tongues battled.

After I let her go, she wiped her lower lip with her thumb. “I need to announce you guys, and open mic is tonight, so I won’t have time to go in the back. Maybe we can get together after we close.” She winked and got off my lap.

Jake was the first to speak. “Damn, man, did you get a piece of Tori the other night?”

Hmm, her name’s Tori; that’s good to know. I grinned and poured another beer. No need to respond; they could think whatever they want. The speakers squealed, making the bar patrons laugh, and I looked up as Tori tapped the mic.

She snickered. “Sorry about that. This thing is touchy.” She looked at Max, and he nodded. “We have a real treat for you all tonight. Raging Urge is in the house.”

The bar goers clapped, and the women did the usual whistling and yelling.

Tori moved her hands up and down to try to quiet the place. “Shhh… I have more to say. Our wonderful local boys will be opening up for Blanco Diablo in North Carolina in a couple weeks! They’re going to be famous, I just know it.” The applause started again and kept going. Tori tapped the mic again, thankfully without making it squeal. “Boys, stand up and take a bow.”