As Fate Would Have It | ✓

chapter twenty-four

Song for the chapter: I'm Not Sorry, by Gabriel Conte

Ryker and I had stood up later than normal, just cuddling on the couch and talking. He would suddenly still, looking at me in a way nobody ever has before, which made my heart skip several beats, and apologized again and again.

I kept telling him that it was fine, but eventually, he'd just say sorry again. The more times he did so, the more the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach kept growing. He sounded like he was saying something sorry for something much more than just trying to give me space.

But then he'd twirl some of my hair around his finger, which made my head forget everything I was thinking. Because when he'd look up at me with his intense hazel eyes, I felt like my heart leapt to my throat.

I still couldn't believe that I loved this beautiful man before me; perfectly flawed, beautifully broken. He was everything I wasn't expecting to find, and my heart—as much as I didn't want to admit it—was now his.

I hated having to leave so early for a shift at Joe's, but I needed to open. Ryker, saying he's still respecting my space, slept in another room. I felt his absence, and I woke up missing him more than normal. How can I miss someone who's only a few feet away from me?

I shake my head at myself, getting ready for the morning. I pull my hair up, slide my jeans up my legs, and pull one of Ryker's shirts on over my body. I know it looked ridiculous to wear something this big, but I wanted a little bit of him with me today.

I quietly leave, since we hadn't gotten more than four hours of sleep, and make my way to town. I walk, enjoying the cool summer air this early in the morning, admiring the beautiful sounds of birds chirping.

When I make it to Joe's, he and Ophelia had said their good mornings to me as I rushed to the back to clock in. Once open, Joe's became pretty busy. I was taking orders to tables and wiping them down all day, since everyone decided to come here for breakfast.

My morning was made better when I saw Julia saunter in here, dressed with a fancy blue shirt and white slacks. She looked great for her age.

I brought her food to her table with a smile, to which she eyes me suspiciously.

"You're awfully cheery today," she smirks. "Who's the guy?"

I flush. "Ms. Julia," I scoff. "What makes you think it's a guy?"

"Please," she snorts. "I know that look—you're smitten." She clasps her hands together. "Who is he?"

I shake my head, a smile forming just at the thought of Ryker.

"His name is Ryker."

She gasps slightly. "Ryker Brooks? As in, the Brooks that own a bunch of companies now because his father buys a bunch of them?"

I shrug. I never really asked about Ryker's family business because I never wanted to bother him with it. But...

"Companies? Plural?" I tilt my head.

She nods. "Oh yeah. He has a few here, but I also believe he owns some internationally, too."

Holy crap.

"Huh. I guess."

Julia takes a gulp of her coffee. "He's gotta be loaded, and he's easy on the eyes. Nice choice, Maddi." She smiles.

Something about that rubbed me the wrong way. Ryker told me his dad had money, but I didn't know about it. And I wasn't with Ryker for the money, either. Is that why people tried so hard to get close to him? Are people seriously that shallow?