As Fate Would Have It | ✓

chapter thirty-three

Song for the chapter: Somewhere I Belong, by Linkin Park

Ryker POV

I felt super sensitive to the sun beaming in through the windows this morning. Even with my eyes still closed, it felt like the sun was magnified by ten.

With pounding in my head, I groan as I turn my head away from the window and sit up. I feel the room spin and rub my temples.

I guess downing that whole bottle of tequila wasn't such a good idea after all.

I roll my neck, planting my feet on the floor. When my vision clears, I see a piece of paper folded on the night stand in front of a bottle of water and two pills.

Sober up.

My stomach drops. I already knew it was Maddison. Fuck. How could I have been such an idiot, stoop so low as to have done that to her? I was nothing more than her lowlife father last night.

What did I show her other than I'd run to a bottle and try to drown out my family's problems when they get too hard for me to handle? Way to fucking go, dumbass.

I took the pills she left me and go to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth before I jumped in the shower, washing away all of the reminders of yesterday. Well, all of which that weren't Maddison.

Like the way her eyes shined, her curvy body in that dress, and the way her curious yet bold tongue explored my mouth.

I needed to apologize. Right now.

I shut off the water and wrapped a towel around my waist. I walk towards my closet, casually pulling on a pair of black joggers and a matching hoodie. I quickly rubbed the towel through my hair, leaving it slightly damp and throwing it over the door.

I slipped my wallet in my pocket and held my phone in my hands as I walked down the stairs. I walked through the halls to head towards the garage, but paused. I took five steps back, turning my head towards the kitchen.

Long behold, I see Kyler sipping on a cup of coffee.

"Morning." He smirks at me.

Even though he was smirking, I can see the sadness in his eyes. The bags under his eyes were prominent and his hair disheveled, like he hadn't really slept at all. I raise a brow.

"When did you get here?"

"Last night," he sighs as he leans against the wall.

"How?"

"You're my brother," he snorts. "I know that you keep a spare key in that shack in the backyard."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, letting out a frustrated breath. I need to get to Maddison.

"I don't have time for your shit, Kyler."

"Maddison's right," Kyler sips. "You're stubborn as hell."

I glare at him. "What did you just say?"

Kyler walks, sitting his pampered ass on my couch. "Maddison? We had a lovely conversation last night when she called. Warned me about how stubborn you've become. Told me to be patient with you, before adding a cute, not so apologetic apology for busting Olivia's lip."

I clenched my fists. "What the fuck are you saying right now?"

"Relax, bro," Kyler lifts up his hands. "I'm honestly here to talk. One-on-one."

I don't move, which Kyler just lets out a long exhale and runs his hand through his hair.

"Why didn't you tell me Olivia was the college girlfriend?"