As Fate Would Have It | ✓

chapther thirty-six

Song for the chapter: Only When You're Close, by Zendaya

After the phone call from Tamika, I didn't feel like doing much else. Ryker could sense my sudden mood change, because he just held me most of the day.

Ryker offered to stay over, but Kyler was still at his place. And even though he did sneak a few nights here and there, Kyler needed him more. As much as Kyler tries to hide it, he's still in pain. I spent a couple days with them at Ryker's house, and honestly, it was nice to see them mending their relationship.

Yeah, I could see the awkwardness between them. But what do you expect after how many years of damage? What did I love to see was Ryker's sly little smile when Kyler would turn his back after a smart remark, or Kyler actually laughing at something Ryker would say.

Progress is progress, no matter how small the steps. And it warmed my heart to see it.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, but with the morning rush at Joe's, I wasn't able to check it for half an hour. When I was able to, I looked at my screen.

Ryker: Missing you, baby girl

My heart flutters. When I mentioned to Ryker that I hated his Lock Screen, which happened to be an unknown candid picture of me laughing, he insisted that we take one together. He said that we didn't have one together, and he wanted to be hung up on my wall with all the other pictures I had.

We hadn't even gotten around to it until two nights ago; I was so exhausted from work and Ryker picked me up. He walked me to my door and I thought he was gonna just kiss me goodnight. But he walked in, and I looked at him funny. He just smiled at me and when I asked why, he said that I looked beautiful.

He slowly approached me and wrapped an arm around my waist. He kissed my temple and told me he loved me, which made me smile. I hadn't even realized that he had taken the picture in the midst of me telling him I loved him until he showed it to me, after.

I immediately zoned in on my flaws: my double chin, my messy hair, the angle of the picture and how unflattering it was, how I looked so bad...but Ryker stopped me.

"That's not what I'm looking at," he said. "Look at how you're looking at me. The love and admiration in your eyes—how happy you look just for me. And me for you."

At the end of the day, he won and got to keep the stupid picture. For the longest time, my background was a picture of me, my mom and Joey. Now, one is that one, and the other is the new one of Ryker and I. I never thought I'd have another meaningful picture to change it to. But now, I do.

I smile as I text him back quickly.

Maddi: Almost out. See you soon

I only had my shift at Joe's today and I was so ready to just spend the day with Ryker, which thankfully passed a lot faster than I thought. Before I knew it, I was clocking out and walking out towards our bench.

A smile formed on my face as I see Ryker already waiting for me, dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt. The most basic ensemble but he managed to make it look so effortlessly sexy, the way his dark raven hair was messy to perfection and his aviators sat on the bridge of his nose and his lip ring just glistening in the sun light.

He was so hot, it wasn't fair. He wasn't trying, and he was already making my heart beat faster. How did he manage to pick me? Basic, average Maddi?

I approach him and tuck my flyaways behind my ear.

"Hi." I say.

He doesn't say anything, just reaches out to cup my face and slightly skim his thumb over my cheek before he bends down and plants a quick peck on my lips. Quick, yes, but it still made my toes curl.