As Fate Would Have It | ✓

chapter forty

Song for the chapter: Only Wanna Dance With You, by Kesha

The weekend passed too fast. I worked through almost all of it, catching up with these assignments I had missed.

Ryker was no help, whatsoever, trying to pull me away for 'breaks', so I called up Karmiah and I met her at Treeline, where we stood almost all day. She was helping me finish the last part I was on, as well as the new one we needed to do.

I was so grateful that she didn't ask too many questions, so I didn't have to lie to her. She told me that Ben was being a bit distant, so I had pushed the homework aside and let her talk. She mentioned how she knows what she wanted, which was to get married and settle down, have a family. Not soon, but down the road. And Ben hadn't been able to answer her if that's where he saw them headed.

I honestly had no idea what to tell her, because if that were me, I'd be devastated. So I told her the honest truth, which was to sit down with Ben and have an honest conversation. Because if they're not headed in the same direction, they couldn't work in the long run.

After that conversation, we managed somehow to get back on track with our assignment and finish right before the shop closed. I thanked her as she drove me to my house. As nervous as I was to come back, I needed to spend the night alone, get some rest and be on track for my hours tomorrow.

When Kar dropped me off, I waved bye to her as I hurried inside. Once I walked in to my apartment, I locked the door and made sure all of the windows were locked, too. I sighed carefully and walked to my room.

I grabbed some random pjs and walked to the bathroom, turning on the hot water. I quickly stripped and stepped inside, letting the water engulf me. I lathered my hair, then my body. Once finished, I shaved my legs and armpits before I shut off the water. I wrapped the towel around my body and walked out towards the sink.

I dried my body and wrapped my hair up in the towel, pulling my pjs on my body. I don't even glance at myself in the mirror before I walk out of the bathroom, searching for my phone. When I find it discarded by the front door, I groan when I see Ryker's many missed texts and calls.

I call him back, not even one ring going by before he answered.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

I roll my eyes. "I just got out of the shower. Calm down."

"Shower?" He sounded confused. "Wait, are you at your apartment?"

"Yeah."

"Why? I-I thought you were staying here."

"Did you not see me take my stuff today?" I laugh. "I told you that it was only for a few days. The trials on Tuesday. I need to be ready."

"Without me."

"Of course not, Ryker." I huff. "I just...I feel like I'm too dependent on you. You were in your own element today, finally. I didn't wanna bother you."

Which was true. Ryker was so preoccupied with writing this morning he'd barely noticed when I was packing up my stuff. It was when I finally sat down to study that he was done and he tried to mess around.

"Maddison, you're not a bother to me. When are you going to realize that?"

I sigh, walking back to my room. I was suddenly tired, my eyes heavy. Maybe it was hearing him after studying so long and so hard, but I missed him.

"I miss you."

I hear his light chuckle. "So let me come get you."

"No," I grumble. "I'm tired."