Promises | ✔️

Chapter 60: Emotional

WARNING: WATCH OUT FOR POV CHANGE IN THE MIDDLE

"Naya? Naya? Are you ok? When did you get here?" Ryder came up to me as I walked down the hallway of the bar.

I looked at him through my tear-glassed eyes. "Ryder." I practically fell onto him, but he caught me and wrapped his arms around me.

"Let's go home, Naya." Ryder put one arm around my shoulders and slowly walked us out to his car. "Come on." He sat me down in the passenger seat and buckled me up. He ran to the driver's side and sat down. "What happened?"

I looked up at him. "He cheated."

"Who? Who cheated, Naya?" Ryder looked at me, confused.

"Damien." I let out an ugly cry.

"Damien? The gang leader?" Ryder asked.

"Can we go home? Please." I somehow managed to say as my throat felt like it was closing.

"Yeah, of course. Please stop crying, Naya." Ryder pulled onto the street.

I buried my face into my hands, as Ryder sped down the road towards his apartment.

"Come on." Ryder stood outside the passenger door and unbuckled my seat belt. "Let's go." Ryder lifted me out of the car.

He set me down on the bed and gave me some tissues. "Here."

I blew my nose, probably sounding like a dying goose.

Ryder sat next to me. "What happened with Damien, Naya?"

I decided I couldn't keep it in anymore. I had been staying with Ryder and he should know why. I'll tell him everything except the secrets of the gang.

"I'm dating Damien, Ryder. Well, I was. I just broke up with him." I looked at him and his eyes were wide.

"When did all this happen?"

I sniffled. "Almost 5 months ago."

"That's around when you moved here."

I nodded. "We first met outside the grocery store. Well, more like we ran into each other...."

And that's how I started telling Ryder about everything that happened.

"You were KIDNAPPED?" Ryder asked.

I nodded. "And then at the hospital, Damien told me he loved me. And I told him too." And just when I thought the tears had stopped, I started crying again.

"Hey. Hey. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." Ryder placed his hand on my knee.

I continued telling him about us: our karaoke dates, Damien's birthday, our night out, my job, our first fight, and what I saw tonight.

"He promised," I whispered.

"What?" Ryder asked.

I looked at him. "He broke our promise." I let out another sob as I fell onto Ryder's shoulder.

He rubbed my back. "I'm so sorry."

I pulled away from him and wiped my nose with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry. I'm getting snot all over you. And I probably look so hideous right now."

"It's ok, Naya. Don't apologize. I'm here for you." Ryder straightened the pillows next to us. "Why don't we go to sleep? I'll sleep on the couch."

"It's fine, Ryder. I can sleep on the couch. This is your place." I started getting out of bed.

"No, stay. A lady never sleeps on the sofa." Ryder grabbed a pillow. "Goodnight. And thank you for telling me. You can trust me."