Paradise Bound (bxb)

Chapter 2

It's been a couple days since the whole fiasco with Ryder and we've talked a few times, nothing too big but I can tell there's a little tension between us. It makes me sad but it's also understandable too. He wants to pull back a bit for my sake and his.

I walk to Jace's since it was our summer's goal to hang out majority of the summer before I go off to NYU this fall. Ryder's bike is in the driveway and it makes me a tad nervous. I walk up and open the door, I've known them forever and a day so they don't care if I just come in since I'm basically family.

"Hey!" I say to Jace as he, Charlie and Tanner are in the living room. Charlie and Tanner were on the love seat and Jace was lounging on the other new sofa.

"Hey Mattsy"

"Ryder here?" I ask innocently, rocking back and forth on my feet. Jace rolled his eyes.

"No, he went off with his riding buddy, Landon" Jace said and I nodded.

"What are we watching today?" Jace asked as I joined him, lounging on his new couch that sits in front of their bay window. With having Charlie and Tanner in the house, the boys all decided that another sofa and love seat would be beneficial for the house as their will always need to be room for visitors.

"Lord of the Rings?" I asked and his eyes lit up.

"Yes!" he exclaimed and searched through the tv apps to find the movies.

"I don't think I've ever watched that one before" Tanner mentioned and Jace gasped.

"What?! Are you even human?"

Tanner and Charlie laughed "Always thought it was for nerds" Charlie shrugged.

"Pfft, rude" Jace scoffed "You'll see how bomb diggity it is, startingggggg now" he said as the intro began.

Half way through the first movie, an engine roared up to the front. Jace and I peeked through the window and seen Ryder on the back of a dude's bike. He hopped off and they talked a bit before the dude kissed his cheek and I scowled with a pang of jealousy hitting me. A little more talking and Ryder jerking his thumb toward the house, the dude shut off his bike and swung his leg off. They both walked up to the house and opened the door.

"Hey guys" Ryder said as they came into view. The guy had brown hair and light green eyes, standing about a half a foot taller than Ryder and was toned from what I could tell with his jacket on.

"Hey" the three said while I stayed silent, analyzing his buddy.

"This is Landon Granoli, a buddy of mine I met a few months ago" Ryder introduced and Landon gave a wave.

"Please sit down" Jace gestured to the open sofa. They sat down and Landon's arm laid across the back of the sofa. I narrowed my eyes a bit at the gesture since it was so close to Ryder's shoulders. I should knock it off really, he isn't mine but I can't help the feelings that are coming up.

"So, is that Italian? Granola?" I asked, making Ryder and Landon's eyebrows shoot up.

"It's Granoli , but yes" he answered with an Italian accent.

"Oh, my apologies Ravioli" I said with a smile and Jace snorted a laugh but then cleared his throat as Ryder gave him a glare.

"Please excuse us" Jace said while taking my hand and pulling me to the kitchen.

"How old are you?" he exclaimed in a whisper shout.

"Five" I answered bluntly and he slapped my shoulder, making me grimace.

"Stop acting like a jealous little girl" he said and I scoffed.

"I'm not acting like a jealous girl" I rolled my eyes and he gave me a deadpan stare. "Okay, fine maybe I was acting a little jealous" Jace quirked an eyebrow "Okay, a lot jealous" I muttered. Footsteps approached and Ryder appeared in the entrance of the kitchen, looking less than pleased.

"Jace, can I have a word with Matthew?" he asked

"All yours" Jace said leaving the kitchen then snorted as he left cause he thinks he's funny.

"What was that?" he simply asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the sink. Not gonna lie, he is pretty hot mad. Now is not the time for that though, I scold myself.

"What was what?" I asked feigning innocence, leaning against the fridge across from him. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"You know what" he said and I sighed.

"It was nothing" I mumbled, averting my eyes to the floor. I heard him kick off of the sink cabinet and then his body appeared just mere inches away from mine. My body thrummed with the proximity of him so close to me. I watched as he brought his hand up and a finger curled under my chin, lifting my head to look at him face to face. My heart began to beat a million miles a minute as our eyes connected.

"That wasn't nothing, it was actually pretty rude, Matt" his tone stern making me internally wince as he used 'Matt' again. "Why are you acting like this?" He asked as his eyes searched mine.

"I was jealous" I mumbled.

"Now why would you be jealous, Matthew?" he asked.

"Why were you riding on the back of his motorcycle?" I questioned.

"He traded his old bike for this one, he was taking me for a spin on it" he stated, quirking an eyebrow. "Is that all you were jealous about?"

"I saw him kiss your cheek and his arm basically around your shoulders" I admitted and a smirk grew on his face. I huffed and let my eyes wander around the kitchen.

"He has a boyfriend, mon cheri" his hand cupped my face, thumb stroking my cheek. I shivered at the small gesture, cheeks growing hot with embarrassment.

"Oh" I simply said "Sorry" I muttered.

"You can't be jealous when I'm not yours, my sunflower" he softly said and my eyes snapped back to his at his term of endearment for me. "Lucky for you, not so lucky for me...when I'm interested in someone, I'm only interested in that one and it takes forever to outgrow that interest if the feelings are not reciprocated"

"I know I can't be jealous" I admitted with a sigh "I'm sorry" I said sincerely and he wrapped his arms around me. I laid my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him and subtly inhaling his intoxicating scent.

"Are you good now?" he asked while pulling away. I internally frowned at the loss of contact with him. Ugh, Matt what is wrong with you. I mentally scolded myself.