Back to You

Decisions, Decisions

The evening continued to become chilly and cold. Ryder and I were both still tremendously damp while his shirt kept clinging to his body so beautifully. I wanted to rip it off him so much.

We were now racing to the front door of his house that was a few minutes away from the beach—enjoying the other's precious company and having a blast now that Olivia and Andrea were finally out of our hairs.

"I can't believe you dunked my head into the ocean!" Ryder said opening the door.

"What else was I suppose to do? It always starts off being a lovely night, and then she just finds a way to come in the middle of things."

With his eyes and ears perked up, he looked over to me grinning. "Things?"

"Ya know...uh...our friendship. Of course." I nervously replied, fidgeting a little.

That was a close one. "Well, of course." He uttered suspiciously.

The minute we both made it into the entryway, I skimmed all surroundings as he flicked on the nearest dim light with the rest of the place slowly lighting up. I beamed secretly and shockingly felt right at home myself. This house was just as I remembered from the future. Cozy, calm, mid-century modern. A few minor changes over twenty years as anyone would expect, but it was heartwarming.

This was where he made his cherished childhood memories. And for the first time in this moment in time...I now got the chance to be in them too.

"Are your parents coming home soon?" I asked, listening to the heating system crank on.

I was actually looking forward to speaking with Mr. And Mrs. McKenna to see how much different they looked but also still excited and happy to talk to them in general.

Yet, it was so quiet in here...you could hear even a faint whisper in the distance.

Smirking and grabbing a couple of towels from the nearby linen closet drying off as best he could, he handed me one to do the same, shaking his head a bit spiteful.

"Are you kidding? I don't even know if they're coming home more than ten minutes this week. They're real estate agents and aren't usually here with me a lot due to their listings being all across the entire state of California. It's whatever though. I get to stay up as much as I want or do whatever I want without anyone caring."

No wonder why he normally always slept during the day in class. But I did feel bad.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, my Dad isn't home tonight either. He's working overtime at his lab for a couple of days." Technically, however, I was the reason he had to.

"His lab?" He questioned.

"Oh yeah. He's a scientist who works for the government on developing new and innovative inventions and tests using a lot of chemicals. Some say he could be the next Albert Einstein. Really though, he only says that." I told him. He chuckled.

"Well, that's still a pretty cool job to have compared to mines. What does he make? Like a way to time travel or something?" He joked as we began heading into the drop level living room.

Bulging my eyes out to myself, I meekly smiled—not claiming a yes or a no. "Ha...that would be something," I answered, leaning against the stained glass doorway.

"And your mom? Where is she?" He suddenly wondered innocently.

Tensing up, I glanced over to him carefully and sighed. "Oh um, well apparently she thought we were too much to handle I suppose. So uh, she left me and my Dad when I was 8."

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-" He started to say apologetically.

"Hey, don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault or anything. There was nothing we could do. In the middle of the night, she just walked out when I was sleeping. Then, I never saw her again. But me and my Dad are best friends. I can't imagine doing anything in my life without him." I professed.

"Well, I'm gonna have to thank him if we ever get to meet." Ryder replied smiling.

"For what?"

"Because he's raising an amazing, sweet, kind, and gentle young woman like you." He voiced softly, locking his eyes with mine with nothing but honesty in them.

Wanting to tear up at his beautiful and much needed to hear words that could keep playing every time I screwed up around here, I had to get out of here before I did something that would possibly freak him out again without a clear plan.

So with that, I began wiping my watery eyes for a minute before nodding. "Wow! Would you look at the time? I should get going now. Big day tomorrow but um...thanks for coming today to support Jasmine and Devin's team. It really meant a lot, even to me so I'll just-" I turned around about to leave.

"Faith, wait!" Ryder call out determinedly. Spinning back around, there was an intensity in his eyes like he wanted to say a lot but couldn't find the right words to just yet. Taking a deep breath in though, he shyly smiled. "Are you sure you've gotta leave? I mean, you haven't had any dinner yet and neither have I. I've got a fridge full of food! I could like whip up something if ya want. I-i-it's just that uh well...your clothes are already soaked...and it's chilly out there now...and you can use my dryer too." He tried to reason.

I eyed him in awe. It was becoming really cold—but by his request, I could feel my body burning up already. "Ryder-" I started to reply.

"Wait, before you say no...I know it might sound a bit forward of me for asking, but I think it'll easier for you too. I-I-I mean we both have to be at school by morning a-a-and distance wise, my house is more closer to Westwood." He continued to stammer nervously.

I glanced at him mystified. "You know where I live?"

"Uh, I don't. But...I want to think that it might be." He answered shamefully.

I couldn't believe it. He was kinda right about the whole distance thing too—though it was merely a two minute difference. But the way he was being so adorable about it made me want to help him out with his invitation.

"Mr. McKenna? Would you like me to spend the night with you?" I flirtatiously let out.

Shyly grinning before soon nodding firmly, gazing at my entire body from top to bottom he gave me his next response.

"Yeah, I am. Since we're both alone tonight...I'd love to be alone together. Alone with you."

Biting my bottom lip down for a second, I began heading to the front door as I could hear him sighing sadly to himself, ruffling his messy and damp hair.

Grabbing the knob, I made my final decision already. With one click along with a loving and soft grin across my lips, the door was finally locked.

He didn't have to ask me twice.

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