My Cowboy

Day 3 in NYC

Today is supposed to be family day. We are all supposed to go around together, but I claimed I wasn't feeling well. At 8, the whole family was leaving, but Ryder refused.

"I'm not leaving you here. This is New York. You can be kidnapped or something." Ryder stated.

"Honey, this is my home. I've been walking these streets alone for years. I know how to defend myself. I'm fine. Go." I pushed him out the door and shut it.

I collapsed on the bed. Ugh. Why can't he do anything without me anymore.

I dialed up Rani.

"Hey. The families are going to be gone all day. I don't feel like showing them any more places I've seen hundreds of times. Want to hang out? Just you, me, and Kota. Like old times." I said.

"Yes!" She screamed.

"Great I'll be over with Starbucks in 20." I answered and left the hotel.

When I made it to her place, we walked across to get Kota. He answered the door shirtless.

"Hey guys. Lemme put a shirt on. Come on in." He answered grabbing his Starbucks.

"Hi mom." I hugged her.

"If you keep coming here, I'm not going to let you leave me again." She said.

"I'm sorry, Becky. I just can't help it. I came all this way because I missed you." I played along.

We both laughed.

Ryder texted me: Baby, are you feeling any better? I'm stopping by to see you.

"Shit." I announced.

"What?" Kota asked walking into the room.

"Ryder is checking in on me. I told him I was sick." I said.

I texted back: No, don't. I think this is contagious. I'll be in the bathroom all day.

Kota grabbed his jacket and we all left. We went to our favorite restaurant. On the way, Rani stopped to talk to someone and said to order her usual and she'd be there soon.

"So, still single?" I asked him slightly worried he'd say no.

"Yep." He replied.

Before I knew it, we were at the restaurant and sitting down.

"What do you see in that hick?" He asked insultingly.

"Excuse me, that's totally not okay. Kota, you can't be jealous of him because he's dating me and you aren't. We agreed to break up. Neither of us 'just decided' it was over." I retaliated.

"Well listen, I might not be over you. I'm in love with you, Jada. I always have, I always will." He responded.

Before I knew it, he had me in a trance and we were making out in the wrap around booth. Rani walked in. She hadn't looked up he because she was texting.

"Oh my gosh! What are you two doing. Jada! You have a boyfriend!" She yelled. "And a baby." She whispered.

"I can't believe I just did that. I'm so sorry. I need to leave." I ran out and he ran after me.

"Jada!" He called grabbing my arm. "You can't tell me you didn't feel the same thing back there. Jada, I love you. Why can't you just love me?" He questioned.

Rani ran out and came over to us. "I think you should go back inside Kota." She suggested.

He angrily stormed off back inside.

"What happened?" She asked.

I explained the situation and cried because I didn't know what to say to Ryder. She calmed me down and I said I wanted to go and rest. I went back to the hotel and called Ryder.

"R-Ryder?"

"Yeah, Baby Doll, what's up?" He answered.

"We need to talk." I said.

"Uh oh. I'll be home in an hour." He replied. "See you, baby."

When he returned, I motioned for him to sit down on the bed beside me.

"You're going to hate me." I said.

"I could never hate you. Jada, I love you." He said.

"You what?" I asked thinking I heard wrong.

"I love you, Baby Doll. I figured out what love actually is and I love you." He responded.

"I love you too, but—" I began to cry. "I pretended to be sick. I just wanted to hang out with my friends before I leave again." I paused. "I-I made out with Kota."

I collapsed my head into his lap crying.

"I can't believe him! That asshole. How dare he kiss you!" Ryder began.

"It was me. Ryder, I kissed him. I know it's unforgivable. I'm not a cheater, he just persuaded me to feel bad for him and I fell for it. I'm so sorry. I love you, no one but you." I responded.

"It's okay. If it happens again, it's over. I believe in second chances, everyone fucks up. I love you." He calmly responded.

I nodded and kissed him. It was 2:30pm and I was tapped out. I went to bed and didn't wake up until the next morning.