Let You Go

Chapter 9

I woke up to soft little flutters against my shoulder. My eyes were wet, which meant I had cried in my sleep. I woke up with a tear stained pillow a lot these days. I guess my dreams weren't happy. I never remembered them. The soft tickles kept up their fast pace. I groaned, pushing away at whatever was tickling me. But they didn't stop, instead they got more urgent. I opened my eyes and Ryder smiled, his lips running along my shoulder.

"Hi," he ran his finger down my cheek. He looked bright eyed and ready to start the day. It was his smile that made this day seem worth getting up for, "you weren't answering your phone. So I let myself in."

I sighed then rubbed my eyes. The sun was shining brightly through the window, "what time is it?"

"Almost eleven," he pulled the blankets completely off me, "it's time to get up. Let's go, I have a full day planned."

I laughed, "what if I slept naked?"

Ryder's smile was adorable, half his lip rose and his eyes sparkled. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my lips, "well that's nothing I haven't seen before, now is it?"

I squealed as he tickled my sides, a weakness he had known ever since I was ten. I laughed, grabbing onto his arm to keep from falling out of the bed. I hadn't felt so light in a long time. I hadn't felt so free of the weight that followed me around these days. I smiled as Ryder stopped ticking me and this time I kissed him. 

And I knew he was the only light that could help me through this darkness.

I let my fingers lay on his cheek, "I missed you yesterday," I wanted to pull him into the bed with me. But he kept his distance. If he didn't get me up we both knew the day was wasted.

His crooked smile was always my favorite one, "yeah. I missed you too. But we have lived for years without spending every single day together."

I giggled, "have we? I don't know how."

He laughed as I tickled him this time, "okay. You've stalled long enough woman. Get up!"

"Okay, Mr. Perfect. What should I wear?"

"Bathing suit. Bring something to change into then. I told you I have a lot planned," he tapped my butt as I stood up. He was more playful than he had been before. Maybe this was good for us. Finally being out in the open, going on a real date.

I grabbed his hand and he pulled me into him, "I like this Ryder. I guess I should've claimed you months ago."

He smiled, kissing me one last time before he let me go, "don't worry. We've got all the time in the world to make up for it. Now go get dressed. You're wasting daylight here."

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my bathing suit and went into the bathroom to change. I grabbed a dress to pull on over it, and then I heard Ryder muttering to himself. After I finished getting ready, I opened the door and he was sitting on my bed.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you back or answer your text. I went out with Adam and didn't see it until late. I figured you were probably asleep and didn't want to wake you. But you sounded upset in your message. So tell me, how did the dinner go?"

I rolled my eyes, "awful. My grandmother made me cry, which in turn made my mother yell at her. I ended up throwing a fit the way my mother usually does. I told my grandmother how horrible she was and then we left. It was a disaster."

"I wish I could've been there. To help you," his voice was soft as I packed up my bag for swimming. I grabbed a towel and sunscreen. I put a book in there just in case.

I shrugged, "it wasn't so much my grandmother as it was the evening. She wouldn't stop trying to make me talk about you. I shouldn't have even mentioned you. Then she got angry about school. It was a mess," I grabbed his hand. "I'm glad you weren't there. My family is already screwed up enough, I don't want you to see the crazy. You might change your mind."