Let You Go

Chapter 11

Ryder held my hand as we walked up to my door. It was a nice night, I'm glad we had walked everywhere. It felt normal, something a real couple who didn't have as much baggage as we did would do. Even if Brittany had tried to rain on our date, she didn't matter. I finally felt a little more secure in my feelings for Ryder. I finally felt like I was ready to let everyone know we were together.

The date was perfect, Ryder went above and beyond what I would've asked for if I was a demanding girlfriend. He had been thoughtful and paid attention to the things he knew I would enjoy. The conversation hadn't been forced, he let silence settle when there was nothing to say. Ryder really knew me, it was so much better than trying to get to know someone from scratch.

I couldn't stop smiling as we walked slowly down the road. I wasn't ready for the night, or this date to end. As we got closer to my house something seemed off. It was dark and my mom's jeep was gone. My heart stopped.

There was a note on the door.

Went to grandma's, had an emergency. Call me.

I let go of Ryder's hand and opened the front door as I grabbed my phone. Every terrible situation I could think of flashed through my mind. My mom would've called me if something big had happened. She wouldn't have just left a note for me to find if Grandma or Grandpa were in trouble. I clicked my mom's name as Ryder followed me inside.

"Hello?"

"Mom, what's wrong?" My heart was pounding.

"Oh Cash. Everything is fine. Grandma just fell and she wanted someone to come until the nurse could get here in the morning. So I left some money on the counter," I sighed with relief as my mom spoke.

"Oh okay," Ryder came up behind me. His lips brushed my neck, "okay well tell her I said hi and to feel better."

"I will. If she ever stops whining at me. How was your date with Ryder?" She was smiling now.

"Good, great. I'll tell you all about it when you get home," I giggled as he tickled my sides, "he's here. He says hi."

Mom sighed, "well I know you don't like to be alone so he can stay. I won't be home tonight. But Cash he sleeps on the couch, do you hear me?"

"Yes mom."

She groaned, "I have to go. Satan is summoning me."

I laughed, "bye mom. Love you."

"Love you too, kid."

I hung up the phone and almost dropped it as Ryder kept kissing my neck. It had been a while since we had found ourselves alone like this. Since before everything happened, since before I moved out of that apartment. It was nice, having him here in my home. Knowing that I could fall asleep beside him. I let out a sigh of happiness, "so, will you stay with me tonight? My mom won't be home."

"She's okay with that?" He asked surprised as I spun around in his arms. 

I nodded, "yeah. She said it was fine. If you sleep on the couch," I closed the distance between us, my arms wrapping around his neck. 

I pressed my lips to his, his hands holding my waist. I pushed hard, kissing him harder than before. I wanted him, needed him. My hands slipped down his shoulders and to his shirt. I felt him shiver as I ran them down his stomach, playing with the hem of it.

"Cash," his hands had moved from my hips to the zipper on my dress. He pulled back. His brown eyes questioned everything I was asking for, "are you sure?"

I nodded, "this isn't our first rodeo," I giggled as he rolled his eyes, "I've missed you Ryder."

He pulled the zipper down, my dress fell to the floor. He pulled me into his arms as I pushed him onto the couch. His hands were everywhere, the way they had been before. My skin was on fire every place he touched me. I felt alive, I felt like the Cash who had been in this skin before her world had been torn apart.