You Don't Know Us

Chapter Six

As if he sensed my presence, Ryder looks up, finding me standing frozen on the spot in the doorway of the hotel lobby. I immediately feel like this is the worst decision I had ever made. And being that I had decided to bleach my hair myself one time, that is saying something.

His brown eyes take me in from head to toe, and I find myself doing the same to him. He's wearing dark jeans and a black t-shirt that was just tight enough to show off his broad chest. His black leather jacket looks soft, like it has been worn into submission.

He looks good. I mean, he's always looked good- there is a reason he's famous now, but it's more than that. There is a new confidence about him that wasn't there before. It wasn't that 'cocky asshole' confidence that you normally hear about when actors are involved. It's that 'let me take on the world, one obstacle at a time' confidence that I have always found admirable.

We just stand there and stare at each other, not quite believing that we're actually in this situation. Ryder straightens off the car and walks over to me.

When he's close, he clears his throat, but gives me a small smirk. "I can't believe you're actually here." He shakes his head in amazement, "I really didn't believe it when they told me your name."

I laugh a little shakily, "I really can't believe it either." God, he smells exactly the same. It's not a cologne, it's just... my Patrick.

He takes a deep breath, "Are you hungry? I thought we could talk over dinner. There's a tiny Chinese place that's usually pretty private. That's still your favorite, right?"

My heart warms. He remembered. "Yeah, that is still my favorite."

He puts his hand on the small of my back and walks me to the car, then opens the door for me to get in. If there is anything to say about this man, he has always been a gentleman. Even when we were fourteen, he would open all doors for me and even carry my backpack around.

I slide into the car and onto the buttery leather interior. I look around the inside and am immediately intimidated. I don't think I've ever sat in something so luxurious before.

Ryder slides into the driver's side and presses a button to start the car. Well, isn't that fancy?

There is a tense silence in the car as he makes his way to the highway. I wrack my brain for something light to talk about, thinking that we should start with small talk, first.

"So, uh, how is your family?" I ask, rubbing my hand on my leg, a nervous gesture I've always had.

He gives my hand a knowing smirk and I stop the movement immediately. "They're good. Nothing has changed with them, really. They both are still working, though my dad is considering retirement in the next couple years."

His mom and dad work together at a doctor's office, his dad being the doctor and his mom is like a receptionist. They were some of the sweetest people I had the pleasure of knowing. His mom would do just about anything for you, no matter who you are, and his dad was the same way. I ran into them a couple times the past couple of years, but would immediately duck behind something, or walk in the other direction. I'm a coward when it came to confrontation.

"Retirement, already?" I ask, surprised. "He's way too young for that!"

Ryder laughs and shakes his head, "He won't do it. That man will work until he dies. But he's starting to dream about moving somewhere colder, like Colorado. He and mom are sick of the heat. Mom is blaming that for her wrinkles." You can tell how much he loves his family by the warm tone in this voice. They were always a close family.

"I hear that. I'm looking to move, too." His parents had the right idea. While the winters were mild, the summers were absolutely scorching in Texas. Getting into the high 90's was like having a cold front. People actually get excited about it being "only 97 degrees" outside. I would rather be cold and have to bundle up, than hot and not have a way to cool down.