Parachute [Book 4]

Chapter 29 - A Stupid Joke In A Stupid Letter

Angie McGraw

***

I had gone to bed after Marley’s so-called “pep talk” just as the clock struck twelve. I didn’t think I could put up with Ryder, Marley, Jeff and Miss Rose being overly happy for another hour or so.

I was grumpy and upset that Jake couldn’t have been here. It was what made me flip out at Marley and start bawling my eyes. And even after Marley had toasted to a better and happier year, I didn’t feel at all better about the situation. I just felt plain sad. So I retreated to my bed, and that’s where I had been lying for the past few hours.

Jeff had left, and Miss Rose had gone to bed. I was fairly sure Ryder and Marley had gotten into Marley’s bed to sleep with her or something, because I could hear the two of them talking through the walls. Ryder was telling stupid jokes (as always) and Marley was laughing her head off at him, trying to be quiet but failing terribly.

Listening to them didn’t make me all too sad – I was actually glad that Marley and Ryder had made up from their fight and Marley could finally forget that whole, “It was a mistake to get married,” thing Ryder had told her. Seeing my best friend happy made me happy… for her though, not for myself.

Even though I had gone to bed, I still found myself unable to actually sleep. Ryder and Marley weren’t keeping me awake – it was just my thoughts, racing through my mind at a billion miles an hour. Thoughts about Jake, thoughts about our future, thoughts about Idony… the list was endless.

When the clock on my nightstand hit 3:34, my bedroom door creaked out. From the soft blue light radiating from the clock, I caught a glimpse of Ryder standing just outside of my room. He peered his head through the small gap he had made, and when he caught me staring back at him, he let out a loud sigh. “Ange, what are you doing up?” He whispered, sliding into my room and shutting the door lightly behind him.  

I shrugged one shoulder lightly. “Can’t sleep, I guess, too many thoughts. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Ryder shuffled closer to me and sat on the end of my bed, crossing his legs. He looked down at where my feet were resting and gave them a soft poke through the sheets. “Marley nodded off on me and I’m not really tired.” He gazed up from the patterned blue bed sheets and to my eyes, his barely visible to me in my dark room.

I sighed quietly, clearly audible in the silence and stared over at the alarm clock again – only a minute had passed. “Are you alright, Angie?” Ryder asked in whisper. I guessed he was being careful not to wake Marley or Miss Rose in the other rooms. I shook my head no, turning my gaze to him again. Ryder gave me a tight-lipped smile and held out his arms. “Hug?”

I scrambled to get out of my bed sheets and as soon as I had released myself, I flew forward, across the bed, straight into Ryder’s arms. I looped my arms around Ryder’s neck, resting my chin on his shoulders. Ryder began to rub my back softly in completely silence.

After a few more seconds in his embrace, I pulled back  and sat on my knees in front of Ryder, smiling softly. “Thanks for the hug.” Awkwardly, I reached a hand out and pat his shoulder.

“I thought you’d need it, after that… meltdown you had at midnight.” Ryder said, giving me a worried frown.

I cringed. “God, Ryder, please don’t bring that up.”

Ryder reached his hand out and pat my thigh lightly. “Sorry, Angie… I just- I’m worried.” He fidgeted in his spot, getting comfy against the bed end before making eye contact in the dark room. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you and I didn’t expect you to be this sad. I missed you – you’re like the little sister I never got to have – and it’s not nice to see you upset like this.”