My Bargain With The BadBoy

•• Chapter Fourteen ••

Chapter fourteen: Ain't Got Room For Two 👬

Ace dropped me off at Ryder's home. Nothing happened, he claimed me... Ace Whitely claimed me. But, most heartbreakingly, he didn't kiss me. He wrapped me into a large hug.

I smiled and we said our goodbyes. I wasn't excited. Beth was probably worried sick, Ryder was likely fuming. Plus, I have school tomorrow. I didn't think about having to get up early tomorrow... good job Alex.

When I got inside I noticed Beth curled up on the sofa with a cup of coffee in hand. She smiled at me as she came in, "Exciting night?" I rolled my eyes and sat beside her.

"You could say that..." I smirked. "Beth, I was meaning to ask you something." She made a noise and I continued, "Where am I going to go when Ian and Daisy move to Sweden." She drew her eyebrows together and looked at me.

"Sweetheart, you are staying with me." She grabbed my hand, "I will keep you until you are eighteen and then you make your own decisions." I smiled at her as I felt tears prick my eyes. "I know it's hard sweetie, they weren't intending to hurt you baby." I nodded as the first tear fell, she wrapped her arms around my and gave me a hug.

"How about you get to bed. You have school tomorrow." There is the mother in her, "goodnight sweetie."

"Night." I smiled at her as she blew me a kiss. I think Ryder's mother is one of the best things that have ever happened to me. Maybe I'll ask her to adopt me. Because that won't piss Ryder off. She has enough kids already.

She had Logan, who I discovered was scraping two years old. Harriett and Ryder who were close enough in age and personality - as I unfortunately found out during a prank they pulled on me - and she also has an older son called Bennett. Bennett moved away after his girlfriend got pregnant. Who knew Beth - only 38 - could have a 22 year old son. I was shocked when she told me that she fell pregnant when she was just 16. The same age as her only daughter.

   Bennett has a daughter with his girlfriend Kath. To my understanding, her name is Terri.

   I only know this stuff because they are visiting soon. For Christmas I believe. Which is coming in just under a month.

   I curled up in bed and drifted off to sleep. My head full of thoughts about Ace, Beth and Christmas.

   The next morning was as I expected. I woke up, absolutely knackered, my head ached from lack of sleep. But, I was surprisingly happy. All things considered.

   I threw on a pair of ripped jeans and an oversized white t-shirt. I decided to curl my hair, after all, I haven't done that in years.

   After a good hour of struggling to curl it. I finally understood why I stopped. In the end I had to call Harriett and get her to help me, at first she laughed at my incompetence but eventually she was nice enough to just get on with it. We gossiped for a bit before I suggested we go to Starbucks before school.

   I forced Ryder to join us, considering it is his car. I still needed to collect mine from home, along with everything else I own. It won't be easy seeing my parents again, it will certainly be harder for me to just ignore them. By choice.

   "Hey! Yo! Al, what are you getting?" Harriett shouted down my ear. I snapped out of reverie of thoughts and ordered.

   School went by pretty fast. Mostly made up of useless conversation between me, Ace and Shannon. Lexi decided to join in at one point, shocker. Ryder, Foster and Landon were nowhere to be found. I suppose Ryder couldn't stand to be around me, putting up a front to support his badboy exterior.

   When I got home, we had a shock. Someone I didn't recognise was sitting in the living room. He was quite handsome if I'm honest, the girl next to him was stunning. Balanced on her lap was a small toddler. She looked older than Logan but I couldn't pinpoint her age.

   "Hey Bennett!" Harriett screeched, running towards her brother. So this is Bennett. He smiled and hugged her back.

   "Sup H?" He nodded towards Ryder who merely lifted a hand to him and continued up the stairs. He gave me a funny looked, I didn't quite know how to react, "Are you Ryder's?"

  "Oh no, nooo" I laughed, "I'm Alex. Just a house guest." I said softly. He smiled at me and nodded.

   "Well hey Alex. I'm Bennett, this is Kath." He pointed to the girl sitting next to him, she waved at me. "And this little girl, is Terrin. We just call her Terri though."

   I walked over to the small girl, she had ginger hair and bright green eyes. I smiled at her, "Hey Terri. Aren't you beautiful?" I said to her. She giggled and nodded.

   What was wrong with Ryder? His whole family were lovely and he was such a shithead. But, being honest, I didn't know who his father was.