Different

Chapter Seven

I crossed my arms, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "Leave, Ry."

He scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't get you. No 'thank you for saving my life and hauling me to the hospital Ry'? Not even a 'you rock'? Seriously, Brooke? I understand that you're angry but...."

I refused to look at him. "I don't thank liars."

The room was quiet for a moment, as if time has stopped. Then Ry stood up and went to the door. I honestly thought he was going to walk out, but instead he gently closed it.

When he turned his eyes were the opposite of gentle. They were a churning blue storm of emotions.

Anger. Fear. Guilt. Sadness. And something softer, something far more significant.

"R-Ry?" I stumbled over the short syllable, suddenly nervous. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but I had never seen him quite like this.

He sat back down in his chair, not answering me.

Finally, he raised his eyes to mine. They were a perfectly calm blue and I wasn't sure if that meant he had himself under control or if he was just hiding everything from me.

"You want to talk? Let's talk."

I blinked once. Twice.

"Um, okay..." I twisted my hands under the blankets. "W-we-"

I cleared my throat. "We don't have an anatomy test coming up, Ry."

"Is that what this is about? My excuse for being at the library? Does it really matter why I was there?"

I shook my head. "No. I mean, yes, but it's more than that. It's everything- just everything."

He peered up at me through thick eyelashes. "What things?"

   I blew out breath. Where did I start?

   "The fence post for one."

    He rubbed a hand down his face. "Can we forget about the fence post?"

   I crossed my arms. "I don't know how you did it, Ry. But I know you did."

   His expression remained unreadable as he neither confirmed or denied it.

   His silence was answer enough.

I leaned further back into the swath of pillows around me. "What time is it?"

Ry stretched, arms raised above his head and I couldn't help but stare. I sometimes forgot how tall and powerful he was. He towered over me and had easily twice my muscle.

"It's one in the morning."

"A perfect time to take your shirt off."

Ry choked out a laugh. "Um, what?"

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.

He smiled and shook his head. "Not that I don't like the direction you're going in, but Im not sure that's a good idea right now. You're in a hospital bed, Brooke."

"Why does it matter where I am?"

A pink color stained his cheeks. "Well, because... you know....why else would you have me take off my clothing?"

Now it was my turn to blush. "I-what-Ry-no!
Oh my gosh." I was laughing now. "That is so not what I meant."

He tilted his head back and bit his lip. "Then what are you talking about?"