Crazy Stupid Love

Chapter 38: Tell Her

Rydel's PoV

I lie sprawled out across the couch, my hands brushing mindlessly over the bump in my stomach. I still have trouble registering the fact that there is a person growing inside of me, and it is half the man I will do anything to forget about. Despite the fact out relationship is over, this baby will be a lifelong reminder of the biggest mistake I've ever made.
"Hey!" Emily calls out. "The boys are doing a YouNow!"
Sighing softly, I peel my body from the sofa and trudge over to the kitchen. Her and Marriya sit at the table, a laptop in front of them streaming my brothers' broadcast.
"Pancakes," Ross answers. "Especially the ones my mom makes."
Riker acknowledges that it's his turn to pick a question, then reads from the comments,"What are your guys' opinions of the quote 'happy wife, happy life'?"
"Amen!" Rocky laughs.
"That is so true!" Riker agrees.
"It really is. When you find that one person who you love more than anything, all you care about is making them happy. Nothing else matters," Ross adds.
As he speaks, he fiddles with a key hanging off a chain. I smile, knowing Marriya must have given it to him.
"We've actually been working on a cover, and now seems like a great time to play it. It's Tell Her by Jesse McCartney," Ellington announces.
"Our girls are in New York at the moment," Riker says.
"We miss you girls. This one is for you."
"One, two, three, four"

"I know how it feels
To wake up without her
Lying here all alone
Just thinking about her

I can't believe
Her hold on me
It's something indescribable
I know she knows
But won't you please

If you see my girl
Just tell her I miss her smile
Tell her I'm counting the minutes
Gonna see her in a little while
I know when she
Holds on to me
She's the one thing that I could never live without
Oh, oh, oh, oh
And tell her I love her"

I bite down hard on my lip, trying to keep the tears from falling. Murmuring words of apology, I stand and run from the room.
I attempt to slam the door of my room behind myself, but Marriya catches it and slips through. Ignoring her in hopes she will leave, I fall down limply on the bed. She walks quietly over to me, taking my head in her lap.
"Delly, what's wrong?" she asks; gently brushing my hair from my face.
"Ell was right," I sob.
"Oh honey," she whispers.
"I was such a bitch to him," I cry. "He will never forgive me."
"It's going to be okay, Rydel. Tell me what's going on?"
"Ellington was right about Jordan. I deserved so much better than him, but I didn't see it before. When the boys were taking about how all that matters is making the person you love happy, I realized that I'm not happy. I never was happy when I was with him."
"You're going to be okay, Sweetie."
"He hurt me, Marriya," I whisper.
"I know," she replies. "And I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
"No, Mar, you don't know."
"You told yourself that it was your fault. Every time he hurt you, you twisted it to find a reason to blame yourself. Every time he apologized, you believed him. Every time he told you that he loved you, you actually thought he meant it," she says, her eyes glazing over as she stares out the window.
"How-"
"I've been there, Rydel. But the thing is, it's over. It took time, but I was able to my move on. Ross and I may have our bumps along the road, but at least I know that when he says he loves me, he means it."
My thoughts immediately shift to Ellington, and how things used to be between us. I would do anything to get that back.
"You love Ratliff, don't you?" she asks, as if I had said it aloud.
Not trusting my voice, I nod shakily.
"And you're worried he won't forgive you after what you said to him?" Marriya continues.
Damn she's good.
"Rydel, would you call Ellington stubborn. Like when he wants something, he won't stop until he gets it."
"Yeah," I reply uncertainly.
"Well here's another something I've noticed about Ell. He's patient."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"He's willing to wait if its something he really cares about. After you two fought, he gave you your space. It was what you seemed like you wanted, when really you wanted nothing more then for him to be with you. Though if he had tried to be with you, you would have gotten mad."
"Where are you going with this?"
"Rydel, he let you go because he knew he wasn't losing you. He loves you more than anything, and he has long before I came into the picture, never mind Jordan."
"Oh, Marriya," I murmur. "I really screwed this one up."
"He's waiting with open arms for you, Delly. You don't even have to apologize for him to forgive you."
"I don't deserve someone as amazing as him."
"That's the thing about love. You don't believe you deserve the other person, and you spend your whole life wondering how you ever managed to get with them. They spend their life wondering the same about you."

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Riker's PoV

After logging off the live stream, I call Emily.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Em," I say. "How are you?"
"I'm alright, I guess," she says softly.
"What's wrong?" I ask immediately.
"I got offered the lead in a movie," she replies.
"That's amazing, Baby!"
"Riker, the movie shooting will take almost a year," she continues. "And it's in New York."
The happiness I have been feeling up to this point drains out of me, even smiling requiring too much effort.
"Riker, I know this is a lot to think about. I'll be home in a week, can we please talk then?"
"Yeah, sure," I whisper.
"I love you, Riker."
"I love you too, Emily."
Ending the call, I fall backwards onto my bed. That's the problem. I love her too much, and I'm not going to be able to let her go.

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Hey everyone! I'm sorry for being gone so long, I've been extremely busy lately. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please vote if you did :)
I hope you're all having an amazing day. I love you guys

~ Hannah xxx