He Begged Me, I Rejected Him Before

Chapter 5

I figured that'd be the last I'd see of Ryder.

But barely a week later, I ran into him again by the lake on campus.

I was in the middle of breaking up with my boyfriend at the time. He wouldn't let it go, kept hounding me for a reason.

"You've got someone else, don't you? Who is it?"

He was staring me down like he wouldn't back off until I gave him a name.

And for some reason, my brain flashed back to that face I'd seen in the math lab that night. And that hand, all lean and veined.

My heart skipped a beat.

So I said, "Ryder Vance. I'm into him now."

The guy's face went through about five stages of disbelief in two seconds. He gave me one last death glare, then slunk off with all the wounded dignity of a kicked puppy.

Problem solved. I let out a breath.

Turned around—and there he was. Ryder. Standing not too far off, cold eyes fixed on me.

No idea how much he'd heard.

Awkward didn't even begin to cover it.

Then the very next day, I saw him again.

Same lake. Same spot.

But this time, he was the one getting cornered.

"Ryder, I like you. Date me, please?"

A girl in a pink floral dress was standing in front of him, holding a scented love letter with a hand-drawn heart on the envelope.

I recognized her. She was the star of the neighboring department—top grades, sharp as a tack, and easy on the eyes.

Great catch. Shame she'd set her sights on Ryder.

After she finished her confession, he didn't even look up. "Sorry, I'm not looking to date anyone."

"Then—could we at least get to know each other?" Her eyes were getting glossy, her voice all shaky.

Ryder stayed still as a statue. "I don't have any interest in getting to know you."

I almost laughed out loud.

After she walked away, looking totally crushed, I stepped right up to him. "Hey, Ryder. Can I get your number?"

He glanced at me sideways. "I don't have a phone."

Ha. Sure you don't.

I'd expected that answer, though, so I wasn't fazed. I pulled out my secret weapon.

Stared right at his pink lips. And went, slurp—loud and deliberate.

"I see you've got a mouth. Can I kiss it?"

Bet he couldn't say he didn't have that.