5
763 Words
It was one of those mornings where I needed a distraction. The kind where the thought of sitting at home, overthinking every weird detail about the last few days, felt unbearable. So, I threw on my favorite outfit—a light sage-green long-sleeve top with a flattering square neckline and thumbholes in the sleeves, paired with black Lululemon leggings—and decided to take a walk to clear my head.
The rain had finally stopped, and the air smelled fresh, like the world was trying to reset itself. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a soft glow over the park near my apartment.
I had just passed the row of benches near the playground when I saw them.
A group of guys stood at the far end of the park, their easy laughter and low voices carrying in the cool air. At first, I didn’t recognize them—just a cluster of tall figures, some leaning against the picnic table, others standing with an effortless kind of confidence.
But then I saw him.
Ryker.
He was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest, that same calm intensity radiating from him as he watched his friends. His dark hair looked less disheveled today, though there was still an edge of wildness about him, like he belonged more to the woods than the city.
I hesitated, torn between slipping away unnoticed and satisfying the nagging curiosity that had been eating at me since our last encounter. Before I could make a decision, one of the guys in the group noticed me.
He was tall, with light brown hair and a cocky grin that practically screamed trouble. His gaze swept over me, lingering just long enough to make my skin crawl.
“Well, hello there,” he called out, his voice playful and teasing. “Haven’t seen you around before.”
I froze, unsure of how to respond. My instinct was to walk away, but his grin widened as he started toward me.
“Don’t be shy,” he said, his tone dripping with charm—or at least his version of it. “What’s your name?”
“Evangeline,” I said cautiously, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Evangeline,” he repeated, like he was tasting the name on his tongue. “Pretty name for a pretty girl.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Thanks, but I was just—”
“Derek.”
The deep, sharp voice cut through the moment like a blade. I turned to see Ryker pushing off the tree, his expression dark and his eyes locked on the guy—Derek—like he was about to tear him apart.
“Leave her alone,” Ryker said, his tone calm but laced with an edge that made my stomach twist.
Derek raised his hands in mock surrender, though the smirk never left his face. “Relax, Ryker. Just saying hi.”
Ryker didn’t reply, but the tension in the air was palpable. His eyes flicked to me, softening just slightly, before settling back on Derek.
“She’s not interested,” Ryker said firmly, his voice low but commanding.
Derek chuckled, taking a step back. “Alright, alright. Didn’t mean to step on your toes, man.”
I felt my cheeks flush as Ryker stepped closer, placing himself between me and the rest of his group. His presence was overwhelming, but not in a bad way. It was… protective.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice quieter now, his gaze searching my face.
“Yeah,” I managed to say, my heart still pounding. “I’m fine.”
His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, as if he didn’t quite believe me. Then, without another word, he turned back to the group.
“Go,” he said to them, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The others exchanged glances but didn’t hesitate. They walked off, Derek throwing me one last playful wink over his shoulder before disappearing down the path.
When they were gone, Ryker turned back to me, his expression unreadable.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said.
“I can handle myself,” I replied, though the words felt weak under his steady gaze.
He raised an eyebrow, like he wasn’t convinced. “Still. Be careful.”
And just like that, he walked away, leaving me standing there, my mind racing with questions I couldn’t answer.
Who was he? And why did I feel like he wasn’t telling me everything?
- Writer
