"You tend to avoid answering questions," I observed and he let out a grunt. "Why?"
"Honestly," he let out running a hand through his already messy hair. Something tells me he does that a lot.
"Yeah."
"The less you talk or answer the less attachments there will be. Less attachments means less ties to break," he said and I frowned deep in thought.
I mean I could see the logical part to it but as I thought deeper, it was really sad.
"Does that scare you off?" He asked quietly distracting me from my thoughts.
"Honestly no. But doesn't less ties mean less people to rely on. Less people to have your back."
"Unfortunately, sometimes it's always better that way," he said and I realized that this went on deeper than I thought.
"Okay, I see your point. Trusting people is harder than it looks especially when people are not to be trusted," I said more to myself before I felt his intense gaze on me. "Though, you have to admit that's kinda sad."
I said and he looked away from me a small smile on his face.
"I guess so."
"You know what's funny about this, it's coming from the one person who rather have book characters for friends," I said and he laughed looking at me intently.
"I guess that's one thing we have in common."
"That we're bad at making friends, oh let me put it much softly, we're bad at trusting people."
"I guess that's a much better way to put it," he said with a chuckle as he paid for our ice cream and we started on the path in the park.
I was already past the point of wondering how he knew my name. After a lot of pointless arguments from Tess and Ethan who I found out had been friends since middle school, I realized why his car was so familiar. He had been there during my episode. Embarrassing but who could blame me? I had a lot going on and still.
And this guy, there was just that something about him. Not sure if it's good or bad. But I was momentarily distracted from my thoughts as a huge golden retriever dropped at my feet and I dropped down to it ruffling his fur as he took a huge bite off my cone and I let him have it, when I felt his gaze on me.
"What!? You aren't afraid of dogs are you?"
"It's a pretty common phobia, you know but no, I'm not," he said with that smirk on his face and I shook my head amused.
"Rex!?" I heard a voice call and the dog at my feet responded before running off and I got to my feet.
"You're still staring at me," I said picking out a wet wipe from the packet in my pocket..
"Just appreciating the view," he said and I rolled my eyes trying to keep the blush from my face with no luck as I looked away.
"You're still pushing your luck," I said and he laughed.
"You enjoy it," he said stepping up to me.
"Enjoy is such a big word," I said and he laughed taking the packet from my hand and I looked at him confused. "What are you doing?"
I asked but he did nothing but smile as he took a lock of my hair and wiped it down.
"Dog slobber? That dog really likes you."
"What can I say, I'm very likeable," I said and he smiled before pulling me close to him confusing me momentarily as I heard him let out a grunt before I registered the sound of skates in the background. "Umm, thanks."
"No problem, though we should probably stick to the side," he said a far away look as he stared at the back of the skater.
"Yeah sure," I said letting him lead me away and to a bench far away from the noises.
"You're quiet. What's going on up here?" He said tapping on my forehead and I turned to him.
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," I said and he shook his head amused. "What?"
"We have to rid you of these murderous thoughts somehow."
"I do not have murderous thoughts," I said defensively and he laughed.
"Would it be so hard to admit that you think of me? As a matter of fact I know you'd rather spend quality time with me."
"One, I do not think about you. Two, if I was it would be only because I was plotting your murder."
"See dark impulses," he said with a breathy sigh and I laughed ruffling his hair.
"Don't worry. You're safe."
"Careful, I might start to think you like me."
"And we're back to plotting," I said and he laughed shaking his head. "You are so weird."
"Don't fight it, love. You love my kind of weird," he said and I laughed punching his arm.
"You are also crazy."
"It's not the worst I've been called," he said and I frowned upon seeing the dark expression that came over his face.
"I know. I didn't mean it offensively," I said when he turned to me confused. "I have friends who talk about you...a lot, makes me wonder are you some sort of celebrity or something?"
I mused out loud and he looked at me shocked as if he was looking for words before he stopped and smiled at me as he stood up and he held his hand out of me.
"Let's go," he said and I frowned.
"Where to?" I said with a pout and he laughed.
"To school dummy," he said flicking my forehead and I glared at him.
"Did you have to get me so relaxed and at peace then bring up school?" I asked and he was staring at me again. "Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Looking at me like that."
"Huh..?" He started confused before grinning at me and I rolled my eyes. How I'd spent four hours with this cocky male was still beyond me.
"So not to be forward and all but does this mean you're into me now? It's too bad you know who I am now. Takes the fun out of the game," He said and I let out a huff glaring at him.
"One, I'm not a game. Two, you're infuriating you know that?" I said before turning away from him and I could hear him laugh behind me. I was already wondering where the cocky brat was. And that's saying something. I never curse at least out loud, and that is even rare.
"You know you love me," he said behind me a light tone to his voice and I rolled my eyes.
"You know you need to shut up for a moment," I said turning back to him and he looked more of amused than anything as he cocked his head in question. "I need to focus on not trying to strangle you."
"Fucking dark impulses," he muttered under his breath and I could just feel the heat from his body all at once. Why on earth did I have to kiss him that night?
"You curse like a sailor you know," I said and all over sudden, I was staring right at his chest and much more closer than I anticipated all day.
"Would it kill you if you accepted a compliment from me?"
"Uh..?"
For a moment, I actually thought he was going to kiss me again till the most cliche thing happened and I felt stupid for even thinking that in the first place. My phone rang. And I pushed him away as if he was some hot piece of metal, which might as well as be true. The being hot part that is.
"Wow, someone is really desperate to get you," he said shrugging it off as if the moment between us hadn't just happened and I had say it kinda hurt.
"Too bad. Now come on, school's almost over and I have to pick Alex and Darius from school," I said pulling him towards his car.
"Well I'll be, feels like marriage already," he said making me stop short and he almost walked right into me as I turned to him slapping his chest.
"Ryder!?" I scolded but he did nothing but laugh throwing a wink my way.I swear this guy would be the end of me. One day.