It all started with a game

Chapter 21.1

I sighed, setting my bookmark in its place, gently closing the book with shaky hands. Was it too much to ask for a bit of comfort?

Ryder tapped his fingers against my thigh in a rhythmic motion to keep my attention on something other than my thoughts, and though it would normally work like a charm—and it did for a few moments—I couldn't help but let my thoughts wander, roaming free, their topic of choice instantly Ryder. He knew me so well. He knew what I liked and what I disliked, what helped me calm down, what cheered me up. He knew all of it, and what if Sonny was right, what if he only learned that stuff because he wanted to win. What if this was all just a game to him?

I rested my head back, taking a look at Ryder. He met my eyes, smiling before kissing my forehead and returning his attention to the movie. Could this all really be just a game? Could this, us, everything, could none of it be real? Was Sonny right? Because if Sonny's was right then I should prepare, set my wall as back up, just in case, shouldn't I?

I took a deep breath, loving the way he always smelled like sea salt and rum. This can't be just a game.

"Ryder, you mind moving a bit, your heads kinda in the way," Kavinski snarked, when Ryder wasn't even remotely in his way.

Ryder squeezed my hand, trying to breathe calmly but this was the hundredth interruption Kavinski had made at Ryder's expense. "Sure," Ryder answered calmly. He laid down beside me, so that there was no possible way Kavinski could claim Ryder was blocking his view again unless, he planned on moving the whole couch.

The two of us barely fit now that we were both lying down but we made it work, Ryder's legs draped over mine to keep me from sliding off. Despite the fact that Ryder was out of Kavinski's view, that didn't stop Kavinski from glaring at Ryder. I have no clue what happened between those two but Kavinski was starting to get on my nerves.

"Rowan, why don't you move to the floor next to the boys," my mother suggested.

My blood boiled at her comment, as if Ryder was being some great disruption to us all. Ryder sighed, slowly raising himself from his spot to do as she wished. I grabbed onto his arm. "Don't even think about moving." I told him.

Ryder's eyes widened. He slowly lowered himself back down to his previous spot.

My teeth together gritted, my eyes narrowing in on my mother. "We're fine here. And his name is Ryder." I kept my eyes on my mother, the two of us arguing in silence, seeing who would crack first and look away. Her lip curled as she refused to break my stare, not planning on backing down. Elijah desperately tried to help, running his fingers through her hair. I'm sure she appreciated the attempt but it wouldn't work, this was war, and I wasn't going to back down. "Violeta," my mother warned.

My brothers tried to pretend they were watching the tv but all attention was on me and my mother.

"Mother."

First she can't remember his name, then she nearly sends me into anaphylactic shock, then she makes me put my book away and now she won't even let me sit with him. I haven't seen her in weeks and that was her first order of business.

"Violeta, why don't we go make some more popcorn?" She rose, directing me towards the kitchen.

I followed after her in my own stride, taking however long I wanted. She stood at the island table, a scowl imprinted on her face. I crossed my arms as my mother pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't want you seeing that Ryden boy anymore."