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Ryan scans the room, finding me in the corner. His ocean eyes widen with shock as his strides pick up pace to meet me. He’s beautiful and commanding, but I have no idea what he’s doing here.
Is this part of the deal? Him acting like a protective boyfriend in front of my old friends?
His warm fingers push my hair away from my face before testing the temperature of my forehead with the back of his hand. I brush him off without much authority, but he ignores me and checks again.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, finally giving in and leaning into his touch.
“I’m taking you home. You’re sick, Blue.”
“I’m fine, and your sister is a little snitch.”
He chuckles a warm laugh. “Yeah, well her stubborn best friend wouldn’t listen to her.”
“Who says I’m going to listen to you?”
I don’t know why I’m acting as if I have the energy to put up a fight. I’m about two seconds away from falling into his chest from exhaustion.
“You don’t have to.”
In one simple motion and with one single arm, Ryan swoops me up, chest to chest with my legs slung around his hips. Without fight, I wrap my arms around his neck and drop my head to his shoulder.
He carries me to the exit, grabbing my coat on the way and covering my body with it.
Ryan doesn’t give me time to say goodbye to anyone, but I find myself perfectly okay with that.
The cold Chicago air hits me as soon as we exit the restaurant, but I welcome it, hoping it calms my burning skin. I close my eyes, needing to rest as Ryan walks us back to the apartment.
“You left the house for me.”
He exhales a sigh. “Yeah, I seem to do that quite a bit for you.”
His hands are hooked under my legs, keeping me from sliding down his body. I’m not much help, I have almost no strength left, but Ryan seems to be able to handle me just fine.
I pull back slightly to look at him. He’s as beautiful as ever this afternoon, but his eyes are narrowed with concern, seeing me.
“Why aren’t you at practice?”
“I called out.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think, Ind?”
“Can’t you get in trouble for skipping practice? Or fined?”
He places a hand on the back of my head, ushering me to lay on his shoulder once again.
“I guess it’s a good thing I’m rich then.”
Inhaling sharply, Ryan’s clean scent invades my nostrils and even though I’m frustrated about last night, I can’t help but relax into him. “I told you I was going to be an expensive girlfriend.”
“Welcome back, Mr. Shay,” I hear our doorman say. “Miss Ivers.”
“Thank you, David.”
“Should I have some chicken noodle soup sent up?” I can picture the look of concern painted on his face as he eyes the dead weight in Ryan’s arms.
“I’ve got it handled,” he reassures. “But we appreciate it.”
