AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-One
Ryker
I didn’t think this through.
The town car stops in front of my condo and I glance up at the white skyscraper, debating if I want to get out. I can make up another excuse. I already made up a fake team meeting.
Aspen leaves tomorrow and since Donnie’s comment last night, I’ve been avoiding her. Why? I don’t fucking know. The word marriage was thrown out there like it’s a possibility and I panicked. Yet, if there’s any woman I’d want with me forever, it’d be someone like Aspen. No, it would be Aspen. And she doesn’t need me to stay. She’s American, for god’s sake. But my knee-jerk reaction was to run.
The knot in my stomach twists tighter. I’ve tried to ignore it the last couple days, but the pain digs deeper, leaving a hollow crater. “Mr. Dallas, is there somewhere else you’d like to go?” Pete asks, staring at me in the rearview mirror. I inhale deep and blow it out my nose. Man the fuck up, Dallas.
“No. Thanks, Pete.” I grip the handle and make myself pull until the door pops open. The truth is, there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be than next to Aspen. Inside Aspen. With Aspen. But my ego is putting up a wall between us. People take pictures as I stand, staring at the brass front doors.
This is not manning up.
Demanding my feet to move, I make it to the elevator before I stop again. When it opens, I will myself forward.
I’m met with three packed suitcases as soon as I walk inside the door. My eyes jump around, searching for Aspen. She walks out of the bedroom and stills the second she sees me. “Where are you going?”
She chews her bottom lip, shifting her weight from foot to foot. “I figure it’s best if I leave early.” Her words are a punch to my gut, stealing the air from my lungs.
“Why?”
Her jaw hardens. “Why? Oh, let me count the whys for you.” She holds up a finger. “You’ve been ignoring me since yesterday.” She holds up two fingers. “You’re making me feel awful for being here. Like I’m an inconvenience.” Another finger pops up. “And I’d rather be a prisoner in my home than be here with you anymore.”
“Aspen,” I murmur, gripping my neck.
Holding up a fourth finger, she squeezes her eyes for a couple painful moments. “You call me by my real name.” She struggles to get the words out. “Ryker, I need to leave. We’ve had our fun. It was a trip I’ll never forget. Thank you for everything.” She walks over to her bags and yanks the handle of one until it pops into place.
I’m ruining this. I’m ruining everything. “Wait.” A knock at the door stops me from reaching for her. I ignore it. “Please let me ex—”
The knock comes again, more aggressive this time, almost a pounding. “Ryker, open up, it’s Max.”
What the hell is Max doing here? And why is he about to kick the door in?
I open it and Max barges in. His gaze jumps from Aspen to her packed bags and then to me. “Is that Aspen?” He jerks his head in her direction. Well, hello to you too, asshole.
My brows draw together when I say, “Aspen, this is Max Shaw.” He gives her a curt nod, but his attention switches to me. He flicks his wrists to glance at his watch.
“We need to go,” he orders with no explanation.
My spine straightens. “Max, what the fuck are you talking about? Go where?” He doesn’t answer, rather goes to Aspen’s bags and starts collecting them.
“Excuse me, those are mine,” Aspen declares, rushing over to him.
“You’re coming too.”
“Max, what the hell is going on?”
“Grab two ball caps and put them on. There’s no time to explain. We’ll talk in the car on the way to the plane.”
“Plane?” Aspen and I both say together.
“Now,” growls Max, disappearing out the door with two of the bags. I fist my hands. Fuck! Running into my room, I grab the baseball caps, putting one on and handing Aspen the other. She looks at me, her features mixed with questions and fear.
“Max is one of my best friends. If he says we have to go, there’s a reason.”
“I don’t understand.” You and me both.
