Wildcard: Volume Three

Oh, God. She’s touching herself. I turn around and grip the back of my neck, knowing I need to get the hell out of here, now. I exhale sharply and walk out the bedroom door.

“I’m sorry, Anna,” I say, cringing. I’m almost exiting the apartment when she grabs hold of my arm, yanking me around. She’s still fucking naked, and I’m starting to get pissed.

Has this girl never heard the word no before?

“Trust me, Ryder—you don’t want to piss me off.” Her eyes narrow as she glares at me.

I turn and walk out the door.

Chapter Six

Ryder

I’m back home after visiting Anna, and I head straight for the Jack Daniel’s I know is hiding in the back of the pantry, pouring a double shot in a glass along with a few cubes of ice.

It’s Friday evening, but I’m too wrecked to even think about going out. All I want to do is call Scar and then sleep. I laugh at how much things have changed. The idea that I’d be at home, alone, any night would have been laughable to me even a month ago.

“Hello,” Scar answers on the first ring. Her voice is warm, as if she’s happy to hear from me. “How was your flight?” she asks.

“Long,” I groan, throwing myself down on the couch. “Shit, what time is it there?”

“Eight a.m.” She laughs. “It’s okay. I was awake anyway.”

“Missing me?” I tease.

“Yes, but that’s not why I was awake.” She laughs. “I was at the hospital all day, so when I get home is the only chance I have to pack. Hey, thanks for fixing my window.”

“I broke it. Did you think I was going to leave it for you to fix?” I chuckle.

“It wouldn’t be the worst thing a guy has done to me,” she jokes.

My mind flits to Tony, and I have to ask her if he’s been bothering her. “Has Tony contacted you?”

“No.” Her tone is muted, and she immediately changes the subject, talking about how much Jake is looking forward to flying again.

“He’s been bombarding me with questions about you,” she giggles.

“Yeah?” I smirk. “Like what?”

“Oh everything. You’re favorite food, color, how old you are, why he hasn’t met your parents.” She laughs. “And he is obsessed with tennis all of a sudden. You have a fan for life in him.”

“What about you? Do I have a fan in you?” I tease.

“I think you know the answer to that,” she laughs.

“Then humour me.” I love making her squirm. Sure, I know how she feels, but I like hearing her say it. “Tell me how much you love playing on the Ryder train.”

She bursts into uncontrollable laughter.

“Oh my god, you did not just say that.”

Yeah. Yeah, I did.

Chapter Seven

Scarlett

Why am I even doing this?