Secrets Behind Those Eyes (18 page)

“What exactly is a promise
ring?”

“Well it’s kinda like a pre-engagement
ring. It’s basically saying that you want to commit yourself to her
and her alone, but that you guys aren’t quite at the engagement
stage yet.”

“That sounds perfect. Let me look at
those.”

I look around at some small rings. I
pick one finally that is a simple infinity band with our initials
inside of it.

I’m so pumped from
ordering her ring that I decide to stop by a small local florist
and grab her some flowers. I know she’s gonna be pissed with me
when she finds out that I showed my ass like that. So call it a
little extra

I walk in looking at the small
bouquets of spring flowers. She’s not a rose’s kinda
girl.

As I reach in the cooler to grab
another bouquet to look at I hear someone snicker behind me. “Well
well well if it isn’t Ryder Abbott boyfriend of the
year.”

I turn around to see Kelsie. “I’ll
take that title.”

She puts her hand on her hip and
sneers. “So how exactly does a guy go from being one of the biggest
whores I know to being head over heels in love?”

“I guess it’s all about finding the
right girl.”

“Yeah well Scarlet certainly seems to
find the right guys with the right amount of money every
time.”

“She doesn’t care about my
money.”

“Yeah well trust me I think she’s
killing time with you until Dustin gives her a chance
again.”

“I don’t think she’d give him the time
of day.”

“Hmm I guess you never
know.”

I grab the bunch of flowers and turn
for the counter. “Here’s the thing I think I do.”

After paying I go out to my jeep and
make my way across town to the small campus she is at
today.

I find a spot close by her car and
wait for her to come out of class. I spot her walking with a guy. A
guy that just happens to be Dustin. I almost explode when I see
them hug and he kisses her on the cheek.

They smile and wave to each other as
they are parting ways and I’m at my boiling point by the time she
makes her way to me.

She walks up smiling and I can’t help
it. This whole situation just pisses me off.

“What the fuck was that about
Scarlet?”

Chapter 29

Scarlet

Needless to say Dustin was the last
person I expected to be waiting for me outside of my class but here
he is.

“What do you want Dustin?”

“Look Scar I don’t want anything. I
just have a few things to say.”

“Yeah well I really don’t want to
listen to them.”

“I’m sorry.”

I spin around and throw my hands out.
“You’re sorry. That’s all you can come up with.”

“Just stop for a second so I can say
what I have to say.”

“Fine but you are walking with me I
have shit to do. This better be damn good.”

He looks terrible I notice for the
first time since he stepped in front of me. “Look I will never be
able to apologize enough for what you walked in on. I never meant
for you to find out that way. The Kelsie part was all Brandon. In
case you haven’t heard by now, Brandon has pretty much always
called the shots in my life. He’s upset with me right now because I
decided to come out to my parents.”

“You what? Your daddy will cut you
off.”

“I know, but I’m tired of living like
this. Anytime I get pissed off with Brandon he threatens to out me
to my parents. I’m tired of the way he treats me and treats people
I care about. At least if I tell them how I feel then he has
nothing over me. I can walk away.”

I stop him and touch his arm. “Are you
sure about this?”

“Yeah I am. Mostly I wanted to stop
and talk to you today because I know I should have said something
to keep you out of jail. Don’t get me wrong I was pissed that you
took your anger out on my car. But I kinda get it and I really
should’ve said something.”

“It’s a little late but thank
you.”

“I’m sorry you almost lost your
scholarship and that you had to do community service and
all.”

“Well. The scholarship I was pissed
over. The community service wasn’t bad. I got to help a great
family have their own home. I also met the love of my
life.”

“Ryder?”

“Yeah. At first I thought he was a
huge prick. Now I can’t imagine my life without him.”

“Wow. We dated for a long time and I
never heard you talk about me with that tone of voice and the light
in your eyes. I’m glad you’ve found happiness.”

“Thank you. I hate to cut this short
but I really do need to get going call me soon and we’ll do coffee
or something.”

He leans in and give me a hug and kiss
on the cheek. “Sure thing, but after I tell my parents you might
have to buy the coffee.”

I smile. “Can do. We’ll talk
soon.”

I make my way to my car and I see
Ryder’s jeep parked by it. I smile and almost start running to see
him. You’d think after the love fest we had going on last night
that I’d be tired of him. But I’m not. As I approach him I notice
the look he has on his face.

“What the fuck was that about
Scarlet?”

“What was what about?”

“Your ex-boyfriend.”

“It was nothing. He was apologizing
for everything.”

“Oh he was apologizing. I saw you
hugging him, what are you going back to him now?”

“What the hell are you talking about?
We were having a civilized conversation. Which is more than I can
say for the one you and I are having.”

“I guess Kelsie’s warnings were right
about you.”

That is a deep cut.
“Why in the fuck are you talking to Kelsie about
me anyway?”

“I stopped to get you these fucking
flowers and ran into her. She told me if Dustin ever came around
again and gave you the time of day you’d go running
back.”

I feel like my body is on fire I’m so
pissed. “You know what Ryder I know that woman fucked you up when
you were young and you don’t trust women, but I’ve never given you
a reason not to trust me so you can go to hell.”

“What are you talking about my issues
with women?”

“Nelson told me. He told me about the
lady that dated your dad.”

“That was none of your fucking
business.”

“Well you know what? It’s obvious you
don’t trust me, you are acting like I had sex with a man, who is
gay by the way, outside of school and I have to get to an art
lecture at the main campus tonight. So just leave me
alone.”

He growls but I don’t hear
a word he says because I slam my car door and fly out of the
parking lot.

I see flowers flying all over the
parking lot in my rearview mirror.

How dare he think that little of me? I
wasn’t the one who was the whore he was. What the fuck was he doing
talking to Kelsie anyway?

I call Annabelle on the
way to campus and fill her in on the events that just happened
minus the part about the lady molesting Ryder
.
That’s his business. She’s furious like me. We decide to meet for
lunch tomorrow as I reach the main campus.

This is a big art lecture and anyone
in my program has to attend so the parking lot is slammed. I
finally find a parking spot, knowing I’m going to be a few minutes
late getting in there I rush out of my car and start walking fast
toward the lecture hall.

My phone starts ringing and I see its
Ryder. I ignore it I’m not in the mood to talk to him tonight. I’m
going home to a nice bubble bath when I get done here.

I finally reach the door to the hall
and it is locked. I notice a sign stating that the door is broken
go around to the emergency exit.

As I round the corner my phone starts
buzzing. I throw it in my bag and suddenly someone grabs my
arm.

I look up half expecting it to be
Ryder. But it’s not and it’s not someone I expected to
see.

“What in the hell?”

After the words came out of my mouth I
felt a dull ache in my head and I starts blacking in and out. I
overhear him saying. “You should’ve kept your mouth shut you
fucking cunt.”

My head feels so heavy. I can’t seem
to stay awake as he throws me over his shoulder. Then I’m
out.

I wake up tied to a chair in a simple
loft apartment from the looks of it. It’s all very
confusing.

“Ah I see you’re awake.”

I refuse to answer him.

“Are you going to ignore me or are you
going to talk to me. Since you obviously like to run your mouth so
much about matters that don’t concern you.”

“Go to hell.”

“Now Scarlet that’s not nice. I was
hoping that it wouldn’t come to this. I thought maybe your accident
would make you see things in a new light or kill you I was okay
with either.”

“Fuck you.”

A slap cracks across my face. “You
have ruined my life you whore.”

I spit some blood out. “I’m not the
whore here you are, so you can go to hell Brandon.”

Chapter 30

Ryder

Why in the hell won’t she at least
answer her phone and argue back with me? I caught Dustin as he was
coming out of the coffee shop next door to SCAD and I punched him
in the face. That’s when he stopped me and explained that what I
saw was exactly what Scarlet said it was. I’m so fucking stupid how
could I not listen to her and listen to Kelsie. I lost my damn mind
when she brought up what Francis did to me as a child. I shiver as
I remember my first betrayal by her.

“
Ryder you want your daddy to be a happy man don’t
you?”

I looked at the rug in my
room. “Yes ma’am.”

“Well if I stay your daddy
will be happy. Now I need you to do something for me. Will you do
that Ryder to keep me happy so I can keep your daddy
happy?”

“Yes ma’am.”

She sat on my bed. “Come
here.” I walked over and sat down she ran her fingers through my
hair. “You are going to break hearts someday.” She ran her hand
down my chest and to my eleven year old penis. She started rubbing
me through my pants. “Do you feel funny Ryder?” I nod, because I
do. “Well good. Now give me your hand.” She takes my hand and puts
it under her skirt. All of a sudden I’m dizzy and my penis shoot
stuff out in my pants. She smiles. “Good job now this is our
secret. Go get cleaned up.” I nod and make my way to the
bathroom.

Bringing myself back to the matter at
hand. It’s freaking 10 o’clock at night, I know she said she had a
thing for school, that’s why I tried to get her before she went in
but she should be done by now. I really pissed her off this time.
I’ll just text her and hope she forgives me.

Baby I’m so sorry please
give me a chance to say this in person. I had a lot going on today
and Kelsie fucked with my head. When I saw Dustin touch you I just
went crazy. I should never have even spoken to her. I’m so sorry. I
love you, please forgive me. I’ll let you rest tonight but I’m
coming to see you tonight and we are going to talk about all of
this. I am going to beg and you are going to feel sorry for me. I
love you. I love you I love you.

I get nothing back. I go into the den
and make myself a scotch and water. My phone rings. I snatch it up
thinking its Scarlet, but its Judd.

“Hey man.”

“Hey you don’t sound so happy to hear
from me asshole.”

“I just had a really shitty day and I
need to talk to Scarlet, but she’s not answering my calls or texts.
I think I really fucked it up this time man.”

“Man what the fuck did you
do?”

I start explaining to him the events
of the day up to me talking to Dustin.

“Dude you really fucked up. You know
better than to listen to that bitch Kelsie. Why would you even
think to let her get inside your head like that?”

“I know I’m fucking
stupid.”

“Yep you are. Have you talked to
Annabelle lately?”

“Yeah she asked me had I heard from
you, but that was when you said your base would be on blackout for
a few days so I told her not to worry. Why what’s up?”

“I don’t know man. We are friends and
I know we agreed to stay that way. But something about knowing
she’s going on dates and talking to other guys makes me
angry.”

I laugh. “Dude you have a thing for
her. But you can’t be pissed with her. You already told me you’re
hooking up with some random girl in your unit.”

“I’m not fucking talking about that
right now. I don’t have enough time on the phone. Just make sure
she’s okay for me. She hasn’t really be in touch much.”

“Sure man, I’m sure before this is all
over with between me and Scarlet she’ll be over here to kick my
ass. So I’ll let you know.”