Chapter 13 Another Lie
Gracie
I am relaxed now and having a good time. I know how to have fun. It is hard sometimes with everything that goes on in my life. I like how everyone is chilled, no drama or anything alike. Lola had gotten what she wanted. Ben is following her around like a lost puppy. It is cute to watch. Though I have had enough of them making out. I don’t need to see it. Thankfully, Ryland hasn’t left my side, so I haven’t ended up alone. He has been hit on more than once, but every time he brushed them off, they didn’t like it.
Most people are either drunk or high or both, minus a few, including myself. Ryland, of course, is fitting in perfectly with everyone. Everyone here seems more like his type of people rather than the assholes we go to school with.
As happy as I am with the company, I need to get some air. If I don’t, I swear I will get high on the fumes of the weed. Ryland is talking with someone, and I take it as my opportunity to sneak outside while he is occupied. I disappear to the backyard. It is huge. There is a swimming pool. How lucky. I would love a swimming pool. One day maybe.
I spot a porch swing close to the pool and head for it. It is peaceful out here, even with all the people and the noise inside. I can hear it too much from where I am. I rest back and close my eyes, breathing in the fresh, clean air. It is better than what I was inhaling inside.
“There you are, brown eyes.” I hear from behind me.
It can only be Ryland since he is the only one who calls me that.
I smile. “Yes, I am here.”
Ryland strolls towards me. “Are you okay?”
“I am fine. I swear I was getting high just by sitting in the same room.” I laugh.
Ryland chuckles. “Sorry about that. Can I join you?”
With a nod of my head, I scoot along, making space for him. He smiles and sits down, placing his hand on my thigh. I don’t mind as long as it stays put and doesn’t start wandering. Silence falls between us, a common thing for us. It isn’t awkward; it is more mellow.
“Why are you out here?”
“To look for you. I thought you had disappeared to get away from me because I haven’t left you alone since we met.”
“You aren’t so bad after all.” I tease.
“I don’t know if I should be offended or pleased with what you said.” He chuckles.
“You shouldn’t be offended. I run off a lot, I know, but I promise it has more to do with me than you. I promise.”
Why I found the need to tell him that, I don’t know. I don’t need to explain myself to him. It is the truth, though.
“It is okay. You have your reasons. They are none of my business.”
I smile gratefully at him, and he returns it. Ryland moves his hand from my thigh, only to wrap it around me. I rest my head on his shoulder. Ryland doesn’t seem to mine. If I do something to bother him, he won’t hesitate to tell me so without thinking twice about it. Ryland plays with a strand of my hair that has fallen from the hair tie. I close my eyes, smiling. It feels nice. It relaxes me.
Everything between us in the moment feels natural. Our serenity ends abruptly when people run out of the house, strip down, and jump into the pool.
“Did we miss something?” I laugh.
Ryland shrugs. “No clue. Everyone must have decided to go for a swim.”
Lola appears before us and strips down to her underwear. “Are you two coming in?”
I notice Ryland checking Lola out. His eyes dance over her now half-naked body. Lola doesn’t seem to notice. She is used to it, and Ryland is a teenage boy after all.
Ryland jumps to his feet. “I am up for it! Are you coming, brown eyes?”
I shake my head. “No.”
Lola huffs. “Why not? Come on.”
I need a reason quickly. If I do, everyone will see what I have been hiding for years. I can’t have that.
“Come on, brown eyes, get half naked and go swimming with us.” Ryland encourages.
The perfect excuse pops into my head. “Um, I can’t. Girl things.”
What is a better way to get a teenage boy to back off than to talk about periods? He holds his hands up and backs off.
Lola pouts. “Being a girl suck sometimes.”
I nod in agreement. It isn’t the truth, but I knew it would get me out of swimming. Ryland strips down in front of me. My eyes fall on his bare chest. I swallow hard. He is gorgeous. The tattoo on his stomach grabs my attention more than his perfectly sculpted body. It reads ‘Keep fighting.’
Words have never hit me quite as hard as those ones tattooed on his skin. I wonder why those words. What is the meaning behind them? I finally lift my head and look at his face.
A smirk curls on his lips. “Can I go for a swim now, or do you need another moment to check me out?”
I cover my face because I can feel it heating up. “Sorry, yes, you can go.”
Laughing, Ryland disappears and jumps into the pool with everyone. Lola does the same. I sit back and watch as they all laugh and mess around. Everyone seems happy. I wish I could join them. I sigh. It isn’t fair. A part of me wants to head home, but if I let things get to me all the time, then I won’t do anything. I don’t want that.
My eyes follow Ryland. One of the girls jumps on his back, and he carries her around the pool. She giggles, loving his attention. I should be thankful since his attention is focused on someone. It takes it away from me, but it isn’t what I feel. The tightness in my stomach tells another story. I am jealous. Maybe it is because she is doing what I wish I could be doing without a care in the world.
Ryland must feel my eyes on him because he looks over at me, smiling. It is more of a sympathetic smile. I flash my best smile at him, making sure he thinks everything is okay. He soon turns away and gets back to what he was doing.