Chapter 62 What changed?
Uriel's POV
I held my breath.
Waiting.
This had to be it, right?
Maybe he'd acknowledge it because he did kiss me back - even better.
That would also mean that it meant something to him, right?
Oh my goodness!
Now my heart was racing fast, my ear perked up.
"It was Emma who set Cain up for you. That is to say that Cain has been in the game since." Ryder's tone was hard.
My mouth fell open, my eyes falling in disappointment.
Not at my sister.
"But don't worry, he'll get what he deserves." Ryder tucked his hand in his pocket, looking forward.
Oh.
"T-that's all?" The words slipped out of my mouth.
My eyes was fast enough to see his shoulder tense for a split second, then slowly he turned to me, his eyes void of emotion.
"I guess you knew then?"
Shaking my head, I scoffed, "no! Of course not. I just - you - " i paused, letting out a long shaky breath. "We should join them."
He stared at me for a moment, then slowly stretched out his hand. My eyebrow furrowed.
"Nothing's ever unconscious with me, Kennedy." He smirked, shaking his hand to remind me he was still waiting.
I bit my lips, softly placing my hand on his.
My cheeks heated up as I played his words in my head.
Does that mean he meant to kiss me back and doesn't regret it?
When I raised my face up to look at him, he was already staring at me. Shyly, I bent my face again.
"So, you have nothing to tell me?" Ryder asked once we got to the edge of the cliff, watching the others play in the water that was just far beneath the cliff.
"Oh I do." I turned to look at him and then our entwined fingers. "Thank you, Ryder."
My eyes moved up to his.
"For which part exactly?"
I smirked, turning my face back to my friends. And new friends.
"Any part you think is suitable." I replied.
He chuckled lowly, peeling his hands off mine.
"I don't accept this."
"Huh?" I raised my eyebrow at him, watching him as he closed up the space between us, forgetting that our friends were watching.
He placed his index finger under my chin, raising it up, "if you want to thank me, do it specially." He leaned down until his lips were touching my earlobe, "just you and I."
"What do you want?"
"You'll figure that out!"
And boom!
I was carried up bridal style and next minute, my body was dropping down from the air, my voice was so loud that it could scare the birds away.
Splash!
We both landed safely inside the water, my hands still clutched to his shirt.
"That felt good, didn't it?" He smirked, choking up on the water that I had just splashed into his mouth. "Yuck! Peter could've urinated in this water."
"Bro, what the fuck?" Peter yelled, raising his hands, making everyone laugh
"You deserve it." I pointed at Ryder, still splashing water on him.
He managed to swim through the wave I was making, circling his arms around my waist, "got you!"
Giggling, I tried to wriggle out of his grip but I couldn't. My laughter became stronger when he attached my ribs, trying to get me to apologize.
We had totally forgotten about everyone - something that we seemed to do lately when we were this close to each other.
"Just say sorry, Kinky."
"Never!" I shook my head, trying to swim away from him but he always caught me with his hand, pulling me back.
"Your stubbornness excites me sometimes." He murmured lowly for only me to hear, making my heart skip.
"Okay fine! Sorry." I yelled, holding his hand. He smirked, wrapping his hand around my waist, pulling me into him.
"That wasn't so hard, now, was it?" He held my chin up, looking down at my lips as he spoke.
My lips parted, my heart thumping fast as I stared at his lips too, yearning to feel it on mine again.
"Haha, bro come here!" Mason and Peter pulled Ryder away from me, giving me a forced smile.
Not a mean one though.
Kathie and Chloe rushed to my side, raising their eyebrows up. I threw my head back, biting my lips to stop the smile from breaking out.
"You're not supposed to initiate the next kiss!" Chloe whispered.
"Exactly. Let him do it again. You know, show you that he wants it." Kathie chimed in.
My eyes drifted to Ryder. Just in time, his eyes met mine, turning deaf ears to whatever his friends were saying. They noticed and turned his face to their direction.
And so did mine.
"I heard. For real. I'll wait for him then." I muttered.
"Okay. So you guys remember that game where you push your opponent off the shoulders of their partner right?" Mason yelled, getting our attention.
We all did, so we chose our partners.
Of course you know where Ryder and I stood - third wheel to third wheel.
So weird.
"You better not let me fall, Connell." I warned him, my competitive mode on.
His tone was deadly serious, when he said, "not as long as I live, Kennedy."
We both stared at each other for a while, a small smile creeping to my lips afterwards.
Was I the only one reading meaning into his words though?
"Go!"
Kathie and I looked at each other and silently decided to eliminate Chloe and Peter first, pushing her off his shoulder.
"That's not fair!" Peter argued.
"Wow, friends!" Chloe complained, frowning at us playfully.
"Sorry!" We both giggled out
Then we turned to each other, glaring. "Just fall off now, Uriel." Kathie sneered.
"You wish, Kay." I teased.
"Hey! That's my special name for her." Mason yelled, pointing at me.
I used that opportunity to push Kathie, knowing he wouldn't be able to hold her with just one hand. Kathie's loud scream filled the air as she landed into the water with a great splash.
"Yes!!" I squealed, coming down from Ryder's shoulder.
He gave me a high-five and ruffled my wet hair. "Good job, Kinky. Good job."
"I didn't even want to play it so well today." Kathie huffed.
We all laughed, knowing those terms.
After swimming for a while, we shared different embarrassing experiences and laughed over it until the day got dark and it was time to go home - in wet clothing.
One of our not-so-smart decisions.
"I'll go home today. I need to prepare myself for the lessons." I spoke out once we entered the car.
Ryder turned the heater on, tossing a small towel on my thigh. Smiling, I picked it up. When I looked at him, his eyes were glued to the road.
So I just used it to wipe the water off my skin, my heart giddy from so much drool worthy experience.
"Bye guys!" I waved at Kathie and Mason - the last set of persons we were dropping off. They were spending a night at Mason's place.
To Kathie's mum, she was having a sleepover with Chloe and I.
Chloe and Peter didn't go home together though as we dropped them separately.
"So, this is it?" Ryder said once we got to my house. "You want me to come in with you to explain?"
"Oh no. I'm an adult."
"You're 17."
"18 in few days." I bragged, priding myself.
"Still 17." He scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Whatever. I should get going." I told him, looking at the towel in my hand. "Uhh...thank you for this?"
Nodding, he took it from me, his hands lingering on mine for a long while. We held each other gaze, forgetting what we were supposed to do.
Until, he spoke, "goodnight, Kennedy."
"Goodnight, Connell."
The door wouldn't open, no matter how hard I pulled the handle.
"You're forgetting something, Kinky." Ryder taunted, leaning forward.
"W-what?"
Smirking, he beckoned at me with his two fingers, his eyes darker than normal, "you're not going to leave like that, are you?"
Slowly, I moved closer and closer, eating up the space between us until my body felt too shy to move or initiate what I think he was asking for.
"You didn't seem scared that day, Kinky? What changed?" He stretched his hand, pushing my wet hair behind my ears.
"I...I don't know what you're asking for, Ryder. Perhaps, you could show me?" My voice was low, shy.
He pulled my face closer, making my breath hitch. "Mmm..."
His nose brushed against mine, softly, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he tilted his head to the side, leaning down when -
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