Ryder

Five years and seven months later...

Removing my helmet, my eyes drift over the large industrial building. It's dimly lit and quiet. Everyone must be inside already. Faithful steps out of a shadow and approaches me as I get off my bike. He gives me a quick embrace with a slap on the back.

"Good to see you, man," he says.

"You too." I grin.

Faithful squeezes my shoulder. "I see you have a new bike. Again.  How many is that now in almost six years?"

"I stopped counting a few years back. I'll find one I want to keep eventually." After Taylor was arrested I couldn't touch my brother's motorbike. It reminded me of her, of the trip we planned and the times I'd rode with her as she clung onto me tightly even though she never needed to. People can sit and balance easily on a motorbike without wrapping their arms around the driver. I never did tell her that.

My brother's bike sat unused and I drove a shitty car for a while. The day I visited Taylor in prison, she had told me to enjoy life and I'd always enjoyed riding a bike so I sold my brother's bike and the crappy car, donated the money to charity and got a new bike. I've lost count of the number I've bought and sold over the last five years. I liked them all at first, the only problem is none of them ever seemed to be a good match in the long run.

"How's the degree going?"

"Hard. Studying law is bitch." I shrug

Faithful laughs his deep laugh. "I can imagine. Nearly finished though."

"Only the undergraduate degree. I still have a few more years of studying to get through."

"You know I'm expecting to see your name on some big legal company earning the big money."

"You're going to be disappointed. I want to help normal people."

Faithful nods. "Of course you do."

"How's the promotion?"

"Good. I'm enjoying it."

"Still not planning on move away?"

"Nah. Even though it's strange policing in the place we grew up in, I couldn't move away. Got too many connections I don't want to lose," Faithful says.

"Please don't tell me you're still with Teresa? I was hoping when you said you were dating a few months ago that you just needed to fuck her out your system."

Faithful chuckles. "She's changed a lot. We're good together. What about you? Seeing anyone?"

"No one serious."

"Never is," Faithful jokes.

I shrug. I've tried but there's always something missing. I don't know what but recently I'm starting to think it's me. I'm lacking in something. I shake off the self-doubt, tonight's not about me. "You ready to go in?"

"I've been preparing myself. You sure they're not expecting us?"

"Certain." I nod. 

We walk through the entrance into the large industrial building. Inside, the open space is full of people and artwork. It's a beautiful chaotic mess of drawings, paintings and sculptures. I spot El bouncing around people talking excitedly and I glance at Faithful. "I hope you know there's going to be shrieking and lots of threesome references."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from El," Faithful laughs.

"Ahhhh... It's my brothers from other mothers." El screams when she sees us and runs over. Grabbing us both, she pulls the three of us into a bone-crushing huge. "The incestuous threesome is reunited. Fuck, it's been too long."

"Good to see you too, El," I chuckle.

"Yep, really good," Faithful says, extracting himself from El's arms.

El hits me then Faithful. "You two told me you weren't going to make it."

Faithful laughs. "It was his idea."

I grin. "I was winding you up. I wouldn't miss your big night."

"I knew you wouldn't. You didn't fool me, Ry. Tonight is going to be fantastic, and when you move here it's going to be even more epic. I'm sick of only seeing you once every two months."

"You moving here?" Faithful arches an eyebrow.

"I managed to get into a Law School here. I'll move after I've completed my final exams." I shrug.

"Ry couldn't stand being so far away from his soulmate." El grins mischievously.

"You're my sisters soul mate not mine." I shake my head. However, it's partly true. I did miss El. And me and Riley have become close over the last few years. Originally, I choose to study my law degree in a place far from everyone for a fresh start. It was good to get away. I enjoyed university, I enjoyed not having a reputation and I made friends, good ones. But I missed my best friend and my sister. When we were growing up, me and Riley were close but all the other shit going on meant we never really got to have a normal sibling relationship. I want that. It took me a while, but I figured out El and Riley are the most important people in my life which means I want to be near them.

"You're right. Riley is my soul mate. She's so perfect. More perfect than you." El sighs before grabbing Faithful's hand. "I'm stealing you. And tell me, how's Satan's daughter treating you? Oh, Ry, there's a painting that I think you'll like there." She points to one side of the room. "It's next to the drawing of you and Faithful."

"There's a drawing of me and Faithful?" I say surprised. 

"Obviously. All the important people in my life are here in this room," El waves her hand and drags Faithful away.

I shake my head and walk in the direction of where she pointed. It's crowded and I have to manoeuvre around groups of people sipping drinks. It's a mix of ages, fashions and cultures. But that sums up El; she's accepting of everyone, includes everyone and likes everyone. Well, almost everyone.

She has never liked any of the girls I've introduced to her. She doesn't say anything out loud but I can sense it. Maybe, that's why my relationships haven't worked. It's El making me doubt they're right for me.

I glimpse the detailed pencil drawing of me and Faithful however I don't focus on it. Instead, I'm drawn to the image next to it. The same image I'd ripped out of El's sketchbook seven years ago and have kept folded in my wallet ever since. The real reason behind why I've never found a girl I'm truly happy with.

I sense someone next to me. 

"It's an amazing painting but rather embarrassing for the girl," A female voice says.

"It's amazing because of the girl," I say.

There's a soft chuckle which sends a pleasant shiver along my spine. "You a fan of hers?"

"Something like that." I grin and turn to the woman beside me but my smile falters and I take a sharp intake of air.

Taylor gives me a gentle smile and tilts her head to the side. "That's nice to know."

I blink several times and her smile widens. "I never thought I'd see the day bad boy Ryder was lost for words."

"I'm not a bad boy anymore that's why. I've lost all my appealing traits."

Taylor chuckles again and I can't deny that chuckle does things to my body that I really don't want to happen in a public place.

"El mentioned you're studying law so I guess you're not a bad boy anymore. However, you've definitely still got all the appealing traits." Taylor's eyes widen as though she's just processed what she said and averts her eyes briefly before bringing them back to look at me.

"Thanks." I smirk.

My eyes rake over her body which is definitely no longer the teenage body I once touched and very much all woman, but what I notice most is her eyes. Unlike the last time I saw them during a prison visit, they now look alive, full of hope with a glimmer of playfulness.

"You look beautiful, Taylor," I say.

"Compared to when you last saw me I probably do. Prison colours didn't suit me." Taylor smiles briefly than frowns. "How have you been? Are you happy?"

"I'm good."

Taylor nods.

"What about you? What are you up to?" I ask.

Taylor smiles gently. "I'm living here now. I'm enjoying it."

I laugh. "You'll have to show me around then."

She looks at me slightly confused.

"I'm going to Law School here. I'll be moving in a couple of months, once I've completed my undergraduate exams." I arch an eyebrow. "I'm guessing El never mentioned that."

"No. She didn't." Taylor shakes her head with an amused smile playing on her lips. 

"She didn't tell me you were here either when she encouraged me to move here."

"I asked her not to give you updates. I wanted you to focus on you." Taylor bites her lip as she frowns. "Would you not have applied for Law School here, if you knew?"

I laugh while trying to ignore all the dirty images running through my mind of what I would like to do to those lips. Honestly, I would have transferred sooner but I don't want to scare her by admitting that out loud. I have no idea what her situation is. She could be with someone. Taylor is still frowning and I realise she probably thinks the worse. "I would have still wanted to move here."

A guy comes over and slings his arm over Taylor's shoulder. Fuck. There is someone.

"You alright, Tay?" The guy says.

Taylor smiles at the guy and nods. "This is Ryder. Ryder this is Simon."

Simon releases Taylor, shakes my hand and we both grip too hard. He looks at me and arches an eyebrow looking like he's on guard. "Are you a friend of Taylor's?"

What is this guy's problem? I open my mouth to answer but Taylor beats me to it.

"We were never really friends," Taylor says. 

I'm slightly hurt by her words until I look at her and see the mischievous glint in her eyes. She's right we never were. From the start, there was always something more between us but my stupid actions put an end to that. I thought I was helping Taylor. I thought getting that Fucker arrested would mean she was free from him. I wasn't aware the piece of shit had got her to store bags of cocaine under her bed.

"Si, Ryder is studying Law," Taylor says.

"A bit of a soulless profession," Simon says straightening up. Is this guy for real? 

"I think there are lots who go into the profession wanting to help," Taylor says watching me.

"That's because you always see the good in everyone," Simon says smiling at Taylor like she's breakable. The Taylor I knew was anything but breakable.

Taylor shuffles and smiles stiffly before looking at me. "Si is studying to become a gynaecologist."

"We have something in common then, I also appreciate being between a good pair of legs. Only difference is they want me there," I say flatly. 

Taylor laughs and Simon grimaces, looking slightly flustered over how to respond.

"Play nice, Ryder," Taylor says softly. 

Simon looks between the two of us and arches an eyebrow. He huffs then focuses on the painting next to us. "That's you, Tay." 

Well done for stating the fucking obvious. Is this really the sort of guy Taylor is going out with?

"You look crazy," he says.

No, she doesn't, you Fucker.

I look at the drawing of Taylor on the day she turned seventeen. She's in a small pair of shorts and a tight top while straddling a faceless person. Not only does that outfit ignite memories of me peeling it off her body in her bedroom it shows Taylor for what she is; strong, fierce and beautiful.

"Psycho Hot," I say.

"What?" Simon growls.

I point at the side of the image. "It's the name of the painting."

"That was an intense day," Taylor says, looking at me with a small smile.

"In the best kind of way I hope?" I ask.

She grins. "Definitely."

Simon glances between the two of us and as much as I want to fight him, grab Taylor and run off with her, I'm not going to force anything. If she's happy with him that's what's important.

I break eye contact. "So how did you two meet?"

Taylor smiles. "Me and Si are on the same volleyball team."

"Volleyball? I didn't know you played."

Taylor shrugs. "I didn't until recently."

"She also plays football, hockey, goes running regularly and still manages to stay up later than everyone every time we go out." Simon smiles at her. Fuck, I'm jealous of this guy.

I look at Taylor and she gives me an embarrassed smile. "I like to keep busy and be outdoors. I get claustrophobic being inside for too long."

I frown, wondering if that's because of jail. There's so much I want to know. El hadn't even told me Taylor had been released early from prison.

"How long have you been..." I glance at Simon not sure if he knows.

"Fifteen months. I told El not to mention that either," Taylor says. Fifteen months? I'm going to kill El.

Simon slings his arm over Taylor's shoulder again. So he knows. Does that mean it's serious or does she tell everyone? And why didn't she want me to know about her release?

Taylor looks past me and gives someone a big smile. 

"Taylor it's good to see you. You look fantastic," Faithful says from behind me.

"You too." Taylor hugs Faithful and I feel a stab of jealously hit me over the fact I haven't touched her yet.

"The foursome is back together," El says next to me with her arm linked with Riley's.

"We were never a foursome," I say flatly.

El sighs. "True, but only because you would never have shared."

Taylor chuckles. "Is Kayla here?"

"She couldn't make it. She made some bullshit excuse; something about her girlfriend PMS-ing."

Riley shakes her head. "Just because you don't like the girl doesn't mean you can be a bitch about her, El."

"I don't like the girlfriend either, Ariel." Taylor winks.

El lifts her hands in the air. "Thank you. Don't you think she's got some odd vibes?"

"Yeah, but if Kayla's happy we should be happy." Taylor smiles.

"She's the character that turns out to make jackets out of people's skin and all the readers hope will get killed in a slow painful death," El says.

Taylor laughs and I groan, "Please don't tell me you two still compare real life to the books you're reading?"

El huffs. "Hey, that's our-"

"Character bond," I say flatly. "Yes, you used to tell me a million times."

"What's the matter Ryder are you not happy with the way your story turned out?" Taylor looks at me with a seriousness in her eyes. And right now, I really wish everyone would fuck off so it was just me and her.

"There's still time to change the ending. It's not over," I say simply.

I see a flicker of a smile and she nods. "Good to know."

"Ok, it's photo time! We need to capture this moment," El says loudly, jumping on the spot. She grabs me and Taylor, pushes us together, lifts up her Polaroid camera dangling from her neck and says, "Move out the way everyone. Ry and Taylor, get closer and pose!"

I glance at Taylor who shrugs and wraps her arm around my waist. I put my arm over her shoulder and we fit perfectly. We always did. Taking a deep breath, I inhale her smell. She smells better than I remember. Everything about her is better than I remember.

"You alright there?" Taylor tilts her face to look up at me and our faces are so close it would only take a tiny movement for our lips to make contact.

"I'm good, but I'm not sure you're boyfriend will be if we stay like this."

Taylor frowns slightly. "I don't have a boyfriend."

"Does he know that?" I flick my eyes at Simon who looks tense while trying to hide his scowl.

Taylor smiles slightly. "Yes. Si's just protective of me." Her eyes lower to focus on my lips then raise again. "And you?"

"My boyfriend definitely knows he's not my boyfriend."

She rolls her eyes. "Good to know. I was worried I'd have to fight off some muscle guy."

"You'd win the fight. You'd always win."

"Is anyone writing this down because it's fucking sexy as hell. Fuck, Riley, why don't you say stuff like that to me?" El's voice snaps me out the bubble surrounding me and Taylor. Everyone is staring at us.

"Because you'd expect me to say shit like that all the time," Riley arches an eyebrow. "They have their thing and we have our thing."

"Do you want to stop talking about us like we're not here," I growl.

Taylor steps out of my arms and I want her back in them. Simon is frowning and I'm wondering what his problem is. Or rather I know what it is, and it's not that he's simply protective of Taylor.

"Ariel!" A voice booms.

"Darla. Ezekiel. " El smiles, wrapping her arms around a suited woman. She kisses her on the cheek then kisses the man next to her. "I was wondering when you two were going to turn up. There's so many people I want to introduce you too, but first, you must meet Taylor, our behind the scenes manager slash wish she was my business partner."

El winks at Taylor who stiffens beside me. Manager? Taylor gives Darla and Terrell a tight smile and offers her hand, which they both ignore and take turns to kiss her on the cheek.

"Taylor, great to meet you." Darla turns to El. "I didn't realise how industrial and remote this area is. Are you sure it will appeal to the masses?"

El frowns.

"Surely, people will be scared of coming out here in fear of getting attacked. I'm not sure this venue will work in the long run," Ezekiel adds.

El swallows hard and looks uncomfortable.

Taylor steps forward. "El has planned for several new lamps to be positioned to make the parking lot brighter for those driving in the evening. And you may not have noticed but the bus stop is on the next street, and is not only well lit but also well connected. And this area is on the up; several of the buildings are currently being converted into apartments, the first building to be ready has already sold all of their apartments and there's also a dance studio opening across from us, a gym around the corner and several other businesses which will mean more people will start to venture here. El really did her research in terms of the location."

Darla smiles. "Pleased to hear it. El, I also have some questions in regards to your website. It says you're offering free courses... I know I told you the money was yours to use as you see fit, but I'm worried you're going to make yourself bankrupt before the years out. You need to think in terms of profit and longevity, not just community help."

El sighs and Taylor rests her hand on El's shoulder. "El has managed to organise things so some free sessions are available for vulnerable people who have been referred to us. If you like, I can take you to the office and show El's detailed plan, along with the breakdown of costs, etc."

"That would be great." Darla smiles while Ezekiel nods.

El smiles at Taylor gratefully and Taylor squeezes her shoulder. "El, do you want to meet us up there once you've done the rounds?"

"Great," El says. 

Taylor gives me a small smile then guides Darla and Terrell off into the crowd; as I watch her disappear all I can think is, I can't lose her again.

"Fuck, I love Taylor," El exhales slowly.

"Thanks," Riley says in mock insult.

El wraps her arms around Riley. "You love her too."

Riley grins and kisses El. And as much as I love to see them both happy and in love, I'm fucking annoyed. "What's going on, El? When were you going to tell me you employed Taylor here? And why didn't you tell me she was released?"

"She asked me not to."

I run my palm down my face. I don't know why I'm so pissed off but I am.

El looks at Faithful and Simon. "Faithful take Simon somewhere."

Faithful laughs, places his hand on Simon's shoulder and gently but firmly directs him away. I scowl at El and Riley, waiting for a response

"Look, Ry, I had to respect Taylor's request and I think it was the right thing to do. She needed to experience life and neither of you were ready. "

"What the fuck does that mean?"

El grabs my shoulders. "It means she sorted out her head, got her life back on track. She also dated lots of guys, fucked a few but none of them worked out."

The thought of her fucking anyone makes me even angrier.

Riley rolls her eyes and pushes El to the side. "Ry, don't look like that. Taylor needed to live a little. She spent years in prison and when she came out she was scared. If you two had met you would have hooked up but long term it wouldn't have been good for her. She needed to figure out who she was and what she wanted."

"Exactly," El huffs. "Ry, you have spent years fucking anything with a hole and you know that's not what you want. She fucked you once seven years ago then got locked up."

"She told you?"

"It came up in conversation a few years ago." El smiles. "By the sound of her sigh over the phone, she has fond memories of it. I'm kind of jealous."

"No your not." 

"Your right I'm not." El smirks at Riley. These two need to get a room. El looks at me. "Look, Taylor has gone through a lot of shit. When she was released her confidence was fucking low, she still won't be my business partner even though she fucking did half the work in setting up this place. She needed time to find herself so I didn't mention her because if you'd come along she would have got lost in you. You two were always full-on, you still are." El shrugs. "Now, I need to piss before I wet myself then I've got to schmooze some more and then I have to go butter up Darla and Ezekiel. But we'll talk later. You and Faithful are going to stay at mine and Rileys'. We'll  hang out tomorrow, talk and do best friend shit."

"Fine, but I'm still annoyed you didn't tell me."

El shrugs. "You'll thank me in the long run."

"We'll see about that."