Ryder (Resisting Love #2.5)(17)

“Okay,” I say, clearing my throat. I think for a moment and decide on ‘Creep’ by Radiohead. When I’m done, my hands are shaking. Ryder shakes his head in awe. “It should be you up there on stage, instead of me.” I blush at his compliment.

“You know, for someone who likes R&B music, I’ve never heard you play or sing it,” he muses with a grin.

I shrug. “Wouldn’t want to get kicked out of your apartment. I do love all different music genres though.”

Ryder laughs. “Who are your favourites?” He seems genuinely interested, so I name a few.

“J. Holiday for one, I love all of his songs,” I tell him.

“Never heard of him,” Ryder says with a sheepish smile.

“Joe?” I ask.

“Oh yes, I’ve been practicing Joe ‘I Believe in You’ for Layla’s wedding. She wants me to sing it."

“You're so damn sweet,” I tell him.

“Yeah, well, it was that or a One Direction song,” he says with a shudder.

I burst out laughing. Layla is a treat, she really is.

“Will you play it for me?” I ask him softly.

“I believe in you?” he asks, and I nod. “Okay, I’ve only learnt the first verse and chorus so far though,” he admits as he takes my guitar.

“That’s okay,” I assure him.

“Don’t laugh. I think this is the first R&B song I’ve ever sung,” he says shyly. I hold my breath as Ryder sings the first verse. Layla is going to be blown away at her wedding, that’s for sure. I won’t be surprised if there are rivers of tears shed. He sounds incredible, and the song is beautiful. When he hits the chorus, I swoon.

As soon as he finishes the last note, I pull my guitar away from him and jump on his lap, practically attacking him, my mouth attached to his. Ryder chuckles huskily when my hands start to roam his body.

“I should sing for you more often,” he says, as he pulls off my tank top, his eyes heatedly raking over my body.

*****

The next night Ryder and I are staying in watching movies. I picked up three movies on my way home from work, and I’m sitting comfortably on Ryder’s couch waiting for him to bring the popcorn from the kitchen.

“So what are we watching, darlin’?” Ryder asks as he walks in with a huge bowl of popcorn and two wineglasses.

“We have three choices. Pitch Perfect, Hotel Transylvania or Ten Inch Hero,” I tell him as I take the wineglasses from him and place them on the coffee table.

“Ten Inch… you got us porn?” he asks me, his eyebrows almost hitting his hairline.

“Porn? What?” I sputter.

“Ten inch!” Is all he says, like it’s an obvious conclusion.

“Yeah! It’s about a sandwich shop! You perve!” I say through fits of laughter. Ryder rolls his eyes, and heads back into the kitchen reappearing seconds later with a bottle of red wine.

“Alright then, Lexi, lets watch this non-porn. I like sandwiches, too,” he adds.

He pours the wine, and I press play.

*****

“Happy birthday!” everyone yells the second I open the front door to my apartment, scaring me shitless. ‘Everyone’ consists of Ryder, Tee, Layla, Sasha and Jet. I put my skull handbag down on the bench and walk over to them, a timid smile on my face.

“What’s all this?” I ask, looking over the huge skull chocolate cake, and table full of gifts.

“We wanted to surprise you,” Tee says cheerfully.

“Yeah, since you forgot to mention it was your birthday,” Ryder says, his eyes narrowed.

“That’s cos it’s not a big deal,” I tell him, eyeing the snacks I only just noticed.

“Thank you all so much, this is lovely,” I tell everyone, giving each of them a grateful hug. When Jet’s hug lingers a little too long, Ryder growls and calls out an indignant “Hey!”

“Calm your farm, Ry,” Tee calls out.

“Layla, I assume you baked all of these,” I say gesturing to the cake, cookies and cupcakes.

“Yeah, I hope you like them. We argued between a skull or a guitar cake, and skull won out,” she says with a grin. She looks stunning as always in high waisted jeans and a peach colored blouse.

“It was actually Ryder’s idea,” she whispers to me, giving me a wink. I thank her and give her another hug.

“Where’s Cole?” I ask her.

“Chase is watching him tonight, so I can have some fun!” she says. Tee cheers from somewhere around the apartment.

“Are you going to open your presents?” Ryder asks me. I can’t help but check him out in his distressed jeans and tight black shirt. The man is magnificent.

“I can’t wait to unwrap you, that’s for sure,” I murmur to myself.

“Careful what you wish for, darlin’,” he says in response.

I’m about to respond when I see Tee walking out, carrying a carton of beer. “Tee!” I gape.

“What?” she asks, confused. I gesture to the beer.

“What? It’s a party!” she calls out loudly. Layla cheers.

“I just realized that we mustn’t have any friends, Tee, because the only people here are your family,” I say with a chuckle. Tee glances around, only now noticing. She shrugs and pulls out a funnel.