Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, #1)(37)

“You think so?” It seemed so natural to me; to hear it described as amazing was kind of odd. I heard Ryland drop to the ground and then turn to make his way over to us.

“Yes!” Wyn squealed. “And, when you almost fell, I thought my heart was going to stop.”

“You almost fell?” Ryland asked with something beyond alarm in his voice.

“Yes! She dropped from one branch to another, but missed the one she wanted, so she kind of twisted around to catch a different one. I was so scared.” Wyn provided actions and everything like she was retelling the plot to an exciting action movie.

“Are you okay?” Ryland asked, while looking me over.

I ignored his appraisal and pulled the hoodie back over my head as I moved to stand next to him. It was then he saw my ripped jeans and the long scratch, his sharp intake of breath was a little exaggerated for the situation.

“It’s a scratch, Ry,” I said as he once again swept me up in his arms and carried me to a rock in front of the fire. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“I guess I owe you a new pair of pants,” he sighed as he inspected the rip and the cut.

“Two,” I reminded him.

Wyn plopped down on the rock next to mine and mouthed the word “boyfriend” with heavy exaggeration.

I scowled at her before turning my attention back to Ryland.

“Does it hurt much? We can go if we need to.” His concern was evident in his voice.

“No!” I responded a little too loudly. I wasn’t in the mood to be carried through the woods for twenty minutes. “I just need pie,” I provided at Ryland’s affronted look which turned into a wide grin.

“Boyfriend,” Wyn whispered after Ryland went to the other side of the fire to grab the pie.

“Will you knock it off,” I hissed.

Ryland sat on the ground between us, opening the top of the box that held the delicious chocolate crème pie and about five plastic forks. This was one of those times when his “grab a fistful” system worked to our benefit. I dove in, and smiled as the chocolate mousse hit my tongue. Mette made the best pies.

“So,” Wyn began and I glared at her, terrified that she was going to start the boyfriend crap again with Ryland right in front of us. “How long have you guys been doing that tree-climbing thing? You both moved so fast; I couldn’t believe it.” I sighed in relief. At least this was something we could talk about.

“I think the first time we went up the trees was the first time we came up here. I was ten and you were twelve, right?” I asked Ryland who swallowed his bit of pie to answer.

“Yep. Two days after your tenth birthday. We stole Father’s Vanquish and came up here. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that; it was the only time I have ever been able to beat you.”

“You stole a car?” Wyn shrieked with her mouth full of pie.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yep.” Ryland puffed his chest out proudly. “I had to sit on a phone book and could barely see out the window, so Joclyn had to steer most of the way.”

I shook my head in irritation. I knew why Ryland was exaggerating. While I had driven most of the way—and been terrified, I might add—it wasn’t because he couldn’t see out the windshield; it was because he was crying.

That day had been one of the first days that Edmund had ordered Ryland to leave me alone. They had gotten in a fight and his father had hit him. He had run into the kitchen and pulled me with him into the large garage. We had left before anyone had even realized we were both missing. I still remember the bright red hand print on his cheek.

Without thinking, I reached out and ran my fingers through his dark curls near the base of his neck, wanting to wipe the memory from both our minds. He turned toward me and smiled, his gaze piercing into me.

“And you didn’t crash the car?” Wyn asked, oblivious to our exchange.

“Well, we did,” I provided, “but not that time. They didn’t know we were taking the car for about a year.”

“Jake was very nice to keep that secret for us.” Ryland forced a laugh.

“Jake?”

“The butler,” I provided.

“So… when you crashed the car…?” Wyn prompted.

“We more like cruised into a field…”

“And hit a cow,” Ryland finished for me. We both laughed at saying it out loud.

“And you didn’t get in trouble?”

“Oh, we got in trouble,” Ryland answered. “I was confined to my room for a week.”

It probably wasn’t even worth mentioning that I had been grounded to school, my house, or the kitchen for a month. Even after Ryland was “released”, I was still doomed to play fort under the staff table.

“Your father doesn’t seem to be very hard on you; a week for crashing a car. I wish I was so lucky. My brother is ruthless.”

“Oh, he punishes me, just not in the regular sense. He always expects me to be perfect, and accomplished, and make no mistakes.” Ryland sounded so bitter and hurt. His father had always put him under so much pressure; I was constantly amazed he handled it so well.

“I guess it makes sense, seeing as he is raising you to run an empire.” Wyn’s logic made sense, but it was something we had talked through many times before. As much as Ryland wished to live up to his father’s expectations, as much as he wished to meet his father approval, Ryland still struggled.