My Chance (Chance #2) (30 page)

Paige walked straight to the bar, passing some guys at a table with a pitcher of beer. They yelled “Ginger,” and Paige turned around. She threw her hand on her hip and flipped her hair. “Yes?”

“Why don’t you and your friend join us?”

Faith shook her head, but Paige looked at her with a pleading expression. She walked up to Faith.

“Come on, these are cute college guys. It’s free drinks, and it’s your birthday!” Paige begged.

“If Max sees me drinking, he’s going to flip out. He’s playing tonight. I don’t want him to be distracted.”

“Well, I’m going to sit with them,” Paige said. “Go to the bar and have a virgin daiquiri. That suits you.”

The guys laughed. Faith’s mouth gaped, and she stared at her so-called friend. Faith spun around and smacked right into a hard chest.

“Excuse me.” She didn’t look up as she tried to walk around the man.

“No worries, dude.”

Faith stopped moving. She’d dreamed about that voice. “Oh, it’s you. Sorry, and don’t call me dude.”

“Whatever. Where’s the fire?” Ryker asked.

Faith looked at him and then looked around him at the table of guys. Paige was sitting on one of their laps. She felt alone. “I… um… I’m just going to the bar.”

Ryker looked at her, then at Paige, and back at her. Faith noticed his lip curl up when he saw Paige. Faith rolled her eyes and walked away. If it wasn’t for Max, she would leave altogether.

Faith watched Paige jump off the college boy’s lap and launch herself at Ryker. She hugged him and, while looking over his shoulder, smirked at Faith. Faith swiveled her stool back to the bar and decided to leave. She’d make it up to Max. It was her birthday, and she didn’t want to be there anymore. She tossed a five-dollar bill on the bar to pay for the soda she’d ordered, smiled at the bartender, and got up to leave.

She looked around for an exit away from Paige and Ryker’s table before she realized they weren’t there. She sighed in relief, but the college guys were still there and trying to talk to her. She decided to go to the back of the bar to find Max. Instead, she found Paige pinned against the wall. Her leg was around Ryker’s waist. Her skirt rode high, and it looked as though his finger was in her thong. Faith’s eyes filled, and she couldn’t move. Paige’s lips covered his.

Max walked out just then and saw Paige and Ryker. He took one look at Faith’s face, and his own fell. Max nudged Ryker as he walked by to get to his sister. Paige didn’t notice her, but Ryker turned and looked right at Faith. Their eyes locked, and she thought she saw the look of regret. She couldn’t stop staring.

Max came up and took her arm. “Sis, what are you doing back here?”

“I was coming to find you to tell you that I was going home.” It dawned on Faith that Paige had driven. She didn’t have a ride home.

Max sighed. “I’m sorry you saw Paige and Ryker, but I told you that’s how he is.”

Faith shook her head. “Yeah, I get it. Did you drive here?”

“No, Ryker picked me up. I assume Paige drove?”

Faith nodded and looked back. They were gone. She wished it had all been a bad dream.

“Why don’t you just stay and watch the set? We’ll take you home. It’s your birthday.”

“No way am I getting in a car with him. I’ll call a cab. I’m sorry, Max.” Faith kissed Max’s cheek and grabbed her cell phone.

She called a cab, and they said they would be there in twenty minutes. Faith went out front to wait for the cab, and she saw Ryker alone on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette. As soon as she saw him, she turned to go back in the bar. She didn’t get too far.

“Where ya going, dude?”

Faith had had it with her big eighteenth birthday. “I’m leaving.” She didn’t see Paige anywhere. “Where’s your flavor of the night? Get tired of her?”

Ryker chuckled. “Something like that. She really isn’t my type.”

“Oh? You could have fooled me.”

“If you’re leaving, why are you just standing here?”

“I’m waiting for a cab.”

“You called a cab? Are you drunk?”

Faith shook her head. “Of course not. I’m only eighteen.”
Yes, it’s my birthday, asshole.
“My ride was busy, and I don’t want to be with her anyways.”

“Shit, I forgot today was your birthday.” He flicked his cigarette into the parking lot and turned toward her.

Faith looked straight ahead.

He kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday.”

Faith turned toward him with wide eyes.

“Don’t get excited, dude. It was just a birthday kiss.”

Faith faced forward again. “Of course. Why would you want to kiss me? I mean, I’m just a little girl, right? No, I mean I’m a ‘dude.’” Faith made air quotes.

“You’re not a little girl. I just…” Ryker looked at her blankly.

“You just what? Don’t want me
that
way? I’m not hot like Paige or your other women? I’m just the little sister? Well, I’m not
your
little sister! Maybe you’re the one with the problem. Maybe you’re not as ‘good’ as you think you are and Paige is off giving someone else a lap dance and that’s why you’re out here. Your little guy not satisfying?”

Ryker took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted her face up to look at him. “I don’t do virgins. Find someone else to take your cherry. I don’t want it.”

Faith felt her face heat up. She was beyond embarrassed. That was twice that night that someone had thrown her virginity in her face. She just stared at him, willing the tears to stay away. Her heart pounded as it shattered.

He pushed further. “And as far as my little guy, if you want to know what you’re missing or how good I am, you should ask Paige. She danced on my ‘not so little guy’ like she was on a stripper pole.”

Faith felt as if she was going to be sick. Their eyes locked until Faith lowered hers to the ground. She was devastated. The sound of a car horn broke the silence. She pulled her chin out of his grasp and walked to the cab, trying to hold her head high. She got in and closed the door. She gave the driver her address and broke down in tears.