Chapter 6
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Early the next morning, I came downstairs to find Ryder sitting in our living room. His face was dark with anger, his voice hard as stone.
“Autumn!”
I could tell he was in a foul mood.
But I had no intention of trying to soothe him. My tone was anything but warm. “Oh. Good morning.”
“I’m actually heading out to meet my boyfriend, so I can’t entertain you. Make yourself at home.”
The anger Ryder had been bottling up for days exploded instantly.
He jumped to his feet and grabbed my wrist, his eyes stormy.
“What boyfriend? Since when do you have a boyfriend?”
I didn’t answer, my face completely unfazed by his intimidation.
Ryder’s anger burned hotter as he unconsciously tightened his grip. “Gone deaf? Answer me!”
I tried to pull my reddening wrist from his grasp, my voice still ice–cold. “How is that any of your business? You’re seriously overstepping.”
The fight was about to escalate when my mother came down the stairs and quickly separated us.
“Oh, she’s just being difficult! She’s too busy right now to be dating anyone. If she were to start seeing someone, it wouldn’t be until things settle down. You two have known each other your whole lives–whatever you’re fighting about, just stop it.” With an adult present, we both reined in our tempers and sat down.
After my mother left, Ryder seemed to realize he’d gone too far.
Once his rational mind returned, he remembered what had just happened and frowned.
What did her mother mean by “too busy right now“?
What was going on? Why “until things settle down“?
He had no clue, so he asked me directly. “Were you lying about having a boyfriend?”
I glanced at him and sat in the corner. “Did you need something?”
Seeing me change the subject, Ryder recognized my deflection tactic. He relaxed a
bit and got to the point.
“Why aren’t you coming to my birthday?”
“Busy. No time.”
Seeing my cold attitude, Ryder’s frustration flared again, his voice rising.
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11:34 AM Thu 24 Apr
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“Busy with what? What could possibly be more important than my birthday? You used to look forward to celebrating it more than anyone!”
I took a sip of water, my voice completely calm. “Things are different now. You hav a girlfriend. You should be saying this to Elle, not to an outsider like me.”
For some reason, the word “outsider” really bothered him.
He crossed his legs, fingers laced together.
“I don’t care. You have to come this year. Remember those three wishes you promised me years ago? First was knitting me a scarf, second was climbing a snow mountain with me. Both of those came true. Now I’m using my third wish—you must attend my birthday.”
This time, I didn’t argue with him. I just lowered my head.
My silence irritated Ryder even more, his voice growing colder.
“Have you forgotten why you promised me those three wishes in the first place?” Of course I remembered.
Three years ago, we were at the beach when the tide suddenly came in. My leg cramped, and I was swept out to sea.
Ryder risked his life to jump in and save me. He managed to get me to shore but nearly drowned from exhaustion.
I sat by his hospital bed, crying so hard I almost passed out. I even had thoughts of following him if he died.
When he woke up, he gently wiped away my tears, his voice incredibly tender. “Crying like this… someone might think I’d died.”
“I was terrified for you, and you’re making jokes?!”
I punched him in the arm, making him laugh as he tried to comfort me.
“Alright, alright. If you really care about me that much, just grant me three wishes.”
Remembering those moments, I fell silent again.
The room was quiet for a long time before I finally gave him an answer.
“Fine. After I fulfill the third wish…‘
A phone rang loudly.
霧讚
Ryder answered it while walking toward the door.
“Good that you agreed. Tomorrow–you better be there.”
As I watched his back disappear through the doorway, I finished my sentence. “We won’t see each other anymore.”
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