Free Promise Me Darkness by Paige Weaver Page A

that he may not return from? I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I wouldn’t survive if something happened to him. How could I when he meant so much to me?
    Eva shut the laptop, jerking me out of the terrible thoughts. “On a happier note…last night Brody called and asked me on a date.”
    I sat up straighter, my headache forgotten momentarily. “That’s great, Eva!” I said, truly happy for her.
    Brody was Eva’s on–again, off–again boyfriend. They were inseparable in high school but broke up the first semester of college. Since then, they had broken up and gotten back together too many times to count. One minute they were in love, the next they hated each other but I knew she secretly missed him.
    “I invited him to go out with us tomorrow night.”
    I shook my head firmly. “I can’t. The way I feel, I’ll still have a hangover tomorrow.”
    “Please, Maddie? I need you with me so I don’t do something crazy like go home with him.”
    I chewed the corner of my lip in indecision. I was Eva’s wingman. She always had my back and I always had hers. I could drag myself out again. I was such a pushover .
    “You owe me,” I said.
    “Thank you!” she cried, jumping up and grabbing her laptop. “I’ve got to hurry or I’ll be late for work. Again." She turned around and walked backward, facing me. "And remember, Maddie, no Ben without Ryder.”
    I nodded and waved her away. After she left, I dragged myself to the living room and plopped down on the couch. My eyes wandered over to Ryder’s duffle bag. A dark blue shirt was neatly folded on top and a pair of scuffed boots sat next to the bag, looking right at home in my apartment. I thought of him in those boots — dancing close to me on the dance floor, fighting for me last night, and saying he wanted me. Ryder wanted me. Would I ever get used to that idea?
    My phone chirped, reminding me of the one man I didn’t want to think about.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, Maddie. Why haven’t you returned my calls?”
    “Sorry, Ben. I’ve not been feeling well thanks to all those drinks,” I said, sarcastically.
    “I’m sorry. Can I see you?”
    I didn’t want to answer.
    “Please? I need to see you,” he said with a whiny voice. Why was I just now noticing how annoying that was?
    I dreaded facing him after last night but knew I had to end this. “You can stop by for a minute. We need to talk.”
    “Great! I’ll come by after work.”
    The happiness in his voice was irritating. Did he not remember trying to force himself on me? What happened to the man I first met? He had become Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Perfect one minute, a monster the next.
    After hanging up, I laid down. I just needed to close my eyes and lose the searing headache. I needed to escape Ben and thoughts of Ryder.

    ~~~~

    The closing of the front door jerked me awake. For a second, I was terrified that it was Ben, using his spare key but I was relieved to see Ryder walking in.
    Butterflies took flight in my stomach. His light brown hair was perfectly disheveled and the stubble on his chin made him look amazing. His jeans hung on his hips, teasingly. The simple t–shirt couldn’t hide his perfect physique or the badass tattoos on his arm. For a man who spent the last twenty–four hours drunk, fighting, and taking care of me, he looked very good.
    Glancing at me briefly, he sat a paper sack and a Starbucks cup on the coffee table in front of me.
    “Still sick?” he asked, sitting down at the end of the couch.
    I sat up slowly, still feeling woozy. “I’m okay,” I said. Never again would I drink.
    “I bought you coffee and donuts.”
    “Thank you.” I picked up the cup and took a sip. My eyes closed in bliss. My favorite! Mocha Frappuccino with whip. Opening up the paper bag, I let out an audible sigh. Two chocolate glazed Boston Cream donuts stared back at me, full of wonderful sweetness.
    I looked over at Ryder. In that moment, holding the coffee he remembered I loved and my