Page 65 of The Heir

“Ryker?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

“He likes you,” he whispered.

“There is something different about him, Ryker; I don’t know what it is.”

“He's always thought he could get whatever he wanted,” he huffed into the phone.

“He's not like that at all. You don’t know him the way I do,” I said.

“So, does it even matter what I say? Emma, I have known him for a long time.”

“I mean, I love you, Ry, but I need to grow up sometime, right?”

“This is hard for me,” he said.

“Ry, I—”

“I know. I'm sorry. I am going to fight for you.”

“Fight for me? Ryker, we will always be friends,” I assured him.

“I don’t like change.”

“Well, things change. That's part of being human and living life. I am allowed to have more than one friend, Ry.”

“Look at you—all wise,” he chuckled, but it sounded sad.

“I am so wise, andyoushould listen to me.”

“I really need to go, Emma—”

“Call me soon.”

“I will.”

“Thanks.”

“Love you, Emma. Have fun at the dance, but not too much fun.”

I rolled my eyes: “Sure, Ryker.”

Chapter Nineteen

It was Saturday. I looked into my closet for themillionthtime.

It is homecoming tonight! I am going with Shad to the dance! I refrained from making a loud squeal. After all, it was still rather early, and Mary had been working late the past couple of nights. Not everything was perfect. Ryker wouldn’t be there, and our last conversation still left a bad taste in my mouth.

I tried to distract myself for most of the day, but it was hard to do. I wandered around the house and almost drove Mary nuts from time to time. Ash was coming over to get ready with me, then going back to her house to wait for Sam to pick her up. I was so glad he finally asked her. I counted the minutes; again. Time was not on my side as it decided to be exceptionally slow—in order to torture me.

“I hate you,” I whispered, glaring at the digital clock in our living room.

“Why don’t you just watch a movie or something; read a book—anything except pace that hall again or curse the clock?” Mary suggested with a chuckle.

I laughed. “Sorry, this is the first time I have ever done anything like this.” That was kind of true. Brian and I had tried to attend the spring formal in middle school, butwe all know how that turned out. Maybe it’s a good thing Ryker isn’t here,I thought.He would probably cause trouble.