Page 62 of I Don't Need Your Love

“He’s changed since you entered his life,” I tell her. “Funny how much of an impact a person can have on someone’s life, right?”

“Like you and Ryder?”

I throw my hands on my hips. “Why do you always swing everything to Ryder?”

“Because it’s fun?”

“Ugh.”

I scan the audience and locate my family, too, including Blake. And of course Sophie and Raven are here as well. I can’t wait to show them all what we’ve got. It’s much more intense than our halftime performance, and I know they’ll love every second of it.

Coach Moreno informs us that we’ll be performing soon, so Addie and I quickly return to the others and start stretching. My heart hammers again, but I’m not as nervous as I was on the bus. I think it’s because of my family and friends. Their support fills me with so much confidence.

Ryder is also stretching, surrounded by many girls. He doesn’t seem nervous for the performance, but I know he likes to put up a calm demeanor. When his eyes meet mine, he throws me a smile as he continues to stretch. I return it.

I don’t know why, but whenever I look away from him and focus on my stretching or chatting with Addie and Naya, my gazecreeps back to Ryder. And every time? I find his eyes pasted on me with another smile. It causes my stomach muscles to tighten and my face to feel warm. It feels like he and I have been transported to another world, where we are the only inhabitants and nothing else matters.

Addie grabs my arm and hauls me to an empty area, where not a single soul is present. Her eyes are full of intrigue and curiosity as she gushes, “What is going on between you and Ryder?”

I raise a brow. “What do you mean?”

“You think I don’t see you two making googly-eyes at each other?”

I give her a look. “Googly eyes?”

“Yes. He can’t keep his eyes off you.”

“Because I’m awesome.”

“And you can’t keep your eyes off him.”

“Bull.”

“Not bull! It seemed like you guys had lots to talk about on the bus.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “What are you talking about? We barely talked at all.”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, he did finally apologize and asked me to forgive him.”

“And?” she presses.

“I forgave him.”

She jumps and claps her hands. “Oh my gosh, really? That’s awesome. I’m shocked, Carly. I thought you would have resisted more, maybe made him grovel.”

I shrug. “There was no reason to torture him like that. I’m not sure how much of a good guy he is, but he’s definitely not as bad as when he was younger.”

“So he’s no longer a cretin?” she asks with a wry smile.

“Oh, he’s a cretin all right. But he’s my cretin.”

My eyes widen to epic proportions when I hear what just left my mouth. “I mean—”

Addie releases a gasp as she grabs hold of my arm. She’s about to say something, but the announcer calls our team’s name.

“Oh my gosh, we’re up!” I say, my heart nearly catapulting out of my chest.