Page 167 of Wanna Play A Game?

Ryder’s eyes dart between mine, down to my mouth, and then my throat. “Oh, and one more thing. I’m going to need that necklace.”

My hand flies to the necklace. “What? It’s mine. Sawyer gave it to me.”

Ryder lifts a dark eyebrow.

I clutch it. I don’t want to give it back.

Ryder sighs like I’m dumb. “There’s a tracker in it, Cali.”

My heart stops for a second. A tracker? Sawyer put a tracker in my necklace. Jesus, of course he did.

I stutter out, “It won’t come off. It’s locked.”

Ryder grabs a tool out of the glove compartment. “Lean over.”

I don’t want to. For some reason, giving this up feels like I’m giving him up. Even more so than running.

“Cali, I’m in a hurry.” Ryder grabs it with one hand and uses a tool to clip off the lock with the other.

I suck in a breath and glance at the circular metal in his hand. My neck feels…empty. I can’t keep it. I can’t, but I want to.

“Can I…”

Ryder puts it in his pocket. “Sorry, Cali. Start your life on your own terms. Forget about us. Do all the things you want to do.”

I stare at his pocket. Fuck. This hurts.

“Cali…I have to go.”

I glance up. His gaze is soft. “I’m sorry you ever got tangled up with us in the first place.”

I still don’t move. Someone honks.

Ryder sighs and gets out of the car. He grabs Halloweiner from the back and opens my door. Cool air wafts in, and I shiver. He reaches around me, unstraps me, and his warm hands guide me out of the truck.

Then I’m standing on the sidewalk. The sounds of people and the street fill my ears.

“Remember. Callie Smart. I have all your paperwork inside that stack.” He nods to the money in my hand.

He moves around to the front of the truck, and I’m frozen. This is wrong. It’s everything I wanted, but it’s wrong!

“Wait!” I take a step forward. “I’ve changed my mind!”

Ryder throws me a look over the truck bed, then gets in the truck.

“Wait!” I start running forward, but he pulls away from the block. And suddenly, I’m in the city with a stack of money, a new name, and completely and utterly alone.

Chapter 85

Miles

Ryder texts me while I’m on my way back from the store.

Went for a drive. Be back in a bit.

I smile at the text. Actually, I’ve been smiling a lot. I know things aren’t perfect, but I feel like we can work things out with Cali. She was meant for us. Built for us. And Ryder, too, if he can get his head out of his ass.

I hum on my way back inside. The house is silent, so I assume they all went out. I putter around for a bit, doing some chores, then picking up my guitar again. It’s been a long time since I’ve even wanted to play, but I do now. I’m excited to give Cali her things. God, I hope I got the right stuff.