The Badboys' Good Lips

9

c h a p t e r    9

The car ride to Ryder's apartment was quiet.

I kept my eyes on my hands and my hands clasped on my lap, every muscle tense. My eyes felt puffy from crying but the tears had finally dried and I just wanted to get into bed and bury myself under the covers.

Ryder didn't say anything for the entire drive and that only stressed me out more. What was he thinking about? His own punishment for me for breaking the rules? I hadn't been able to explain that I never actually ran away, though he didn't seem too keen on getting the details just yet. His whole we'll discuss this later was replaying in my head. What would he do to me when we got back to his apartment? How mad was he right now?

And it was so humiliating, having him see me like he did. With Cole on top of me, spanking me, punishing me. The shame I felt from being caught in such a position was just as overwhelming as the anxiety I was feeling from being in a silent car with him. I was trying not to replay the events of what just happened but I was finding it so hard.

When we had left my old apartment, Dylan and Cole were no longer there. I had followed Ryder from my old bedroom and I hadn't dared to ask any questions or speak. Quite frankly, my voice was hoarse and I was in desperate need of a glass of water from all the screaming and yelling I had done. However, I had simply kept my head down and trailed after Ryder without another thought.

I was still shocked that he had even shown up and stopped whatever was about to happen with Cole and I. A minute later, maybe even a second, and—

Don't think about it. Push it down. Yet it was hard. My life was in a downward spiral and it all started just over a week ago, after I had slept with Ryder in that club. I still couldn't fathom that it had only been a week since then.

Ryder remained stone-faced when he pulled into the complex parking lot and parked his car, shutting it off and getting out. I followed quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting. Just as I shut the car door, my eyes caught on something a few paces away.

"R-Ryder?"

Ryder halted mid-step as he was rounding the front of the car, bristling.

I swallowed thickly. "My... my bag." I ensured my voice remained soft and unsure because I was seeking permission. Permission to stray from the car and retrieve it. "It's over there."

He cast me a glance over his shoulder before he moved his eyes to where I was gesturing, his gaze landing on my discarded tote bag in the middle of the parking lot. It looked flimsy and dirty, and from where I was standing there was a tire mark on it, but there it was.

Ryder gave the smallest of single nods and I quickly walked over to the bag, snatching it from the road and immediately heading back to him. I felt ridiculous, acting like he was my boyfriend and letting him have this type of control over me since we weren't dating, but I felt in his debt for how he saved me today. I had to make it up to him somehow. Cook him dinner, since I haven't had a chance to do so yet. Maybe deep clean his apartment since I haven't done that either.

When I was standing next to him again, his eyes were like lasers into my soul. "Your phone."

Oh gosh. The phone. Gingerly I opened the tote, correct that there was a skid mark across the side. Someone had run it over and my notebook, mechanical pencils, and pens were crushed on the inside. It was all the supplies I had, too, and the strap of the bag had also broken off.

I rummaged for a moment before my fingers grasped the device and pulled it free, seeing that it had also been crushed under the weight of a car.

I gulped. "I-I'm sor–"